FEEDBACK: Saturday 1 November, Constantia Neck, reservoirs, aqueduct & back via Smuts Track

21 trail enthusiasts started out at 06:30 at the Constantia Nek parking lot with a slight cold wind to get us started. All three groups set off from the Constantia Nek car park with a steady uphill on the single track. The Walking group went as far as the 'Bailiff cottage' before turning around and the Main and Recovery groups continued along the Smuts track. The Recovery group went up Ash Valley to Hely-Hutchinson reservoir before heading down the top of Skeleton's Gorge back to Smuts track.  

The Main followed Smuts track to the top of Nursery Ravine, where they turned left to the Hely-Hutchinson reservoir.  They crossed the reservoir wall and headed onto the track that leads to the aqueduct and then joined Smuts track and met up with the Recovery group.  From here the Main and Recovery groups followed Smuts track back to the 'Bailiffs cottage' and back down to the parking lot.

Main group route and elevation.

Main and Recovery groups at the top of Skeleton's Gorge.

In just under 3 hours, the Main group completed 12.5 km, the Recovery group 11 km and the walking group 7.5 km.

Recovery group at the top of Ash Valley.

Main group in front of the dam wall.

Main group outside the Water works museum.

FEEDBACK, Saturday 25 October 2014: Slang Kop Lighthouse to Kleinplaas Dam

This Saturday's run saw us starting head-on into a howling black South Easter. (Who's idea was this anyway?!) Garmin connect recorded a wind of 26 kph, SE, for the morning.

From the lighthouse all groups headed up to the old military installation at the top of Slang Kop. From there the route carried on along the top of the ridge until the Ocean View road. Across the road and past the reservoir we turned right up the hill and proceed up through the Red Hill reserve. At a T-junction the Main and Recovery groups turned right and followed the track to the dam. The brave main group carried on round the dam.

The first 8kms were tough going trying to keep our balance as the gusts threatened to throw us off course. We kept waiting to hit that 'calm patch' where we could gather ourselves towards ourselves, but that was nowhere to be found! But we bravely soldiered on knowing that soon the wind would be behind us. Some of us were attacked by the vicious thorn bushes at a particularly overgrown section of the route. A few runners from the main group turned back at the dam, whilst the rest continued about half way around it before heading back. We flew back with the wind literally in our sails - what a difference! We passed the recovery group on the way back, with most of us returning more or less at the same time. Peter did a lovely (more sensible!) walk along a section of our route and returning along the coastline.

Main Group

Main group did 16.6kms in about 2h30mins, recovery group did about 15kms.

Route map and elevation

Thanks everyone for a great run!
Tamsyn

FFEDBACK: Sat 18th Oct, Silvermine North-West to Noordhoek Peak

Saturday's run turned out to be a stunning day with no clouds to provide excellent views from the top. We had a great turn out, with all three groups enjoying their morning.

The main and recovery groups left the entrance of Silvermine Gate 1 and continued along the the river walk towards the mountain bike parking area, where the walking group started. The run along the river provided some much needed shade on this particularly hot Saturday. The route led along Steenberg Ridge and across to the Elephant’s Eye fire look-out, then towards Blackburn Ravine followed by the Panorama path to Noordhoek peak. All the groups met up at the lookout over Hout Bay. The main group continued up, up and further up towards Noordhoek Peak and returned via the Amphitheatre path to the dam and back down the river walk. The recovery group turned back, passed the dam and returned via the river walk. The walkers also returned to the mountain bike parking lot.

The main group covered a gruelling 14km in 2h 45min, the recovery 10.7km in 2h 10min and the walkers 7.5km in 1h 50min.

Main group and walkers meet of a picture

Recovery group and walkers meet for a photo at the lookout

Up, up, and more up for the Main group

Nothing beats a swim in the dam after a long run.  Shoes and all!

FEEDBACK: Sat 11 October 2014, Glencairn-Kleinplaas dam circuit

This Saturday  we ran the reverse of the Kleinplaas dam circuit, which saw the runners reaching the small dam first.  The circular route started along the ‘Puffer’ route to the Lewis Gay dam, around the koppies behind Glencain and Red Hill to the Kleinplaas dam, followed by the sandy path from Ocean View back to the start.

The main group covered 13.78 km in 1 h 56 min.

This route always provides spectacular views in every direction