Adults Only at Vogelsteen

Along the R44 coastal road just outside Gordons Bay in the direction of Rooi Els is Vogelsteen (Bird Rock in English), a moderately well known fishing and diving spot named after the rocky outcrop frequented by seagulls, terns and gannets. I might add that among Afrikaans speakers the 'bird' part also has a sexual connotation attached. Although I rarely fished there the spot was and still is a favorite of mine for enjoying a bit of afternoon sun or a sunset over False Bay.

Approach to Vogelsteen

On one particularly memorable outing some years ago I had taken Hägar the biker dog along. He was quite a legend in this town, a white staffie by then well into double figures and partly blind and deaf. Despite his age he still enjoyed a bike ride along the coast. Upon our arrival I saw that a small car and a scrambler bike stood at the nearest roadside parking, unusual for a mid week afternoon. I thought it wise to have a look who else was around before letting Hägar roam but saw no-one here nor there… until I stood atop of the northernmost outcrop and looked down upon the ledges below. There sat a dark haired, middle aged fisherman in full Western Province rock & surf club kit. I knew him from somewhere, probably the tackle shop, but not by name and WHAT? Between his legs was the blond head that belonged to the kid kneeling down in front of him! Just at that point the club fisherman looked up at me and the kid jumped up. Well I'd seen enough and took a southerly direction to find a spot to sit, obviously carrying a monstrous smile. A little later I noticed the blond kid sneak through the bushes back to his bike. Then the club guy, who had walked along the bottom ledges, approached me from the front and muttered something vaguely threatening about being better off keeping my mouth shut. "Ja, see no evil and importantly speak no evil Ha Ha" I replied, still unable to wipe the smile off my dial.

Some say Gordons Bay is a small drinking town with a fishing problem and after years of being professionally involved in the fishing scene (and some social drinking too) I knew almost everyone and everyone knew me. As such I was probably the last person any fisherman would want to get busted by while having his helmet buffed. I pondered the implications on someone's reputation and decided that while I would not get drawn into attempts to identify the people involved the story was too good not to tell. Later that afternoon I popped in at fellow custom rod builder Francois' and in his workshop was Greg from GB tackle. "You oakes won't believe what I've just seen…". The following day I was getting phone calls from Betty's all the way through to Table Bay requesting details with the inevitable "but come on and tell us who it was". Occasionally I still get asked the same. Friends and fishermen, I really never knew the guy's name and in all the years since never saw him again.