MAITLANDS RIVER MOUTH PORT ELIZABETH -- HIKING TRAIL JUNE 2016

Peter Giddy provides a variety of hiking trail experiences for visitors to Port Elizabeth.  To find out more and to join one of these fun activities of around 2 - 3 hours contact Peter
peter.giddy@gmail.com


MAITLANDS HIKING TRAIL
WEDNESDAY 15TH JUNE 2016
APPROXIMATELY 8KM AND TWO & HALF HOURS.

ROBIN EXPLAINS THE ROUTE FOR TODAY. UP THE HILL AND LEFT AT DESTADES TURN OFF AND THEN FOLLOW THE CONTOUR PATHWAYS. AROUND 7 - 8KM

 VIEW OF MAITLANDS MOUTH - MAITLANDS HILL IS A KILLER FOR CYCLISTS, A GREAT BEACH FOR WALKING,  SAND DUNES IDEAL FOR SANDBOARDING & THE PICNIC AREA FOR FAMILIES.

WE REACH THE TOP OF THE SHORT HILL. A GROUP OF TWELVE HIKERS TODAY. FLO; PAUL; DAVE; PETER; CORNELIUS; JENNY; DAVE; JULIA; CHANTRE; ROBIN; BRIDGET AND MYSELF

Wednesday -- Maitlands Hike. Looked like it was going to rain but the day could not have been more magnificent. On the walk:  Robin; Dave; Dave; Paul; Flo; Bridget (First time); Cornelius; Jenny; Julia; Chandre; Peter and myself.
It had been raining from early this morning and I missed my run for the second day in a row. I was up early and ready for the walk but it continued to rain. So I phoned Robin and eventually we decided to go to Maitlands together. I was a bit late so drove faster than I like. We took the N2 freeway and left towards Seaview. Then right at the Destades Road and left again to Maitlands Mouth. We arrived at the hike just after 8.15am.

The hike starts with a bit of a climb. But it is cool and the small group of 12 stays together.  At the top of the hill we turn left to the Destades Trail. This section of the hike is along a contour and mainly under the canopy. 

After a short while we emerge looking over the valleys Here you are able to turn around and look back towards the Old Maitlands Tin Mine.  For a while we walk along a fence and some pretty flowers such as the Blombos and Erica of the coastal fynbos.  We have magnificent views today. The air is particularly clear following the rains. The sun has emerged, the sky is totally cloudless and there is almost no wind.

We stop for a snack break. Interesting to see what people have brought -- from simply an apple to sandwiches or snack bars. At this point we are heading back in an easterly direction back towards the cars.  There is still a little walking to be done and short ups and downs on this narrow single track pathway.  Paul shows me some of the different plant kinds.

Once we emerge from the forest everyone takes time to check their legs for ticks. It seems that everyone has at least one or two ticks on their shoes and legs. They are so small that it would be easy to miss one. Bridget points out that her husband had once been extremely sick with tick bite fever.
The hike ends back on the Maitlands mouth road. 

Back home I check for ticks and find two more on my legs.

 AT THE TOP OF THE FIRST SHORT CLIMB WE TURN LEFT TO DESTADES

 LOOKING ACROSS THE VALLEY TO THE MAITLANDS ROAD BELOW

SPINY TORTOISEBERRY  -- MURALTIA SPINOSA.

 SPINY TORTOISEBERRY == THE END OF EACH BRANCH HAS A SHARP POINT AND THE BRANCH ITSELF IS TOUGH.

 BLOMBOS -- METALASIA MURICATA

 METALASIA EURICATS?

 MAITLANDS RIVER MOUTH -- PICNIC SPOT; PIPE AND DUNES

AT THE END OF THE HIKE WE ALL HAVE TO CHECK FOR TICKS.