Hiking in Bot River

Starting from the farm near Bot River
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It’s rare for me to join an MCSA weekend hike but seeing that it was a new route I took a chance and emailed the leader hoping to join them and yes, I was in.

A cold, crisp morning but snug in Ivor’s vehicle, we arrived at a coffee shop after a one-hour drive and a welcome, civilised cuppa before the short drive to the farm. Despite the fowl smell the view across the valley was amazing. We were lucky that the farmer came along and explained the route because Sonya had not had time to do a recce, making it more exciting and challenging for everyone to help find the way. The farmer talked of German graves and protea bushes while I tried to capture sunbirds flittering between the surrounding proteas, their offspring sprouting fluffy feathers.

Mystropetanon thomii standing like a forest of red penis’

Botanising Ivor
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Most of the route was on gravel roads with us groaning when we had to descend only to ascend once more – the bain of mountain design. As we puffed and panted up steep slopes we’d call on Ivor Jardine to tell us about a flower as we caught our breath and recovered (blast! He’s aware of this ploy).

Soon, we were high on the mountain range, once again following a road after a steep ascent on a narrow path. The views were stupendous as we looked down upon the Bot River estuary.

An unusual plant was the parasite Mystropetalon thomii standing like a forest of red penis’ alongside the road and the even stranger sight of Eric Harley with his bum in the air photographing the plant from the best vantage point – most unbecoming!

Plentiful Protea compacta
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Not long after this, those in front spotted a lone bokkie, although we had seen lots of spoor. Taking a side-path we passed an uninviting but pretty cave where there was a unanimous decision to carry on to sunshine, even voted by Moiragh-the-tea-maker.

Mount Hebron, with eagle soaring above, was as good a spot as any for lunch with plant identification and discussion of hips, knees and other ailments to afflict the energetic.

After lunch we once again negotiated the map before finally returning to the farm, Chevrolet Studebaker and the tempting invitation of cake-at-the-coffee-shop. Thank goodness there are others who walk-to-eat and the end of a great hike was cake and coffee at the farmstall.

An inelegant Eric Harley
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Many thanks to Sonia for organising the day, to Ivor for botany knowledge and co-hiking and the rest of the group.