Sunday 7 January 2018

FEEDBACK Saturday 13 January 2018 : Newlands Forest

Lovely weather greeted a group of excited trailers on Saturday morning for our first official run of 2018.
Those who joined the Dripping Disa hunt the week before were looking forward to smaller hills and much less climbing than the preceding week. The weather was hot but the forest was cool and shady making for pleasant conditions on a lovely summer’s day.
As trailers were gathering around a large rock, our run organiser stepped up on his soap box for the customary gear check and route briefing.
The trailers split Geoff Nell leading a faster 2man&1woman group, the main group led by the usual committee and the relaxed group led by Marge van Vuuren. The groups followed a similar circuit around Newland Forest and surrounds.
When the briefing was over the faster group sped ahead and wasn’t seen again until the main group came across Geoff near Kings Block House. After pushing up to the Block House he decided to send the (now) 1man&1woman team on ahead and joined the main group for a more relaxed paced run.
Meanwhile the mediums ran comfortably along the lower jeep track and paths past the Newlands Reservoir joining the tar to Rhodes Memorial just below the SANParks offices. Here they had some friendly banter with some local mountain bikers also making their way up the hill.
On this stretch run organiser Theo was searching for a little used single track to minimise the tar. Unfortunately this path was not found and the main group headed up a familiar jeep track to the next level and onto the stairs heading for the turnstile below King’s Block House. (Where they found Geoff)
After the customary group photo over the city, the main group headed along the much loved contour path towards the base of Skeleton Gorge taking in some lovely wooded ravines, little streams and vistas of city.
At the picnic spot at the bottom of Newlands Ravine some runners opted for a shorter run and headed down to the fire base. (This was in part due to some forgetting-of-cellphone-in-car-stress experienced by one of our regulars…)
Whilst en route the main group encountered the relaxed group, who had taken a more direct line to King’s Block House. After a quick chat the mains were off again, heading to the boulders at the foot of the “Aloes”. This was our second big climb of the day and ensured some good cardio and high spirits.
Once on the other side of the Aloes the mains trotted along to the base off Skeleton Gorge. Here run organiser Theo was out voted 30 to 1 for a return over the Aloes and back to the boulders. The mains headed into Kirstenbocsh and managed to smoothly find their way to the “Paradise Ruins” due to the collective experience of the committee.
At the ruins there was the usual flash history lesson after which the group continued back to the Newlands Fire Base.
The relaxed group’s adventure took them to the boulders at the foot of the Aloes from where they explored the forest down towards the Paradise ruins. Then, due to concerns about time, the group decided to head directly for the fire base.
Once at the fire base there was the usual post run chatter and then it was off to the rest of a sweltering Saturday.
A great morning out with the amazing folks of Table Mountain Trailers.
A special thanks to Liz for the photos. Please see the TMT Facebook page.



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