Fairview and Spice Route

From Lanzerac we hit the road to Fairview with the sole purpose of quickly buying some cheese.  Again I discovered that when the word “quickly”is used there are two interpretations – a male version and a female version 🙂 As Fairview is a familiar calling spot for my wife and I my intention was not to take any photos as I have in the past posted blogs addressing this wine/cheese estate.  However, the unexpected presented itself – the goats were out on the ramp allowing them access to the inside of their tower.

With business done at Fairview we headed to the Spice Route with the sole purpose of visiting the artisan chocolate factory. Took some pics while our guests shook their purses while succumbing to the delightful seduction of the variety of chocolates on sale.

Chocolate in the making

The attractive displays of chocolates on sale

The view from the chocolate factory on the mountains in the distance.

That concluded our day tour boasting some of the attractions of the Cape winelands to our visitors.  Have a super day.

Suikerbossie contour hike #5 final

As we approached the trail’s turning point the coastal suburb of Llundudno down below came into view.

A fishing trawler leaving Houtbay for the deep sea.

Chapman’s Peak in the far distance.

After a snack break and regaining some energy we hit the trail back to base.  Unfortunately this part of the trail was mostly in wooded areas leaving no joy for the camera.

The weekend is here and enjoy to the fullest be it where it is early summer of where the colours of the early fall spoil the eyes.

Suikerbossie contour hike #4

More pics of the scenery and some flowers seen on the hike.

Houtbay down below

Friday again and the week is done.

July hike final

The center summit is Kannonkop and this peak today has a special meaning and memory for me, especially now that a have fully recovered from the mishap.  I was actually surprised by the haziness that prevailed in spite of the gale force wind prevailing.

While waiting for motor transport to come fetch me I used the time to shoot a few pics of the limestone formations at the foot of Kannonkop.

Suddenly out of the blue two Kites appeared and flew by in a fleeting moment.  I managed to capture one showing its spread out wing span.

Have a great start to the new week.

The July hike #3

Without making one aware of the incline the trail gently lead us higher and higher on the slope of Kannonkop.  All along the trail we came upon this tell tale sign.

Yes, droppings, but not a buck in sight.  As we progressed higher the wind increased in velocity making keeping one’s balance almost an art.  At last we reached the summit.

The cannon on Kannonkop

Here we took a refreshment break trying to shield ourselves form the wind and especially the forceful gusts contained within it.

Some hikers trying to shield themselves

From the summit one gets some beautiful views of False Bay and the coastline below.

Having regained our breath and quenched the thirst we continued the hike but this time descending.  The trail itself changed from easy/moderate to difficult and tricky calling for concentrated footwork and balancing while buffeted by the gale.

Was shortly after the above pic that I slipped and met my mishap.

More pics to follow.  Have a super Sunday.

July hike #2

Feeling much better today after the nasty experience of two days ago, but will admit yesterday was a day of taking pain killers.  Anyway, let me get on with some more pics taken on the hike.

View onto False Bay giving an idea of the mistiness we hiked in

The cloud covered Hottentots-Holland in the far distance

Weathered through the ages

Rusted stone

Ah, weekend again and hope all will fully enjoy the two days.

July hike, an almost disaster #1

Yesterday we had our July hike at Cape Point.  The chosen trail is known as the Kannonkop (Cannon Hill)/ Venus Pool trail.  In contrast to all previous hikes I will mildly call this hike somewhat miserable but blessed with good fortune at the end.  Weatherwise it was close to a disaster.  Not only was the sky well overcast keeping us in a state of semi-darkness which actually placed photography on the back burner, but we had to hike in a wind close to gale force which made the going rather difficult in the sense that keeping one’s balance took preference to all other aspects of what could have been a pleasure of being outdoors enjoying the delights of nature.  Temperature – it was freezing!

Daybreak greeting us to the hike

Ready for the start

A windblown tree

This tree survived the force of wind in its heydays

The hike itself almost ended in a disaster.  The higher we went the stronger the wind became and along with struggling to keep ones balance it was virtually impossible to put the camera to the use it was intended for due to bad light and one’s body swaying to keep one’s balance.  On the way down the mishap occurred.  I stepped on a loose stone that gave way and aided by the gale force wind lost my balance and went head over heals down the slope.  Fortunately my backpack got caught on a protruding rock and pinned me down before I could have involuntary descend some ten meters or more down the mountain. There I lay my back on a rock ledge, bum and legs protruding in a void up in the air with my hands gripping the rocky ledge to prevent me falling further down the mountain.  Then it dawned on me that in fact the backpack had me securely pinned down on the rock ledge and the only way out was to release myself from the backpack.  At that stage the last thing in my mind was injuries except fighting to prevent the cramp in my left calf from gaining the upper hand.  With the aid of a fellow hiker who heard my call for help we managed to release me from the backpack and get me pulled back on the rock ledge in order to swing my legs onto the ledge and not fall to the far down below.  At last I could get back on my feet, retrieve the backpack and my precious camera and I could hobble forth on the rocky trail with a left leg in, to put it mildly, a pretty poor state with a terribly bruised knee and a lacerated left hand donating ample blood to nature (later it came to light that small cuts bleed more than a decent proper cut!).

On that happy note that I did not become a statistic I will close this part down and tomorrow post the the last of the few pics I did manage to take.  With a stiff leg and some hitherto unknown muscles in the body that are now noticeable I wish all a happy start to the weekend.

A winter moon

Full moon rising over Cape Town, 1 July 2015

Can’t believe it, it is Friday again.

Enjoy your day.

Colours

Caught in midwinter does not deprive us from enjoying the colours of flowers.

Colours in a tree

Gosh, midweek again and enjoy it.

Day is done

Sunset after a stormy day

Sunshine today is the promise for us.