Receiving messages

A sign from Babylonstoren that resonates with me.

A message from Inel made me smile.

Having done my first 30km walk I did wonder what the walk today would feel like. I am reminded of a message from Paula, who I met at Natalie's birthday sushi and bubbles and has done the Camino, you walk yourself into fitness through the event. Gives me encouragement.

Inel sent me this message, so true too, so I planned an easy walk along the Seapoint Promenade.

From a motivation point of view I had no problem getting going. I did however feel heavy limbed and my feet were little tender. So I kept it easy.

• Walking log: 11th May

8km along the Atlantic Seaboard.

Walking companions: Ian and Julie Wedderburn

Total kilometres to date: 880

Update:

• Walking log: 12th May

Such a pleasure not to focus on distance but speed. 

4km speed walking around Common and suburbs around the flat. 

Felt good.

Total kilometres to date: 884

A perfect day for a 30km walk

Cape Town is a place of real beauty and when the weather is perfect, it is magnificent.

Sunday, Mother's Day, we set off from a parking lot just before the V & A Waterfront. The plan was to walk along the Atlantic Seaboard, Green Point, Seapoint, Bantry Bay, Clifton to Camps Bay and return.

It was so wonderful to be out walking that we decided to keep going and do our first 30km walk.

The stops along the way were a delight too. Stops between the 6 hours of walking are really important to me otherwise the walking would be too punishing.
A banana on 4th Beach, Clifton.
Coffee and a wickedly good almond croissant at Baked Bistro, Camps Bay which immediately is a keeper and I cannot wait to return. A Mother's Day chat with Shawni was a good motivator too.
A light lunch at the Grand Cafe & Society in Camps Bay.
Hot chocolate at Den Anker in the Waterfront, our end point.

I am delighted to have gotten this far in my preparation, to have done my first 30km.

• Walking log: 10th May
  

I felt very strong over the first 20km and was so chuffed to feel the kilometres slipping along. 

Up to 25 km I was ok, but I certainly felt each kilometre along the last stretch. 

My upper back got tired, knees sore but my feet were great in my shoes, which are well walked in and comfortable. I took a couple of anti-inflamatories which made a difference, a tip from my GP.

A new sensation was my calves seizing up after the walk. I am feeling fine this morning and ready to walk.

Total kilometres to date: 872

If its Saturday in Cape Town, its a walk to the Biscuit Mill

Looking up, scene from our suburb

A walk to the Biscuit Mill precinct for breakfast and picking up provisions for supper tonight.

Even did some clothes shopping for autumn, talk about walking distractions.

• Walking log: 9th May

8.5km walk. My knee is very achy at present, going to try Cataflam.

Walking companions: Ian and Julie Wedderburn

Total kilometres to date: 841.5

A day along the coast

Another chance to walk the St James Walkway then up along Main Road to the lighthouse in Kalk Bay. A warm autumn day in the Cape and just perfect for a stroll. And add in a little browsing in the quirky stores along the road, walking made social. 

Later in the afternoon we did a short walk between Simon's Town and Glencairn.

• Walking log: 8th May

8km of walking in around Kalk Bay and Simon's Town.

Walking companions: Ian and Julie Wedderburn

Total kilometres to date: 833

Sights from Muizenburg to Simon's Town

Bird Walk at the Kirstenbosch Gardens

Scenes from Kirstenbosch

I have noticed how my walking focus this year is squeezing out my interest in bird watching. My binoculars get left behind and the determined walking does not allow for a quick stop to see what is flitting in a bush or tree.

So yesterday I joined the Cape Bird Club on their outing to Kirstenbosch.
Bird list: African Goshawk, Malachite Sunbird, Jackal Buzzard, Red-winged Starling, Helmeted Guineafowl, Dusky Flycatcher, Cape Robin-chat, Bar-throated Apalis, Pied Crow, Forest Canary, Black Sparrowhawk, White-breated Cormorant, Olive Thrush, Spotted Eagle Owl, Orange-breasted Sunbird, African Olive Pigeon, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Egyptian Goose, Hadeda, Cape Spurfowl, Red-eyed Dove, Cape Bulbul, Swee Waxbill, Karoo Prinia, Cape White-eye, Sombre Greenbul.

A nice list. We spent the day in the gardens. I did not track the walk but my knees were aching and I felt tired having not gone very far!

Cannot wait to be walking again.

Update: A second day of ambling through a beautiful kitchen garden, Babylonstoren. A warm day, sunny and lovely to see this garden again, with it's citrus ripening at present.

Introducing our favourite walks to Ian and Julie

All visits need to start with a warm-up stroll around the Common, so I took Ian and Julie to watch the sunset behind Table Mountain from the Common.

• Walking log: 4th May

3km Common evening walk.

