Constantia Neck to Skeleton Gorge and back

A record number turnout this week - 15 at my count.  An easy route lead to a slightly faster run this week with some of the newbies heading off at full steam.  The group split up a bit making it difficult to keep the group together.  Peter, Greg and I had a short chat about this and it looks like we will have to split the group into faster-slower groups in the near future if numbers continue to grow.  Luckily Greg has offered to take the front of the pack so yours truly can still hover around the middle taking photo's.  Peter will run at the back with those wanting a more leisurely pace. Over the next few weeks we will sort out all the logistics of how our group will work.  The idea remains to offer a starting out / ending off group for those folks not keen (or ready or able) to join Tim's faster/longer runs.  We will set a few ground rules though to ensure that the group remains fun for all who join in.  For the time being the following rules will take effect from next week.

a.  All those attending the walk/run group must sign in at the start and sign out at the end. 
This is to keep track of those running with the group as well as to ensure that everybody gets off the mountain ok.  We would hate to leave some poor soul behind.  If you need to leave and/or don't want to wait for everyone to finish - please make certain that the group lead (Greg) knows that you are off the mountain.

b.  Greg Snyders (thanks for this Greg) will take the lead group, all runners must stay behind him.  Those wanting to run faster or who get tired of the stops (waiting for us mortals to catch up) will be asked to join Tim's "slow" group.

c.  No runner will be left behind, Peter will be the tail end charlie and will be the group's sweep.  If you can't stay with the group then Peter will gently suggest that you join Fay's swift walking group. 

With that little bit of house-keeping out of the way.  It seems that we all had a great run, except mabye for Pat who managed to get grumpy to new levels and Joseph who is now officially the first member of our tribe to be awarded the inaugural "Jungle Joe" award for being the first nut to take a tumble and produce blood.  Well done Joseph!  In his honor we have named our version of the Sailing Sandra after him.

Welcome to the newbies, hope to see you all next week.
 


 
Double click the slide show to go directly to the Picassaweb album if you want to view larger immages or download any of the pictures.
 

Table Mountain service road - Gorillas in the mist

2nd October 2010, oh my aching calf muscles, I had forgotten what a long uphill the jeep track is.  Loads of newbies this week.  Instead of taking the shorter route we opted to push on past Nursery to Skellies and did an extra loop around Cleft Peak.  We had a very misty run that was at the same time tough and wonderfully pretty. 13.5km in 2h33min.  Peter has promised to keep next weeks run under 10kms.....

The conditions made photography difficult but I managed a few.

25 September 2010 - Silvermine East : Three Valleys

A spontaneous route change was the order of the day.  With only Peter, Greg and I pitching up for the run the guys graciously agreed to use the opportunity to explore a new route that I have been wanting to try for some time.  

We headed off up the jeep track and took the right fork, we carried on along the jeep track until we reached the path leading to the right, the one that heads in the direction of Clovelly ridge.  Up Spitskop valley to cave peak, down echo valley as far as Willy’s then up again until we reached dog rock.  At this point we made a right onto the Cliff top path and ran all the way along the cliff top until we reached Baily’s Kloof.  At the junction on top of Baily’s we turned left and headed up Mimetes valley until we met with the jeep track once again.  We then decided to take the shorter route down and headed for Junction Pool and home along the single track running parallel to the jeep track.  Just short of 13km’s in 2h37, a great day, a great run.

Higher Steenberg Peak



Chicken soup for the soul, brilliant run.  We started out in cold misty conditions. Peter led the way past Wolfkop and up the climb to Steenberg Peak.  Some of us gasped and gagged at the back but we all made to the top – eventually.   Once over the initial climb the mist started to clear and a beautiful day promised to follow.  Down off the peak we took a sharp left and did a loop past the radio mast.  The frog calls ringing louder than those of the birds.  Just stunning!  A short stop at the top of Farmer Pecks Valley to take some photos and enjoy the view then we set off at a nice steady trot round to St James Peak and then back past Muizenberg cave, onto the gravel track and up the drag to Junction Pool.   A bit of single track (the one running parallel to the jeep track) took us most of the way back to the car park, but there was no escaping the last bit of uphill on the jeep track to the finish.  (9.5kms, just under 2 hours)



Misty Ridge



Steenberg Ridge

Summer is here! What a glorious day on Saturday.

There was a bit of a bugger up with times and notices for Saturday’s Walk/Run Trail group and I believe some newbies set off with Tims group at 7:15. Well done to you for keeping up. The rest of us met at 7:30 and trotted off for a great run. We set a good pace up to the lookout – stopping about a zillion times to look at the view from the ridge. Jellies at the look out and we were off again. Down the short cut to skip the zig zag, round the dam and then down the alternative path that runs next to the river walk. The chief navigator (yours truly) causing one or two back tracks before we found the way down. All done we covered about 10kms in just on 2 hours. A bit pooped at the end but everyone agreed that there are worse ways to spend a Saturday morning.