tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12668132637902945592024-03-13T07:47:19.518+02:00Walking the CapeExplorations on foot in and around Cape TownHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.comBlogger511125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-48262359574320634702012-12-17T21:50:00.000+02:002012-12-17T21:51:03.404+02:00Stellenberg Open Garden Revisited
Date: 3 November 2012
Location: Stellenberg in Kenilworth in Cape Town's Southern Suburbs
Walkers: Dorothy and Helen
Previous visit to Stellenberg Open Garden here (in 2010).
Stellenberg Manor House is such a gracious old Cape Dutch building.
And the garden... just gorgeous! We started in the white garden.
And then through to the vegetable garden...
... for a Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-50337975911681949802012-12-17T15:21:00.000+02:002012-12-17T15:21:25.331+02:00Franschhoek Open Gardens - Part III
Date: 28 October 2012
Location: Franschhoek
Walkers: Jenny, Iain and Helen
See also: Part I and Part II.
The last few gardens on our tour were out of town.
Our first stop, out on the Excelsior Road, was Sandstone House, a fairly new and rather grand and formal house and garden.
This garden had lush green lawns and a couple of ponds.
There was a fynbos section near the tennis Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-51691914530009384452012-12-17T13:34:00.002+02:002012-12-17T15:24:30.695+02:00Franschhoek Open Gardens - Part II
Date: 28 October 2012
Location: Franschhoek
Walkers: Jenny, Iain and Helen
See also: Part I.
Our next stop on our tour of the open gardens of Franschhoek was La Rive.
This property was immediately appealing, with its thatched buildings, serene swimming pool and curving beds spilling over with white, purple and pink flowers. So, so pretty!
Pansies! A favourite of mine...
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-10654705510427695292012-12-09T19:46:00.000+02:002012-12-17T15:22:54.019+02:00Franschhoek Open Gardens - Part I
Date: 28 October 2012
Location: Franschhoek
Walkers: Jenny, Iain and Helen
The little town of Franschhoek is an hour's drive from Cape Town. This was my first visit to their Open Gardens. Our first stop was the Town Hall to get tickets, and then we set off on foot to see a couple of gardens in nearby van Wijk Street.
Garden No.3 had an enormous Erythrina tree in the front yard. I liked the Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-19265827184461148332012-12-09T18:27:00.003+02:002012-12-09T18:29:19.212+02:00Stroll Behind Bo Kaap
Date: 21 October 2012
Location: Lower slopes of Signal Hill from the Bo Kaap
Walkers: Dom, Dorothy and the dogs
Previous walk in the Bo Kaap area here.
We set from my friend's place on the edge of the Bo Kaap, following the road that leads to the Noon Gun.
It was late afternoon and very windy, but as we got further up the road it was more sheltered and quite lush and green, Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-62041945238295526202012-12-02T21:17:00.001+02:002012-12-02T21:25:16.858+02:00Strelitzia Season at Kirstenbosch
Date: 20 October 2012
Location: Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
Walker: Helen
The Kirstenbosch archive is here.
I popped into the garden to see what was in flower in the seasonal beds. Wow... what a lot of colour!
Ah, there's the striking Strelitzia, or crane flower. That orange is so bright!
The yellow variety is known as 'Mandela's Gold'. Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-52909508801792856982012-12-02T20:30:00.001+02:002012-12-02T20:30:28.930+02:00Back to Babylonstoren
Date: 12 April 2012
Location: Babylonstoren, near Klapmuts in the Cape Winelands
Walkers: Dorothy, Brenda and Helen
My previous visit to Babylonstoren is here.
We took a Sunday drive out to the countryside to visit this wonderful garden, my second visit. I was looking forward to seeing it in the springtime.
The labyrinth near the entrance was full of colour and lovely herby Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-80143945923629043772012-12-02T18:45:00.000+02:002012-12-02T18:45:08.038+02:00Ou Kraal Boyes Drive Circle
Date: 7 October 2012
Location: Silvermine East, above St James, from Boyes Drive
Walkers: Dorothy and Helen
*** Route plotted here ***
For other walks up the Ou Kraal path see the archive here.
