Beach and ocean scenes.

The rocky shores of Port Edward, (a misnomer as there is no port) have the dubious honour of have the first recorded shipwreck of a cargo vessel on South African shores, since then there have been many hundreds or maybe thousands.

On the 8th of June 1552, the Soa Jao, a Portuguese trading vessel carrying 600 hundred passengers, a large cargo of pepper, Chinese porcelain, carnelian beads, and cowrie shells ran aground near the mouth of the Boboyi river. One hundred people perished while trying to get ashore. The rest started northwards to Mozambique and the Portuguese post there, several hundred kilometres away. Only six Portuguese and 17 slaves eventually made it, the rest all died in the attempt.

Click to enlarge.

Some sandstone formations, with the Indian ocean surf pounding the shore.

My friend Jane walking along the beach carrying her dog Paddy, (he has a much fancier Irish name but I call him Paddy). What better Irish name than that?

It was overcast but warm. 

In the middle distance you can see a small fresh water stream flowing into the sea.

In spite of it being peak holiday season we saw very few people on the beach. Miles and miles of beach all to ourselves, makes one feel like a billionaire with his own private beach. 

More unspoilt beach stretching south.