Camps Bay Beach

Date: 5 March 2010

Location: Camps Bay

Walker: Helen

**** Route plotted here ****

A perfect afternoon prompted me to head down to Camps Bay beach for a quick stroll.



I parked on the Clifton side of Victoria Road, where I got a wonderful view of the bay and the wide expanse of white sand down below. I wandered down to the beach, where I immediately took my shoes off... I do love the feel of fine soft sand between my toes!



I turned right and headed towards the giant granite boulders. The boulders provide plenty of private sheltered hideaways at the edge of the beach. A sandy path lead upwards, so I followed it.



From the top I got a lovely view of the next bay, Glen Beach.



After making my way down to this beach I explored around the boulders and felt the water - rather chilly, although I have felt it colder before.




Mountains all around: Lion's Head, Table Mountain and the start of the Twelve Apostles range. The homes here on exclusive Glen Beach are a mix of cute cottages and massive modern mansions.




From the far side of the beach I could see past the boulders to the other end of Camps Bay Beach beyond. I turned around and headed that way.



Camps Bay Beach really is gorgeous. I followed the gentle curve all the way along, paddling in the frothy shallows.




There was a lot of activity on the beach... in the sea: surfers and swimmers. There was also a guy trying this new sport of paddling while standing on a long board (there was a lot of falling in). And a bunch of kids with short boards were sliding into the waves from the shore - they were having a ball.





On the sand there was a nosiy team of teenage tourists playing rugby. They were having a ball too - literally!



Most folks were soaking up the sun or relaxing under umbrellas.




And some folks were working... guys walking up and down with cooler boxes, selling ice-creams and cold drinks; deck chair and brolly vendors manning their stores, and cops patrolling (I think they were warning this walker that dogs aren't allowed on the beach). There were also a couple of 'massage on the beach' gazebos!




At the far end of the beach are some grassy lawns, trees and palms.




There are also rocks at this end of the beach, although these are flatter than the round boulders at Glen Beach.



After taking in the sweep of the beach from this side I made my way back.


(Photos by Helen)
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The Glen

Date: 4 October 2009

Location: from Kloof Nek to Camps Bay

Walkers: Delphi and Helen

**** Route plotted here ****

We started our walk from Kloof Nek, taking the stairs between Kloof Street and Camps Bay Drive. The path lead down into a wooded area.



It was wonderfully green and lush.




The vegetation was a mix - some indigenous trees and shrubs, but also oaks, planes, palms and other exotics. Plus lots of tall stone pines.



As we walked on we got glimpses to our left out towards the Pipe Track. Usually one would see Table Mountain but the line of cloud was down so very low that the mountain was hidden from view this day.



In a couple of places the path passed through delightful grassy meadows.



To our left was a steep gully at the bottom of which ran a stream.



We passed through a spacious picnic area - totally deserted - and stopped for a moment to admire the bright new growth on the yellow-woods.



Lions Head on our right was also mostly obscured by low clouds. We didn't mind that there were no views as we were loving the vibrant green of the trees and undergrowth.





And, of course, the flowers!

Some familiar friends: snowdrops, Sparaxis bulbifera, Lachenalia orchioides, Moraea (vegeta?), Felicia fruticosa, Coleonema Album.




And some things I hadn't seen before: Wachendorfia paniculata



This white flower - some sort of Ornithogalum perhaps?
(Update: or maybe Crassula capensis, altho the stem colour is wrong)



Pink Erica - maybe Erica palliflora? (Update: more likely Erica baccans)



Hmmm... not sure of the name of this shrub. It looks like some sort of fynbos, but I can't make a positive identification. Such strange little pink tufts! Do you know what it is? (Update: could this be a type of Cliffortia?)



I know this one: sweet little Spiloxene capensis.



Plenty of nasturtiums. Also, several other plants which don't look like fynbos - I reckon some of these are garden escapees.




And then there was this odd plant which I cannot identify. Help?!



We also saw some insects. Stinkbugs were all over a fragrant Pelargonium.



And this little beetle was nestling in a chink, Ornithogalum thyrsoides.



As we emerged from the bottom of the Glen we got a view out to Glen Beach below and the rest of Camps Bay. The clouds had lifted a little, but we still couldn't see much of the Twelve Apostles.



We decided to cross Victoria Road and go down to Glen Beach to feel the water... it was cold!.



After our quick beach visit, we had to climb all the way back up.


(Photos by Helen)
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