Feedback Sat 30 July Misty Mountain

The heavy cloud covering the mountain necessitated the cancellation of the planned run up to the Saddle between Devil's Peak and Table Mountain and down Newlands Ravine as well as the Plan B [Bad Weather] route along the travese.     So a third alternative along Tafelberg Rd was proposed and eagerly taken up by 10 stalwarts.  

Dave Bywater with assistance from Tissa, led this group and reports:

I write this with mixed emotions……on the one hand, I’m sad and confused, having met some wonderful people who awoke in the early hours of Saturday morning, drove all the way through to Tafelberg Road, stood outside in the pouring rain, then decided to get back into their cars and return home? On the other hand, I’m so happy that some of us actually ventured out to do what had been planned for us. Well, not actually exactly what had been planned, as Platteklip looked a trifle slippery. So, having said our goodbyes to the “faders”, 10 of us hotfooted it along Tafelberg Road to the bench at the end. And then there were 9!!! Paul and Dave retraced their steps for about 500 metres in search of Randolf, but to no avail. Back to the group and a sensible  discussion ended with us agreeing that Randolf had probably turned back as he a) hadn’t passed us and b) is too experienced to get lost on Tafelberg Road.

Taking comfort on and around the cannon, with Milnerton clearly visible in the background”, 

I mentioned  the “9” 

*Paul……Camera supplier, 7hr40min Comrades, sub 60min 15km……what on earth is he doing in this group? (more about Paul later)

Guy……Doberman (Vlakkenberg) owner, remember the cyclist on the road to the mast?

*Jean-Pierre……Belgian chocolatier, landed in Cape Town Friday, on the mountain on Saturday

Michiel  Faber; Quiet man, deep thinker, middle of the pack kind of guy, checking things out and taking things in

Tissa Fuchstoch First-time compression socks wearer, her non-stop chatter frightened the life out of the “newbies”

Allison Lamb  [Minus Greg]  paying a courtesy visit from the Longer Faster group who informed all who cared to listen that her legs hate uphills

*Gina……mentioned that she has 3 children, Eleven, Seven and Four……which we all felt are rather strange names for boys, or girls for that matter

*Melony……all the way from the West Coast, first time ever running on the mountain

* All Newbies 

Dave Bywater  chooser of the route (in consultation with the others), leader for a while, sweep for the remainder

“Guy the Belgian Blood Man,
celebrating with Jean-Pierre on his first day in Cape Town”

The rain had by now abated, so it was back to the bench and on to the jeep track and single track like gorillas in the mist. On and on to the turnstile, then up to the blockhouse for a regroup and the first set of photographs. We decided that we would drop down into Deer Park and take in some of the TMC, VWS and Celtics Trail routes, before the lung busting, quad busting, sprint up to Dead Man’s Tree. All rather tranquil, until the serenity of the morning was shattered by Guy doing a magnificent impression of a combined arabesque/pirouette and smashing his knee against a jagged rock, the blood initially oozing, the gushing out of his leg. Should thought ever be given to awarding such an injury, as is done by (Sir) Tim’s group, then there can be only one winner……the pictures tell the story.

Special thanks go to Paul for the use of his camera, and for jogging back to meet the group every now and again, after he’d hared off into the distance. On the subject of Paul, he lives in Tamboers Kloof, so ran 5km to the start, did the “sortie”, then went off to the top of Lions Head before winging it back home on foot. You reckon he’ll be back to join this group again?......I doubt it!!!  More like a candidate for Sir Tim's  Longer Faster group.

 “Done and Dusted……Paul the bionic man is 2^nd from the right”