KELP CAN HELP

Ahoy there sailors! 

Ecklonia Maxima, is a species of Kelp that is found in the Southern Oceans and is most prevalent along the Southern Atlantic Coast of Africa. This form of Kelp is crucial to the life of Abalone (Perlemoen) and due to its strong rubbery sell structure which enables it to thrive in the violent wave actions of the South Atlantic Coastline the plant has high levels of organic gels within its tissues.

In addition to these gels the  plant also has large numbers of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and Amino acids. One of the unforeseen benefits is the amount of iodine Ecklonia Maxima has. The benefit of this Iodine is it helps balance our thyroids an organ that gives us a sense of well-being and can have an impact on your weight and energy.

Eklonia Maxima has sometimes been referred to as the miracle plant’, it contains Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, Vitamin C, Folic acid, it has minerals such as Boron, Cobalt, Copper, Fluoride, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum and Zinc. Truly it packs a healthy punch!

Now before you all start running out on the coast picking our Kelp, please be aware you need a permit to do this, contact Whale Coast Conservation for further details on this. 

Kelp has a direct influence on the growth of not just Abalone but other marine life along our coast. There is a far easier way than harvesting your own Kelp to get all of the benefits and that is via capsule. There are a few varieties of these available of the shelves of health stores around the world, but please be on the look out for impostors pretending to be the real deal. If ever you find yourself in Hermanus and you want the best advice pop into Willow Health Shop at Astoria Village. 

One of the biggest exponents to the use of Kelp is of course our famous Whale Crier who blows his Kelp horn regularly during Whale Season (June-December). You can see this because he has such healthy lips! Have a look next time!

Wish you all plain sailing until we meet again same place, same time! 

“WATER WATER EVERYWHERE AND NOT A DROP TO DRINK”

These famous words from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner could well be words of warning in regards the way that the modern world treats its water supply.

Ahoy there sailors!

With only 3% of the world’s water being fresh water and of that only 1% being readily available to us for consumption does not bode well. Whale Coast Conservation who tirelessly dedicates themselves to the preservation to our beautiful and unique environment is hosting a few events in Hermanus over the next few weeks in the hope of raising awareness to this situation.

“Walk for Water and Sanitation” is a fun event planned to take people on a short beautiful walk from the Old to New Harbour along the Cliff Path of Hermanus to raise an awareness of water, sanitation and how it effects our environment. The event is happening 21^st March from 10am to 12pm from the Old Harbour. Please make donations, as little as R10 or more will go a long way.

The Whale Coast Conservation has taken some inspiration from far afield as the Philippines who have launched a campaign known as “Water is Power” and have recognized that water and energy are inseparable and with this in mind have added their weight to the Earth Hour initiative and together with fisherman’s Village and Lemm’s Corner have organized a “Market by Moonlight” on the 29^th March 2014 hosting buskers, local singer, dancers and a display of the best entries from a school art competition. Read more at Whale Coast Conservation Blog.

A great thanks to the folks from Whale Coast Conservation for their commitment and dedication to restoring and retaining our pristine and unique environment that keeps tourists coming to our shores year after year. Thanks to their efforts they also make the Whale Coast such a beautiful place to live, please folks lend your support to these wonderful initiatives.

Wish you all plain sailing until we meet again next week, same place, same time!

Waddle week in the Whale Coast!

Penguin Waddles 2014 at The Windsor Hotel Hermanus

At the Windsor we love welcoming old friends (also known as guests) back again year after year and some of our best friends are those that help us keep our environment and our wildlife safe and the best exponents of these are our friends from Penguin Promises (http://www.penguinpromises.com/) and the Two Oceans Aquarium (http://www.aquarium.co.za/).

Hayley McLellan marches an enthusiastic group of Penguin Waddlers (also known as conservationists) on a grueling 125km trek from Gansbaai to Boulders in seven days.

Along the way they visit Stanford, Hermanus, Kleinmond, Betty’s Bay Strand and Muizenberg stopping off at schools and talking to as many kids as they can educating them about the plight of the critically endangered African Penguins.

In the famous words of Transvision Vamp “I don’t want your money honey, I want your love” and that’s all they ask. They just want you to make a promise to do something to help our environment and to raise an awareness about our penguins. So please if you see our waddlers be kind and give them a hoot and in so doing try think of a simple way you can make a difference to helping our penguins.

There are very few places in the world where you can see colonies of penguins on main land and on island in the same day. Yet again, another great reason to visit Hermanus and the Cape Whale Coast.

Penguin Waddle Route 2014

Penguin Waddlers arrival in Hermanus

Penguin Waddlers 2013 at The Windsor Hotel Hermanus

It’s GO ! time in the Overberg!

The Good Hope FM Adventure Race is back for the second year and it’s all systems go come the 15^th March 2014.

Teams from all over the Western Cape will descend on the Overstrand next weekend for this unique adventure race that spreads itself our across several towns of the area.

With activities like “THE BLOB” and ZIP lining as well as a host of other surprises that SA Forest Adventures has install for all the participants makes this the most exciting and largest multi adventure races in South Africa!

From the beaches to the mountains, from the rivers to the forest and everything in between comes into play in this action packed event fun for everyone and showcases so many of the area’s unexplored treasures.

This is a short video clip of 2013’s adventure race: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S22tTYEtKW8.

The event is planned and organized by SA Forest Adventures who have yet again put into place all the safety precautions that are necessary for an event such as this and have the approval and support of the local emergency services and traffic control authorities.

Good Hope FM brings the vibe and the music as the headline sponsor they make sure they put the FUNK into the event.

It’s time to MOVE & GROOVE !!!!!!!!!

For more details join their Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/events/618066061581650/) and have a look at their website (http://saforestadventures.co.za/index.php/adventure-race/) .

 It’s a great day out for contestants and spectators alike. Be sure to be in the area to get a taste of this fun filled occasion!

The BLOB

Rafting

Sand Boarding