Hiking up Lions Head

When Jessica asked me when the last time I went on a hike it took me awhile to remember.  My hiking generally consists of hiking the streets of NYC not up the mountains with fresh air and greenery.  And so…we did it.  This is a pic from where we parked the car and yes we are climbing to the top of that rock. This is called Lions' Head.

It is a serious hike.  It took us a little less than two hours to get to the top.  This pic is about 1/4 of the way up. At one point we strayed a little off the path and Jessica was sure we were supposed to just climb up the rocks.  She had hiked Lions Rock a few times before. I was pretty sure that we weren't supposed to because the only other area that looked like that had chains and such pounded into the wall to help you haul yourself up like the pic below.

She finally conceded and we found the right way up.  Like father like daughter.  When Fred and I drove cross country after college we pulled to the side of the road somewhere in our journey because there was supposed to be this beautiful waterfall in the area.  Fred was positive we had to turn right.  There were weeds up to my waist and tons of rocks and I knew it couldn't be right.  He was positive and pushed me to forge ahead with him.  Very soon I said there is no way the great american public would walk through this shit, I am outta here.  He followed me back and went the other direction that I wanted to go. Not far down the road the dirt path opened up to an expansive area where a beautiful waterfall dropped down.  I told Jessica the story once she got off the rocks which I refused to climb up and she just laughed.  

The top was super windy and a cloud came rolling in.  We didn't stay that long because we weren't sure how long it would take for the cloud to roll out.  The mountains in Cape Town that hover right over the city catch the clouds and create serious winds.  By the time we got half way down the sun started to shine. Getting down was certainly easier than getting up.

We stopped at Lola's for lunch which is on Long Street where there are a bunch of restaurants and lots of night time bars.  Super cute.

Jess has the gazpacho – iced ( literally ) tomato soup

I went for the rice bowl which hit the spot.  Might have to add this to one of my evening dinner meals.

I seriously doubt that hiking will be something I find myself wanting to do more of but it was really glorious to be up there and see Cape Town from a birds eye view.