11-14am
The one thing I regretted when I walked up Boyes Drive a couple of weeks ago was that I didn’t actually take a photo of the Shark Spotter’s view. So yesterday, Mike dropped me close to Kalk Bay Harbour entrance and at 4-11pm, I set off again, this time determined to walk a little farther and take a photo of the view at the top. But first, I strode purposefully up the steep incline of Clairvaux Road to Boyes Drive. I passed the regular reminder for me to think and pray…
…and I couldn’t resist one photo of Kalk Bay Harbour over the rooves…
The it was onward, upward until, in no time at all, I had arrived at the shark spotters hut, where Vivienne was on duty…
If I was a shark, I wouldn’t mess with her either! This is her view…
It was at that moment in time, that the Saturday afternoon walk changed completely! I decided to run! I was dressed more for walking, in that I had a sunhat and sunshirt. But I was wearing running shoes, and had a deep pocket for my cell phone. It is all downhill from the shark spotter to ‘the dip’ on Boyes Drive where the speed cameras are. “Ah,” I thought, I’ll run to them. And so an easy jog commenced, free flowing with the wind at my back, lovely cloud overhead and all downhill. Doesn’t get better than that. But true to form, I always do more than I intend. When I got to the speed camera, I decided to run a little further and just get over the next hump. When I got over the hump, I still felt fresh and hardly out of breath, so I decided to run a bit up the hill. Half way up, I decided to run to the Old Boyes Drive turn off. I had told Mike I was going to go down Old Boyes Drive and then walk back along the Main Rd. When I got to Old Boyes Drive turn off, I canned the plan to turn and I ran on. I have always wanted to walk Boyes Drive from Clairevaux Rd. Kalk Bay to Main Rd. Lakeside. “I may as well do it now,” I thought and with the sun behind a cloud, the wind gently urging me on, I gathered all my 49 year and 2 month energy and jogged along merrily, smiling at the cars as I went. After all, Lakeside Main Rd. must be JUST around the next bend. But it wasn’t. And it wasn’t around the bend after that either. I couldn’t believe it. It seemed that they had lengthened Boyes Drive. Oh well, there was no stopping now. I jogged on, until eventually I saw Westlake Golf Course in the distance and could NOT believe I had such a long way still to go. Still I laboured on. My determination weakly knew no bounds…sort of! I staggered down the last hill and finally arrived at Main Rd. Lakeside. I was quite pathetic! I had only run for 30 minutes. It didn’t warrant such tiredness. I sat for a few minutes getting my breath and then took a photo to mark the moment…
But just think about where I was. Main Rd. Lakeside, FAR, FAR FAR from home! After I’d recovered a bit, I set off at a brisk pace in the direction of Muizenberg. My feet were complaining, but I was happy that I no longer was running. I finally said goodbye to Lakeside…
…and headed towards Muizenberg. I whimsically looked up at this sign post, wondering what had gotten into my head that I didn’t turn down the road…
By now, every step felt as if I was walking on nails. After I’d stopped running, my knees and quads were sore, but that pain soon passed. It was just my aching feet that I noticed. I was still trying to smile at every car. Smiling definitely works to keep spirits up! Yes! Every step taking me closer…
Convenient pitstop…
Then it was off to St. James seafront walkway…to get there you walk under the railway line….
…Bailey’s Cottage is at sea level but in line with the shark spotters on Boyes Drive…
The walk way is magnificent…
(Don’t walk it alone when it’s not busy…over the weekend should be okay). It leads to St. James Beach…
By now I’d been in touch with Mike who said he would find me on the road…I kept walking. Feet sore, but spirits high…
I was ready to walk to Clovelly, but Mike beat me to it, picking me up outside Kalk Bay station. Wow, what a walk. And with all the photos, Luxembourg Lisa may say, “Everything is as it should be!” And she would be right.
Psalm 16 vss 1-2
Keep me safe, my God, for in You I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.”
Turns out it was 13km. This morning I am a bit stiff, but this afternoon, Mike and I head back to Simonstown Golf Course for him to complete the card. I’m looking forward to that.
God bless you loads!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂
Gratitude/happiness pic…my psychedelic walking/running shoes… getting some mileage on them…
