Cape Town visit (27 Nov 2023 - 7 Feb 2024)

Family

• Reunited with Jo at airport
• Portraits of Jo
• Kalk Bay to buy a wetsuit
• Sam's graduation
• Xmas carols at Woodside
• Antony's 55th birthday
• Beautiful Jason
• Xmas dinner with the family
• Kirsten's Kick Ass ice cream with Mum & Mike
• Matt turns 21: Birthday and party
• 4 nights in Simons Town with mum and Mike
• Matt in fancy dress
• Visiting Sam's flat
• Final braai with the family
• Cattle Baron with family and Ivor

Friends

• Silvermine walk with Jo & Ivor
• Dinner with Kobus & The Pater
• Boxing day with Russell and Lilly
• Kick ass icecream at Constantia Uitsig with Russell and the Hurds
• Alan Committie (comedian) at Theatre on the Bay
• New Year's eve braai with Russell and Brandon & family
• Watching Wonka at the cinema with Russell
• Market with Russell, Rob & Dawn, Brandon and Warren
• Tapi Tapi ice cream with Russell, Carmen, the Pater and Kobus
• Dinner with Shirley, Kiera, Jo and Antony
• Vegan Market and Kirsten's Kick Ass Icecream with Russell and Heather
• Playing Mysterium with Russell, Warren and Jo

Nights away

• Weekend away at Wolseley (Fynbos Farm) with Russell and Heather
• Roadtrip to Prince Albert, Swartberg Pass and Ladismith with family
• Kleinmond with Jo and Mary-Ann
• 4 nights in Simons Town with mum and Mike
• Die Hel in Groot Winterhoek with Russell and Ivor

Hikes

• Riviersonderend Kloofing with Hardcore Hikers
• Climb up Constantia Nek with Russell
• Chapman's Peak hike with Russell and Brandon
• Matroosberg with Russell
• Kalk Bay caves to Silvermine with Russell and Stephen , escaping a fire
• Die Hel in Groot Winterhoek with Russell and Ivor
• Climbing Table Mountain via Dark Gorge
• Silvermine's "The Bowl" with Jo and the girls
• Devil's Peak with Russell and Brandon

Walks

• St James to Muizenberg walk with Jo and the girls
• Eagles Nest Lookout walk with Russell
• Silvermine walk with Jo & Ivor
• New Year's eve walk at Constantia Nek with Russell and Jason
• A walk in the Greenbelt with Russell and Jason
• Park run in the Greenbelt with Russell and Jason 
• Kirstenbosch

Beaches and swimming

• St James early morning swim with Jo & Russell
• Secret Beach, Boulders with Jo, Antony and the girls
• Surfing with Ivor at Muizenberg
• Xmas morning swim at St James with the family
• Kleinmond with Jo and Mary-Ann
• New Year's day swim at Silvermine with the Hurds and Russell
• A swim at St James with Russell, Shane and Kailey
• Simons Town with mum and Mike
• Llandudno sundowners with Jo, Ant, Russell and Daniel
• St James with Russell, Carmen and Heather
• Bakhoven with Jo
• Camps Bay with Jo and Allison for a swim, then a walk to Clifton
• Surf at Muizenberg with Ivor and Russell

 

Nostalgia

• University of Cape Town nostalgia walk
• St Georges and Bertram Crescent
• Kleinmond with Jo and Mary-Ann

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Events in order

2023

• Farewell dinner in Sydney
• Reunited with Jo at airport
• Portraits of Jo
• Kalk Bay to buy a wetsuit
• Sam's graduation
• University of Cape Town nostalgia walk
• Riviersonderend Kloofing
• Climb up Constantia Nek with Russell
• St James early morning swim with Jo & Russell
• Secret Beach, Boulders, with Jo, Antony and the girls
• St James to Muizenberg walk with Jo and the girls
• Weekend away at Wolseley (Fynbos Farm) with Russell and Heather
• Xmas carols at Woodside
• Roadtrip to Prince Albert, Swartberg Pass and Ladismith with family
• Eagles Nest Lookout walk with Russell
• Silvermine walk with Jo & Ivor
• Antony's 55th birthday
• St Georges and Bertram Crescent
• Dinner with Kobus & The Pater
• Surfing with Ivor at Muizenberg
• Beautiful Jason
• Xmas dinner with the family
• Xmas morning swim at St James with the family
• Chapman's Peak hike
• Boxing day with Russell and Lilly
• Kick ass icecream at Constantia Uitsig with Russell and the Hurds
• Kleinmond with Jo and Mary-Ann
• Alan Committie (comedian) at Theatre on the Bay
• New Year's eve walk at Constantia Nek with Russell and Jason
• New Year's eve braai with Russell and Brandon & family

