It’s Freedom Day today, giving a nod to 32 South African years since the first democratic elections back in 1994. There are many, many things that you can argue could have been done differently in the intervening period, but so as to be able to celebrate the good bits therein, we get the day off.
So how did we spend it?
Well, after gym (which wouldn’t have been quite so high on my agenda had I known what was coming), there was a walk on the mountain, enjoying the waterfalls:
…and overlooking the leafy green suburbs of Newlands and Fernwood.
Before dropping down into Kirstenbosch Gardens (mid right of the photo above) where we found a Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa):
And then an afternoon at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, where we saw a Betway sponsored horse win a race underwritten by LuckyFish Betting.
That said, if you have things under control and you set your limits and stick to them, you can still have fun and come out richer than when you went in. Which I did, and which was nice.
A real pot of gold at the end of that rainbow then, mostly likely guarded by a leper or a unicorn*.
Pretty good way to spend a pretty good South African day.
Much drama this Sunday morning when our hiking group – minus our family for a variety of reasons – went out and about on the front face of Table Mountain and up to the saddle of Devil’s Peak. The guys that were out on Sunday aren’t super athletes, but they are seasoned outdoorspeople and regular hikers. And they were hiking well within their means and abilities, actually having changed routes the night before because of concerns over how difficult their original plans might have been in the less than perfect weather. Sensible people.
And then, one of our friends fell about 15 metres off the path and down the mountain. I got a call at about 10:20 asking for help, and I was able to share the Wilderness Search & Rescue (WSAR) emergency number and advise over the phone on a tiny bit of first aid, but it was unpleasant not being able to be there and be hands on to assist.
Because this wasn’t a slip and slide, this was a proper fall from height, and required rescuers and paramedics to be flown in and winched down, such was the terrain. Here’s what they were dealing with:
Those are a couple of the hiking group in front of the helicopter on the right. That’s where she fell from, that’s what she went over, and she’s some distance down underneath the flying man. Chilling to see it like this.
The air ambulance and the Wilderness Search & Rescue teams were really organised, well-trained and efficient. They stabilised her – while attaching themselves to the mountainside, such was the precarious position of the rescue – and then got her up and away…
… and down to the waiting ambulance on Tafelberg Road. We were able to get there to help the rest of the group back home, while her husband followed her to hospital.
Following some surgery this morning, she’s now out of danger, and thankfully – amazingly – she seems to have been extremely lucky. Notwithstanding that she has some serious injuries, given the situation, it could have been so much worse, and she’s expected to make a full – if rather long – recovery.
It’s worth remembering that these things can happen to anyone, and it’s worth knowing what to do should they happen to you. The Wilderness Search & Rescue emergency number is:
021 937 0300
If you’re a local, save it in your phone now. And if you’re not a local, then find your local number and save it in your phone now. You never know when you might need it, and you don’t want to be struggling to try and find it when you do.
We’re really grateful for the help of all the crew who turned out to assist our friend:
But as they point out: The best rescue is one that doesn’t need to happen.
WSAR have a great guide for making sure that you are prepared and safe for your hike. There are some really important points on there to consider. But remember, even if you follow all of that advice, accidents can still happen, as was the case on Sunday. So be prepared.
If you want to donate to WSAR, here are their details. And if you have Snapscan, you can use the QR code below to help out – every cent counts:
Really nothing too strenuous. My Garmin watch wasn’t even sure I had been out and about. But 4.5km along the front of Table Mountain was a lovely way to start the day today.
It still always amazes me that we popped out for a wander along somewhere just up the road that millions of people travel thousands of miles to visit. Quite a few of them were there as well, blindly walking across the road at the Cableway Station, and foolishly tackling India Venster.
The weather was perfect. Not too hot, not too cold (all you need is a light jacket) (IYKYK), with the sun occasionally revealing itself from behind the dramatic orthographic clouds swirling around Devils Peak:
And the odd glimpse down into the City Bowl:
We finished so soon that we were only able to do a morning coffee, rather than a morning beer (the irritating licensing laws having comprehensively failed to force us into church anyway) and we were home before lunchtime and ready to enjoy the rest of our day.
Nap, football and braai being the order of events.
A really great night last night, but more on that later, because we woke up to thick fog this morning. And while thick fog doesn’t really make for great photography conditions when you’re in it, if you can get over it, then suddenly, everything changes.
And so I grabbed the drone and headed out, and I did manage to get over it, all 80m of thick stuff lying over the Southern Suburbs, and what’s more, I managed to do it just as the sun came up over the Hottentots Holland Mountains out beyond the Cape Flats.
Looking first that way:
And then turning to see the Mountain sitting like some majestic island emerging from the low clouds:
Glorious light. Horrendous rush hour traffic.
Cape Town showing off, if you could only get to see it. Anyway, always nice to slip in an impromptu photoshoot before I get on with my very busy day. Which, having done, I must now do.
They’re coming to start some building work on the bar here tomorrow, so rather than tidy up the place and get it ready for them, we went on a 16½km hike up Table Mountain.
Chilly on top in the wind, but otherwise a lovely morning out with plenty of exercise and plenty of fresh air.
And then (after a well-deserved glass of red at a local wine farm), it was back home to prep the place for a week of dust and dirt.
