FEEDBACK: Saturday 28th February 2015 - Slangkop Lighthouse

Lovely sunny day for a run along the beach. The main group ran 7.75 km in each direction, from the Slangkop lighthouse in Kommetjie to Noordehoek Beach and back.

FEEDBACK: Saturday 21 February, Hunt for the red disa

Twenty-five enthusiastic runners ignored the pitter patter of rain overnight and pitched for the annual ‘hunt for the red disas’. We trudged up the steep path up Constantia Nek and were rewarded by the first find of a blue disa just off the contour path. Eagle-eyed Kate spotted this shy beauty that the front runners of the Main Group had sped straight past. We took Smuts track to Window Stream where we were rewarded with clumps of red disas. There were some King Proteas out and flower enthusiast Alice explained the difference between the King Protea and the um other kind of Protea (it is on a long stem). More red disas along the aquaduct where we had lots of fun jumping the steps in the wall. Then a lovely gallop along the dam wall just to impress the Japanese tourists with Hein and Aneen taking the opportunity of an empty dam to run through it. Here the group split and Gaeleen decided to take a group along the contour path back and the remainder of the Main Group took the Ash Valley route, lots of single track fun.

The Main Group did about 12 or 13kms in 2h45. Thank you to Richard and Julian for leading and Gaeleen for sweeping and photos.

The Recovery Group had some extra fun and did 14kms in 3h45. Thank you to Nicole for leading and photos.

Alison

Blue disa 

 

Some red disas at the aqueduct

More red disas, but displaying a more magenta than red colouring

A King Protea in bloom 

The Recovery group at the Overseer's Hut

The Main group on Woodhead dam wall 

A rather empty Helly-Hutchinson dam on the left, and Woodhead dam on the right

The Recovery group crossing the dam wall

Main group route and elevation

FEEDBACK: Saturday 14 February 2015, Kleinplaas dam circuit

A great cloudy and overcast start to our Valentine's Day run. Most runners turned out in red or pink for the occasion.

Both groups started at the car park in a clockwise circuit around the koppies behind Glencairn and Red Hill to the Kleinplaas dam and back.  The route was fairly straightforward and easy as the majority of the run goes through shallow wide valleys and open fynbos veld.  The trail consists mainly of sand and gravel roads.

The Main group did the larger outer circular route to the Kleinplaas dam to complete 14 km.  The recover group did a smaller circular route to the smaller Lewis Gay dam to complete 11.3 km. 

Main Group route and elevation.

Recovery Group at the Lewis Gay dam.  Three new comers too.

The Main Group.

 

Beautiful scenery and large open valleys.

FEEDBACK: Saturday 7th February 2015: Hout Bay, Scenic Traverse to Chapman’s Peak

Aaaah! Yet another stunning Cape summer morning! Not too hot and not too cold, no wind and perfect clear blue skies! Twenty-seven eager beavers signed in at the parking lot at the Chappies end of Hout Bay beach ready to explore the contour path that runs parallel to Chapman's Peak Drive. There was much persuading of the lazy/shy/injured to do more than they had intended to when their alarm clocks had gone off an hour before, and the groups were formed. We were off!

We set off up the t*r road for a kilometre or so before turning up at East Fort onto the rocky path that meanders up the zig zag below Blackburn Ravine.
A steady climb up the next 3 kilometres took us to an altitude of about 340m. Once on the contour path, we trotted along at a good pace for the next 2km. The path is rocky single track with some sandy patches but very runnable, and there are one or two patches where some of us had to clutch on to the plant life growing from the mountainside for moral support --- not to mention any names, Gaeleen and, oh, me :). This escarpment overlooks Hout Bay and we were hard pressed to keep our eyes on the path with such delicious views to our right.

Yes, up there!

The main group sped on ahead, leaving the back of the main group trailing behind, discussing various topics such as the unwritten rules of flying light aircraft, the advantages and disadvantages of being a tall man, upcoming trips, and our various general aches, pains and injuries. Perhaps if we talked less we'd keep up more, but what would the Trailers be without the camaraderie that comes with all that chat?

A sudden yelp signalled my own unexpected inspection of the dust and, just moments later, a similar fate was to befall Mariette (who was, I noted, wearing two different shoes. A story waiting to be told...) So, with bloodied knees, shins and faces, we continued on to the photo-stop and posed with beaming smiles on our faces and a stunning view of the bluest of oceans behind us.

All too soon, the path followed the ravine down and by 7,5 kms, we reached the t*r again. The last 4-5 kms were run at a fabulous pace along the road and back to the cars. One of the best things about this particular route is that there is a Vida e caffe in the parking lot, and everyone knows that a milky latte is full of protein which aids recovery. A croissant doesn't go down with too much difficulty either.
 

Pete reports that the run/walk group had a good outing with time for some spectacular views, covering 9kms in 2 hours 15 minutes. The main group did 11.7 kms in 2 hours 7 minutes.

