Yesterday's hike would have been one of the more strenuous on the list, had it not been for the fact that we did it in reverse (no, we didn't walk backwards). Rather than taking the gentle slope down Maskew Path on Signal Hill and toiling straight up an almost vertical slope at the end, we did the downhill scramble first. This was not easy, as the shale is very loose on the path and a bit of slipping and sliding got us down a little. The thought that we wouldn't have to climb back up was very comforting.
A few rain showers out to sea made for some spectacular scenes, with billowing clouds and rays of sunlight providing drama, and one of them fell on us but only briefly before the sun came out and we felt its warmth on our faces. The southwesterly wind was chilly and many flowers declined to open on the southern slope of Signal Hill, but for the rest it was an awesome display of early spring. The most abundant were the Moraea miniata (Cape Tulip) and Babiana fragrans which were literally everywhere in a multitude of shades of blue. White daisies mimicked patches of snow and deep yellow African Thistle were beacons of light against the green hillside, slowly recovering from the last fire. In two weeks' time we will see a mass display of pink watsonias which thrive after a burn, and there are many flowers that will make their appearance in September, making another hike in the area very worthwhile.
Having descended to the upper reaches of the suburbs on the Atlantic seaboard, the walk along the line of trees brought welcome shade before we took the gentle incline back to the road at the foot of Lion's Head, pausing frequently to enjoy the views of passing ships and a group of paragliders taking advantage of the southwester. Not a sport I have any desire to participate in!
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| Lobostemon with raindrops |
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| Babiana fragrans |
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| Very steep and slippery |
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| Some interesting geology |
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