Walk above Muizenberg

On Thursday we headed up Peck's Valley, above Muizenberg. At the top is a wide plateau with young ericoid-restiod fynbos which took my breath away. It is at the perfect stage after a fire: 3 or 4 years - full of diversity and still looking fresh.



The veld is a palette of greys, greens, russety browns, limey yellows with splashes of snow white. Mickey (dog) was in mouse hunting heaven.





Cape Snow (Syncarpha vestita) and restios (Elegia sp).
It was a bright overcast day: perfect for photographing if it weren't for the wind. The fact that I captured these beetles is a tribute to camera technology.

Metallic green beetles on Edmondia - anyone what they are called?

And a monkey beetle on Syncarpha vestita, Cape Snow.

Kreupelbos (Leucospermum conocarpodendron) - more commonly seen on the Peninsula as large old shrubs, but here a fresh young plant. Then we set off for St James Peak. As we gained a little height, we had a lovely view back onto the plateau. Red Watsonia tabularis in the foreground.






This is the first time I've noticed Protea speciosa: in bud (above) and in flower.


And then we were rewarded with a lovely framed view north, over Muizenberg.








I really should stop posting photos of Leucadendron xanthoconus, the Blinkblaartolbos. But I can't: too beautiful.



At this point we veered off the path and dipped down to a little cave for an apple and nuts stop. Later views of the False Bay coast, looking south , towards Simonstown.





We returned via Mimetes Valley - aptly named after the many old Mimetes bushes growing there. There was a brief rim flow feeling....

And then the descent.