The shipwreck trail and a bit more

I just love walking in Cape Point Nature Reserve, particularly on a windy December day - the time of year when the flowers on the plateau are abundant and varied and cool breezes from the deep South Atlantic are especially welcome. A little rain overnight kept the beach sand firm beneath our feet as we strode along the seafront from Olifantsbos to the wrecks of the Thomas T Tucker and the Nolloth, enjoying the bracing air and crashing surf across the reefs that have seen many a ship founder over the centuries - these last two being the rusted hulks of last century's victims, among the fragmented remains of modern yachts and fishing vessels.
A whale vertebra stranded near the dunes was a reminder that the jetsam on the beach is not always man-made and I'm sure many a hiker has been photographed perched on the sad remains of a behemoth of the seas.
The shoreline between the two wrecks is quite different from the rest of the reserve, with a wide and windswept sandy strip thinly covering a layer of smooth, almost soapy and marble-like rock - another fascinating aspect of the geology of the Peninsula.
A lone baboon called out from his lookout on the krantz as we climbed the easy path from the beach through increasingly varied fynbos - in places like a miniature garden with five or six species in close proximity - up to the top of the cliffs. The walk back to Olifantsbos via the plateau has to rate among the most enjoyable in the reserve, with rock formations to fire the imagination and views of all the peaks from Slangkop to Cape Point. The white everlastings are at maximum bloom and make for a beautiful 'snow' scene in all directions - the closest we will be getting to a white Christmas! Another highly recommended hike.