Monday 14 January 2013

Constantia Nek hike


Once again our middle princess shook us from our holiday lethargy-  it was time for our year end 'big hike'  - the previous year our torture of choice was skeleton gorge.... the beauty and the jelly legs, all still vivid in my memory.

Constantia Nek dam hike-  moderate to easy said the blogs, gentle contour paths with the bonus of three spectacular dams at the top....


and steps, lots and lots of steps....an age old dilemma- to the right is the winding contour path, gently steep, very winding, longer. Directly in front, the shorter version- cut the corners, take the steps, straight up.

I know- what's wrong with me?


Thankfully, the sweeping views quickly distracted us, with many stops to breath  admire our valley.

A note-. realising our folly, we abandoned the steps for the winding Jeep track and eventually our reward was in sight.



I believe there could possibly have been a ' no swimming' sign somewhere, but who walks for 1 1/2 hours in the hot sun to the top of a mountain and doesn't want a quick dip with the frogs.

I could happily have stayed there wallowing with the tadpoles, absorbing that energizing stillness.



Light headed from the altitude, we chose the steps for our return trip, but I suspect the contour jeep track would have been quicker

 As a service to once yearly 4 hour hikers, the code on regular hikers blogs deciphers like this-

Easy- not
Moderate- difficult
Difficult- don't 
 
Now that I've got that off my chest, I can tell you it was well worth it.

4 comments:

  1. These pictures are so incredibly stunning I can't breathe. Again, you should be the minister of tourism. The New York Times had it's annual 46 places to visit in 2013 this past Sunday...number 23: Constantia, South Africa. It's in the narrowed down list of...oooh, maybe 7.

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    2. So wonderful that these beautiful places are now on our doorstep.

      Will take your advice and go for the 'easy' walk....

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    3. Amelia- that's so exciting!- just looked it up and am now also drooling over all those wonderful destinations....but for now I'm content with number 26 :)

      Definitely Marsha! Steps involve leg muscles I don't normally use- I was stiff for days....the walk gives a lovely view into Eagles Nest and Constantia Glen vineyards....I think its another must visit spot!

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