Walking in the rain

When we open our doors and it's raining, do we go outside and work in the garden, or sit on a bench and revel in the sight of birds fluffing their feathers and enjoying a splash in a puddle? No, we go back inside, make a cup of tea and settle down to watch the tennis, or whatever.
On Friday the forecast was rain. Dark skies spread to the horizon, a hint of what was still to come. Clouds crept over the mountains. The wind was rising. But the hike was not cancelled.
The die-hards met at the Silvermine car park and the weather was fair - not windy, not raining - in fact, ideal walking weather. The river that runs down from the dam on its way under Ou Kaapse Weg wends its way towards False Bay via the substantial Silvermine waterfall and then down through the valley, where most of it is captured in the irrigation system of the golf course, with the run off going into the wetlands. The previous day's good rain had brought it into spate and it was a delight to walk along the banks in thick vegetation to the accompaniment of tinkling water.
 

 Soon enough, the drizzle came and in no time we were all sodden. But were we downhearted? No! The wind picked up from the northwest as forecast and the higher we climbed, the stronger it became. My mist jacket was hopelessly inadequate, but walking makes you hot, so the chill only came when we stopped for coffee and snacks at one of the surprisingly nice picnic spots to be found along the way. Although the rain had stopped, the wind shook huge drops from the leaves overhead, and that was more hazardous as it fell into the coffee mugs. I didn't take my flask for fear of lightning strike after Tuesday's experience - tongue in cheek, but you never know! So there was no warm drink for me, on the very occasion that it would have been most welcome.
Heading back down, a patch of blue appeared in the clouds overhead, and although the wind was chilly, sunshine was our welcome companion all the way back to the cars, while all around us the dark clouds continued to cloak the peaks. Someone was looking after us!