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Once you have inspected the camels in this area proceed round to the other side of the island to see the wildebeest, hippopotamuses and elephants.

After the excitement of seeing all this wild-life go and sun-bathe – topless – on the Moon Base One Topless Beach (pictured below).

Seriously (as if you hadn’t suspected) there are no camels, wildebeest , hippopotamuses or indeed elephants on Ascension Island. Neither, contrary to the picture, is Moon Base One Topless Beach a beach let alone a topless one.

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Both these features of Ascension life are quirky amusements for locals and visitors alike,

The camel sign, which you will find on the main road to English Bay, was apparently supplied in error – other warning signs having been ordered by the roads department. Not wanting to waste it (the cost of returning it from mid Atlantic would have put that out of the question) lateral thinking officials had it erected. It probably works much better at slowing traffic than any other sign on the island as passers-by stop or slow down for a giggle.

The “topless beach” is a small area of sand – insufficient to stretch out on – laid out as pictured and located on the right hand side of the unsealed road as you drive in to Comfortless Cove (a real beach) from the main road. Its about 300mtrs from the coast. Exposure on this beach would undoubtedly provide an amusing diversion for the chaps working at the base just behind it. As an observation base, one can assume they can see you without you seeing them!

Address: En-route to English Bay / Comfortless Cove

This blog entry is one of a group (loop) of entries on my trip to Ascension Island. I suggest you continue with my next entry – HERE.
To return to the beginning of this loop click HERE.

 

9 thoughts on “Slow down and don’t get burnt !”

  1. Hi, and what a great site, as for me well I spent 15 years on Ascension and I can tell you it is a really great Island not just for it’s beauty but also the Saint Helenians who are the most helpful, friendly and accommodating nation you could wish to meet. I once won the Monthly Medal at One Boat Golf Club and the Captain immediately dropped my handicap by six strokes !!! to 16 from 24. I now live and work on St Helena and I miss Ascension a lot (except the Mosquitos) especially a Saturday watching the fishermen bringing in their Tuna catch and then to the Saints Club (the best pub on the Island) for a cool beer. Thanks for helping me to reminisce memories are made of this. Chelsea Pete

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    1. Hi Pete – Thank you so much for your kind compliment and feedback. You are so right about the Saints and lovely to see you are now on St Helena. I have travelled a lot and I dont think I could name a more welcoming and accomodating people. Due the RMS St Helena shipping schedule I only had a couple of days on St Helena but would have loved more. Did you see my posts on St Helena? I often wonder how the airport (shambolic thought it was) has effected life on the island. Funny but since Covid I have had a significant increase in visits to my Ascension Islands posts and in the past week a massive (for me) number of hits from UK domain (which I assume you would be on too). I get that every so often and cant understand why .. perhaps a change of garrison there and my page is deemed essential reading for new arrivals …. wishful thinking on my part LOL.

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  2. Isn’t the moon base one and thus the topless beach located at the road to comfortless cove instead of english bay? I thought english bay was the area next to the BBC facilities at the northernmost shore. See a bit of discrepancy here. Never been to Ascension though but willing to do so as soon as flight connection revives. A big thanks anyways for these great blog loop entries, best source for details! (which is in fact not a fair reputation for the official ascension government’s web page). Can’t wait to get there.

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    1. Firstly thank you very much for the kind words about my blog entries. It is much appreciated. I thoroughly recommend you go there and indeed if possible combine it will a visit to St Helena – https://ramblingwombat.wordpress.com/2017/01/14/st-helena-introduction/
      You are 100% correct – Moon Base One (and thus the topless beach) are en route to Comfortless Cove and not English Bay. Thank you for pointing this out – I have corrected two entries accordingly.

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      1. The topless beach was created by bored Royal Engineers (512STRE) in 1984 whilst operating a Doppler Tracking Station. We transported sand from Comfortless Cove in a dodge pick up and then spent many an hour drinking/sunbathing waiting for satellites to come and go.

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