Pink Skies at Sea Point Prom

Date: 2 August 2012

Location: Sea Point

Walker: Michele, Dorothy, Dayne and Helen

Archive of all Prom walks here.

It's been a while since I walked along the prom. Good to be back! The strange white horses are still there.



The beach was looking rather empty and wintery.




As the sun set the skies blazed with gold, orange and pink.




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The Day Fades on the Prom

Date: 1 June 2012

Location: Sea Point

Walker: Helen and Dorothy

Archive of all Prom walks here.

We started our walk along the Sea Point Promenade in glorious sunshine.



But the days are short now, and by the time we reached Saunders Rock and turned around the sun was gone and a chilly sea mist was coming in.




And there was a beautiful moon up above.


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Green Grass on the Promenade

Date: 12 April 2012

Location: Sea Point

Walker: Helen and Dorothy

Archive of all Prom walks here.



We had a lot of rain over Easter and Cape Town has greened up beautifully. When Dorothy and I went down to the Prom for a walk we were impressed by how lovely and lush the green lawns looked.



I've missed my regular walks along the Prom. It is good to smell the ocean at the end of the day.



This time of year the light is golden.




The public pool is on winter time, which means it is closed by 5pm. After hours it is a playground for gulls.



As we looked out to the setting sun Dorothy spotted a whale blowing.


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A Stroll along the Pipe Track

Date: 25 September 2011

Location: from Kloof Nek

Walkers: Helen and Dorothy

Previous walks on the Pipe Track here, here and here.



Although the path follows the contour there are enough ups and downs on this route to get the heart rate going a bit. Especially on a hot afternoon! We were grateful for the shade from the trees along the way.




Table Mountain, seen from the side.



Eye-catching bark on this tree.



And an usual 'dead thing'. I wonder what the plant looked like before.



We walked out for half an hour and then turned around and walked back. Fresh air and a bit of exercise, just what the doctor ordered :-)


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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.


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Partway along the Pipe Track

Date: 24 September 2011

Location: from Kloof Nek

Walkers: Helen, Ian and the dogs

Previous walks on the Pipe Track here and here.

The Pipe Track is always a good choice for a walk late in the day as it catches all the afternoon sunshine. My brother was looking after a couple of dogs for the weekend so they came along with us. The start of the trail is off Tafelberg Road, just near Kloof Nek. We led the excited hounds up the steps and along the path. Table Mountain loomed directly right above, with the upper cable station clearly visible.



Camps Bay was visible below us...



... and, as we rounded the corner, we saw the Twelve Apostles.



And flowers! There were little sprays of Geissorhiza aspera everywhere.



And also many clumps of Adenandra. Such an attractive flower!



There are a fair number of trees along the route, mostly old stone pines.



I was excited to see a clump of Lachenalia right next to the path.




Although much of the path is on the level, there are one of two places where it goes down and then up again.



It was in one of these dips that we found masses of these adorable white star-shaped flowers. I think they are Spiloxene aquatica.



They varied in size considerably: some tiny but others quite large.




Once out of the dip we got to look back at Lions Head.



But mostly our focus was on the flowers alongside the path!




I think this unusual bush is a sort of brunia.



And... a fallen giant. One the old pines has toppled over.



The dogs had a wonderful time running up and down. So much to sniff!



And while they found interesting smells we spotted more flowers. Including Aspalanthus, Wachendorfia, and Moraea...





The path does continue on for quite a way but it was time for us to turn around and head back. We all thoroughly enjoyed this walk!


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