Yesterday it felt like somebody had dropped a giant ball of cotton-wool onto Cape Town. It was cloudy in every direction that you looked, certainly making the world feel like a smaller place.
Today on the other hand is a beautiful day, perhaps we will have a braai later this evening.
Until I started trail running, I thought I was pretty fit (I can run a 21km half marathon without too much difficulty), but after going on two trail runs, I have realised that I am going to need a whole different level of fitness to keep this up.
The group that I have joined start running every Saturday morning around 7am. It means getting up really early on the weekends, but the views on the mountain make it so worth the early start.
On my weekend run, I even tried to fly, but alas did not manage to miss the ground, so a couple of bruised knees and sore left ankle later I completed the 15km route. Note that this was 15km up and down a mountain, not 15km on the level.
I took my happy snappy camera on the last run, so here is just a taste of the experience.
Lion’s Head (left) and Signal Hill (right). Notice how it looks like a lion lying on the ground, hence the name.
Running along Table Mountain, yes those little dots are us
Running towards the Cable Car. The building on the bottom is the lower cable station, and you can see the cable car in the middle. Lion’s head is in the distance.
Cable Cars. Although it was a lovely day, it was still quite misty, here you can see the cables going up into the mist on the top of the mountain. If you come to Cape Town, you must take a trip to the top of the mountain, it is truly magnificent.
So am I hooked on Trail Running? Absolutely, see you on the mountain.
Tuesday (which was a public holiday) dawned cold, still and misty. The water was like glass, with the winter mist blurring the line between the water and the sky, perhaps blurring the real word with the world of the faeries a little as well.
I love walking around in the mist, it makes me feel like I am the only person in the world. Quiet, a little eerie, and peaceful.
I have been trying to shoot a really sharp picture of the moon for ages, and I think I am getting close. I shot this on a bright and clear night a few days ago, just before the moon became full.
I spotted these early morning paddlers while driving to work, so I grabbed my phone and took the shot. I like the way the duck appears to be watching the paddlers.
After all the wonderful meals I ate yesterday, some exercise was much needed, so I took the opportunity of a relatively cool and wind-free day to go for a morning cycle.
I went from home to the entrance of the Cape Point Nature Reserve, and the roads were surprisingly quiet. This was not the case on the return cycle; by then Cape Town was awake and about a million people were headed off to the beaches along my route.
Anyway, I cycled for 56km so I am ready for tonight’s dinner out :-)
I saw this field while driving to Wellington the other day. I love the way the hay was rolled into those big, round bales. I would love to climb into the field and see if I can roll the bales all the way down the hill, and see how long they last. Of course that would no be very nice (and I suspect not very successful), but it is still tempting.
I caught this shot coming into JFK airport at about 5:30 in the morning, just before we landed. The view is looking up towards Long Island, in the general Boston Direction.
This was taken with the point and click, but considering the circumstances, I think that it came out ok.
The folks at Cape Town Helicopters give me a flip in one of their choppers on Saturday to do a photoshoot. It was a cool and crystal-clear day perfect for shooting.
Table Mountain with Lion’s Head on the right, the harbour in the front.
Cape Town Stadium, with Lion’s Head and Table Mountain in the background.
Cape Town Stadium with the city bowl in the background.
The Camps Bay and Clifton beaches, with Hout Bay in the distance.
You can do a flip for less that R600, and while that is a lot of money, it is an amazing and unforgettable experience. Highly recommended. Cape Town Helicopters have a 100% safety record, so I am sure you are in good hands.
Disclosure: my flight was free, but the opinions and photos are mine.
The winter rain has arrived today, but it was not here on Tuesday. I caught this shot while driving home to Muizenberg. The mountains in the distance are the Hottentots-Holland mountains, and if you look carefully, you can see the hotels of the Strand on the edge of the water across the bay. This is one of the most peaceful and clean beaches in the world (at least I think so).
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