Feedback Saturday 28th May: Constantia Nek

For practical reasons the Walk/Run group were the only Acsis-VOB trail group to venture out this Saturday.  Despite the cold and threatening rain we were joined by many from the other groups so in all 29 of us set out for the run through to Kirstenbosch.  At this point the weather was good and the optimistic thought we might get away and avoid the rain.

We followed the lower route and then cut down to the path that runs just above Rhodes Drive to the Cecilia Forest parking area.  From the gate we ran down to the Rycroft gate with two lost dogs in tow.  These lonely mutts were incarcerated in the toilets at the gate in the hope that their owners would eventually ask after them there.

We then took the upper path around the gardens and up Smuts track steps to the foot of Skeleton Gorge where we mustered around the steps for the customary group photo.  Thereafter we split with the slower group returning via the contour path and the faster group going onto Fernwood Ravine before turning back.

The threatened rain finally caught us on the homewood leg but spirits were high and no-one seemed too put out.  All in all an enjoyable run.  Fast group covering 12 ks and the slow group 11 ks.

This week's Jungle Joe award goes to Pat who decided to get better acquainted with the roots of a passing tree by executing a sideways pirouette with spectacular grace.  Later it was noted that a certain male runner  bumped into a former girl friend.

That's it for this week........Peter 

Feedback: Saturday 21 May Table Mountain

Gaeleen reports: 

"We all started together from the lower cable car and climbed the steps to the upper contour path.  From there, we all ran in our various groups thro'
Platteklip and onto the saddle path.  

Tim's group was waiting for us as Breakfast rock/saddle rock.  From there we split up and 5 of us continued along towards the blockhouse with Alison leading the way, and came down to Tafelberg road just above the Queen's blockhouse.  We then ran the 5 km or so on tar back to the cars.  Total run of 12 km".  

2 new runners -- Chantel and Ashley  - hope they enjoyed themselves and will join us again soon.


     

Saturday 14th May - Houtbay adventure

 Hi there

Having never run in this area before, I was a little anxious, but it turned out to be a lovely ‘mixed’ run.  Plenty of walking, single tracks, bushwhacking,  rock scrambling, tricky descents, dune running and then some road running at the end.  Eight of us decided to stick together, and as you can see from the profile of the route, we just climbed higher and higher and had to do a lot of walking. As I had never done this route before, Tim kindly offered to leave ‘arrows’ on the path so we knew which way to go.  Anthony was up front and we were all relieved to find Tim’s arrows often on the path as well as at various intersections and as we were running once again in the mist we could easily have lost our way. The views we did see however were spectacular.  I did have a moment of panic when I saw a steep rocky section down to the Sandy Bay dunes, but Graham had come back for us and thanks to him and the rest of the group, we all managed to negotiate the descent. 

Before long, we were down, and with a short run on the dunes we then stretched the legs on the road back to the harbour.  A lovely run of 10.85 km,  no missing runners or injuries (as far as I know).

  

Cheers

Gae

From my part, a big thank-you to Gae for standing in and leading the group while Peter and I were out of action.  Peter is safely back from his travels and will, I am certain, be back to lead on Saturday coming.

I hope to see you all on saturday when, rumour has it we will be running (in Tim's words) - Koof Nek and around Devil's peak somehow.........

Sandy

Saturday 7 May - Tokai forest ramble

Gae reports a lovely run on Saturday.  In her words "There were about 14 of us, and we zigzagged up along the contour paths to level 4, made sure we had covered at least 5 km, and then wandered down again, picking up the Elephant’s eye path on the way down.  We did 12.2 km in total, no injuries, and no lost runners either.  We had a few ‘newbies’ whom I am sure will return."

 

 

Well I certainly hope so, I see from the photo that last weeks newbies returned as promised.  Peter has reported back from his trek, he reached his goal of +- 6000m and is having a fantastic time.  Lets hope and pray that he gets back safely.

 

Next weeks run will be Hout Bay Sentinal on the back end of Tim's route.  I will scan my maps and work something out between now and then.  Please watch the blog for a posting.

 

Sandy

Saturday 30th April - Hout Bay

Winter is on the way – that’s for sure!  A crisp, stunning day – just a few of us met in Hout Bay for our weekly run.  The route selected on the day was a bit different to that originally planned; we ended up doing old faithful instead of the proposed contour path.  This was mostly because none of us had run the proposed route before and we opted for the path well traveled as apposed to me getting us lost again.

A short 8km’s, car park – old fort – manganese mine – vlakkenberg “waterfall” and home again.  A few roadies joined us and we had some wobbly knees at the finish but we will hold the guys to their “I will return” promise.  Next week will see a later start.

EASTER WEEKEND

In view of the key Two Oceans events Ultra and Half Marathons, 20Km & 10Km trail runs there will be no trail walk-run group sortie this weekend.

