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Down to the point.

Hillcrest Quarry music venue.
Hillcrest Quarry music venue.

Before we go for our hike a little venture into some South African blues bands. Rose found a venue on line called “Hillcrest Quarry”, no one had heard about it so we set off for a crapshoot. To the north of Cape Town suburbia is left behind and the farms dominate the landscape – that’s where we were headed and into a more conservative populous.

The venue was inside a large tent with a friendly family atmosphere. A bar with good prices and a small kitchen with your basic fast food fare. After a “Hansa” beer to quench our thirst we settled for a bottle of Rose’ and sat back and people watched, a favorite pastime of ours.

A stage, plastic chairs and a slew of good blues bands.
A stage, plastic chairs and a slew of good blues bands.

Everyone is friendly and considerate of others when choosing seating positions and not wanting to block others view of the stage. Good music including a Scottish group that I found hard to understand over the music system but they themselves were certainly having a good time. Glad we went!

Start of the hike.
Start of the hike near Smitswinkel Bay.

Next day was a Sunday and we had planned a hike down in the reserve. Needed two cars as it was a one way along the coastline south to the iconic Cape Point. But, as often is the case, there was a healthy South Easter blowing and a black one at that with plenty of clouds but no real rain threat. We go ahead anyway because if you pander to the weather nothing will be achieved.

We were lucky to see two Klip Springer.
We were lucky to see two Klipspringer.

A short ways in we were very lucky to see two Klipspringer that Derek spotted. The iPhone is not the best for photographing wild animals but I put up my attempts anyway.

A Klipspringer on a klip.
A Klipspringer on a klip.
Looking back at Smitswinkelbaai.
Looking back at Smitswinkel Bay.
Wind was gusting enough to throw you off balance.
Wind was gusting enough to throw you off balance.

Plenty of updraft from the southerly wind blowing towards us as I entice Rose onto an outcrop for a photo-op. My yellow cycling jacket is puffed out by the wind as if I had multiple layers beneath it.

South to Cape Point.
South to Cape Point with False Bay on the left.
North to "Old Man Smits".
North to “Old Man Smits” above Smitswinkel Bay.
Another Cape Point view.
A pensive Derek.
Canon from Kanon Kop.
Canon from Kanon Kop.

Just before the end at Buffels Baai there is “Kanon Kop” and an old canyon which was used to signal the approach of sailing vessels to the navel base in Simonstown some miles up the coast.

Coming to the end of the hike.
Coming to the end of the hike.
More vygies.
More vygies.

After finishing the hike along the rocky shoreline Derek took his car home and Rose & I took the long route back and stopped at Fisherman’s in Kommetjie.

Lunch at Fishermans in Kommetjie.
Lunch at Fishermans in Kommetjie.

Another typical Capetonion hangout that I as an absent South African just fell back into. Benches and umbrellas, beer & fresh fish, what more could a Capie want? The $ goes a long way here as we drank Hansa lager for R28 ($2.20) and had grilled Yellowtail for R130 ($10). Loved it!

Fresh Yellowtail - absolutely deliscious!
Fresh Yellowtail – absolutely delicious!
There lies your hinterland.
Your hinterland lies there.
Rhodes memorial.
Rhodes memorial.

Rhodes memorial sits above my old University on the slopes of Devils Peak. I have always loved the place, it’s north facing and inscription of “Your hinterland lies there”, although Cecil John Rhodes was certainly a controversial figure.

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