Cold day on the mountain

It was up to the Elephant's Eye cave again for yesterday's hike. I belong to two walking groups and sometimes the hikes are similar, but the company is different, as is the weather, and so it matters not. A little over three weeks ago, we were still waiting for substantial rainfall in Cape Town, and the ground had just reached saturation, meaning that new rainfall would become visible in the form of streams and waterfalls. The last two weeks has exceeded our hopes and the streams are now rivers, the cliff faces are running rivulets and the paths have turned into waterways. It is marvellous to behold.
Intermittent rain was forecast and the wind was strong as we trudged up and along the ridge towards Constantiaberg. Scarves, gloves and thick jackets were mostly the order of the day, although I still don't seem to feel the cold and just had a thin mist jacket, as exertion soon warms up the body. A scarf is perfect for protecting the ears from the wind, wrapping round the head as a makeshift balaclava and filtering cold air!
We had three dogs with us and they bounded through the veld like spring hares, chasing after each other through every puddle and stream in canine abandon. No wildlife was around and the only bird out in the wind was a jackal buzzard soaring overhead - the rest were sensibly sheltering in the undergrowth. Still only a few ericas and a pink and white bush provided a splash of colour; the rest is waiting to amaze us in Spring, when the whole mountainside becomes a floral paradise.
We eventually stopped at the firewatcher's hut (long abandoned, it appears) and decided against the final onslaught towards the cave, as the wind was a bit strong. It rained on either side of us, with bright rainbows appearing, but not a drop dripped where we walked. Nicely arranged!