To all those participating in these events Good Luck and may you achieve your goal what ever it is.

Feedback Saturday 16th April: Silvermine South East

Fourteen runners turned up for a start in a cool blustery South Easter with clouds crawling over the mountain tops.  Never the less we started  up the path into the cloud and on to the fat lady's cave and over and down towards the aerial farm. On the way we handed  two of our group over to Fay's walking group as they were not really kitted out for running.  Later three us us took the shorter route back to the start as I had get to the airport within the hour.


According to Gaeleen "I think we missed a path somewhere along near St James peak and when it looked like we were on our way down to St Jame's, we checked the map, re-traced our steps and took another direction. Unfortunately I don't know the names of the various rocks, areas etc,. Along this path, one lady had a tumble, but no blood, so no photo -- but sure there will be bruises though. We then came across Tim's group who assured us we were heading down towards Nellie's pool and definitely on the correct path. A lovely run, did just about 10 km, and all 9 of us back to the cars safely together".

Saturday 9th April: Silvermine North West Feedback

Gaeleen reports that " 14 of us started out and I led the group at the beginning, then let the faster guys  from Tim’s group go ahead.  Neil wasn’t feeling great, so he kept Felicity and Sam company as sweep and I stayed in the middle.
 Most of the group bumped into Sandy and her group at the cross roads as  they had come up from the Tokai Arboretum.  Two of the faster guys decided to go and check out Elephant’s eye after the Fire look-out and caught up with us again at the dam, where Jane left us to join her family for a picnic/breakfast and I am sure a swim.  We then took the cycle track back which runs parallel to the river walk, and it was somewhere on this track that Neil had a tumble.  All in all we had a lovely run, the weather was beautiful – and my watch showed 9.95 km – so call it 10 km."

Photos by Kerry

Saturday 9th April: Silvermine North West

Route

From the parking area next to the entrance gate a warm-up run along the river walk then a right up the gravel track across the tarred road into the mountain bikers parking area. From there up onto and along Steenberg Ridge across the valley and up to the Elephant’s Eye lookout hut. Then along the sandy track to intersect with the path from the head of Blackburn, left and down the escarpment around the head of the dam to the swimming spot and return to the start via the cycle track along the western flank of the valley.  

RV & Start Time

turn into the Silvermine Reserve on your right as you come up Ou Kaapse Weg from the Constantia Valley side then the parking area on your left immediately after passing the entrance hut.  Note the gates only open at 0700 so be ready to start by 0715   [Wild Card or R20 entrance fee needed]

Distance & Estimated Time

About 10ks of not unreasonably arduous running along bush tracks and rough gravel paths.  However the sights of the peninsula from Steenberg Ridge make it all worthwhile.  If it’s a warm day a quick swim in the dam is also a possibility.  Estimated time +/- 2hrs

Queries re this week’s run

As I am in Johannesburg this week and running the Outeniqua half marathon this coming weekend Neil and Gaeleen will be leading the run so any queries to Neil/Felicity at felicity@garbers.co.za or Gaeleen at gaeleen@mweb.co.za

Next Week Saturday 16^th april

We go over the road for a multi peak fiesta around the trails in Silvermine South East.  This will also be a 0715 start.

Feedback Saturday 2nd April: Constantia Nek

21 turned up in the pre-dawn dark of an early autumn morning for our group run which eventually turned into a challenging pot-pourie because  Sandy, suggested that we take advantage of the cool morning to run a longer distance.  This was immediately perceived as a challenge by most  who enthusiastically endorsed this suggestion.  So without further delay we set off at a brisk pace up the winding trail to the upper route and contour path to Skeleton Gorge.   Here we parted company with five who had commitments and had to turn back, some seemingly reluctantly.  


Now the hard work began as we made our way up seemingly endless steps to reach the contour path, then after clambering over  rock-falls we discovered a poorly looking Tim- the El Supremo of trail running who was having an infection induced stall.  He was being watched over by Di the Acsis VOB club captain who had joined up with Tim's group to sass-out this trail running mania for herself.   She decided to join up with us as we were far better company.  Tim  assured us he would be OK  waiting for the long run group to return so we left him contemplating what economic advice he would give the Japanese to aid their recovery.


After a flattish jog along the narrow stony path interspersed with running on the boardwalks above Newlands we cut down the Silvertree route and made our way back to Kirstenbosch and after a quick, no instant group discussion, [after all Di was present] decided to forego the easy run home and head back up to the upper path above the gardens and follow the narrow trails cut into the wooded flanks of the mountain back to what remains of Cecelia forest. Then through the upper gate, down the steps and back along the upper gravel road past Angela's plaque and down to Constantia Nek.  


By all accounts a good, somewhat tough yet uneventful run of 12.8 Kms with a running time of 2hrs 18 mins.  Although Sam was heard to mutter "Trail run 1: Sam 0"