Coastal Break Out

Winter has not really broken through till now. It has been chilly at times, and rainy too, but the majority of the times we have blue skies and pleasant temperatures. Perfect hiking conditions, so I decided to take on Table Mountain again. I had not succeeded in hiking up the mountain yet. I had taken the cable car up before, yes, but I hadn't gone up on own strenght yet. The last attempt failed because the trail indicated simply vanished into tin air, and me and hiking buddy Florens were left scratching our heads, lookingdown a 50m drop. So this time I had a new route and a new buddy.

The hike up was perfect. Flowers are starting to blossom, the slopes are really green after the winter rains, and the sun is pouring warmth without burning skin. Since we left in the afternoon, we planned to hike up and take the cart down. We did not check the time of the last cart down though, which almost costed us deerly.
As we were an estimated 20min hike away from the cable cart station, we heard the alarm calling for the last ride. Not exactly the situation we had in mind. Not long later, we found ourselves huffing and puffing next to a technician who calmly explained we missed the last ride down. "looks like you have a hike left to do, guys. The counter is closed". Sun was setting and a hike down takes around 1.5 hours . Definitely not the plan we had in mind. We tried to apply logic to our predicament: "Sir, you have to go down. Can't we join you?". A chuckle and a puff of a cigarette followed. "I stay here, have to do some repairs tonight." We contemplated moving away from applying logic to downright pleading and begging when we saw restaurant staff getting ready to board the cart and go down. We joined the gang and went down enjoying the astonishing view of a setting sun over Cape Town. A pleasure all of you should see once in your life at least.

With nine months under the belt, and no leave taken, I am really feeling the urge of taking leave. Work doesn't really allow it at the moment, so I have to settle for less. I took a break out trip to a small town called Paternoster, on the West Coast, North of Cape Town. In a small Nature reserve, Rob (a friend and former colleague) and I slept in a nice camp site appropriately called Beach Camp. We did the usual camping things: hiked a bit, braai-ed our food, enjoyed a campfire and enjoyed nature.

As much good the trip did to me, it did not do much good to Shafeeka. Right before we reached destination, she lost thrust and roared like a madened cave bear. Something was wrong and I had a feeling I knew what it was. A visit to a specialist confirmed the diagnosis, a broken exhaust pipe where the pipe links to the silencer. Nothing terminal, but surgery was needed. So now she has a new exhaust, and purrs like a kitten again. The specialist said she needed new breaks and tires as well. I gave in on the breaks but not on the new tires. You shouldn't give a lady everything she needs right away.