Table Mountain*

Cape Town
November 10th, 2008

After much admiration of Table Mountain, the backdrop landmark of Cape Town, we decided to properly meet her. We put on our climbing gear, boots, shorts, and shirts and after looking sufficiently European minus the walking sticks, we popped into the car and drove towards her. Stopping at the information office we enquired how best to hike up the mountain. The park officer, a friendly woman with an easy smile, told us to drive up to the wendy house and park and the trail is easily laid out. It would take about two to two and a half hours to climb. This was encouraging, we read in our guidebook the hike was difficult, took three hours and wasn’t to be taken lightly.

We arrived at the wendy house and thought we might need to check in but no, no nanny state here. And thus we started our ascent. Walking up stair like rocks, we naively waited for the path to flatten. This didn’t happen after twenty metres, after fifty meters, after two hundred meters, well it didn’t happen for the whole journey. Puffing on, we moved along. Conversation was short between wheezes. Lizard. See. Look. Beautiful. Lekker view. Wow. Both afraid to stop as we might not be able to continue we kept going. An hour and fifteen minutes later we made it. And it was worth it. As luck had it, it was a clear sunny day. Breathtaking views overlooking the city, seeing Robben Island from afar, seeing the coast with its brilliant clear blue waters, and also enjoying all the flowers and plants growing on the mountain top, it was in a word heaven.

* Not exactly North Battleford, but still nice