The red salt- packed road ran in a straight line up the Skeleton Coast of Namibia.

We had left behind the seal colony at Cape Cross a hundred miles back, where the stench of ammonia was so strong, that it brought tears to our eyes, and cleared the sinuses instantly.

We were the only travellers on that road at that time, where a permit had to be obtained to travel; it was for our own safety, should we get lost.

We had arrived at “Mile 108”, to the fishing spot where the warm current from the Amazon River in South America was reputed to reach the shores of the Skeleton Coast in South West Africa.

The waves crashed on to a shore littered with the bleached bones and skulls of a thousand seals. The grey ocean stretched endlessly away and there was not a ship in sight.

However, the occasional shipwreck could be seen all along the coast, forlornly thrusting itself through the pebbled beaches.

We parked our campervan side on to the ocean. The knowledge that there were no human beings within a hundred kilometres or more made us feel like castaways on a desert island.

Driftwood and twigs that lay scattered everywhere were gathered and a good stone fireplace built behind the van and sheltered from the breeze.

The Skeleton coast in August was cool, not more than 17 Degrees Celsius and the mist that would envelope us when darkness came would feed the desert behind us.

It was time for our evening meal, fresh from the sea.

Harry cast into the bountiful ocean and within seconds hooked a six pound Copper Steenbras. As he cleaned and filleted the fish, I prepared the vegetables.

Then our guests arrived, a pandemonium of Pelicans, their pouches yapping beneath their bills.

What else can you call such a gathering?

Perhaps plenitude or even a pageant?

For not only were there many pelicans, but they were our entertainment too as their unwieldy shapes bumped each other and they rose into the air like lumbering Sikorsky helicopters, snatching fish entrails from each other.

When Harry finally threw the centre bone with head and tail attached, the cawing and squabbling became frantic and the winner quickly opened its mouth to swallow its prize;

The carcass jammed in the pouch, head one side and tail the other, and the outline in the now stretched skin gave the pelican a macabre grin the width of its body.

The fire was ready and I cooked part of the fish with lemon juice and butter; the new potatoes and fresh peas, purchased that morning in Hentjiesbaai, added delight to the meal; the bottle of white wine was the perfect accompaniment.

Our guests had departed flying in their cumbersome way back to wherever Pelicans sleep.

As we sat watching the ocean, and setting sun, we were silent, enjoying each other’s company.

It was the end of a deeply satisfying day. What more could a body want?

2 Comments

Bella on 09/12/2021 at 6:31 PM

Wow 🤩 Doreen !!!
Inspiring remembrance.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Now I need to pluck up my intentions and go for it in my Subaru.
Love
Bella Clayton
gentlelifehacks on 09/12/2021 at 7:34 PM

Mum is very talented isn’t she? Glad you enjoyed it as much as we did!

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Buyer’s remorse

by gentlelifehacks | 22/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Opinion, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

So often when we purchase something we have a feeling of remorse soon after. This is no different when you purchase a house, in fact, the remorse and be much worse. Experienced real estate negotiators are keen to get the deal done that day for this reason. They will...

Smart gadgets

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Technology | 0 Comments

Renovating a home is not for the faint hearted Take it from one who knows! Smart wiring, or smart homes are often talked about and the digital natives amongst us know all the tricks. Just listening to some of the things required in our new smart home made my head...

Messy house or hoarder?

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Handy hints, Lifestyle, Opinion | 0 Comments

Sometimes it is hard to differentiate between hoarding and extreme clutter. Many times in my real estate career, I have come across people who do not see the clutter when they come to sell their homes. It is rude to point it out to them, and sometimes difficult to be...

Houses built from hemp

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate | 0 Comments

Some interesting ways of building homes over the years have included products such as Hemp. It has apparently been used globally as a natural building product for thousands of years. Recently a Western Australian couple hand built their three-bedroom home on a...

10 Simple Life Hacks to Stay Healthy and Active

by gentlelifehacks | 25/09/2024 | Health and Wellness | 0 Comments

Introduction to Healthy LivingIn today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can often feel overwhelming. However, implementing a few simple life hacks can significantly improve your well-being and help you stay active. This blog post explores effective...

10 warning signs to look out for when buying a house

by gentlelifehacks | 30/11/2021 | Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle, Real Estate, uncategorised | 0 Comments

Renovating is not always easy. Even the the tasks that look like they could be simple can turn out to me a mission to finish! Have you ever found a few cracked tiles in the kitchen and thought about replacing them? It is okay if you have spare matching tiles, but what...

A wise old donkey

by gentlelifehacks | 18/06/2021 | Lifehacks, Lifestyle, uncategorised | 0 Comments

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He...

Are you a hoarder?

by gentlelifehacks | 20/01/2023 | caregiving, Coping skills, Handy hints, Home and Garden, Lifestyle | 0 Comments

Are you a hoarder? They say you should always "declutter" when selling your home? When I was selling my own home after the death of my husband, I wondered if I was a hoarder! They say that hoarding is often a coping mechanism. Apparently if we are bereaved , or...

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