More Flowers in Newlands Forest

Date: 18 December 2011

Location: Newlands Forest

Walkers: Dorothy, Michele, Brenda & Helen

For all walks in Newlands Forest see the Newlands Forest archive.

We followed Dorothy's preferred route. First, up alongside the river.



Then we crossed over the stream to the left bank and straight up the steps.




This leads directlty to the Woodcutter's Path. As always, cool and green within the indigenous forest.



We walked back down on the road...



... and back into the shade of the forest as soon as could.



Slice of moon hanging over the mountain.



Flowers, indigenous and otherwise, spotted on the walk:








.

Happy Dog at Woodbridge Island

Date: 17 December 2011

Location: Milnerton Beach from Woodbridge Island

Walkers: Helen, Sarah and Malachy

Previous walks on this beach here, here and here.



I went for a walk on the beach at Woodbridge Island with my friend Sarah and her sweet dog Malachy. It was a glorious summer morning.



We walked carefully across the sand as the beach was covered in blue bottles. They were everywhere, but particularly all over the kelp.



We crossed over to the lagoon. Wispy clouds in the sky.



From here we got a great view across Table Bay to the city. Lions Head, Signal Hill and Cape Town Stadium.



Malachy went for a swim in the channel.



He's a pleasure to take to the beach - he's very well behaved, yet bounds around with such joy and happiness.



His best fun is chasing sticks in the waves.


.

Kloof Corner in December

Date: 16 December 2011

Location: Table Mountain

Walkers: Helen & Brenda

For other walks on this route see the Kloof Corner archive.

I haven't been doing a whole lot of walking lately (we can blame weather, work and other end-of-your commitments but it's mostly due to this). But at least I am managing to keep up with my weekly late-afternoon climb up the Kloof Corner steps with Brenda!



It is always a pleasure to get out onto the mountain on a sunny day.



And I love to check what's in flower. This week: Dischisma ciliatum...



... Adenandra uniflora...



... and Pseudoselago spuria.


.

Sun Rays at Kloof Corner

Date: 6 December 2011

Location: Table Mountain

Walkers: Brenda & Helen

For other walks on this route see the Kloof Corner archive.

It was gloomy and there was a lot of cloud swirling around Table Mountain, but it didn't look like rain so we decided to walk anyway... our usual route up Kloof Corner steps.



It was very pleasant walking in the cool shade.



As the path zigged to the right we got a view across the Atlantic. One sun ray breaking through the cloud and hitting the ocean.



We zagged in the other direction, climbing all the way.



And on the next zig there were more sun rays!



We pressed on up the final climb.



And sat for some moments on top, watching the light show.


.

Clifton Third Beach

Date: 2 December 2011

Location: Clifton

Walkers: Michele & Helen

Previous walks in the Clifton area here and here.

It was a horrible howling south-easter in town, so Michele and I took ourselves off to the Atlantic coast for a bit of a stroll and picnic on Clifton Beach. We parked on Victoria Road and took one of the many stepped paths down to the sand. Clifton is a affluent area and it's always fun to peek at the lovely cottages on the way down.




It wasn't long til we reached the sand. It was not entirely wind-free on the beach, but still very pleasant, warm and sunny. Water was freezing though.



Lion's Head loomed above.



We walked up and down a bit...



... then found a sheltered spot between the granite boulders and had some chips and Appletiser. Beaches are very relaxing - it was good to unwind after a busy day. Sand between the toes.



After a while the wind got up again, so we left at about 6.30pm, still broad daylight. On the way back up the stairs we had a nasty experience: a man tried to mug us. As it happened we were alone on the steps at the time, about two-thirds of the way up. A well-dressed man walked past us on his way down, greeted us, very friendly. A moment later he turned back up again and said he would be taking one of our bags. Michele was furious and yelled at him very loudly and angrily and he ran away. I'm not sure who got the bigger fright! We were fine and nothing taken - just really outraged that this happened at all. So our excursion ended at the Camps Bay police station where we went to report the incident.


.

A Cloud from Kloof Corner

Date: 29 November 2011

Location: Table Mountain

Walkers: Brenda & Helen

For other walks on this route see the Kloof Corner archive.

On our weekly walk up Kloof Corner steps Brenda and I were fascinated by the cloud sitting on the Saddle. It was beautiful sunny weather on our side of Table Mountain, so we were puzzled how and why this peculiar cloud had formed across on the other side. It wasn't flowing down the slope like a south-easter cloud. Instead it just seemed to sit there, nestling in the hollow, all fluffy and white. And really very pretty.




When we weren't staring at the unusual cloud we looked down to spot micranthus, the comb flower, growing alongside the path.



And pelargonium too. This inflorescence type is called umbel.



I wasn't feeling at all well and couldn't face the final climb up to the rock face. So I rested on a rock for a bit while Brenda charged up the final section on her own. And then we plodded down together.


.