Hiking to the top of Table Mountain was a high priority for my first visit in Cape Town, South Africa. We chose to hike it on our last day in Cape Town before heading to Pilanesburg that next morning. I'm a firm believer that sunsets make every view more incredible, so in typical Bierhaus fashion we started our hike in the late afternoon chasing the sun. The Platteklip Gorge trail was rocky and steep as we ascended to the top.
While it might be relatively short, the trail is strenuous and can take most hikers around 3 hours to reach the scenic top. As an endurance athlete and lifetime runner, I figured I'd be bounding up the trail in half the time. While I wasn't completely wiped after the hike, I'll admit it was definitely harder than I expected. Allie kept joking that the steep incline was more effective than the stair master!
Table Mountain coined it's name from it's featured flat-top. The plateau is roughly 2 miles from side to side; flanked by Lion's Head and Devils Peak. The view from the edge peers out to the Atlantic ocean, and it's absolutely breathtaking. We climbed out to the edge of the rocky cliff to avoid the tourists who had taken the cable car up to the peak, and watched in pure bliss as the sun set on the horizon.
Since there is a cable car station at the top, there are also bathrooms, a small cafe, and a souvenir shop. I was kind of bummed to see how touristy it seemed at the edge of Table Mountain, but you could walk further away from the cable station to get a better sense of the natural beauty. However, I was ecstatic to hear there was a bathroom because I had been holding it since we started our trek. And it just so happens that one of my favorite moments of the trek happened while in the ladies restroom.
As I was washing my hands, the bathroom attendant started talking to me in Afrikaans (and to be considered a local in any country that I visit, is probably the highest compliment I can get). Since I only knew how to say "thank you" in Afrikaans it didn't take long for her to realize that I was an American. She was so sweet and had the the most infectious smile that I felt a kindred spirit connection. Before I left, she asked me if I had any sweets. At first I thought she wanted money, but I hadn't brought any cash with me on the hike, so I just apologized and shyly fumbled with my backpack. She laughed and asked again, "No sweet child, I'm hungry it was a long day. I wonder if you have any sweets in your bag." I searched in my bag and found a pack of gum. I figured it wasn't even worthy of offering, but I offered her a piece of gum anyways. Her face lit up so much that you would think I had given her a Cadbury chocolate bar. The gratitude that she expressed for such a menial act of kindness left me feeling extremely humbled for the rest of the night. I never caught her name, but I think of her often. Small encounters always seem to have a major impact on my life.