Don't mess with nature

Spring was certaily ushered in with a bang this year. Take a massive cold front that created swells of up to 11 metres and couple it with a spring high tide and you have a recipe for destruction.

Here are a few before and after shots, to show the awesome power of the sea.

Kings Beach on a normal day.



Kings Beach last Sunday



Waves battering the sea wall at Sidon Street, behind Stuart Graham. This is not one of my pics but one that has been doing the rounds on the internet, so I cannot give acknowledgements to the photographer.



The aftermath. The building from the top picture can be seen in the top left.



The sea wall shot about a year ago. And I thought the waves were spectacular then.



The same area as it it is now



A tranquil scene taken from one of the popular fishing spots last year.



...... and the railway line heading towards the city




In one fluid movement the sea changed all that. I do not think the trains will be running any time soon.


It just goes to show that you cannot tame the sea and that bad town planning does not pay

For more pictures go to Arty Fartying Around and PE Daily Photo.

Algoa Bay was in good form this evening with the spring tide. Stopped in at Brighton Pier and caught this shot. Two very disappointed fishermen arrived while I was enjoying the view - sorry guys no fishing from here fo a while. This happens from time to time - see the Moods of Algoa Bay.

View up the coast towards Bluewater Bay and the Swartkops River estuary.

As I was on a roll I decided to stop in at the break water, at North End. I was in time get a few shots before it got too dark. I took pictures of this view in an earlier post, when the sea was being much kinder and gave a good view of the harbour.

I ran across the railway lines to get this shot of Port Elizabeth before the next wave struck. Nice view of the city centre, with Richmond Hill in the background.
Our city fathers were not very forward thinking in the old days and built the railway line on what was once pristine beaches. Fortunately today's city fathers are more forward thinking and there is an ambitious plan to reclaim a two kilometre stretch of the water front. I am watching this development with keen interest