So many things I could have done, but clouds got in the way...

Today was our one chance to go up Table Mountain before we fly home tomorrow evening..and guess what? The “Tablecloth” was spread over the whole of the top of the mountain  Oh well, we never have been “fair-weather campers” or “fair-weather tourists” for that matter, so up we go regardless. There is always a chance that the warm sun we’re experiencing in Pinelands will burn the cloud off the top while we’re up there.
We go up in the circular cable car which rotates as it climbs to make sure everyone gets as good a view as possible. Sadly from about 2500 feet we’re in thick cloud which swirls around the top, masking the view in sogginess! At 3500 feet it’s not too cold, but still rather damp and with no views to speak of, we decided to join a guided walk around the table top. Two lovely black girls take us round, full of knowledge about the Fynbos (fine bush) vegetation and animals. They apologised for the weather, but made the walk interesting none the less. We could have seen Dassies (rock rabbits), tsar antelope, Cape Cobra, puff and rock adders, spiders, etc. Sadly most of them were taking shelter from the cold and/or the wet! We did, however find 1 locust and a black Verreaux’s eagle. So it wasn’t a totally wasted journey! Philias and Wattlie were thrilled to be on top of Table Mountain and amused the locals and tourists by posing mercilessly at the top!
Table Mountain is supposed to be 6 times older than the Himalayas – no wonder it’s a National monument, and being nominated for one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World.
Having warmed up with a coffee, we decide that the cloud isn’t going to lift, so we make our way back down – no views, but at least we’ve been up there!
On the way home, Keith takes us along the contour road around the mountain at 363m above the sea. The views both up and down are spectacular, but we can’t go all the way that he intended, as there is a rock fall across the road and it’s been closed off. So instead we cut back through the upper part of the city, through what is known as Malay City. Here , lining very steep cobbled streets (the first we’ve seen) are the gaudily painted houses of the Malay community – including 3 Mosques within about a mile.
Then it’s home for supper – tomorrow is, as they say, another day. Apart from flying home (we’re on our way back Sims, honest! ) we’re doing one of the things we’ve both been looking forward to – a visit to Robben Island. Keith and Gill are coming with us as they’ve never been either. So it’s early to bed tonight, as it will be a very long day tomorrow! Night night!