gorgeous saturday! (camps bay, cape town)

Last Saturday was a really, really, really beautiful day, and Jim and I made the most of it! We got up and made a big breakfast, and then hit the road to find a great hike. We had heard about walks beginning in Camp's Bay (a neighborhood on the water just over the hill from the center of Cape Town) and heading up Table Mountain from the Atlantic Ocean side. After driving around for half an hour or so :) we wound our way up the hill to the start of trail. We chose one path up the mountain and set off; we thought we'd hike for three hours or so and then head to the beach! (Camp's Bay also has a great beach that is very popular with tourists, which we kind of like right now because we aren't the only sometimes-confused white people wandering around! "Other targets," as Jim says).

Well, all roads up Table Mountain seem to be steep, and this one is no exception. We huffed and puffed for about two hours, clambering over boulders and up a very steep, very long (but luckily not very full) waterfall, before reaching a beautiful overlook about 200 feet below the top of the mountain, and decided to take a break, which we spent staring at the turquoise blue waters of the beach below us. Surprise, surprise, our "break" turned into our turning point. We gave up on the summit and headed back down. But we did make it to the beach for the rest of the day.

After "sundowners" (drinks at sunset) with two other teachers from AISCT, Jim caught some beautiful shots of Camps Bay on our drive back along the coast.

Starting the hike! Looking up at the "twelve apostles", the name of the twelve large outcroppings that stretch along the coast between Table Mountain and Hout Bay. We climbed up between the third and fourth ones from the left (yes it was steep!)

Already a pretty view back toward the beach, with Lion's Head on the right. Cape Town city center is off to the right, over the other side of the hill.

Already hot! Remind us to start hikes before 11am next time.

Taking a rest under a shady outcropping, with beautiful views.

Walking along a ledge, winding our way over to where we'll start to climb in earnest.

The waterfall we climbed up. Yes, it was really steep!!

The trail drops off behind these bushes; the views were beautiful the whole way!

Jim at our "peak"!

Mm, that beach behind my head looks nice.

Sweating our way down.

Table Mountain Quartzite, what Table Mountain is made of, has properties that make it break off and erode at right angles. That's why the hills look like they are full of square rocks, and have such sheer faces.

Looking back toward Camps Bay just after sunset, with the twelve apostles on the right.

Looking out toward sunset.