If you are feeling energetic, there is a lovely walk from Constantia Nek up the mountain to the dams on the back of Table Mountain. While it is only around 7km or so, it is very steep.
The dams were built in the late 1800’s so have historical value for Cape Town.
Woodhead Reservoir
Woodhead Reservoir wall
Woodhead Reservoir sign
Part of the mechanism of one of the dams
If you are keen to do the walk, here is the route I took (but I ran it).
A few days ago I posted about me entering the Two Oceans Marathon. This is a quick update to let you know that I finished the 56km race, and I finished it under the cutoff time of 7 hours (6:53 to be exact). This was my second ultra-marathon, and while I found it extremely physically tough (but then I guess that any run that long is going to be tough), mentally it was a much easier race.
While running it I was seriously wondering why on earth I had got up at 3:30am to run 56k, but as soon as I got home and had a good bath I started thinking about what I could do differently for next year! But the support from my fellow runners and the spectators was simply amazing. I don’t think I could do it without that comradery.
And yes, I will see you next year!
About 2km from the end – I was a lot more sore that it looks
I love the underside of interesting staircase – who can tell me where it is?
(hint it is in Cape Town)
Pretty much a year ago I completed my first Ultra-marathon – the Two Oceans Marathon, the world’s most beautiful marathon. A gruelling 56km run through Cape Town, including over 1000m of climb. It was a brutal yet exhilarating experience. It is difficult to explain the conflicting emotions between joy and pain that I experienced during the last 15k or so.
At around 40k – I was in a lot more pain than I was showing
Well, I am running it again this year. Tomorrow to be exact. 10999 people will be joining me on my run, and another 13000 will be running the half-marathon.
But the route is amazing. You start outside the brewery in Newlands, run down to Muizenberg (almost past my house), down the coast to Fish Hoek, across to Noordhoek, then over Chapman’s Peak. This is the first big hill and where some say the race really starts. Then into Hout Bay where you hit the marathon mark, up Constantia Nek (the big scary hill), and then down about 10k past Kirstenbosch Gardens to the finish on the UCT rugby fields.
Crossing the finish line last year
Last year there was a course diversion over Ou Kaapse Weg – a brutal 7km climb, so in theory this year’s route is a little easier. I hope I am ready; I have certainly done the training. So here’s hoping for a great run.
If you weren’t at the burger festival this weekend you lost out. They should have more correctly called it the burger and beer festival, because there was plenty of amazing craft beer.
It’s great to see how many small scale breweries there are now in Cape Town, and tasting how good some of the beers are! There was plenty to taste, and the beer community has such amazing people in it – so passionate about their beer, and so willing to share.
Of course beer goes hand in hand with burgers, and it was difficult to choose which stand to buy a burger from. I eventually settled on a 3-cheese burger – mozzarella and cheddar mixed into the patty, topped with blue cheese from Fat Harry’s. I don’t normally eat chips, but after a 30k run this morning I was hungry, and I am glad I ate the chips. Without a doubt they are the best chips I have ever eaten.
It turns out that Fat Harry’s is a restaurant in Harfield Village; I will be taking a turn there to try their other burgers. Here is their website. http://www.fatharrys.co.za
Here’s a pic of my burger; you can decide for yourself how good it looks.
My previous post was a pic of Table Mountain from Table Bay. Today’s pic is exactly the opposite – a pic of Table Bay from Table Mountain. Lion’s Head is the little peak on the left, and you can just make out Robben Island in the background.
Much as I love travel, there is nothing like arriving back home, and there is nothing like the iconic view of Table Mountain. This pic was taken on the ferry between the harbour and Robben Island.
I don’t think this taxi is going to be going anywhere soon. I spotted it on the side of the M5, completely burned down. There is nothing flammable left inside the taxi. It also looks like everything salvageable has been removed – even the engine has gone!
I hope that nobody was harmed.
You may have noticed the mile markers along Main Road in the deep south. There is one at the corner of Main/Steenberg road, another opposite the Old Bakery, and one in St James. Here is the original Lakeside marker.
According to the Muizenberg Historical Conservation Society, the original stones date back to around 1810. You may have also noticed (I didn’t) that there were two gaps in the sequence. Muizenberg and (I think) Kalk Bay.
Thanks to the Kalk Bay and St James Historical Society (and some cash from the City roads department), the gaps have been filled with brand new replica stones. This one is by the BP petrol station in Muizenberg. I have not managed to find the other new stone yet, but I will post a pic as soon as I do!
Earlier this year I posted photos of the fire that devastated our mountains. The good news is that the plants seem to be recovering well, and parts of the mountain have already been reopened.
The day the fire started I was meant to run over the mountains, so I ran this alternate route to Chapman’s Peak instead, little knowing that just a few hours later it would be on fire as well.
You still cannot run sections of this road (well at least you are not supposed to).\
I remember it howling with wind and being freezing cold, but I am glad it is coming right slowly.
The view to Hout Bay from Chapman’s Peak
At Chapman’s Peak
Leave a Comment