A Tale of derring-do

Addy woke early that morning. The wind had disturbed him, though the usual mechanical sound of a cable car was strangely absent. The day warming him up nicely and the thought of a tasty lizard for his breakfast on his mind.

   Meanwhile 700 meters below three intrepid hikers had arrived at Table Mountain to discover a rather quieter scene than expected. Very few people, no queues and weather conditions preventing the cable car from running. “It may open later” they were told.

    Exchanging looks of uncertainty they quickly decide to ‘go for it’ and hope that the cable car would be operating by the time they planned to come back down after walking up.

   At first the path was straight up! Steep steps and rocks for half an hour meant pausing for breath and to admire the view became easier once the narrow contour path was reached leading to Platteklip Gorge, a zigzag path upwards to their destiny.

   This path was unusually busy today and Addy had been surprised at all the walkers passing him by, only to be further confused when they appeared going back past him a short time later. How was he going to find something to eat with all this commotion and noise going on.

   Indeed as Gill, Steve and Bill (the intrepid three) slowly climbed the mountain they too witnessed the amount of activity, though mostly it was people coming down having already reached the top only to discover that they had to walk back down again.

   The signs didn’t look good for our three trekkers and the prospect of a return hike, which meant conserving energy for later, was on their minds. Also the day was heating up and rest and water stops were slowing their progress.

   Addy however was enjoying the warmth and basking in one sunny patch of ground after another was fun, especially as there seemed less disruption now.

  Something that hadn’t gone unnoticed by those still climbing. Definitely less people descending, maybe the cable car was running. A concerted listen for any sound didn’t confirm anything.

   However just then there was a sound from Gill, startled she stumbled to her left to regain her footing and balance as her right hand avoided grabbing young Addy. Shocked, everything froze! Addy dead still, his 18” of curled chequered scales, distinctive of puff adders, clear to see. No one moving, then everyone did. Addy slowly made his way to a shady crevice as Gill recovered her composure and spoke of how she had heard a hiss just as she was about to put her hand down on a ledge with chequered markings. It was a close call. Addy still hadn’t found his breakfast and three people still hadn’t reached the table top, but they were nearly there !

   Very soon the top was reached and people were spotted who couldn’t possibly have walked up Table Mountain. Spirits lifted - the cable car was in fact operating, but it was a short window of possibility, as no sooner had welcome and necessary refreshments been administered to our triumphant three, than the weather turned misty, cloudy and windy in rapid succession. “Everyone leave the mountain immediately” the announcement said and the cable car filled up with descending visitors, some more relaxed than others and some with photographic evidence and tales of an encounter with a dangerous snake !

Made it, just !

And the view, briefly.

Puff Addy

For the record > it was a 3 hour climb up and 5 minutes to get back down again. (Approximately) 1500 calories shed compared with 150 Rand lighter for the cost of the rotating cable car ride.