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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