A stormy hike at Cape Point

Today was my first proper walk in Cape Point Reserve. Over the last 45 years I have visited there often on crayfish and perlemoen diving expeditions (purely as a rocksitter; the diving was man's work) or for braais or a Sunday drive, as one does. But this was a hike from Gifkommetjie along the circular walk down to Hoek van Bobbejaan.
We set off in sunny but cloudy conditions with a forecast of rain later, which we didn't expect to affect us. The path led down the mountainside through an enchanted milkwood forest, with boughs forming a canopy overhead - reminiscent of my childhood playground on Trappies Kop, Clovelly - and wild flowers proliferated in the open, upper reaches of the beach, well adapted to the intense saltiness of the environment and white, sandy soil.
We passed through a troop of baboons sitting on top of the low milkwoods, grazing at whatever it is they eat on a treetop (perhaps new leaves), and they took absolutely no notice of us - man and nature living in perfect harmony. A Cape robin chat trilled in the shrubbery and Karoo prinias were abundant.

Gifkommetjie

We had to bend down in this part!

Tiny euphorbia in bloom

Beautiful babiana

Another babiana

Hoek van Bobbejaan

Hyobanche sanguinea

We stopped on a dune at Hoek van Bobbejaan near the remains of the wreck of the Phyllisia, a steam trawler wrecked in 1968. In the distance, thousands of cormorants huddled on the beach, with flocks of 100 or so continuously taking off or coming in to land. Huge breakers crashed ashore and gradually we noticed that the cloud cover was increasing. Looking behind us, we saw a well-developed rainstorm heading in our direction - two hours before the forecast time. True to its reputation, the Cape of Storms was upon us, and we had an hour-and-a-half's hike across the crest of the mountain to reach the cars.
The devastating fires of recent years have scoured the plateau of vegetation and the walk was easy with only rocks as obstacles, but within twenty minutes of leaving the beach, the wind freshened and rain was soon lashing us. It was out with the wet weather gear (those who had brought it!) and plodding on. I did still find time to stop for photographs of interesting flowers, and of course it never hurt anyone to walk in the rain, but after an hour in those conditions, we were all thoroughly soaked to our underwear and the cars were a very welcome sight!