The weather looks rather threatening so we picked a short and easy walk up Ou Kraal and crossed fingers the rain would hold off.
Flowers spotted on the way up: Satyrium odorum, an orchid.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-33475596859562756272012-11-25T20:58:00.002+02:002012-11-25T21:01:58.060+02:00Meander along the Table Mountain Contour
Date: 6 October 2012
Location: Table Mountain
Walkers: Brenda and Helen
*** Route plotted here ***
The Table Mountain Contour Path archive is here.
Brenda and I parked at Platteklip Gorge and walked down Tafelberg Road to the start of the Saddle Path. Up the steps we went.
Alongside the path we saw clumps of the painted lady, Gladiolus carneus.
Also Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-66989542444091317412012-11-25T19:24:00.000+02:002012-11-25T19:25:05.092+02:00Babianas at Kloof Corner
Date: 2 October 2012
Location: Table Mountain
Walkers: Dorothy and Helen
For other walks up Kloof Corner see the archive here.
The days are getting longer and - yay -- it is possible to do walks after work again. This afternoon Dorothy and I went up the steps at Kloof Corner.
Flowers spotted on the way up: Wachendorfia paniculata.
The white scabiosa, S. columbaria.
Another Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-5667025527199185352012-11-25T18:42:00.000+02:002012-11-25T18:46:31.679+02:00Spring Showers in Newlands Forest
Date: 22 September 2012
Location: Newlands Forest
Walkers: Helen and Michele
Look at the Newlands Forest archive here.
We met for a lunchtime walk in Newlands Forest. On the way up to the forest we admired the bright new leaves on the trees.
We followed our usual path uphill, alongside the river.
This time of year the hillside looks green and lush...
... the streams are Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-4623557741278622772012-11-25T18:14:00.001+02:002012-11-25T18:14:33.245+02:00YUM! Pork Sausages
Cold bangers make a delicious picnic food. We ate these ones on the Palmiet River Walk in Kogelberg Nature Reserve.
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-11111088029024265552012-11-24T15:25:00.000+02:002012-11-24T20:28:31.322+02:00Kogelberg: Palmiet River Circle
Date: 16 September 2012
Location: Kogelberg
Walkers: Dorothy, Michele, Aafke & Helen
*** Route plotted here ***
Previous walks along this route here and here.
First warm sunny day of the Spring! We made an early start and were in Kogelberg before nine, setting off on the Palmiet River Walk route.
After all the rain we've had the river was extremely full Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-16300885737657522702012-11-24T15:23:00.000+02:002012-11-24T15:52:58.887+02:00Late Afternoon Walk on Table Mountain Contour
Date: 9 September 2012
Location: Table Mountain
Walkers: Dorothy, Michele & Helen
Archive of walks along Table Mountain Contour Path here.
We followed our favourite route up Kloof Corner steps, along the contour, down under the Cableway path and back on the road.
Some of the flowers spotted along the way: baby blue Lobostemon.
A yellow Hermannia.
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-89565611236721143492012-10-05T21:29:00.000+02:002012-10-16T22:05:46.772+02:00Up Lions Head, One More Time!
Date: 8 September 2012Location: Lion's HeadWalkers: Michele & HelenArchive of Lion's Head walks here.
Mich and I set off on the same walk we had done the week before.
We walked quickly and only took a breather on the plateau.
Growing here: fragrant confetti bush, Coleonema album.
Flowers seen on the way down, still covered in morning due: lobostemon.
And this delicate Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-20482758604831244302012-10-04T21:13:00.000+02:002012-10-16T21:25:17.271+02:00Kloof Corner: Up and Down
Date: 5 September 2012
Location: Table Mountain
Walkers: Michele & Helen
Kloof Corner archive here.
Michele and I did a quick exercise walk up the Kloof Corner steps.
We weren't really there to look at flowers, but we did notice the red proteas.
And there was trachyandra growing alongside the path.
And higher up the slope: beautiful blue babiana.
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-74883258461461845522012-10-03T20:56:00.000+02:002012-10-16T21:05:05.600+02:00Short Walk on Tafelberg Road
Date: 4 September 2012
Location: Table Mountain
Walkers: Helen & Michele
Archive of all walks along Tafelberg Road here.
