Tuesday, 5 June 2018

Spectacular autumn day on Lion's Head

I never get tired of autumn in Cape Town, or rather, what I call typical June weather - windless, cloudless, crystal clear air, perfect temperature - it's a paradise, and particularly up on the slopes of Lion's Head where we hiked today.
I've done this walk a few times now, and this was definitely the best in terms of conditions, fitness and general enjoyment. Summer is too hot, and a comparison of last year's photos and today's indicate that discomfort levels have improved vastly. Fat has turned to muscle and clothes are beginning to bag - hooray! Slightly on the downside, the knee tendons are needing attention to rectify too much reliance on single muscles and I walked with tapes holding them in place - oh, the pains of growing older. 
All along the route, sugarbushes complete with sugarbirds displayed their beauty in shades of pink and pale green, while bearded proteas were also in abundance, including a very interesting green variety. A very early babiana bloomed at the side of the track, which I regret not taking a photo of. There are other unusual botanical happenings at the moment - at least they seem so to me - a mountain dahlia is in full bloom on Ou Kaapse Weg, quite unseasonal.
Before we know it, after our brief winter months it will be spring again and the mountains will be covered in the most beautiful specimens from our Cape Floral Kingdom, the most abundant in the world and free for viewing by all who love to hike in these mountains. It can be very exciting to spot a flower that only exists on the southern slope of a particular mountain, or only in a ravine with a waterfall. So much to see and learn!
Camps Bay

Twelve Apostles

Benches above Clifton for our coffee break

Replenishing electrolytes!

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