It slipped our attention two weeks ago that Julian Tompkins celebrated his 75th sortie with the group. Congratulations wrapped up in apologies to Julian! Randolph Mort ran his 75^th sortie this week, Mike Hart his 50^th and Alex le Roux his 25^th. Well done, all of you!
 

Report by Lorraine Nevin 

Poor Mariette's face

Pete and all-cleaned-up Mariette

FEEDBACK: Saturday 31 January, Devil's Peak

It is not often in January that we have overcast conditions and drizzle for a run.  The runners took advantage of the cooler weather to circumnavigate Devil's Peak - a rather tough route.  All three groups left the Newland's fire base along the jeep track and set off towards the Block House.  The gravel jeep track gave way to a wet single track, and back to gravel at the Block House.  From here, the walk/run group headed south along the contour path, to complete a 11 km circuit in just over 2 hrs.

At the Block House, the Main and Recovery groups headed north, above Tafelberg road, along a very flat and easy contour path.  The Main group continued for some distance along this contour path before turning left off the contour and up past Oppelskop.  From here, the Main group headed over the saddle to the top of Newlands Ravine.  The Recovery group turned too early and instead took a rather difficult zig zag route up to the saddle.  However, they did make it to the top of Newlands Ravine.  Both the Main and Recovery groups had a steep climb down Newlands Ravine and into Newlands Forest.  Once in the forest, the moss covered rocks and many tree routes made this a slow-going downhill.

The Main group covered 10 km in 2h 40 and the Recovery group completed 12 km in a not-to-be-done-again 4 hrs.

Above - the correct route taken by the Main group; Below - some zig zag route taken by the Recovery group.

A view down to Rondebosch.  Overcast conditions make for great running. 

At the Block House

The Main group on their way down Newlands Ravine.

Looking back onto a sleepy CBD - Near the top of the Recovery group's zig zag route to the saddle. 

And when the Recovery group finally reached the top!

After 3 hrs (more than 1 hr being non-stop up), on our way down back to Newlands - very steep downhill.

FEEDBACK: Saturday 24 January 2015: – Weary Willie's, Spes Bona Forest Circuit, Kalk Bay Peak & Nellie's Pool

One of my personal favourite runs with TMT is through the Spes Bona forest. This magical, dessicated fairyland inspires mental images of leprechauns, elves and even the odd hobbit, so tangled are its branches and dappled is its shade! The steep and breath-taking climb up the steps and rocky path from the town centre is well worth the panting and sweating (and probably some silent cursing). Weary Willy was no doubt named after his climb up to his namesake pool and not before.

Apart from the intricate tree architecture, this route is full of fabulous flora. Familiar watsonias and proteas aside, there are very many interesting plants flanking the path. I'm going to quote Karen Watkins of www.uncoverthecape.co.za here, because I have no knowledge of the indigenous growth in the area myself. 



"Thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Silvermine and a stalwart group of hackers (those who clear alien vegetation), the Silvermine area is practically clear of plants that do not belong here. This part of Silvermine has some fascinating plants which are endemic (occurring nowhere else) plants such as Erica urna-viridis, a straggling plant with very sticky green coloured urn-shaped flower heads. Another interesting plant is Diastella divaricata Peninsula silkypuff, a low-lying scrambling shrub with small pink flowerheads. Look closely at the flower and you will see why it is a member of the Proteaceae family. "

 

She goes on, "TMNP have done a magnificent job of path building and maintenance, particularly evident through Spes Bona Forest, with boardwalks to protect the roots of ancient, and often rare, trees. Spes Bona is a fine remnant of forest, rich in indigenous trees such as rooiels, Cape beech, milkwood and Podocarpus latifolia, the only yellowwood that occurs naturally in the peninsula."

And there I was, thinking they built the boardwalks not to protect the roots but for trailers like us... ;)

 
















Arriving at Kalk Bay Peak, we drank in the gorgeous views and took a moment to revel in the privilege of living in such a beautiful corner of the world. High above the clouds, we gloated -just a little bit – the feeling making us magnanimously state that Eskom could shed its load anytime it liked, as long as we had our mountain to escape to.

A particular highlight of the morning was the visit to Nellie’s pool, complete with mating display by frogs and a haha moment courtesy of Geoff Nell and his suggestion that ‘where there are frogs, there are boomslang to eat them’. Ahem. 

Amongst the names on  the register were Neil and Felicity Garbers arrived at the start, but decided to rather do a flat Tokai route instead seeing that there wasn’t a walking group. We welcomed a good number of new faces to the group, many of whom declare their intentions to return, despite the steep climb and random conversation.

The main group of 12 intrepid trailers did 11.2 or 11.4 km, depending on whose GPS you were using, in 2h20 (or faster, for Julian & Co).  The recovery group did a very similar distance in just a few minutes more, due to either an incorrect turn or FOMO and general over enthusiasm - who knows? :)

Report by Lorraine Nevin, with additional photo contributions from Bonnie Floyd, Gae Tompkins and Richard Rossiter.