Humid hiking again!

Convenient cloud cover kept us cool as we took the Tokai trail from the stone church near Uitsig wine farm this morning. Fearsome forecasts of temperatures in the upper 30s had again brought sense to the fore and our somewhat more strenuous plan for Oudeschip was swopped for a flat walk through the pine forest. What a stroke of luck, as it turned out that the forecasts were all correct (apart from those Norwegians again) and by the time we returned to the cars at 11.30 the temperature had soared to 33 and climbing.
You may think that this is getting a bit late in summer for such extremes, and you would be right, but today's heat was caused by adiabatic warming of the air descending from inland, bringing thunderclouds and a few unexpected showers over a few gardens in Constantia and Tokai, I believe, but only 3 drops in Kommetjie. This increased the humidity level and so, despite plenty of shade and cloud, it felt a little like Durban and caused us to trundle along the bridle paths with slightly less enthusiasm than normal. I think it safe to say that there are those among us who are looking forward to winter!
Even so, a good time was had with convivial company and the usual repartee that reveals age groups so well, and at nearly 7km in total, including the usual climb through the barbed wire fence, it was felt that a beer had been well earned!