Camps Bay, Cape Town Days 5 and 6

Tuesday 11th

After an early morning power walk (Rob had given up his bike but was refusing to run) we did our second day of touristy business on the hop on hop off bus. Our main plan was to see a few more of the sights before being taken on a wine tour. As you can imagine I was very excited as most of you are aware of my love of any alcohol, especially wine🤨.

There were some great views of the whole coastline, including Camps bay from the top of the busThe beautiful coast road runs right the way to Cape Town and in no time at all we were at our first stop, a boat trip of the harbour, a freeby that comes courtesy of the hop on hop off bus tour. I can’t resist anything free and this didn’t disappoint. We had a wry informative running commentary throughout but were also thoroughly entertained by the seals who seemed to have a little synchronised swimming class organised.We were also delighted to see their favourite sleeping place, nobody noticed this until they were pointed out to us but we could then see that they occupied nearly every tyre and there were hundreds!The trip was only half an hour but was very enjoyable and we even had a welcoming committee back at shore.We then had another little visit to the food market before we saw the perfect Christmas tree for Maria.It’s totally made of empty champagne bottles – we think with nearly a week to go, if you put your mind to it Ri, you could have one just like it by Christmas or at least enjoy trying. 🥴

After hopping back on the bus we had plenty more beautiful scenery, mostly of table mountain and its surroundings, before we arrived to Groot Constantia, the oldest wine producing farm in South Africa. I really tried to like it for Rob – I’d been on wine tours before and enjoyed them but I was struggling. The tour of the original Manor House was lovely, the grounds and vineyards were stunningbut the wine was horrid – Rob tried to drink mine too but although he put up a good show he started to feel slightly tipsy and had to retire from the tasting a little early. As a final treat we were looking forward to the cellar tour – previously we’d been on one of these that showed the wine making from grape to bottle which had been really interesting – not this one. The only good thing about the tour was the coolness of the cellars, otherwise it was awful. We unbelievably managed to meet an even less intelligible tour guide than the Robben Island one and couldn’t stay the distance. After seven minutes of the thirty minute tour we escaped giggling like naughty schoolchildren. We were so happy to hop back on the bus and complete the route back to our beautiful Camps Bay.

Wednesday 12th

Today was the day – we had checked the weather carefully and had decided, due to a strong wind forecast on the Thursday, that today was the day to climb Table Mountain. Throughout the week we had been discussing which route we should take that would involve a challenge but would also allow us to catch the cable car down and return to our car. After looking at several sites we’d decided on the Kasteelspoort route. We’d decided that Platteklip Gorge, the most popular route, might be too busy and was probably too easy. So, ignoring all advice to take a guide, or at least a map, we set off in thick fog, armed only with instructions from a sketchy blog, to reach the top.

It started well in that we found the recommended parking spot. After that it all went a little awry and about forty five minutes in, firstly steeply climbing then going around the mountain we were informed by a fellow English climber that we were on the contour route which would lead us on to the Platteklip Gorge.

For about ten seconds I tried to persuade Rob that we should retrace our steps and find our preferred route. Rob then explained simply, how far we’d come, how long it would take to go back and how we might never find Kasteelpoort anyway. With this injection of logic I followed him meekly.

Despite the fog the views throughout the contour route were spectacular and its route around the mountain ensured that we got to see so much more. Eventually we reached the Platteklip Gorge and apart from one little detour (still seeking more adventure I thought we might go to visit Devil’s Peak on our way to the top, luckily about ten minutes in we met a walking group who explained that up and down this would add an extra three hours to our hike, we quickly about turned) directions were then straightforward, basically up!

For whatever reason I thought that the Platteklip Gorge route might be too easy my opinion was swiftly changed. Thankfully we were also wrong about it being too busy. On our whole ascent we only met two other climbers. One, a lovely Scottish man called Stewart who remained our companion for the rest of our adventure and secondly, a bare chested youth who practically sprinted passed us about three quarters of our way up.

Stewart was a God send – no longer did I have to try to keep up with Rob or pretend I was admiring the view/taking photos. every time I stalled on a slightly steep ascent to catch my breath. Instead, whether necessary for him or not, Stewart paused also and Rob, although a few metres ahead consequently felt obliged to wait as well. Having someone new to talk to also helped pass the time and mask some of the most excruciating steepness. Content in our new company, we wended our way to reach the summit.The views at the top were definitely not what we’d hoped for but there was a definite sense of achievement and this plus the reward of a (very sweet) hot chocolate for Stewart and I and coffee and cakes for Rob helped us to recover our equanimity.

We nursed our drinks, chatting amicably and silently hoping for the fog to lift, for as long as we could before jointly acknowledging that it wasn’t going to happen. After wandering around the top for a little while admiring more hyrax and the amazing flowers that manage to survive up therewe decided it was time to catch the lift down.

Within one second of commencing our descent the fog cleared to display perfectly clear views of Lions head and the sea below.It was over much too soon and before we knew it we were back in the car, saying goodbye to Stewart and returning to Camps Bay.