SAFARI HALF MARATHON IN WELLINGTON.
2 MAY 2016.
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| PETER AND CHRIS AT THE END OF THIS 21K. |
So when Nicky suggested that we run this year I decided that
I must take the opportunity. I went on
line and registered. But Nicky missed
the deadline for the 10k. Julia was in
town for Debbie Dean’s wedding but she also missed the 10k entry date. These runs are popular and have a maximum
number of entrants in each of the distances.
Barbara and I drove from PE on Thursday evening, stayed in
Plett and then on Friday drove to CT and stayed over with Cathy and Saul. Saturday at Cathy – We find a Food Market in
Tokai. All kinds of goodies for sale.
This is something that you can find in PE but we just never get to it as
we seem to be too busy. From here we go
to Muizenberg for some Put Put. Blake
loves every minute as he negotiates around the course including a couple of
Hole in One’s.
Sunday we had a wonderful morning walking up the Tafelberg
Road. There is a section which is no longer in use where there have been
rockfalls and the road has sunk. Saul points out the Cork Trees. I take a closer look and true enough the Cork
Trees have a kind of pithy feel about them. Blake was on his bike and we walked at a
leisurely pace to the Canon outlook point.
Later we drove through to Riebeek Kasteel.
SAUL POINTED OUT THE GROVE OF CORK TREES ON THE TAFLEBERG ROAD
I WALKED DOWN TO THE TREES AND DISCOVERED THAT THE BARK OF THESE TREES HAVE A SOFT PITHY FEEL ABOUT THEM. I ALSO LOOKED FOR PORCUPINE QUILLS BUT DID NOT FIND ANY.
Later I read up about this tree. It is an oak and so not surprising that I found acorns on the ground. The Cork Oak has a thick Pithy bark which makes it resistant to forest fires. The tree will regenerate leaves and growth after a fire.
Quercus suber, commonly called the cork oak, is a medium-sized, evergreen oak tree in the section Quercus sect. Cerris. It is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and other uses, such as cork flooring. It is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa
It grows to up to 20 m (66 ft), although it is typically more stunted in its native environment. The leaves are 4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8 in) long, weakly lobed or coarsely toothed, dark green above, paler beneath, with the leaf margins often downcurved. The acorns are 2 to 3 cm (0.79 to 1.18 in) long, in a deep cup fringed with elongated scales. Monday 2nd. This is a public holiday. I had arranged with Chris and Estelle Brenner
to collect me at 5.30 and to drive to Wellington with them. Chris has run this
event before and knew where to park and how busy it would be. We walk to the
start on the Hugenot School grounds. I have to collect my number but we are
still in plenty of time. Nicky phones to
say that she is just too miserable to contemplate even a 5k. I later hear that Julia is dismayed as she
was looking forward to the event.
Quercus suber, commonly called the cork oak, is a medium-sized, evergreen oak tree in the section Quercus sect. Cerris. It is the primary source of cork for wine bottle stoppers and other uses, such as cork flooring. It is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa
It grows to up to 20 m (66 ft), although it is typically more stunted in its native environment. The leaves are 4 to 7 cm (1.6 to 2.8 in) long, weakly lobed or coarsely toothed, dark green above, paler beneath, with the leaf margins often downcurved. The acorns are 2 to 3 cm (0.79 to 1.18 in) long, in a deep cup fringed with elongated scales.
We make our way to the start area. I get separated from
Chris as he wants to be in the front row or as close as possible. The event
starts at 7.10 – just as it is getting light.
It is cold but no too cold. I am wearing an old long sleeved Oceans t
shirt. The hooter sounds for the 29th running of this event. And we battle up this very short steep start.
Mostly it is a walk in the crowds. And
then we are running in a main street towards the grape fields. It is barely
2kays from the start and we are already out of town.
This is not a quick race.
There are continuous short hills. We pass the prisons (Chris tells me
later that the personnel recognised him and ran for about 500m with him). And
then continue along this road which undulates for the next 3 to 4 kays. At 6km we turn right onto the dirt road. The watering stations are well manned but
basically we only get water sachets. The
dirt road is about 3kays and at 9k we are back on the tar road. We pass a number of farm labourers homes
where the families cheer us on with “Hou Bene Hou!”. Looking around and back where we have come
from I am aware of the magnificent scenery and mountains that surround us.