Michele joined me for a short walk after work. A birthday walk!
We started at Platteklip and walked on to the closed section of the road.
It was very busy with other walkers and cyclists. We continued on to the corner, and then walked back again, Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-62993748141406179652012-10-02T20:41:00.000+02:002012-10-16T20:52:53.594+02:00Amphitheatre Path in September
Date: 12 September 2012
Location: Silvermine Nature Reserve
Walkers: Michele and Helen
*** Route plotted here ****
Archive of walks on this route . Amphitheatre Path archive here.
We had great weather for this walk - clear, crisp air and some welcome early-spring sunshine. We followed our usual route along the path, direction Elephant Eye Cave. Amphitheatre path, counter-clockwise.
AfterHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-83335727531161405162012-10-01T21:27:00.000+02:002012-10-16T21:28:17.783+02:00YUM! Dried Apricots After Lions Head
I love the tartness of good dried apricots. They also go really well with raw almonds. We snacked on both up on Lion's Head.
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Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-33015298570629272032012-10-01T19:21:00.000+02:002012-10-16T21:41:16.442+02:00Up Lion's Head Again
Date: 1 September 2012Location: Lion's HeadWalkers: Michele & HelenArchive of Lion's Head walks here.
A bright sunny spring morning, and Michele and I set off up Lion's Head.
Flowers greeted us right near the start of the walk: salmon-coloured morea.
The slopes above were like a garden... rich with flowers and bushy foliage.
We'd forgotten what a trudge the start of this walk Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-52449226340717747032012-09-12T19:33:00.000+02:002012-09-22T19:37:30.516+02:00Table Mountain: Climbing Up Under the Cableway
Date: 30 August 2012
Location: Table Mountain
Walkers: Michele & Helen
*** Route plotted here ***
Archive of other walks along the Table Mountain Contour here.
We started at Kloof Corner like we usually do but decided to do this favourite walk the other way around for a change. We walked on Tafelberg Road to the Lower Cable Station and followed the path up under the trees.
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-40670365022094703242012-09-11T18:29:00.000+02:002012-09-22T19:35:10.372+02:00Late Afternoon Stroll Along Tafelberg Rd
Date: 24 August 2012
Location: Table Mountain
Walkers: Helen & Brenda
Archive of all walks along Tafelberg Road here.
We started our walk at the Kloof Corner parking area. From here I like to look down to the hairpin bend below.
We walked on along the road, past the lower cable way station and onwards towards Platteklip. I also love the view down to the harbour.
We Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-62425134256612010752012-09-10T16:05:00.007+02:002012-09-22T18:10:10.841+02:00Table Mountain Contour Path
Date: 18 August 2012
Location: Table Mountain
Walkers: Michele & Helen
*** Route plotted here ***
Archive of other walks along the Table Mountain Contour here.
This is the same walk Michele and I did a fortnight ago but this time my camera played along a little better. Once again the weather was perfect and once again we started at Kloof Corner and walked all the way along Tafelberg Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-73320192405154040462012-09-09T16:03:00.005+02:002012-09-13T20:07:47.740+02:00Newlands Forest on Women's DayDate: 9 August 2012Location: Newlands ForestWalkers: Dorothy, Claudia and HelenSee the Newlands Forest archive here.My only plan for celebrating Women's Day this year was a morning walk in the forest with my girl friends. The weather played along nicely.We did the usual route, along the Woodcutter's Path. There is a new signboard up, pointing out the way.All feels well in the world after a walk Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1266813263790294559.post-43318532554808055932012-09-08T16:01:00.006+02:002012-09-13T19:55:50.520+02:00Bad Weather at Muizenberg BeachDate: 4 August 2012Location: MuizenbergWalkers: HelenCheck out the Muizenberg Beach archive for all walks here.I had a little time to kill in the Muizenberg area so I headed down to the beach for a bit of a leg-stretch.It was a cool, cloudy day and there weren't many people around at all. Except the intrepid surfers!I hadn't walked far when the rain arrived. I hurried back as fast as I could, Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13095206583353997619noreply@blogger.com0