CAPE RECIFE HIKING TRAIL - OCTOBER 2015

CAPE RECIFE HIKING TRAIL - TOURS AND WALKING SAFARIS - PORT ELIZABETH -  OCTOBER 2015

THE TRAIL IS EASY TO FOLLOW AS LONG AS YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO.

For a guided tour of this or any other local hike -- Please contact Peter -- I am an experienced and qualified tour guide for the Eastern Cape.  

portelizabethtours

http://petergiddy.wix.com/portelizabethtours

peter.giddy@gmail,com

 

 

We start our Hike at the Pine Lodge resort on the road to Cape Recife Lighthouse.  As the pathways are sodden from heavy rains, we walk along the road, past SAMREC and on the way to the Patti turn off.
We walk into the bush and dune area and up the dunes all the way to the old Fort.  This is a Fortress Observation Post (FOP) built in 1940 to give advance warning of the approach of shipping and aircraft during the second world war. There are three of these in Port Elizabeth (Skoenmakerskop; Amsterdamhoek and this one on the Cape Recife road).

AFTER A SHORT WALK ALONG THE TAR ROAD WE CLIMB A BIT OF A SAND DUNE WHICH TENDS TO MAKE THE HIKER OUT OF BREATH. FROM THIS POINT THERE IS LITTLE OR NO MORE CLIMBING.



BUILT IN 1940; THIS FORTRESS OBSERVATION POST WAS USED TO IDENTIFY APPROACHING SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT

THE INSIDE OF THESE FOP'S WAS SPARSE BUT AFFORDED A CLEAR VIEW ACROSS THE CAPE RECIFE AREA.

From here we descend back to the Patti road. We cross towards the sea along a coastal fynbos pathway and down to the beach. Here we turn left and walk on to the Cape Recife Lighthouse. On the way we make a stop for a snack which often consists of a fruit or fruit bar. This morning we are a group of 20 walkers.

 THERE WAS A SLIGHT DRIZZLE IN THE AIR AND THIS OLD BARRACKS BUILDING WAS USED BY OUR GROUP TO SHELTER AND ADD LAYERS.

 THE WALK ACROSS THE COASTAL FYNBOS STRECH.

 ALOE IS A COMMON EASTERN CAPE NATURAL PLANT.
There is a slight drizzle but nothing which will deter us in our pursuit for a morning walk.  After our snack we press on and around the Lighthouse.  I pick up plastic and other foreign matter which I dump into the bin provided at the parking area.  The walk from the lighthouse is interesting this morning as it is a particularly low tide and we can clearly see a number of wrecks off the shoreline. I am walking with Julien and he and I spot both whales and dolphins this morning.

 THERE IS A LONG STRETCH OF BEACH WALKING WITH SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING CHOICES OF SHELLS FOR A COLLECTOR.

THE MID WALK STOP IS POPULAR AS IT GIVES US A TIME TO CHAT AND TO REPLENISH SOME OF THE ENERGY THAT WE HAVE USED.
The walk ends with us crossing into the SAMREC area and back to the cars.  It has been a good bit of exercise -- quite doable for most reasonably fit people.  After the hike; some of the walkers stop for a relaxing beverage while others agree to meet at a coffee shop to add to body weight that they may have lost on the hike.

 

For a guided tour of this or any other local hike -- Please contact Peter -- I am an experienced and qualified tour guide for the Eastern Cape.  

portelizabethtours

http://petergiddy.wix.com/portelizabethtours

peter.giddy@gmail,com