the adventures begin...

.. another cloudy day begins and we call Table Mountain without much hope and they say.. We're OPEN!.. we drop everything and get ready to go.. We were cleaning up as our guys were coming to bring us the remote for the car gate and we had not got an early start.. but the cable car was running so everything was DROPPED.

We met the guys on the way out fortuitously, laughed with them about the popcorn tub in the bathroom (they finally figured out that it was for our hair) and found that one of their guests had stolen their plug-in heater... That is particularly rude today (Saturday) when we woke up to a temperature of 39F). They asked us how we liked the apartment and what we missed. Obviously the shower was the biggie, but the location really made up for anything. Nowhere else we had been would I have felt comfortable walking down the street for breakfast or dinner alone.

So actually that was Tuesday.. Wednesday we ordered a cab to Table Mountain.. you'll just have to forgive some errors in sequence. It was amazingly clear.. something all weather services had failed to predict. (We were not fooled however and were properly dressed in many layers.)
We fortified ourselves properly with decadent pastries and coffees, and a stocking hat for me (which will probably be a gift for someone) because I did rush out of the apartment without mine and climbed aboard the cable car next to a window.

Standing in front of all the various warnings in Xhosa, Afrikaans, and English.  Basically it said: If you hear the "hooter", run like mad or we'll leave your ass on the mountain.  

Maura, of course, had to take a picture of the rescue gear.

I was holding tightly to Maura who was holding tightly to the rails when the rails began to move. You see, the car rotates as it goes up the mountain. I decided then and there that this is the job I want to have when I retire. Needless to say it was beyond words.. so I will let the pictures do the talking... and my daughter and I became even closer.. have I mentioned that she has a fear of heights

According to Maura, here I am dangling off a cliff while she whimpered and told me to get back from there.  

Here's the half bridge over the cliff that Maura refused to accompany me on.  

Being the protective mama and having read all the scary internet, I thought we should wait on the guided walk, not wanting to get mugged for our meager cash and our more lucrative camera and iphone valuables; but after looking around at the multitude of people and more expensive looking stuff, I decided we could walk on our own if we didn't go far. It was a good call. We certainly didn't get far from the madding crowd... I know that doesn't mean what most people think but I've now forgotten what it means though I once looked it up. I did not read that book.... Once again, the views were beyond words... sunshine and clouds, reflections that made what you were looking at change within the minute... I took videos as well. The weather also proved itself to be capable of the four seasons in on day.. maybe even in one minute. I do believe we had hail/sleet and sunshine within a minute of each other.

Smiling even though the mountain seems to have caught a cloud.  This is right before it started sleeting.  

Right before we left, the sun broke out over the "City Bowl" and was just stunning.  

And here's Maura, cautiously approaching the edge for a photo.  

We did go on one walk, rock rather than a paved path that took us on a quieter path, not isolated, but less traveled. I took a video of Maura walking ahead and there was only one other person in the distance. I was also able to get some flora shots. Perhaps that was my problem. I got a bit off to take a shot of a flower and when I got back on (no where near a cliff let me add for my siblings) I slipped on a wet rock and fell on my left (of course) side. Actually, it's probably a good thing my arm was in a sling or I would have naturally reached out to break my fall and probably broken something, As it was, I landed on my left arm and rolled onto my back, injuring my pride rather severely. A woman who had just passed me returned to help me up using my good arm.

The weather changed from moment to moment. 

Maura walking into a cloud.

Maura did quite a lot of "botanizing" with the beautiful, but subtle, Cape flora. 

Lovely views from the edge.  

Another great Mother/Daughter selfie.  

After I convinced my daughter that a trip to the hospital was probably not necessary, we continued on our hike. But as the cloud moved in and visibility grew less and less, we did turn around and take a different turn on a less rocky path. Again, the pictures speak for themselves, and every turn was another majestic view. After many stops and pauses for photographic indulgences, we came upon a water fountain where I did partake in some advil as preventative for the soreness that was bound to be mine from the fall. I had invariably fallen on the tender skin of my knee that had only just shed its last scab a week or so before our trip.
Another spectacular cable car trip down the mountain and we caught a taxi back to our apartment where I took a much needed, very hot tub bath... this time yelping instead of singing as the water hit my skinned knee. I must admit that it did sting quit a bit.. owie.. owie owie... that's my brain spelling warp.. i can't think how you spell that onomatopoeia... and yet I can spell that... go figure!

After we came down from the Mountain, we took a little stroll of Queens Beach.  

So refreshed a bit, we got on a bus and headed to Queens Beach where I had wanted to walk by  the beach and also to get something to eat. Everything but the waves themselves were a bit of a disappointment at Queens Beach. Not much of a walk and all residential areas completely closed off. There was barely even a road to get back to where the restaurants, etc. were.... but once we got there we discovered Craft Burger.. or they discovered us.. two very nice young men practically pulled us inside telling us what wonderful burgers they had.. and they didn't lie. I had a great vegetarian burger made with all kinds of wonderful stuff with more great stuff on top of it.. and some really hot chili paste, too.. and deep fried yams with a sweet chutney to mix with my hot chili paste.. WONDERFUL... I have managed to enjoy all of my hot food with not very cold tap water and lemon.. but I would not be telling the truth if I did not say that I have not yearned for a cold beer once or twice... this food just cries tears for one on occasion.


Then, like a good old woman, I went home and read my book and went to bed early in preparation for tomorrow's adventure.. which I may or may not get on this blog... it has been eating my words as well as my pictures and making me need to scream on occasion...