Washer with the Ramblers +/- 7 hours For my Disa hunt I decided to join the Ramblers Hiking club on a very misty sunday morning. The Ramblers are a hiking club that regularly (every week) explore the Cape (and beyond) mountains. Their walks are advertised regularly in the weekend argus and they now have a brand new website as well. www.ramblers.org.za. Due to the weather there were only 7 of us, but lead by Urs we where not disappointed. We went up Cecilia Ridge to the reservoir at the top. We had lunch at the waterworks museum and then proceeded to the acquaduct. Along the way we spotted plenty of beautiful red Disas which only appear in January/February so there are not that many opportunities to spot them. There are also plenty of Watsonias, Crassulas and wild Agapanthus but the Disas stole the show! Plenty sastisfied with Nature's show of beauty we descended via Skelton Gorge and walked along the Contour path back to our starting point at Cecilia Forest. So thanks a lot to the Ramblers for a great day, I will definitely be joining you guys for a walk again soon.
< Ramblers in the mist See ya soon
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Beautiful
red Disas >| 21 January, 2001- Skeleton Gorge |
Washer, Denise, Ingrid, Evette
+/- 5 hours
Skeleton Gorge is probably my favourite route up Table Mountain, as you start and finish in the beautiful Kirstenbosch Gardens. The route up is covered with the lush, thick growth of indigenous flora. Fortunately most of the route up is under cover, offering protection from the midday sun, not the best time to walk. This did however allow us to come down in time for the Kirstenbosch sunset concert, held every Sunday at 5.30 during summer.
Once on top we made our way to Maclear's Beacon stopping for a refreshing 'bath' in a cool stream along the way - what relief that offered us. We saw black eagles and plenty of sunbirds frolicking in the thick fynbos. Being Disa season we where quite disappointed not to see any untill the way down Nursery Ravine where we spotted one lone Disa. Next week I'm going on a Disa hunt and hopefully will post pics of them shortly.
On our return we enjoyed cold beers and a picnic whilst being entertained by Amampondo; a popular, local Marimba band. with the backdrop of Table Mountain guarding majestically over us.
What can I say another great day !
Top
of Skeleton Gorge
See ya soon
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December 31, 2000 - Tartarus Cave |
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Washer, Conrad, Betty & Jean Marc 3 1/2 hrs We started off this walk back-to-front and not the way Mike describes it in his book, but it turned out to be a blessing. It's sometimes nice to end off with a highlite which we would otherwise have encountered at the beginning of this walk. The walk took us through a wonderful indigenous forest, the main components of which were milkwoods and yellowwoods and which can only be described as enchanting. The cave itself starts off as a hole in the ground but we traced it 50m into the mountain through pitch black passageways (take torches). The return walk was down through Mimetes Valley which was ablaze in a symphony of colour and smell. The bright red of the mimetes trees in full bloom complemented the yellow pincushions and white buchu plants. WOW ! Oh, did I mention the whales frolicking in the bay as we descended. Yes, the best things in life certainly are free !
See ya soon
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| December 24, 2000 -The Farmer's Cliffs |
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Washer, Barry, Sean, Betty & Jean Marc 3 hrs The drive alone to the Cape Point Nature reserve is an adventure in itself. What with the variable weather patterns, the ever present deep blue Indian Ocean to gaze over and the baboon troops out in force. Once we entered the Nature Reserve we were also treated to the site of two rooibokke running around - already making it a fine day - and we hadn't left the car yet! The walk along the Farmer's cliffs is an absolute treat with spectacular views of the ocean and the south Peninsula (sometimes from safe but exciting cliff edges 300m above the waves) The wonderful flora and bird life at Cape Point reserve always gives one a fantastic sense of being right in nature. The walk is about 3 hrs with rests and is as good for the soul as it is for the heart. With cars parked at either end you may decide to return the same way by foot or do as we did and go for a quick but refreshing skinny-dip in the rock pools alongside where our car was parked. A great way to end a great day. See ya soon
For
a complete description of The Farmer's Cliffs walk See Mike Lundy's |
