A VERY SPECIAL DAY: OUR TRIP TO ELSIE’S PEAK

„For the First Time in My Life…“

This was also the motto of our trip to Signal Hill and the beach of Camps Bay a few weeks ago. We had chosen a hike to Elsie’s Peak – a “mountain” that rises near Fish Hoek and offers a great view over Falsebay. Even getting there was a real adventure for our 14 ” big ones” – the 11- to 15-year-olds. Solomon from Uganda runs a small transport company and had spontaneously agreed to transport us with one of his “Bakkies” – a pick-up truck.

So after an energizing breakfast at Khosi’s and Tommi’s, we set off in typical local style on the back of the pick-up truck. The excitement continued to rise when we reached the starting point of our trek after a great drive. After all, none of our kids and teens had ever done a hike before! The climb was taken in a rush. With blue skies, we enjoyed the view across the Falsebay to the Helderberg Mountains in the background. We could even make out Khayelitsha in the milky haze. The descent was significantly faster – everyone was even more motivated by the prospect of a visit to the beautiful beach at Fish Hoek.

Once there, the loading area of Solomon’s Bakkie turned into a changing room. With cool outside temperatures of 19 degrees Celsius, there was then no stopping the race into the waves. After an hour on the beach everyone was happy and satisfied and the first rumbling stomachs appeared. So we slowly made our way back and stopped at a well-known fish and chips store. For the boys, the joint lunch turned into a battle for the best piece of fish and the largest portion of chips, while the girls divided “their” share fairly. Satisfied and happy, we made our way home after an eventful day.

Thomas Meisterknecht