Category Archives: Table Mountain Walks

An Epitaph

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I lost a friend a week ago. He was only 24 years old and full of passion and joy. I spent a long day on the mountain looking for him before his body was discovered and during that time it struck me just how fragile our lives are and how we have to

seize every moment that is given to us. I think Robbie lived like that. I believe that he crammed more into his short 24 years than many people manage in three times more years.

I am already twice the age that Robbie was and I have been blessed with a life full of experiences and special people, but his untimely passing brought back into sharp focus the fact that only I am responsible for the way I choose to live my life and what I extract from it.

This year has already been an incredible year for busy wonderful experiences in my life – hence the serious shortage of newsletters and blogs. What is more I still have adventures piled-high between now and the end of the year.

So as I seize the opportunities that life offers in abundance I offer this message in sadness and celebration as a tribute to a special young man. Much of this contribution features flowers and I think that is a perfect metaphor for Robbie’s life – brilliant, beautiful, inspirational and too brief.

The mountain was moody and beautiful today.

Although we are past the peak flowering season we were indulged with a display of exquisite flowers. Since this is a tribute and not a treatise I simply offer you the images without any commentary or any identification. As you enjoy these images I ask you to join me in celebrating a short life that touched so many, and simultaneously critically assess your own life and ask whether you take and give as much as you possibly can.

Table Mountain throws it all at us

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Gerd Spegel is an old guest and friend. I guided him twice on foot safaris in Zimbabwe and we had incredible adventures in the bush in those heady days past (and future!)

Since he was passing through Cape Town we decided to catch-up while we walked up Table Mountain on one of the more obscure routes. As we started-out the weather was perfect; cool with high cloud and gorgeous Watsonias (Watsonia borbonica) brightening our way with Table Mountain in the background.

However as we ascended the mountain the cloud descended and engulfed us and the wind whipped itself up to gale-force. It was a classic reminder from The Mountain that it is not a tame city park but rather a wild place that has been surrounded by tameness. The weather deteriorated rapidly and I was grateful that I know my way around the mountain because visibility dropped to about two metres as the rain poured down and the wind lashed at us. We headed to a cave for some protection from the elements, while we ate a snack.

It was a relief to get out of the storm, but the dogs disagreed and refused to enter the cave. They thought that there were evil spirits in there and preferred to remain outside in the eye of the storm. We humans were happy to be dry and a bit warmer and to watch the storm and spontaneous waterfalls cascading over the mouth of the cave,

We eventually had to face the elements once again and descended with the storm blowing straight into us. My waterproof boots filled with water that descended via my trousers and socks and so I squelched down. Once we reached the bottom the rain had eased off but it was still wet and very misty.

Gerd was most gracious and told me that he had a wonderful walk. And to be honest, the rain lent an extra dimension to the beautiful flowers on the mountain. I love the pincushion proteas and think that they are especially photogenic, but after the rain the challenge of photographing them justifies the rewards. Below is a close-up detail of Leucospermum conocarpodendron with droplets of rain.

And this close-up of an Aristea capitata flower really captures the beauty of the day. These flowers are arranged on a long stem and open sequentially, each flower opening for less than a day before dying. Talk about ephemeral beauty!

 

Driver, Guide, Botanist, Mechanic, Marriage Counselor, Doctor, Cobbler

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Everyone has been waiting with bated breath for the post about my last day walking with Olympia’s last group. The truth is that (a) it was such an incredibly beautiful walk that I will require at least two posting

s to do it justice and (b) I have been very busy adventuring since then, so as usual there are many exciting blogs about baby whales, flowers, snakes, dogs, wine and other adventures waiting to be posted!

Well our last day on the ‘Mountains In The Sea Trail’ was glorious. Right from the start of the trail we started seeing Bloodroots (Dilatris pillansii) in flower. For me the appearance of these gorgeous flowers is a sure sign that summer has arrived, although the weather seems to suggest otherwise!

Right from the start the views were so wonderful that I had a tough time convincing everyone that the best was yet to come!

But clearly I was correct and once Cape Point came into view Jaakko obviously agreed:

Not much further along and the sole of Heikki’s boot came loose. He has been walking hard in these Meindl boots for a mere 20 years and already they are showing wear!

After many years of guiding in several countries I have learnt that the job description of a guide includes many diverse activities besides guiding. Once many years ago I watched my brother sew the sole of his running shoe back on using fishing line and a fishing hook, but this is the first time I have been called upon to repair a guest’s boots on the trail. I reckon after my taping job the Meindls should be good for at least another 20 years.

The views across the bay to Hangklip were spectacular. I know that I’m biased because it is one of my favourite views in all the world but I still think that this is a pretty nice view:

That’s enough pictures and enough story for one blog, but there is one more picture that I must share with you. I really like it – in fact so much that I’m giving it to you BIG. I love the pink succulents (Aizoaceae) punctuating the bottom of the picture. I hope you like it as much as I.

Finns in the mist

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The weather today was not as fine as yesterday, but forunately it was not as hot as I have experienced it here before.

 

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We were very fortunate to still have most of the magnificent views of this walk because the mist lifted when we approached Hout Bay.

Kili loved the walk but was misbehaved and so he & I had an argument.

As usual I set-up a safety rope at the ladder and everyone used it and appreciated having it there.

Toward the end of the walk the mist settled-in thick and wet and cold. By the end of the walk everyone was keen to have a hot drink and get  somewhere warm. Unfortunately the weather had precipitated a rock fall forcing us to detour and our expected 5 minute drive to the hotel became a 40 minute drive!