The Rubbi Road church walk

We met Sue and Honey, and Pauline at the top of Rubbi Road, and set off up the sandy path past the church,

up and up and then back when the Food Lady realised she was on the wrong path.

A quick bundu bash and we were back on the track up to the Cobra Camp ruins.

A pretty Tritoniopsis in the burned area,

and I found a tortoise legging it away from us - looking as if it had also been in the fires. But it was fine and the Food Lady wouldn't let me take a few more scales off it.

There were lots of things coming up in the ashy sand including some toadstools but I was so fired up looking for tortoises that I didn't notice any imaginary wee folk lurking.

Pretty soon we were up on the top, the red- and-orange-attired hikers out front, the Food Lady and me behind. But where was the idiot Lad?

Deep in the fynbos hunting for mice.

There were lots of flowers out: this Hangertjie (Erica plukenetii),

and the Creeping Snakestem Pincushion (Leucospermum hypophyllocarpodendron).

We chose a spot for tea on a comfortable flat rock where us watchdogs could at least have a good view of the surroundings.

Pauline, Honey, Sue and the Alph.

I was a little way off checking out some formidable rock monsters,

I mean, look at the size of this dog! Flipping snary!

After tea we went to the end of the path and turned round and walked all the way back. You can see the sea in the distance and the edge of Scarborough.

It was just perfect cool weather, and perfect fynbos for us Scots!

And this Orange-breasted Sunbird thought so too and let everyone know how happy he was.

By the end of the walk we were quite pooped

and in need of refreshment.

Back past Cobra Camp ruins and graffiti,

past a bouncy and happy and friendly Bouvier,

snapping up a few more flowers - a Rooippypie (Gladiolus priorii)

and a daisy of sorts - possibly Bergharpuisbos (Euryops abrotanifolius),

down the sandy path

and through the Gum Tree Avenue

to the Rubbi Road church. Lad went to investigate,

but Honey got straight into Sue's car and said "Take me home please!"

At home, the humans had a delicious gin and tonic

and we got some bones to bury in the garden.

To the lighthouse

Today's walk started at Slangkop Lighthouse where we met Pauline, Sue and Honey, and my best friend Maddie, and Alice. Always nice to be three black dogs together again.

Once up the first bit, you have to cross the busy road,

then you are up and in the mountains. Still seeing and smelling tortoises everywhere ...

and everywhere were creeping Green Snakestem Pincushions (Leucospermum hypophyllocarpodendron subsp. hypophyllocarpodendron).

No, we are not at the open air mosque - Pauline and the Alph are just having a sniff of the creeping pincushions which are very fragrant. I wondered if there would be any rolling, but maybe they didn't want to be shouted at by the Food Lady who shouts at us when we roll in good smelling stuff. 

There were lots and lots of these Cape Peninsula endemic Cluster Spiderheads (Serruria glomerata). (Click on the name to go to Alice's post on PlantZAfrica.)

The path through the serrurias and ericas.

On the path were some strange little scroffy plants with black flowers called Lyperia tristis. According to Nick Helme on iSpot, its an unusual brown form (usually yellow or cream).

And in the fynbos, tortoise hunting, was a strange little scruffy black dog with a pink tongue called Coco.

We chose a nice tea spot in some rocks, but as the Food Lady couldn't see the screen on her camera, she managed to cut off Alice and Maddie. But in the photo are Pauline, Sue and the Alph.

Maddie in front of a rare erica that Alice was very excited to find, called the Hairy-tube Heath (Erica brachialis). Only six known subpopulations exist on the Peninsula, estimated to number less than 1200 mature individuals. It is a slow-growing reseeder and declining due to too-frequent fires, competition from alien invasive plants and habitat loss to coastal development.

There were lots of bulbs, like this little Geisshoriza, possibly juncea,

and Moraea fugax with ants.

Lots of mesembs, like this Ruschia macowanii,

and lots of little orchids, including this Oumakappie (Pterygodium catholicum),

and these weird red Catnails (Hyobanche sanguinea) which are also known as Skilpadkos - but not one skilpad did I find, and not for want of searching.

Back to the Cobra Camp ruins,

and down the hill, past Arctotis aspera in full bloom,

and spectacular bushes of Felicia fruticosa,

back into the milkwoods, 

and down to the rocks in front of the lighthouse

for a very welcome, icy cold dip in the ocean. What more can a little hot Scot ask for?

We found some sea anemones under the water, 

and some Cape False Limpets (Siphonaria capensis) on the rocks,

and along the boardwalk on the way back were hundreds and thousands of little blue and white Romulea tabularis flowers.

And to end, here is a miniature painting of the Slangkop Lighthouse done by a Cape Town artist, Lorriane Loots, who also painted a scottie in the forest that I think is me.