Silly Season Started

[Anonymous]

The locals have a saying for the festive season in the Garden Route. We love the tourists coming to our area, but during this time there is a definte sacrifice locals have to make regarding everyday life. It's called 'silly season'. I know it should only start around the 16th December, but I just want to officially announce that it has started earlier than usual this year. I battled to find parking in George yesterday and my favourite spot at Vic Bay was almost crowded.

Some Silly Season 'avoid the crowd' tips for newbie's to the area.

Buy cheaper before the season starts (too late now).
Do your necessary shopping before 9:00 am
Beach hours are from 06:30 to 11:00 and then 16:30 to 19:00
Never go to the town centre
Never go to a restaurant
Stay away from Beacon Island beach in Plett
Stay away from Vic, Herolds and Buffalo Bays
Stay away from the Knysna main road between 10:00 and 15:00
If you are out make sure you never have to use the public convenience.
Your holiday season only syarts from 6th January and runs to 6 December.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[handmade]

Having been here around 7 years the tourists have yet to get to me. In fact I find the change a pleasure. It's great to go to a restaurant where there's some new life during this time. I find the different people interesting and I actually enjoy the town when it's busy. I also enjoy the busy beaches most times, provided the secluded little spots my wife and I occasionally frequent remain secluded spots :-)

I must admit to the following though.
I do not enjoy the traffic (anyone who does should be shot)
I don't enjoy parking 100m's or more from the beach.
Lastly, I don't enjoy the price hikes. I find I get more annoyed each time I see the ridiculous prices.

A few tips to the Vaalies.

Buy all your sun tan lotion and swimwear in winter in Gauteng. If you don't, make sure your purse is packed before you come down.
If you can bring your own food, particularly meat. Prices tend to go up by the day.

Bring your own medication, pain pills etc.

Buy at the Spa's, Pick n' Pay and Checkers etc. The beach cafes will empty your wallet in no time.

Bring a cooler bag and take a packed basket to the beach.

Some basic beach rules.

Use sun block at all times.

Carefully choose your exposure times in the sun and stick to them strictly, particularly if you have kids. A young child with sun stroke on the first day will spoil your whole vacation.

Don't fall asleep in the sun.

Don't allow young children to swim alone even in a calm sea.
Never swim in the sea after dark.

Always stick between the life guard beacons.,

Don't swim if there is no life guard.

If the sea is rough go to the movies or for walks along the beach or in the forest.

If it's windy and you want to sit on the beach protect your child's ears.

If the sea is too murky stay out of it.

Make sure your children understand the dangers of sea currents.

Never allow them to swim near rocks unless attended, it is low tide and there are no breakers.

Never allow children to dive off rocks into the sea.

Don't leave expensive cameras, cell phones, CD equipment etc. on the beach unattended (with so many people on the beach it's likely to grow legs).

Don't make fires on the beach.

If you are a smoker don't use the beach as an ashtray.

Take a garbage bag with and clean up before you leave.

[kindaconfuzed]

Handmade

The list of "do nots" doesn't seem to relate to your statement that you don't mind the influx over the holiday season. But isn't that the point, nobody minds the visitors its just the inconvenience that they cause.

You guys make me laugh when you talk about the traffic when it can take me 2.5 hours to drive out of London (only 35 miles), but I realise its all relative. If yo guys are used to getting thru town in under 5 mins then 10 mins is a bind.

I guess nobody has been to see the parrott in the cafe in Plett, its a smart parrott and he knows what the tourist means to the area, check him out (restaurant on main street on the corner opposite Foschini's and it sells decent foreign beer). I've told you guys before about this parrot!

I agree with the restaurants needing some life in them, its good to see. I'm not sure there is a lot of money about in the off season, except for the hotel at the Waterfront that seems to boast publicly about how much it's overcharging!

The problem hasn't changed from 20 years ago (when we lived there) it was much the same, you didn't go to the restaurants and the prices increased at Xmas but then the traders are happy and its not the easiest of places to earn a crust with all that competition about.

Chin up, the parrot is kinda happy,

And after all its only for a month!

Kinda laughin (I'm sitting at a computer, its cold, I have a 1.5 hour journey to travel just 30 miles, there's no sun, no temperate forests, no fishing, no nice beaches) its all kina relative.

Hope no one gets sun burn.

I for one wished I was kinda there, tourist or not!

Kinda wishin I was there regardless of the traffic.


ps Whats the problem with the wate being cloudy is that cos the sharks cant see ya or is it that you cant see the sharks!

[handmade]

Actually there are a few factors to consider when swimming in murky water, particularly when it applies to young children.
Ear ache or infection
Eye infection, conjunctivitis
diarrhoea, cramps and so on and so forth, not to mention the fact that sharks generally prefer this type of water to feed in, but this was not the point really.