by Ralph Pina | Feb 25, 2019 | kayaking, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve
Deon and I had both suffered fairly serious physical injuries during the past two years and as a result our paddling adventures had stalled. Recently we had tentatively ventured back into the sea kayak, and this weekend we resolved to paddle around to one of our... 
by Ralph Pina | Dec 30, 2018 | Boosmansbos Wilderness Area, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, hiking
At Peter’s suggestion, prior to his annual pilgrimage back to the Cape, we booked a couple of nights’ camping in Grootvadersbosch with the idea of perhaps hiking to the Boosmansbos forest. We had undertaken the 2-day wilderness hike way back in 1999 in... 
by Ralph Pina | Nov 14, 2018 | hiking, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve
Botmaskop is a 910 m peak near my home and is the first mountain I see when I leave for work each morning. Its form is unique in the Jonkershoek ranges, resembling the prow of a dreadnought. The hike up takes about 2 hours, following a spur through municipal tree... 
by Ralph Pina | Oct 12, 2018 | hiking, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, trails
Up Swartboskloof and down Kurktrekker, Jonkershoek Nature Reserve The last time we ascended Swartboskloof I ended up under the knife to fix a ruptured disc. So this hike, once more with Santie – and Dorette – was something of a rite of passage, a reckoning... 
by Ralph Pina | Apr 25, 2018 | cycling, Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Rooiberg Nature Reserve, Swartberg Nature Reserve
By popular demand we arranged another private MTB tour aimed at occasional cyclists, and not racers. The format was the same: reasonable daily distances, emphasis on touring and taking in the scenery, backup vehicles trailing us, plenty of stops and camping all the...
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