This post is for the #wednesdaywalk challenge and the #makemesmile challenge collaboration. This collaboration initially took place once a month, but due to its popularity, @tattoodjay (of the #wednesdaywalk) and @elizacheng (of #makemesmile) decided to make it a weekly thing.
If you want to know more about the rules, visit this week's post by @tattoodjay where you will find all the rules at the bottom of his post after you've enjoyed his beautiful photos from his walk.
We haven't been to the beach in quite a while...well, for us it's been a long time if you consider how much we love the ocean.
Not that we always go into the water but we love going for walks along the beach. Yet, in all honesty, we lately shied away from going to the beach as we didn't know what to expect to see.
At the beginning of this year, all the beaches in our area were closed due to contamination of our beaches. I did a post about the situation and shared some photos back in January 2022.
It was sad to see the condition of the ocean on our shoreline...
Up to last year, we've had several beaches in our area that qualified for Blue Flag status, but as of lately it just seems as if the relevant authorities couldn't care less.
We are already at the beginning of November with the December holiday peak season literally around the corner...and once again...our beaches are closed due to contamination.
We hear many promises about what will be done, but that's as far as it gets...promises, promises...talk, talk, talk...
Well, last weekend we had to go to Durban to collect a parcel literally a block away from North Beach in Durban.
Having "withdrawal symptoms" from not seeing the ocean for a long time, I decided to take the camera with me and spend some time at the ocean to see what the situation is like.
We collected the parcel for my wife and went to the Marine Parade to find parking.
With the beaches being closed, the area above the beaches, known as the Marine Parade, was extremely crowded and it didn't take us long to decide against getting out and facing the chaos.
We decided to head down to Amanzimtoti, a drive of about 32 KM from where we were, and to see what it would be like down there.
Arriving in Amanzimtoti, it was clearly not as crowded as in Durban. With the beaches being closed, the activities were also more on the walkways and entertainment areas just above the beach.
The weather was not ideal for going into the water anyhow, but we often have fun in bad weather such as this, pointing out all the people from Johannesburg with one glance.
Everybody from Johannesburg is in the water, while all the "Durbanites" are sitting on the beach with jackets on...lol.
But today, the beach was empty...
The area designated for swimming on the main beach...not a soul in sight...
We took a walk down to the southern end of the beach where I normally love taking photos of the rocks and the surf breaking on the rocks.
We passed the Amanzimtoti Life Saving Club.
When we got in line with the rocky area where I wanted to be, my wife decided to relax on a bench while I went down on the beach towards the rocks.
This log was next to the bench where my wife would be waiting for me.
Going down onto the beach, halfway down to the water, I took this photo, looking out over the beach towards the south. In this photo, you can see how the wind was blowing over the beach...
Another log, lying between some rocks...
Although the beaches are closed, at least the contamination is not as visible in the ocean this time.
What I love about taking shots of the ocean though, is the fact that you might be visiting the same place several times, yet what you see, is different every time.
It was late on a cloudy afternoon and the clouds were getting thicker, lower, and darker as time went by.
Although it was getting darker, it wasn't getting more difficult to get some nice shots.
As a matter of fact, I found it created a more defined contrast between the white surf and the dark clouds...
Even the water seemed to be getting darker as if it was hiding some mystery, leaving you guessing about what is happening below the surface...
I'm sure that you all know by now that I love capturing some splashes ...
And yes, I got some. The wind was getting stronger and it was getting darker and darker, but the conditions were perfect to get some great splashes...
For my last three photos on this post, I'll share some of these splashes with you.
And that's it for today, folks!
Thank you for reading my post! I do appreciate it!
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