Tuesday
Today was the day….
We celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary! I took the day off and we headed for Constantia Nek again. This time we walked to the three reservoirs at the top of the mountain. There and back was about 11km, so once again we returned with wobbly muscles and sore feet, but it was worth it.
Mike starts off…this is a steep staircase that is a short cut to the jeep track. Walking sticks are helpful.
When we got to the jeep track, we hid our sticks in bushes and then continued. One of the peaks in the surrounding area…we had a long way to go..
Getting higher…
Mike and I differ when it comes to our heart rates. It’s crazy how low his is. Mine was 140, his not even 100. To ramp his up a bit, what did he do? He jogged!
The track looks benign. It is a steep upward road that is easy to walk on but very uphill and it goes on and on and on. Everyone coming down was very cheerful. We were too.
Just when you feel the hill will never end, you round a corner, the road levels out and ahead is the first of 3 dams.
What we did was go onto the other two…
Alexandra dam wall….
And then returned to De Villiers which was easy to sit on the water’s edge and soak my feet. Returning to De Villiers the Keeper’s cottage comes into view. Mike reflected on the last time he walked this path was with Julian (probably 25 years ago or more!) when they boldly climbed Table Mountain and walked all the way across the mountain, past McClear’s beacon and down this very path. I picked them up at Constantia Nek. On that walk, Julian commented on this little establishment, although the new build on the left was not yet there.
Opposite the Keeper’s Cottage gate is a sign to De Villier’s dam. It is misleading because you actually think you can get to the water, but it’s not that easy and eventually we turned back and went round to the main entrance. This is Mike pondering where the path is to get you to the water’s edge from the other side. There wasn’t one.
We soon were sitting on the rocks and this was my view.
What amazed me was how many people do this walk. It was busy! Loads of families and young people of all ages and cultures labouring at different speeds up the mighty mountain. When we were walking down we were stopped by two couples asking, ‘how far to go?’. Mike is my motivation – I point to Mike and say, “he’s 71, so you can do it!” When we were sitting on the water’s edge I marvelled at the dozens of visitors who were picnicking at the reservoir. Certainly free entertainment and everyone will sleep well tonight.
The walk down is much easier and faster, but this windy road has to be trod…
What a wonderful day out and one we will remember. We arrived home with dinner in hand, sore feet but filled souls. Our guests were on the kerb. They had inadvertently locked their keys in the car! Who of us has not done that before?! Mike was the hero who laboured up our 85 steps and then down again to assist. I said bye to them on the street!
It was a treat to shed my shoes and make a cappuccino. Tonight we have lamb shank and mashed potato. 36 years have been a blessing & we are beyond grateful.
A good good day.
Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
The best is yet to come – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