April 6, 2025
The day started with Ollie up and ready to go around 7AM with Lenny sleeping in a bit. I watched some YouTube videos with Ollie explaining rugby and the 15 different positions on the field. He was into it for a while, trying to figure out which one he wanted to be.
We planned to get in one last hike on our final day in Cape Town, Cecilia Forest. There was a loop that passed by a waterfall we wanted to try. First we headed to our pre-hike stop, Oswald’s, for breakfast but sadly it is closed on Sundays. Plan B was Truth Coffee which did not disappoint.
The boys had been eyeing the table with swings outside the first time we went there and a kind couple saw them looking and offered to move. We were all fueled up and started the drive.
Unfortunately for us the Cape Town marathon was this morning so the route to the hike was blocked. We tried a few different ways which failed and there was a building restlessness in the car, but we found a way through a VERY fancy neighborhood. Ironically as soon as we started the hike they opened the road that was blocked…
The power boosts for this hike was Filipinos, a ring shaped cookie dipped in chocolate, which Kayleen linked to a favorite movie of the boys, Sonic the Hedgehog.
The creatures were plentiful on this hike. It started with a family of baboons, somewhat scary as they can be quite dangerous, but some other hikers with dogs nearby gave us a sense of relief. Then there was a much looked for lizard and last but not least a monster spider, Black and Yellow Garden Spider, that caused Kayleen to let out an echoing scream. Later we learned the spider is totally harmless to humans.
It was a hot and sunny day for a hike. When we had tree cover it wasn’t bad but the start was not covered and Lenny complained as usual, though he did not ask to be carried once.
A bridge always causes some excitement on any of these hikes. Apparently this one made Lenny walk like a penguin.
We made it to the waterfall! As soon we got near the running water it felt 10 degrees cooler. We took our time there to take photos, have snacks, climb on the large fallen tree, and let the boys dip their heads in the refreshing water.
Then we started the climb down which usually gives the very beginning a run for being the least fun part. There wasn’t as much shade on the way down as the way up and everyone was getting hot and hungry by the end. The “less talking more walking” phrase came back many times. The boys were excited to “pop their tops” as soon as we reached the parking lot.
We headed to Muizenberg Beach in search of late lunch. We had delusions of going to the beach but it was chilly there and later then we thought it would be by the time we finished eating. The beach is known for surfing and there were people in wetsuits all over.
The food revived us all and was followed by some ice cream before we headed back to our house.
The boys watched some well deserved TV while we unpacked from the hike and then Ollie and I played in the backyard. We got some last pool jumps in and played more rugby. Lenny had enough of physical activity for the day and remained on the couch.
Tomorrow we leave Cape Town. It has been a great first stop and will be missed but we are ready to move on and begin the more frequent moving around phase of the next 10 months.
Kayleen and I talked about what we liked and didn’t like. It’s such a naturally beautiful place, we tried to imagine how wonderful it would be if New York had some of these features. Being able to hike or be at countless stunning beaches in 20 minutes is something unfathomable living around NYC.
Her main fault was how unwalkable it is or at least how few people walked to get places. When we went anywhere it was in the car, usually a very short drive but still always in the car. That is never the case in Hoboken/NYC.
Mine was that every house comes standard built as a fortress. Even in the very fancy areas outside the city where the houses cost millions of USD, large walls all around them with electric fence on the tops and signs all over about armed security response forces. Nothing felt like a neighborhood. I’m not even sure that all the maximum security is necessary anymore or it’s just the “standard” but it sure seems no one wants to be the one without it.
