Good morning Trailers!
This weather is gorgeous for the garden and for ducks but perhaps not so lekker for trail running. Fortunately, windguru suggests that it'll all be over by the morning and our a Jonkershoek run will be cool, calm and collected. So cool, in fact, that you might need a warm fleecy top and gloves.
Based on the RSVPs, I hope to see a good crowd at the entrance to the reserve tomorrow at 7:20 for a 7:30 start.
There is no relaxed group.
Directions and fine print below and on the blog.
L.
0725750914
Begin forwarded message:
From: Lorraine Nevin <loribuddle@gmail.com>
Date: 20 October 2019 at 20:20:21 SAST
To: Table Mountain Trailers Group <tmtrailers@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Fwd: TABLE MOUNTAIN TRAILERS Saturday 26th October 2019: JONKERSHOEK
Hi Trailers,
Saturday 26th October is the day we trek northwards to visit Jonkershoek Nature Reserve.
The official Cape Nature website reads: "The rugged Jonkershoek Mountains, which form part of the Boland Mountains, are ideal for hiking enthusiasts. [...]. The area is also rich in animal and plant life, with over 1 100 plant species and a variety of small mammals, birds and reptiles. Hikers should be on the lookout for berg adders, puff adders, boomslang and Cape cobras.The reserve is about 9 800 hectares, while Assegaaibosch is about 204 hectares. The smaller reserve is home to the historical Assegaaibosch farmstead, a national monument built in 1792, while both reserves are World Heritage Sites. Jonkershoek is hot in summer, and cold and wet in winter. Visitors in the colder months may even see snow dusting the higher mountain peaks. Hikers should note that weather conditions can change rapidly."
Our Stellenbosch-based trail friends, May and Ilse, are all ready to lead us on us route they've chosen. Hopefully they'll steer clear of all the snakes mentioned in that write-up!
Route details
The medium group will start from the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve entrance, meandering upwards on the new multi-use single track for 3.7kms. Then we run along the contour jeep track for about 2 kms before starting our descent, finally taking a scenic hiking route single track back to the gate. We'll be led by the marvellous May Scholz.
There's an extension of the route for the fitter, faster trail junkies too. At the point where the main group starts their descent, intrepid Ilse Langhout will lead the pack further along the jeep track and two stunning single tracks, possibly three, before heading back to the gate.
Please join us afterwards for coffee and/or breakfast at Ride-In.
Rendezvous and Start Time
RV at the main Jonkershoek gate at 07:25 ready to start at 07:30. (You don't have to set your alarm too early!)
There is an entrance fee of R50.
Terrain and Distance
Terrain to be discovered on the day!
Medium group distance 8kms; longer group to be decided on the day by the participants, but I did hear mention of about 14km.
Relaxed Group to be confirmed on Friday.
A whistle, WATER (remember a trail 10km can take longer than a road 10km), a warm & waterproof/windproof top, space blanket and ICE (In case of Emergency) tag or card.
Unfortunately we do not welcome dogs on our runs.
Directions (for those that don't do Google maps or Waze):How to get there
From Cape Town: Take the N2 highway out of Cape Town towards Stellenbosch. Take exit 33 for Baden Powell Drive towards the R310/Stellenbosch/Macassar. Turn right onto Polkadraai Road/R310 and follow the road. It becomes Adam Tas Street. Turn right onto Langstraat-Suid Road and continue onto Helshoogte Road. Turn right onto Simonsberg Road and at the roundabout take the first exit onto Martinson Road. Continue onto Jonkershoek Road and follow the signs until your reach the reserve entrance.
GPS: 33 57 48.70 S 18 55 31.98 E
Have a great week!
Regards
Lorraine
072 575 0914
