Lion's Head 2011 - Walk 2

Date: 9 January 2011

Location: Lion's Head

Walkers: Michele & Helen

For the archive of Lion's Head walks see here.


Hooray, the heat wave finally ended! What a pleasure to wake to a cool and misty morning. Michele and I set off for our weekly walk up Lion's Head, following the usual route and enjoying the softness of the views below. Fingers of cloud were drifting through the Nek.




Unfortunately we didn't get very far as I was not feeling well. Even though I really wanted to walk I was just not managing the climb. So we decided to turn around and head down again.



Instead we walked slowly along the flat contour path towards Signal Hill.



It was nice to be outside and I enjoyed the variety of textures, forms and colours in the grey-green spectrum in the fynbos alongside the path.







As we walked back along Signal Hill Road we stopped to inspect a flowering gum tree covered in clumps of pink flowers.




The buds open into flowers that remind me of sea anemones. Aren't they gorgeous? I love the vibrant colour when they're in full bloom, and the way they fade to a peachy shade.




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Biodiversity Garden at Green Point Park

Date: 4 January 2011

Location: Green Point

Walkers: Claudia, Dorothy & Helen

For info about this garden look here.

Last year, while Cape Town Stadium was being completed, work began on Green Point Park, the new urban green-space adjoining the stadium, golf course and Mouille Point. On my visits in May and August I could see they were planning a planted garden within the park. It all looked very interesting and work was happening fast and furious. In September the park was closed to the public as construction and planting continued (although I followed progress reports on this blog). The garden was finally opened towards the end of December but this was my opportunity to visit.



We went in at the west entrance and walked up the wide paved path. To our left was the body of water lying between the park and the golf course and stadium. Seagulls have made this their home and there was much happy shrieking from the birds.



The park was on our right, with more canal and dams. I find water features in a garden very pleasing. A mountain backdrop doesn't hurt either - Signal Hill and Lion's Head lie beyond. Signal Hill was looking grey-brown after the fires that burnt the slopes about a week ago. Poor old hill!



We strolled around onto the lawns. It was a very hot day and I thought how lovely it will be when all these newly planted trees grow tall and provide some shade. The occasional sea breeze we felt was extremely welcome.



After circling round it we now made our way to the Biodiversity Garden. There are three different areas to explore: the wetlands section, the people and plants section and the main discovering biodiversity section. We started in the main section, where there are many information boards explaining all about biodiversity. Very educational!




One of the focal points in this area is the khoikhoi huts and fire circle.



Dorothy and Claudia took shelter from the hot sun for a few minutes.



Then we spotted a caracal!



Animals sculptures are dotted around the garden. Aren't they delightful?




There are also beautiful beaded beasties here and there. How fun.




My favourite of all were the colourful leaping fish.



The beds are looking good too, considering they were planted only a couple of months ago. Some beds are thriving, and others not as much. In general though the new garden is doing well and I'm really keen to watch it grow and get established over the new few years.




It is evident that a huge amount of planning, effort and love has gone into the garden. I particularly like the signage - all very informative, and also done with a sense of humour - and I look forward to visiting the garden again and read the boards more carefully (on this visit it was too hot for my brain to take in any information). This garden is a perfect place to bring children and tourists and anyone interested in the environment.





The only thing that disappointed me was that there were so few other people around, although perhaps that had to do with the very hot weather.



The park has a lot of amenities: water points, picnic tables, shaded benches. I like the clean modern lines and the use of natural materials like stone and wood in the design. There were security guards wandering around so we felt quite safe in the garden too. This is a big plus - I'd feel quite happy walking on my own here.




The wetlands garden was my favourite area - I love the vegetation. The wooden decks are great - being beside water is calming and cooling. I can see this garden is going to become one of my favourite places!



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Lion's Head 2011 - Walk 1

Date: 3 January 2011

Location: Lion's Head

Walkers: Michele & Helen

For the archive of Lion's Head walks see here.

*** Route plotted here ***

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This was my first walk in ten days. I didn't meant to take such a long break from walking over the festive season but between work, various other commitments, uncooperative weather and extreme laziness it just ended up that way. I enjoyed the rest, but by the start of this week I was itching to get out on the slopes again. So.... back to Lion's Head!



By the end of 2010 I was happy that the weekly "training walk" programme I'd been keeping to for the previous seven weeks had done what it was meant to. I felt much fitter, and confident that I'd manage the 5-day hike coming up in March just fine. For the next two months I wish to maintain my fitness level by continuing to walk regularly. I'm not going to try to follow any particular schedule though, but rather just walk as often as I can. This will include my favourite routes in the city bowl (Lion's Head, Kloof Corner and Sea Point Promenade) as well as other walks... every weekend and once or twice during the week as well, if at all possible.



The walk: We started out at 5pm, but as it's midsummer now, it was still hot and sunny. So we took it slow up the familiar path. The recent rains meant that the fynbos was looking green and lush, and the south-easters had blown all the smog away. The skies were clear blue and Cape Town was looking gorgeous!



We were walking west and into the sun and, boy, was it hot! The sun glinting off the sea was blindingly bright, and the cicadas were screeching. Even though it was late afternoon I could feel the sun burning my skin, and as we walked around the bend and out of the breeze the air felt dense. Urgh! I'd forgotten summer could be like this. Neither Michele or I handle the heat at all well, and it seems to be getting worse as we get older, so we found it rather hard-going. It was a different feeling from struggling along due to being unfit - we could feel that the strain we were taking on this walk was all about the heat. Just being outside was bad, but exertion made it so much worse. We decided not to continue all the way to the top as planned but instead, at the fork, took the lower circular path.



This route took us along the side of the mountain and down towards the kramat. It was mostly along the level and then down-down-down. There was no shade or breeze of any kind until we got to the last section of the walk on the eastern side. Although I felt fine - just very hot and thirsty - after the walk about an hour later I got a fierce headache and nausea, and felt terrible for the rest of the evening. This experience was a bit of a wake-up call about walking in summer. For me, it is just not fun to be in the sun on very hot days! Walks need to be later in the afternoon/evening (or very early in the morning) and maybe in a place with shade. The next month or two are going to be a challenge.



There wasn't much in flower out on the mountain slopes, but we did spot this pretty pink flower. I think it is Orphium frutescens.



And good old everlastings too!


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