home thoughts from abroad

Home thoughts from abroad is a new series on Travel Words featuring a single photograph that reminds me of a country visited and showing something that uniquely identifies it as being ‘abroad’.

Visiting the African penguins at Boulder’s Beach in Cape Town in 2008 we came across this young guy sleeping in his wheelbarrow. Obviously exhausted from his efforts to keep the dunes tidy. Whenever I see this photo it makes me smile and brings back memories of those delightful and comical creatures who have colonised what was once considered to be a prime beach on the peninsula.

I can still recall the long row of parked cars along the roadside in the summer months making it impossible to visit the beach back in the 1970s.

Mmm… now where does that remind me of?

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Heyjude

I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.

25 thoughts on “home thoughts from abroad”

  1. Not sure I would sleep in a wheelbarrow when a soft beach was available, but its’ a great candid capture, Jude.
    Best wishes, Pete. x

    1. Ah, yes, but in that soft sand are plant roots and sand spiders and maybe even snakes. I’d want to keep my head off the ground too!

    1. One of my very few people shots. As I was just saying to Su (Zimmerbitch) I am a bit reluctant to photograph people.

  4. He does look exhausted. I’d love to see the penguins too! I bet Cornwall is much the same in summer. I’m sure you’re looking forward to the tourists leaving for the season. 🙂

    1. I hate driving anywhere during August Cathy, the roads are just lines of traffic, car parks full, beaches full. Even doing chores is a chore! But when they are gone…

      1. I’m sure you love it there in autumn, Jude. I hate summer in general. Here on the East Coast it’s miserably humid and hot or raining all the time. If we have to drive north or south on I-95, the hordes of beachgoers cause horrendous traffic jams, so I know exactly what you mean, I’d prefer not to drive or go anywhere in summer! You live in the midst of it, so I’m sure even chores are a hassle. Ah, but cooler days are coming soon. 🙂

  5. I love the shot, Jude. It would make me smile every time I saw it. 🙂 🙂 And if you move to a tourist hot spot, what do you expect?

    1. Was the same where we lived in Cape Town, although there I could walk to the beach and shops. Couldn’t wait until all the folk went back to Johannesburg!

  8. It would have been harder to steal from him if he dozed in it instead of beside it!
    From the BBC website it sounds like Cornwall is at bursting point this week 😦

    1. That’s a fair point Gilly! I tend not to go out much in August if I can avoid it, but I did have several trips to do last week and the A30 was gridlocked pretty much into St Ives / Penzance so I took to using the back roads where possible. Yesterday was continual rain so I bet the Eden Project was full. Hopefully the sun will return this week (trying hard to now).

      1. It’s pretty much up it’s mind to rain for the day here. My tribe have gone to see Nina’s dad for a few hours though so I’m having a bit of quiet!

        2. Yes, they came Friday and leave tomorrow afternoon. They’re still quite small so not too noisy yet and so full of love, I just adore them 🙂

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