Creatures of the sea, Kalk Bay and Concussion.

For a while now I've been wanting to take the girls to the Shark center in Kalk Bay.

Some time ago when we went to Fish Hoek by train we were handed a pamphlet about it and the very next day there was a fatal shark attack at Fish Hoek beach.

So today we headed down to Kalk Bay with Lisa, Bryce and Mitchell and Bryce's friend Daniel.

We had to be there early because it is better to go at low tide which was before 8:00 a.m. so it was a cold, early start. But it turned out to be the most beautiful winters day.

The shark center is on the Main rd in Kalk Bay so it's just a hop, skip and a jump to the beach over the road. I'd never been to Dalebrooke beach before and discovered that there is a lovely tidal pool there.

The children all had a wonderful time exploring the rock pools, the bigger ones were fascinated by the starfish, limpets, anemones etc., Niave was just happy to be in the water, and Mitchell got very excited every time a train went past!! So everybody's needs were catered for!!

They found a path to the "island" in the middle of the tidal pool and had great fun.
I really do think I prefer the beach in winter, it's quiet, it's not blistering hot and if the sun is shining the wind is not blowing!!

After some time down at the beach we went back to the center for a look around and a video about a shark, Maxine who was caught by fishermen in Struisbaai and taken to the Aquarium at the Waterfront and then released about 6 or 7 years later.

The whole outing was free of charge but we did buy some lovely books which I hope makes a contribution to the work and research they are doing.

"Abby's aquarium adventures" was a must - for obvious reasons and the one below is a local one done by Save our Seas.

They had a very patriotic shark outside - would've been better if he'd been is Spanish colours though!!!

I had to put this picture in - Niave walked straight into a very clean window and banged her head and nose. I took Abigail to the loo to change and Niave, still bawling, found this funny little step to nowhere and crept in to have a little pity party!! (Little did we know worse was yet to come.)

When we'd finished there and changed into dry clothes (only my kids were drenched!) we took a little walk through Kalk Bay, stopped in at a lovely bookshopwhere we found a very appropriate shark book to add to our other 2 and Abigail found a reasonably priced chapter book. We continued down the road past the harbour to the Olympia bakery to stock up for lunch.

Then it was off to a sweet park we had spotted on the walk down for lunch and a play.

We thought we'd spend a quiet time having a picnic and playing in the park but it was not to be. The kids all climbed onto the see-saw and Niave and Mitchell were sharing a space. It was screams of delight one minute:and screams of horror the next as Niave and Mitchell started to slip and fell off from quite a height. Niave had a small bump on her chin and a tiny bit of blood inside her lip but poor little Mitchie ended up with a concussion as he fell headfirst onto the concrete. He became sleepy and stopped crying almost immediately so Lisa took him to a Medical center in Tokai about 10 minutes away to have him looked at. Poor little sausage. He spent most of the afternoon there under observation and is now home and much better, back to his usual little self.

The afternoon didn't quite turn out as we'd expected but thankfully it was nothing worse and Mitchell will be fine. We were all rather worried.

The Shark Center is a lovely outing, visit their website at: www.saveourseas.com for more info.