It had been 22 months since we’d taken kids to Leisure Isle in Knysna so it was high time we returned to its magnificent Bollard Bay Beach and Kingfisher Creek.

There were 18 kids and 8 of us adults. As the tide was just turning, we still had time to take the short cut to Kingfisher’s Creek (the beach on the other side that faces Thesen Islands), around the bend via the sandy shore and beautiful, beachfront houses. Sea lettuce and moss accompanied our footsteps much of the way. From there, it’s a short stroll through the shade of trees into Steenbok Nature Reserve which is so well tended to by Gardening@Leisure. Sad that on such a beautiful morning, the tennis courts were empty and only two people were on the bowling greens. However, we encountered at least a dozen people out for a stroll with their partners or pets.

Cutting through the small roads and houses, we were back at Bollard Bay to enjoy the majestic view of the Knysna Heads across the Knysna Estuary. The water was chilly but the kids were quick to brave it before before spending much of their time racing up and down or digging holes that would soon be filled by the incoming sea. A number of friendly dogs were loose and the kids were quick to embrace them. Antoinette, the little girl in the red costume, got the most photo attention because she couldn’t stop smiling and laughing with joy – in one picture, she’s doing that even as she’s falling 🙂

I’d started getting the picnic food ready at 6am that morning, cramming cheese, cucumber and tomato into health bread. I even added eggs which some kids eat and some don’t, according to what branch of Rastafari their families practice. Same for the cheese. Apples, bananas and fruit juice rounded it off well. I generally don’t give sweets but each got treated with a strawberry or cream soda fizzer. Some of the helpers brought chips. As usual, the kids gobbled it into their tummies’ parallel universes.

Kids and teens sleeping is a sure sign of a good day. I rounded off my morning with a brunch braai with mates when i got home 🙂

Thanks to Birgitt, Natasha, George, Stef, Rebecca and Nicky for helping out. Photos by me and Birgitt. Many hands equal light work and made for a lovely morning.