Zandvlei Trust
Vrygrond Library girls hike - July 2011.
The 7th July dawned sunny and mild, a perfect day for hiking in the Kalk Bay mountains. It was hard to believe that we were in the middle of a Cape winter holiday.
EnviroEds, with sponsorship from the City of Cape Town’s Environmental Resource Management Department, offered a holiday nature experience for 20 girls involved in the Vrygrond Library’s holiday club. Thanks to everyone involved in the excursion:
Lola (or Nelisiwe) from the Library together with Colleen Everson, Elizabeth, the librarian's
daughter,
Friends of Vrygrond Library Sharon McCallum and Bev Reed who helped to lead the group, and Ferdie and Janine Versfeld for lifts.
photograph by Alice Ashwell
On our way up the Mule Track, we met Bongani the Shark Spotter. We thought he was
a real hero to spend his time keeping swimmers and surfers safe.
photograph by Alice Ashwell
We enjoyed glorious views of False
Bay above Kalk Bay, and the mountainside full of sunshine
cone bushes.
photograph by Alice Ashwell
The girls loved having their photos taken with the fynbos plants we came across.
photograph by Alice Ashwell
Some of the girls recognised plants they use at home. We learnt about the use of imphepo (Helichrysum) to treat chest complaints.
photograph by Alice
Ashwell
The sandstone rocks longed to be climbed ......
photograph by Alice Ashwell
..... some of the girls clambered to the top, as agile as dassies.
photograph by Alice Ashwell
On top of the mountain with a view in all directions.
We went up the mule track - stopped for our first drinks and snacks at the first couple of pics here - Sharon and Bev lead the group up through Spes Bona forest where each girl was dropped off for 10 minutes silence on her own, and they were then scooped up by Alice who came through last.
photograph by Alice Ashwell
A solo quiet time in Spes Bona forest was a magical experience.
photograph by Alice Ashwell
Waiting for everyone to catch up so we could all shout at the same time.
photograph by Alice Ashwell
We bellowed at the cliffs in Echo Valley ... and they bellowed back!
photograph by Alice Ashwell
Starting on the way down.
photograph by Alice Ashwell
Most of the girls had never seen a mountain stream before. They were puzzled by its clear, brown colour.
photograph by Alice Ashwell
It gets steeper going down.
photograph by Alice Ashwell
A tired but happy band of hikers returned home with lots of stories to tell.
Alice Ashwell.
