SUCCESSFUL 25th GALJOEN DERBY AT STILBAAI

by Elza | Aug 8, 2016 | Uncategorized

The Stilbaai Angling Club hosted the 25th Galjoen Derby this past weekend and it received praises as yet another extremely well organised and successful event. The weather played along and despite overcast conditions and some light drizzle, a total of 193 galjoen (black bream) were caught of which 192 were safely released again. Between the 68 teams (just over 400 anglers), approximately 600 fish of all species were caught and only two were kept!
The winning galjoen measured 53.6cm while the biggest musselcracker weighed 7.8kg!
Well done to Team Kinky Goblins who won the competition followed by Team Anysberg Biltong.
The Stilbaai Angling Club is known for ‘catch and release’ and they hope to inspire other organisations and anglers to do the same (catching and safe releasing of fish) to protect the fish stock for the future.
Tight Lines Magazine’s Chris Nolan attended the event for the first time this year and commented afterwards on Facebook: “Ongetwyfeld die beste kushengeltoernooi in die land.” (Without a doubt the best coastal angling tournament in the country.)
Visit Stilbaai Hengelklub on Facebook for more news and great photos of the Galjoen Derby. Photos and articles are also available on www.suidkaapforum.com.  Keep an eye on www.stilbaaigaljoenderby.co.za for more news and photos as well as information about the 2017 event.
See you again next year!

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LAPPIESBAAI RESTAURANT – DINING WITH A VIEW

by Elza | Aug 3, 2016 | Uncategorized

PROMOTIONAL ARTICLE

A long time ago, people used to wash their clothes and throw it over the bushes to dry out in the sun. It looked just like pieces of cloth (‘lappies’ in Afrikaans) and that is how ‘Lappiesbaai’ in the east of Stilbaai got its name. Lappiesbaai is also Stilbaai’s main beach – a Blue Flag Beach – with the Goukou River on one side and stretching for kilometres in the direction of Preekstoel and beyond on the other. It is here where one will find the Lappiesbaai Restaurant, a wooden building with lots of atmosphere and huge windows overlooking the green lawns and the ocean.
Lappiesbaai Restaurant is synonymous with Stilbaai summer holidays, families enjoying sunny days on the beach, fun and laughter. The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere where clients can choose from a wide variety of dishes that include breakfast, lunch, light meals and dinner. They are open seven days a week right through the year. Lappiesbaai Restaurant is a popular venue for functions and celebrations while they also do catering.
The restaurant is offering great specials regularly.
 Phone them on (028) 754 2748 / visit their Facebook page (Lappiesbaai Restaurant) for regular news and updates and @LappiesbaaiR on Twitter.

BREATHTAKING SCENERY ON THE ELEPHANT BUSH TRAIL

by Elza | Jul 19, 2016 | Uncategorized

There are various hiking trails in and around Stilbaai of which the trails in the Geelkrans Nature Reserve and the Pauline Bohnen Reserve as well as the Lappiesbaai Trail are all on the eastern side of the Goukou River. On the western side one can do the West River Bank Hiking Trail; the Strandloper Trail or tackle the route between Stilbaai and Jongensfontein along the coast – or one can take on the different trails in the Skulpiesbaai Nature Reserve.
The Skulpiesbaai Nature Reserve is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) and is being managed by Cape Nature.
One can easily follow the trails as it is well marked (see the photo under Activities – Hiking Trails) and it includes the Bird Hide Trail; the Fish Trappers, Waxberry, Sea Saffron, Bush Buck and Brown Hyena Trails as well as the Seagwarri Trail. There is also the spectacular Elephant Bush Trail (Olifantbospad) and the www.mystilbaai.co.za team recently explored this trail.
We started from the small parking area at Skulpiesbaai beach close to the ancient fish traps and easily followed the signboards. It took us along the coast through the milk wood tree forest – here you can easily forget that you are close to the sea – while we also stopped at the “All-sorts-of-thoughts Crow’s Nest” view point from where you can see as far as the fish traps and Bosbokduin to the right and Morris Point to the left.
The exit is at the whale look-out point close to the harbour. Be prepared to walk for about two hours – depending on the time spent taking photos!
The photos tell the story. More photos on mystilbaai.co.za on Facebook.
(Information about the various hiking trails is available under Activities)

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THE BEAUTY OF WINTER

by Elza | Jul 7, 2016 | Uncategorized

Yes, winter has its beauty, especially here in the Southern Cape where it is green with the aloes blooming and the yellow canola fields adding to the colour.
When one realises it, we just have to take our hands out of the warm pockets, brace the cold take a photo!
Like Yolandé Kok did this morning on her way to Die Speelgoedfabriek, Stilbaai’s own, dedicated toy store!
The jetty at the Goukou River and the upcoming sun made for a special photo…
Having a look at the weather – blue skies and almost no wind with a maximum of 15°C for today. It looks like we can expect a nice (warmer) weekend with temperatures of 20°C tomorrow (Friday) and 19°C for Saturday while Sunday (24°C) and Monday (26°C) will be even warmer – before a cold (17°C) on Tuesday…
No rain for the next week is being predicted.
Click on Stilbaai Tides for information about the tides and waves (especially for surfers)
HAPPENINGS: Have a look at the EVENTS section to see what is happening this week. It is still holiday for most schools and we hope the visitors are enjoying a great winter break in Stilbaai!

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Thursday morning (7 July): The jetty at the Goukou River                (Photo by Yolandé Kok)

 

PREEKSTOEL – A SPECIAL PLACE AT STILBAAI

by Elza | Jun 30, 2016 | Uncategorized

Stilbaai is known and loved for many things – it’s beaches, the sea, the harbour, scenic hiking routes, the river – and Preekstoel.
Preekstoel (a ‘Preaching Pulpit’ in English) is a rock formation on the beach section now known as Preekstoel Beach on the far eastern side of Stilbaai. The current ‘Preekstoel’ looked somewhat different a few decades ago as storms and deterioration have resulted in pieces breaking off. One of these pieces can be seen in front of the Post Office in town.
Preekstoel Beach is a Blue Flag beach and is in a Marine Protected Area. To the right of Preekstoel (looking towards Stilbaai) the white beach and dunes stretch all the way to where the Goukou River and the ocean meet (this section is known as the Lappiesbaai Hiking Route) and to the left, there are the most beautiful yellow rock formations.
This section forms part of the Geelkrans Hiking Trail and one can choose to end the hike here (there is some parking available at the entrance to the Geelkrans Nature Reserve that is quite close to the entrance to the beach with the Preekstoel rock only a few metres from the dunes.
One can follow the beach section to the left (away from Stilbaai) past the yellow sand cliffs for more breathtaking scenic views. It is however advised to walk during low tide as the water reaches all the way to the dunes at times.
How to get there: Follow Main Road East to the signboard Preekstoel (to the left). Follow Preekstoel Road to where it ends.

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BRRR… A COLD START TO THE DAY

by Adolf Botes | Jun 23, 2016 | Uncategorized

Thursday, 23 June 2016 – … and so the first photos of this winter’s frost appeared this morning and driving through town, the ‘white’ lawns were the proof of quite a chilly night in Stilbaai!
Looking at the photo by Karen Harding of Wild Olive Guest Farm outside Stilbaai nestled next to the Goukou River, it must’ve been really cold last night as the frost formed a white blanket on the area next to the river. This is quite a serene scene…
(Link to the Instagram photo)
Find the weather forecast as well as the tides on www.mystilbaai.co.za and view the day’s weather on mystilbaai.co.za on Facebook

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The frost this morning at Wild Olive Guest Farm (Photo by Karen Harding via Instagram)