Imagine a perfect Cape morning, meandering between the tidal zones and rock pools at Dalebrook, along the False Bay coast. Crystal air, sharply edged horizons, back-warming sun, Indian ocean coolth.
With heads down and feet waterproofed , we followed our leaders from the Two Oceans Aquarium who walked and talked us through the tidal zones and wonders of marine life that inhabit each strata.
We marvelled at the diversity and density of life in the pools: sea urchins with their oh-so creative sun bonnets, multi-hued anemones, variations of starfish, brittle stars and featherstars, chitons, pear limpets, even sweet smelling redbait!
We savoured the textures and tastes of seaweeds, which are not called seaweed any longer … hearing that brown wrack was endemic to this particular part of the coastline, how we could emulate the Irish and whip up Purple Laver and oatmeal into a laver bread, or use nori in soups or sushi before it is exported and re-imported at a considerable markup, while nibbling on edible and highly nutritious sea lettuce.
An exquisite morning outing organised by Friends of the South African museum (SAM) exploring a place we usually drive past without thinking.
A cornucopia from the ocean. A gift in our own backyard.