The last winter walk of 2014

Today - Sunday 31 August - is officially the last day of winter. There was still snow on the distant mountain tops but it was lovely and warm when we arrived in Muizenberg. We met Pauline, and Kate - just returned from Canada

with her fantastically sparkling diamond ring from Greg.  

Alice and Maddie joined us too - and, exclamations over, we started walking up the Old Mole Track where there are no moles but lots and lots of very fragrant Keurtjies or Sweet Pea Bush (Podalyria calyptrata) 

and False Slugwort (Dischisma cilliatum)

We came to Weary Willies Pool which was great for a tummy cool.

Some new local Fish Hoek art (sharks being the symbol for Fish Hoek these days!) on a stepping stone across the cool, red waters of the mountain stream.

Lots for the Food Lady to snap as we walked up Echo Valley. This is probably a white Kastynbos (Muraltia heisteria).

We then veered left up the Jojolu Path onto Cave Peak where all the Jack Russells fall into caves and have to be rescued by the Mountain Club. Our humans, not understanding that we are far too careful to fall into a cave, clapped on our leads. Here is Pauline and the Alph climbing up with Echo Valley far below. 

On top of Cave Peak and looking over towards Kommetjie, with some China Flowers (probably Adenandra villosa judging by the size of the bush) in front.

Kate bought some posh Canadian chocolates for tea, and Laddie put on his poshest pose for the photo.

Bubbles, chocolate, dates and some delish rusks to celebrate Kate and Greg's engagement. Altitude: 445m. Bubble count: good. (See next post for explanation.)

Cheers!

Each chocolate was in the shape of a Canadian maple leaf. Thanks Kate!

Tea shot: Pauline, the Alph, Kate, Alice and me. Maddie was behind Alice, Laddie behind the Alph and the Food Lady behind the camera.

Kate doing a spot of whale watching.

Off we set, past some scary, snary cave entrances,

and some wonderful rainwater ponds. Some were Maddie-sized,

and some were Scottie-sized.

Buds are popping up all over the place - this is the Green Tree Pincusion (Leucospermum conocarpodendron subsp. viridum).

We descended into the shadowy forests of the Amazon where the bright yellow flowers of some huge Heady Gorse (Aspalathus capitata) shrubs were almost overwhelming on the nose.

These shrubs are classified as Vulnerable on the Red List as there are less than 1000 plants, all of which occur only on Table Mountain.

Through the forest we tripped - like the goats in the story, trip trap trip trap, but no trolls appeared to challenge us - although Laddie and I could sense them close by ...

Yikes, what manner of hairy beasties lurk in this place? Haggises maybe?

Past a luminous Peninsula Conebush (Leucodendron strobilinum - thanks Al for the id - which is also a rare Peninsula endemic and Red Listed as Near Threatened) and then out into the light again.

All along the side of the path flowers were opening - like this Ground Bobbejaantjie (Babiana ambigua),

golden Wedge-leaf Sorrel (Oxalis obtusa),

monkey beetle-riddled Renostergousblom (Arctotis acaulis),

and Spekvygie (Aizoon sarmentosum).

Back on the Mole Track - Pauline looking across False Bay.

A tiny Rooiknikkertjie (Romulea rosea) narrowly escaping being crunched in the path.

Still cool and damp enough for these shade-loving Forest Sorrels (Oxalis incarnata) with their heart-shaped leaves.

Down and down the Old Mole Track we went,

until we couldn't see over the Sweet Pea bushes at all.

Home again - G&T and B&E (cubes for us - ho hum)

and a lazy afternoon in the warm sun.

Scotties go up Cave Peak

We said goodbye to Dawnie who was happy with her bone and met up with Sue, Richard, Lucy, Josie, Kate from Canada, Pauline, Helen, Paul and Lydia who joined us this morning. It was a misty morning but quite warm and humid.
The Shark Spotter was up there, spotting sharks and whales and he showed us where some whales were wallowing. The FL spotted some Night-scented Pelargonium (Pelargonium triste), that smell of cloves,
and some Green Satyr Orchids (Satyrium odorum) that also smell strongly of carnations.
A beautiful fiery red Lesser Cobra Lily (Chasmanthe floribunda var. floribunda) that attract lots of sunbirds for Kate to look at.
Here is Kate in front of the Weary Willy's watering hole signpost.
We scrambled up the steep side of Echo Valley, up the Jojolu Path. This is Lydia camouflaged against the rocks. And Helen and Paul sticking out a bit. We had to be helped up this section which Dougal hates. I just shout when I need help and the FL comes to the rescue, but Dougal struggles up and sometimes gets rather stuck.
Luckily we all made it up and over the edge onto Cave Peak.
Here is Kate wishing she had bought a torch to go into Boomslang Cave.
More uphill,
but the views over Fish Hoek were quite impressive, even if it was a bit cloudy and hazy.
Tea on top. Pauline, Lucy, Josie, Kate, me and Doog, the Alpha Male, Helen hiding in a blue hat, Paul ignoring us, Richard, Sue and Lydia.
Another deep, dark and drippy cave - right on the path.
We came down into the Amphitheatre, us still on leads because of caves and the dassies and mice that force us to chase them into the caves.
The Coat-hanger Heath (Erica plukenetti).
Paul's grass - the Pentaschistis curvifolia - was in full flower - looking spectacular. Paul, we wish you had been there to see it.
The other Paul, looking over the edge towards Noordhoek Peak.
Even the leucadendrons are in flower. This is L. strobilinum, one of our Peninsula endemics. (Thanks Alice for the id).
And the FL was excited to see this sundew in flower - it is a white form of the Snotrosie (! sounds like something our human nephew Arti would say. Maybe they, like him, mean SCOTrosie!) - Drosera cistiflora.
We were having so much fun. Just look at the mist, coming in to cool us down and make us feel at home in the highlands.
This was all over the place - a really pretty gnidia - most probably the Pine-leaved Saffronbush (Gnidia pinifolia) - which is also scented at night which means it probably attracts moth pollinators.
We decided not to go down the wet and slippery Spes Bona boardwalk and instead carried on past Kalk Bay Peak and another cave - Tartarus Cave. Then through Mimetes Valley and a long slow downward trek back to the cars.
A misty view of Muizenberg beach.
Eeeek, not the baboon head again!
Watch out Lydia!
Some Melasphaerula ramosa flowers that the Food Lady calls snauzer flowers because they have beards like snauzers. As far as I know she hasn't discovered any scotty flowers apart from the snotrosie.
Where have you been? Dougal and the Food Lady, and Lydia,Helen and Paul were a bit slow coming down and we were waiting for them in the forest. It was quite a hike.