I am working hard to keep going at this steady pace. The views from here are quite something.
Wellington appears to be in a valley surrounded by mountains. The route of this race takes the runners out
of town and around in a clockwise direction.
While there are no seriously long or steep hills; there are continuous
hills so we have to work all the time. One of the chaps running next to me says
that it is downhill from 17k. At about
this stage I pass the runner with the Sub 2.10 flag. I could have stayed with him but decide to “ran
at my own pace”. It is mainly downhill
but we still have to work on the inclines.
Then we are back in town and pass the school on our right
hand side. Down the steep hill with just
one kay to go. But again we have to work
up the last section to the field.
We watch the rest of the 21k runners coming into the finish.
Plus the 5kay runners and eventually the 10k athletes come in. It appears a bit of a mishmash as there is no
demarcated lanes for each of the distances. But I am told that the Foam in the
Numbers is an electronic timing device and that we will receive accurate
results for all three races. There are literally thousands of runners in each
event. I hear that there were 7000 for
the 21k and probably around 7000 in the combined 10 and 5k events.
Julia had really wanted to run the 5k but with Nicky and
Werner both feeling miserable there was no one to go with.
I enjoyed the event but despite its popularity, I did not
find the event nor the route spectacular and so will probably not come back for
a second time next year. Unless Barbara
and I are able to combine a full week of the run and the Olive Festival which
takes place in Riebeek Kasteel the following weekend.
Monday afternoon – Nicky takes Julia and Ruan to a restaurant
with Barbara and Werner. Mia, Zara and I
walk up there a bit later. Later this evening we have a real family bash (Chris and Estelle; Werner and Nicky; Chris, Aaron, Zara and Mia; Julia and Ruan; Barbara and Peter). Werner makes the most delicious Lamb Potjie.
TAFLEBERG ROAD -- The road that leads to the Cable Car on the North Side of Table Mountain.
Almost every day Tafelberg Road is a shimmering line of parked cars reflecting the bright African sun as tourists flock in their hundreds of thousands to experience the ride up the cableway to the top of Table Mountain, whilst the more energetic prefer tackling one of several hiking routes - the most popular being Platteklip Gorge. Perhaps we can save a life or two here. In my lifetime I have seen many tourists attempting the hike up Platteklip Gorge. It is a massive climb and even for a super-fit athlete, it will take 40 minutes. A person of moderate fitness will need 90 minutes, whilst an unfit Joe will need upwards of 2 hours.
A typical view of Tafelberg Road from the section closed to traffic with the notch of Platteklip Gorge visible top left and the upper cableway station top right. This part of the road is "owned" by walkers and cyclists. / Photo: Ridgeway RamblersThe path consists of hundreds of switchbacks on big stone steps and most of the route is exposed to the sun and wind. Most people venture up this route with scant concern for their own safety. Table Mountain experiences rapid weather changes with big variances in temperature between the top and bottom. Clouds can move in rapidly, causing disorientation. Many people have died on this mountain. It takes on average two lives each year. Some golden rules:
1. Never walk alone
2. Tell someone at home the route you will be walking and your estimated time of arrival
3. Take at least 2 liters of water with you in warm weather.
4. Carry a small backpack with a warm, weatherproof top and emergency food.
5. Take a fully charged mobile phone with you - there is reception most of the way up.
6. Wear sensible clothes. Sturdy shoes, and short pants are best. Wear a hat in summer.
Early Inhabitants
• Hunter gatherers migrated in and out of the area on a seasonal basis;
• the area modified through the exploitation of fauna and flora;
• seasonal and periodic veld burning practised.
Colonial Settlement
• Early colonists create defences using the topography and coastline;
• Lion’s Head and Signal Hill used to observe shipping and for signalling;
• defence lines and blockhouses built on the slopes of Devil’s Peak during Dutch occupation;
• gun emplacements located in Camps Bay, Kloof Nek and higher slopes of Signal Hill;
• development of so-called Malay community in the Bo-Kaap area;
• ‘Circle of Islam’ formed, including the three tombs at the top of Signal Hill;
• Signalling station on Signal Hill in visual contact with the Royal Observatory, providing accurate
noon signals.
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