Mr Pinmapple came into our lives here in the Hive community amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Quite a momentous moment in time I would say and I have a feeling that he's going to get real busy once the pandemic calms down.
I will tell you right from the start, even though we have Google Maps, I'm an old-fashioned gal. Being a retired Geographic Info Systems Techie, I love maps and always take one with me on all my travels.
Seeing that Mr Pinmapple is a map in my eyes, can't call him a dapp nor a tool for goodness sake; he's always welcome to join me on any of my trips, so while we're in lockdown I took him on a virtual trip to Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa.
We visited this area as the horrors of Covid19 was unfolding in the rest of the world.
The Southernmost tip of Africa is littered with over 140 shipwrecks, all telling stories of the cargo, lives and death of brave men and women. Strong ocean currents and gale force winds create 30 metres high waves along this rocky and treacherous coastline with jagged rocks, giving ships no chance of survival.
Mr Pinmapple's quite the adventurer and wanted to go on a boat ride but when he heard this he quickly changed the subject; he may be brave but he certainly is not foolish!
Two Claims to Geographical fame
Our Mr Pinmapple was quite excited to learn that Agulhas has two claims to geographical fame, as this not only is the southernmost tip of Africa but also is the place where the warm Indian Ocean and the icy Atlantic Ocean meet.
Of course he always has to be the centre of attention so stood smack bang in the middle, right where the two oceans collide he said!
The Cape Agulhas Lighthouse
The Cape Agulhas Lighthouse was first commissioned in 1849 and was the 3rd lighthouse to be built on the South African coast after much urging by local farmers who witnessed many shipwrecks.
To get to the top of the lighthouse, one has to climb up 71 steps; I was the weakest link so walked around the museum. My husband and our friends tried getting to the top, but they also became the weakest link as it became quite perilous as they got closer to the top, plus there was nothing to hold onto!
Mr Pinmapple being the ardent adventurer however made it to the very top!
AGULHAS LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM
I walked around the museum taking in the history of the many lighthouses along the South African coastlines; today there are 45 in total.
Mr Pinmapple is not only interested in geography, he's quite the history boffin as well, so joined me on the walk through the museum.
We saw powerful lenses, lanterns and paraffin lamps of yester-year.
The one below is the original lantern from Dassen Island which was commissioned in 1893.
It is a first order dioptric double flashing optic, exhibiting a double flash every 30 seconds. The illumination produced 47 000 candelas.
Paraffin Vapour Lamps did their duty back in the day.
DESECRATION OF MOTHER EARTH
As it was State of the Environment Month, an artistic display using waste that comes from the ocean, was on adjacent to the museum.
Waste of all kinds end up in our oceans, causing much destruction to sea life! Industrial waste, sewage sludge, and radioactive waste, plastic, tyres, seine and trawl nets as well as fishing nylon that marine life get trapped in, cooldrink cans, bottles and a multitude of other man made waste, all discarded into the ocean!
I could see this saddened Mr Pinmapple as well!
The artwork was beautiful, recycling rather than discarding, like this fish made with plastic bottle tops.
Would you like it if all of this waste was floating around in the air that you breathe?
ENTER VIRUSES SUCH AS COVID19
We continue destroying the oceans and earth with our irresponsible behaviour, relentlessly desecrating, degrading and polluting our planet!
Then we still wonder why man is visited by viruses such as the current Covid19!
I think Mr Pinmapple agreed with me on this point after seeing the beauty of Agulhas and what man is doing to our marine life.
I'll end off with a really cool but thought provoking video called 'Letter from the Virus',
Credit to Justin Ryan Farrell -shared on YouTube by Jose Ramirez
Mr @Pinmapple is looking for travelers to take him along on their travels, check him out HERE and you may just win some sweet Hive!
//]:# (!pinmapple -34.829292 lat 20.008998 long Cape Agulhas Lighthouse d3scr)
Thank you for stopping by
