Winter waterfall walk

It is always preferable to hike up to a waterfall when it is in spate, so after the week's rains we set off on a gorgeous sunny winter's day to scale the heights of Cecilia Ravine. In summer there is a barely perceptible trickle of droplets, but the effort of the climb is well worth the sighting of the Disa Uniflora which dots the fern bedecked cliff face.
Today we toiled up alongside a tumbling brook, where blobs of white foam lay trapped against fallen branches and rocky pools, too fresh to have taken on the amber hues of the fallen detritus, and frogs croaked throatily in the deep recesses of moss-covered cascades. A thick carpet of damp leaves covered the steep path and prevented mud from forming, making for a very pleasant climb. We passed many others taking advantage of  the perfect weather to relieve the stresses of the world we find ourselves in, accompanied by dogs from the tiniest Yorkie to the shaggiest German Shepherd, reveling in the opportunity to play in the water then charge about madly to dry off. A group of youngsters shed their shirts to stand under the waterfall. They said it was great but they were really just showing off for the girls! We've all been there, I'm sure.
With no wind, sunshine and an ascent of around 350m, we were soon perspiring and almost shed our shirts, too, but after a pleasant coffee break, it was time to tackle the other side of the ravine (perhaps a little more daunting than the previous stretch, and in deep shade for much of the way. At the top of the uphill, we were treated to another reason for our fondness for this strenuous hike - a panoramic view across the Cape Flats, Tygerberg and the rolling hills of the Cape winelands, with mountain ranges melting away in the distance. Oh, to be out in them thar hills again!
Just over 5km and 3.75 hours later, we were back at the cars, well exercised and ready for a lazy afternoon with a good book. No lunches yet, but that too shall come to pass.