Steenberg Peak at Silvermine

Date: 3 May 2009

Location: Silvermine, off Ou Kaapse Weg, TMNP

Walkers: Michele, Dorothy, Helen, Delphi, Claudia, Richard & Daisy

**** Route plotted here ****

We parked at Gate 2 in Silvermine East and took the path signposted to Higher Steenberg Peak.


(Photos by Helen)

This lead us to the left of Wolfkop, meandering through the lush fynbos. There were lots of rocks too, including the distinctive Wolfkop Pillar.


(Photos by Michele)

The views from here were wonderful. We could see down to Ou Kaapse Weg, across to Silvermine West, to Constantia and the Back Table beyond, and Devil's Peak was in the far distance. It didn't hurt that it was an absolutely perfect clear sunny day either!


(Photo by Michele)

It was particularly interesting to see across to the valley we'd walked through last weekend when we did the Silvermine River Walk (to left of road in the two pics below)



(Photos by Michele) (Photo by Helen)

Our path took us uphill, up some steep stone steps.


(Photos by Helen)

When we reached the plateau we could see all the way to Long Beach in Noordhoek to our right, and across to False Bay and beyond to our left.



(Photos by Michele)

After a little break for refreshments we had a just little bit more climbing to do, to get up Higher Steenberg Peak. Yay, on top at last!


(Photo by Helen)

Here and there, we spotted the enormous flowers of the king protea.



(Photos by Michele)

And there were also more weird and wonderful rock formations up here. Michele was in her element! ~ Can you guess which ones of the these below is known as Gavel Rock?





(Photos by Michele) (Photo by Helen)

We then made our way down back to the plateau and joined the jeep track. Following roads and the Old Fisherman's Path through this central part of Silvermine, we made our way down the valley and back to the parking area.




(Photos by Michele) (Photos by Helen)

These are some of the beasties we saw along the way:


(Photos by Michele) (Photos by Helen)
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Devil's Peak: Quarry to Cannons

Date: 2 May 2009

Location: Lower slopes of Devil's Peak, from Vredehoek

Walkers: Delphi and Helen

**** Route plotted here ****



Setting off from the top of Derry Street in Vredehoek, we walked up onto the lower slopes of Devil's Peak. Most of the mountain was still black and and burnt from the terrible fire in March - such a contrast to the green of the slopes that did not burn.



We passed the old abandoned quarry. What an eyesore.



The jeep track zig-zagged up the slope, through forests of black protea bushes. The burnt smell was still very strong. We found it both rather creepy and strangely beautiful.





We climbed up some log steps to reach the old cannons, just below Tafelberg Road. From here we watched the sun set and the mist roll in.



(All photos by Helen)
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Melkbos Beach

Date: 1 May 2009

Location: Melkbosstrand

Walkers: Claudia, Richard, Michele, Dorothy and Helen, and Daisy

**** Route plotted here ****

During a break in the autumn rain, we wrapped up warmly and braved a walk on the beach in the coastal town of Melkbosstrand, up the West Coast. Starting from the main parking area in the town we headed north up the misty kelp-strewn beach.



(Photos my Michele) (Photos by Helen)

Then the mist cleared and we saw some blue sky!


(Photo by Helen)

There were crabs on the beach - big ones and teeny-tiny ones.


(Photos by Helen) (Photo by Michele)

Koeberg nuclear power station loomed at the far side of the beach.



(Photos by Michele)

We walked as far as we could. Of course we couldn't get too close - signs warned us that access to the area is restricted. What a strange place to build a power station, right on the dunes.


(Photos by Helen)

On the beach: seaweed, patterns in the sand...


(Photos by Helen)

... a happy Daisy dog ...


(Photo by Richard)

... and relaxed, wind-blown walkers.


(Photo by Helen)
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