Ok I feel like we are entering a new season and it’s so exciting! We’ve had a week of conversations that led to my son telling us that he actually really hates soccer and doesn’t want to do it because he’s not competitive a d to rally doesn’t care if they win or lose. In turn the other team mates get mad with him for being so slack. So we finally relented. Seth can quit soccer on one condition. He has to do 2 workouts with me per week (bootcamp at the beach with the ladies 😅) and one hike per weekend with me.
Considering that he’s already online schooling and complete computer geek we had to have some kind of social outlet built into our exercise plan. He reluctantly agreed to our terms and now I have a built in permanent hiking buddy for at least the next year!!!!
Our first hike after the Friday discussions started at 7.30am on Saturday (soccer would have been Saturday so we had to seize the moment).
I had joined the Cape Hikes WhatsApp group months ago but never actually managed to get myself to one of their hikes for a while bunch of reasons but on Saturday they were doing a hike that I haven’t done and I knew it would be an easy one for Seth on his first hike with mom.
Unfortunately it was POURING with rain when we started. I had given him a camel pack, hat, all weather rain cover and snacks. He pretty much used it all and the rain cover was number 1. It was big enough to wear over his small camel pack.
We started up a short hill towards the saddle between Klein Leeukop (Little Lion’s Head) Peak and Sutherland Peak, and then quickly cut down an overgrown sand dune towards a beach below called Sandy Bay.
Luckily it was still drizzling and cool because I’m always very aware that Sandy Bay is a well known Nudist beach (and the only one that I know of). We didn’t see a soul other than one other hiking group that had passed ahead of us and we’re not
Likely to strip to their birthday suits.
We walked across the beach to the far end and found another of the old logs that washed off a logging ship many years back. There’s always time for a photo on the big log!
Then up into the bush we went following the small path through the fynbos and other indigenous flora. Spring is one of my favourite times to hike because we’re seeing so many new flowers that may only last a couple of weeks before disappearing until next year. Seth isn’t ready for my flower fascination. So I quickly took a few photos as we walked and didn’t try to engage him too much.
The skies stayed moody and grey for a little while longer as we made our way along the path.
Our first short photo stop was a rocky outcrop with a beautiful view of Little Lions head and the looming clouds. I love that I get to enjoy the great outdoors with my son. He hates the camera so excuse I his solemn expression. (He’s smiling on the inside 😆)
The path then continued just above the shoreline along the coast heading south. We were passed by only a few energetic trail runners otherwise pretty much had the mountain to ourselves.
The rock formations continued to change and surprise me. At some points the path led between two massive boulders. Just on the other side we spotted a natural cave hollows out of a single Boulder.
Just as the BOS 400 wreck came into sight in the distance we came to an intersection and turned right out towards the “island” called Oude Schip Island. It’s only an island at high tide and we were lucky enough to be crossing the rocky bed at low tide with no chance of getting wet at all.
This is when the fun began with a steep descent to the rocky corridor between the main land and the island.
Seth made it down the steep path quickly, leaving me in his dust, and had fun playing on the boulders on the other side.
Just to our right was the Harvest Capella Trawler Wreck lying upside down on its deck. It has definitely seen better days and I reckon it will slowly deteriorate until there is very little left. It ran aground in October of 1987 during a strong South Easterly Gale that pushed it onto the rocks.
The path over the island led towards an interesting dinosaur shaped rock followed by a wide rock shelf. This was our stop for the morning before we headed back.
By this time we were ready for a small snack and a decent drink. The weather had warmed up as the clouds had moved up north and away from us. We explored a bit, rested a bit and then Seth was ready to go.
On the way he climbed to a high water beacon atop another very high Boulder. I wasn’t going to risk hurting myself to get up there. It’s one thing to cling with pins and hand holds. It’s quite another to just jump across onto a Boulder 😳.
The tide had not yet turned so our return was as dry as our arrival on the Island. The rocks were dry and rough enough for a good grip by our shoes. (I never knew this was a thing! ) Bouldering over the rocks then climbing the steep incline back up to the mainland. They were a could nervous giggles along the way.
The path slowly got steeper and steeper the higher we walked. We passed interesting plant life and the blockhouse on our way up the steep slope. This was by far the most difficult part of the hike so far but so worth it! The jeep track was showing off with some magnificent views!
The final stretch of the journey was on a very easy and flat jeep track called rocket road. Seth got tired of waiting for the others and picked up the pace while I chatted to new people that I’d just met.
This looping 7.5km hike was fresh, clean and relatively easy. There were all ages of lovely people on our hike a d everyone finished together back at the car park.
I’m so glad that I got to do this with Seth and right now I’m hoping it’s the start of something very special.
