Lion's Head: Training Walk, Week 7

Date: 18 December 2010

Location: Lion's Head

Walkers: Michele & Helen

For other training walks see here. For the Lion's Head archive see here.


Before: Back to Lion's Head. This time, a morning walk with an early start: 7am. I'm not a morning person. But it was a simply gorgeous day... and once I'd got over the shock of the early hour it was a pleasure to be out.



The walk: Excellent! Half-way up I had to have a short rest (a little bit of low blood pressure feebleness once again) but then carried on and felt fine.



Cape Town was looking particularly beautiful, and this walk remains one of my favourite routes of all time. I'm still not getting bored repeating this walk. And even though both Michele and I are slowly getting fitter (which is the whole point of our training programme of course) this walk is very much still a challenge... uphill all the way, baby.




We decided to turn around at the plateau. Big walk planned for tomorrow!



These tiny flowers were everywhere, some with white petals, some white and pink. I think they are Dianthus albens. Aren't they adorable?


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Prom: Training Walk, Week 7

Date: 16 December 2010

Location: Sea Point

Walker: Helen & Michele

Other training walks here, and other Promenade walks here.



Before: It was a public holiday today so I went down to walk round about lunchtime. I was surprised at how quiet the Prom was, this being holiday season and all. At first I thought it might be bit silly to choose to walk this time of day (y'know, mad dogs & Englishmen...) but when it clouded over a bit and a breeze came up it was extremely pleasant out.



The walk: Nice enough, although I will admit to getting a little bored with this route now. I've been feeling both physically and mentally tired the last little while, so this wasn't a high-energy walk. It felt a little routine.



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Lion's Head: Training Walk, Week 6

Date: 15 December 2010

Location: Lion's Head

Walkers: Michele & Helen

For other training walks see here. For the Lion's Head archive see here.

Before: Between work and other commitments, and the foul and filthy south-easter blowing up a storm last week, we didn't fit in our Lion's Head walk as originally planned. But better late than never, yes?



The walk: We set off on a still overcast Wednesday afternoon... perfect walking conditions. It was an straightforward plod all the way to the top. We forgot to bring along any snacks but we stopped for water often as it was humid and we quickly worked up quite a sweat.




It was interesting to see that the way the Athanasia is fading from bright yellow to a dull shade as the flowers go over. It's almost the summer solstice... spring is definitely over and we're into summer proper.



A few plants still looking lovely of course.



On the way down we could see it was going to be a spectacular sunset.


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Prom: Training Walk, Week 6

Date: 7 December 2010

Location: Sea Point

Walker: Helen & Michele

Other training walks here, and other Promenade walks here.

Before: This was going to be a busy week so I made sure I got a Prom walk in early, and Michele came along. Usual route, usual time.



The walk: It was an incredibly hot day, and this made walking a little tougher than usual. Lots of sips out of the water bottle! Otherwise it was an easy walk, and good to be near the ocean. The water looked fantastic.



I wanted to dive right in!


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Lion's Head: Training Walk, Week 5

Date: 4 December 2010

Location: Lion's Head

Walkers: Michele & Helen

For other training walks see here, and for the Lion's Head archive see here.

Before: I needed a lie-in this morning so only met Michele mid-morning for our fifth walk up the Head. Time was limited so our plan was to walk quickly. And we were certainly hoping for a little less excitement than last week.

A friend wondered if we were getting bored doing the same route very week, but we're not - at all. Of course Lion's Head is a great walk with fabulous scenery round every bend, but it goes beyond that. We're enjoying the ritual and routine of following the same path every time, of keeping track of our progress and comparing our experiences each walk. And observing the changes in the environment week by week.

The walk: First thing we noticed was that the verges along the jeep track had been mown. Boo, nothing whatsoever left of the Watsonia we'd admired a month ago or any of the other wayside plants.



The trudge up the hill doesn't seem to get any easier. Every week I find it tough to climb straight away, without a proper warm-up. The best way for me to manage this is to walk really slowly and steadily, without stopping, until I've got into my stride. Michele was leading the way today so I did my best to keep up with her, which got me huffing and puffing a bit. I thought I was doing okay though, until the paraglider porters whizzed past us with their enormous packs! Man, those guys are speedy and super-fit!



As we continued on we saw that the cloud had descended, and was wafting around the peak.



We paused briefly to admire this yellow daisy shrub (not sure what it is).



And to see the bees and bugs enjoying the flowers of the blister bush, Peucedanum galbanum.



As we circled round towards the city bowl again the misty cloud was pouring over Kloof Nek into the city bowl and racing across the slopes.



It was breezy on the path but not so much that we felt in any danger. And the drifts of cloud were very atmospheric and beautiful.






We made it up to the plateau, where we stopped for a few minutes for refreshments. Cloud was thicker up here, cold wind blowing. We decided against the final climb (more to do with time than weather or energy-levels) and turned around here.



On the way down we got occasional glimpses of view as the clouds cleared momentarily. Hello, Camps Bay.



Despite the cloud, the paragliders were still jumping. We watched a take-off. The wing gets laid out, and all the connections checked carefully. This was a tandem jump, so both jumpers were clicked into their harnesses and strapped together. The helpers then lifted the wing to catch the wind and just-like-that they sailed up into the sky, to join the others.





This looks like such a jol. I want to do it!



After: An easy walk, all good. Home for tea!
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Prom: Training Walk, Week 5

Date: 30 November 2010

Location: Sea Point

Walker: Helen & Delphi

Other training walks here, and other Promenade walks here.

Week five of my get-fit training programme, and still going strong!

Before: Cape Town is having fantastic weather at the moment, which is a great help with my motivation. The idea of exercising indoors does not appeal... I want to be outside enjoying the sunshine and stretching my legs!



The walk: My friend Delphi joined me for this one and we walked the usual route, chatting all the way. I can't say I noticed much about the walk as we had much to talk about, lots of news to share. Must be getting fitter as walking and talking seemed pretty effortless!



After: I felt strong and we would have walked a bit further if we didn't have errands to run. I'm keen to start doing longer and more challenging walks now - the only obstacle is time (and sometimes uncooperative weather). This time of year is just crazy-busy.


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