2024

• New Year's day swim at Silvermine with the Hurds and Russell
• A swim at St James with Russell, Shane and Kailey
• A walk in the Greenbelt with Russell and Jason
• Kirsten's Kick Ass ice cream with Mum & Mike
• Watching Wonka at the cinema with Russell
• Park run in the Greenbelt with Russell and Jason
• Matt turns 21: Birthday and party
• 4 nights in Simons Town with mum and Mike
• Llandudno sundowners with Jo, Ant, Russell and Daniel
• Rondevlei without water
• Kalk Bay caves to Silvermine with Russell and Stephen , escaping a fire
• Die Hel in Groot Winterhoek with Russell and Ivor
• Market with Russell, Rob & Dawn, Brandon and Warren
• St James with Russell, Carmen and Heather
• Tapi Tapi ice cream with Russell, Carmen, the Pater and Kobus
• Matt in fancy dress
• Climbing Table Mountain via Dark Gorge
• Bakhoven with Jo
• Silvermine's "The Bowl" with Jo and the girls
• Dinner with Shirley, Kiera, Jo and Antony
• Kirstenbosch
• Devil's Peak with Russell and Brandon
• Camps Bay with Jo and Allison for a swim, then a walk to Clifton
• Playing Mysterium with Russell, Warren and Jo
• Surf at Muizenberg with Ivor and Russell
• Cattle Baron with family and Ivor

Cattle Baron with mum, Mike, Jo, Matt and Ivor

The steak (Fillet Madagascar) was absolutely divine. It was so wonderful that Ivor was able to join us.  He hadn't seem mum for so long and also loved chatting to Mike.

 

Surf at Muizenberg with Russell and Ivor

Jo took me to Muizenberg where we met up with Russell and Ivor. Jo then went for a walk to Kalk Bay with the girls while Ivor, Russell and I had a wonderful surf.  Ivor and I went to a cafe for the most delicious crepe and smoothie and a chat. After her walk and a swim and , Jo joined us.  A lovely way to spend the final morning of my time in Cape Town.

Camps Bay for a swim, then a walk to Clifton

A very early swim (6.15 am) in Camps Bay with Allison and her daughter.  Jo and Allison then watched the final episode of the Block while I walked to Clifton, and then towards Sea Point.  Jo and I then had a delicious breakfast in Sea Point.

Swim in Camps Bay tidal pool

Camps Bay

Clifton

Playing Mysterium with Russell, Warren and Jo

 I am not a big board game fan but this one was a lot of fun!  Very creative and I loved the art on the cards. Wonderful to to meet Warren and Jo's adorable doggie.

Final braai with the family

Mum and Mike brought fillet steak which Antony cooked to perfection, accompanied by Jo's delicious salads and mum's yummy cheesecake.

Vegan Market and Kirsten's Kick Ass Icecream with Russell and Heather

 Russell and Heather and I went to a vegan market to enjoy a lovely green juice. It was an interesting place, perfect for lots of people watching.  Steven also happened to be there, so it was a good opportunity to bid him farewell.  After the market, we went to Costantia Uitsig, close by, for a final Kirsten's Kick Ass Icecream.  

Devil's Peak with Russell and Brandon

At last I can say I've climbed to the top of Devil's Peak.  An awesome hike with some challenging bits on a sweltering day with sublime views along the way. The highlight was Brandon taking out a litre of frozen orange and mango juice at the top. Total bliss!!

Reaching The King's Blockhouse

Onwards and upwards!

Reaching the Queen's Blockhouse

Knife's Edge

Last leg of the upward journey

At the top

On the way down