In 1987, the only way across from the Cape Collinson Road to Big Wave Bay was still a narrow, rough path across the flank of Pottinger Peak. In 1958, our route across the same terrain had followed an indistinct path but the grass had been so short a path wasn't really necessay. By 1987 the vegetation had started to grow (compare with one of my 1958 photographs). After the R.A.F. left Little Sai Wan, very few people would have walked to Big Wave Bay from the Cape Collinson Road. It would take the completion of the huge development at Siu Sai Wan before the path became more widely used and ultimately improved into the well graded and paved path now there. By 2005 the final very steep section of the path down into the bay was just visible in the tall vegetation above the BBQ pits. You had to be young to scramble down that slope!
Comments
Big Wave Bay 1930 and 1987
Andrew's 1987 photo distantly shows the group of rocks on which my uncle's family were sitting in the 1930 photo that I posted at http://gwulo.com/atom/22806
Jill
Hi Jill
Hi Jill
Pleased to hear that you spotted the 'famous' rocks! Even in 1958 very few of these buildings behind the beach existed - just a few farm houses with small fields around them. In 1930, when your relations went there, it would have been been like that - a very different place to how it is now. On my last visit in 2007, the café at the top of the beach served some good food, even in out of season December! I had a quick swim in some moderately bracing waves and, coming from a cold U.K., I didn't need a wet suit!
Best wishes Andrew