J BAY & BEYOND

If you’re a natural footer, or one who can appreciate a long point break, chances are you’ve dreamt about surfing Jeffreys Bay in South Africa, more affectionately known as J-Bay. And if you’re as old as I am chances are you’ve seen the cult surf flick “Endless Summer” too. J-Bay had always been on my radar and Mick Fanning tickling up a great white shark wasn’t going to quash my dream either. Things in life were starting to shape up and the dream was taking shape. I started thinking - if I’m going to the other side of the world then I was going to do it properly. One thing I’ve learnt in travel over the years is that if you do it cheap you get cheap, if you do it well you’re left with life long memories of your travels. I was determined to make this trip the epitome of a South African sojourn. My travellers mind started working overtime and I thought, why stop at J-bay? I mean South Africa is a tiny country within a large continent and the culture and wildlife over there fascinates me. So the dream grew, and by the time my partner and 12yr old grom boarded our flight the dream was booked and it was massive… And so was the cost. However, the last thing you’re thinking about when you’re lost in the moment absorbing the experience, is the cost. First stop was J-Bay needless to say. Being in travel definitely has its perks (as Steve Dickinson well knows!) and the generous folk at African Perfection looked after us with an apartment right on the beach in front of “Supertubes” at J-Bay. Endless lines of swell peeled down the point and it was off the hook mesmerizing. Our 2-story apartment had a balcony with the most amazing 180 view and it didn’t take long to get suited up in the 3/2mm rubber and grab some advice on entering and exiting the line up through the rocks.

"J-Bay had always been on my radar and Mick Fanning tickling up a great white shark wasn’t going to quash my dream either."