Walking companions: Ian and Julie Wedderburn

Total kilometres to date: 809

Low tide was at an ideal time for a walk on the Noordhoek beach this morning. I have not seen such a low low tide here, the rocks with clusters of muscles and barnacles were high and dry, at places the sea reminded me of the flats in the Bahamas, except for the chilly wind.

A moody atmospheric walk, light rain on the return and a firm fabulous beach. I loved striding out and not having to watch my footing for a change.

• Walking log: 5th May

8km Beach walk.

Walking companions: Ian and Julie Wedderburn.

Total kilometres to date: 817

4km walk from Newlands to the flat, post birthday sushi and bubbles with Natalie and her friends. And a 4km walk to Michaels and back for supper.

Total kilometres to date: 825

"Teach us to care and not to care" T S Eliot

The interplay of morning light, a cool breeze, the flat calm sea, a marvellous path and companionship made for a walk to delight in and to remember.

The contour path on the western side of Table Mountain, starts at the Kloof Nek parking, passes beneath the Apostles with quite extraordinary views across to Lions Head, Camps Bay and out to sea.

The walk is at about 300m above sea-level, essentially flat until it runs into the Slangolie Ravine, a natural turning point after 5km. Water and an apple and the return walk with its just as impressive vistas.

Natalie shared a line from T S Eliot's Ash Wednesday, 'Teach us to care and not to care'. 
I have cared about the preparation and the commitment to my walking this year. The real learning for me will be to get to the 15th August, take my first step of the 301km and to not care, to let go.

• Walking log: 3 May

10 km hike along the Pipe Track Walk on the Camps Bay side of Table Mountain. 

Felt good the whole way.

Walking companion: Natalie Uren

Total kilometres to date: 806

Late afternoon stroll

The view from my couch here in Cape Town.

I looked at the late afternoon light and put shoes on to walk around the Common before settling down for the evening.

• Walking log: 2 May

So nice to stretch my legs after yesterday's hike. 3km easy walk.

Total kilometres to date: 796

Fynbos hike, Cape Point

At midday we set off from the parking at Olifantsbos, Cape Point, to hike the 3 hour Sirkelsvlei trail.

I had followed the devastating Cape Town fires a few months ago but seeing the impact firsthand is shocking. The landscape is scorched, barren and still smells of a disused fireplace.

We did hike up and through the burn zone into fynbos which quite beautiful. The trail is rocky, sandy and undulating which made for a good challenging hike.

The interior vlei was a surprise as were the interesting rock arches along the route.

• Walking log: 1 May

8km Sirkelsvlei circular hike through the fynbos at Cape Point. 

Strong walking, at times my feet slipped or twisted in my shoes but otherwise felt good.

Total kilometres to date: 793

On the beach with Baboons

Setting off early this morning at Olifantsbos, Cape Point, we were hoping for a sighting of the Pacific Golden Plover that had been seen during the past week.

The path is a beauty, leading through the fynbos to the beach.

We had no luck with the bird, but the stroll along the beach and rocky shoreline was lovely.

To walk among a troop of baboons is remarkable. They were digging for roots in the sand and quietly moved away as we approached.

• Walking log: 1 May

A slow 3km along the shoreline while birding.

Total kilometres to date: 785

Transitioning - Cape Town

Our road trip has taken us walking in the Karoo, around Greyton, along the shore at Hermanus and we are now in Cape Town.

We took Sharon to our favourite seaside stroll from Muizenburg to St James. It was an all weather walk, a little sun and a little rain, but nothing a good breakfast and coffee did not make right.

We dipped on a sighting of the mega rarity, a Citrine Wagtail, that has been showing at the Strandfontein Sewage Works, so took a quick speed walk around the Common and I now feel settled into our Cape Town flat.

• Walking log: 30th April

3km St James walk.

Walking companion: Sharon Jansen

Total kilometres to date: 729

3km speed walking around the Rondebosch Common

Total kilometres to date: 782

Walking the Hermanus Cliff Path

Views from the Cliff Path in Hermanus

A couple of days of lovely morning walks along the Cliff Path. These autumn days in the Cape are near perfect.

• Walking log: 27th and 28th April

12 km of wonderful walking along the concrete path following the cliffs along the seashore.

Walking companions: Natalie Uren, Bev Edkins and Sharon Jansen

Total kilometres to date: 723

• Walking log: 29th April

3km walk around the Rondebosch Common.

Walking companion: Sharon Jansen

Total kilometres to date: 726

Sunday morning in Greyton

Another quite beautiful autumn morning in the Overberg. A gentle walk around the farm felt just right after a night of learning to salsa - glad I only have to walk, I am no dancer.

I am listening to the Spurwing Geese as they fly over, the guineafowls in the fields and Di is frying up a cooked breakfast.

Quite marvellous.

• Walking log: 26th April

4km walk with a steep ascent.

Total kilometres to date: 711