Paradise Valley Nature Reserve

Walking update… 20 September 2009

TREASURE BEACH…

Treasure Beach was hard work!  The steps leading down to the beach from the car park were gentle and inviting – the sand was lovely and hard to walk on and the wind was non existent.  The extreme low tide was welcome as it exposed a variety of rock and rock shelves not normally visible. 

After walking for approximately 2 hours we came across the stair case that I so vividly remembered from my last ramble there.  On counting, there are actually 389 steps in total and I am really impressed that all the “Old Ramblers” made it to the top.  Kudus to the two new members who sensibly waited at the bottom and spotted a whale which none of us saw from above!    

The party split at this point with a number returning to the car while the die-hards continued.  On turning round we were walking into a wind and the tide was a little higher making the going slower and harder.  I was one really happy lady to eventually settle down to my coffee and sandwich in the car park at the end.  The distance covered was 9 km (which included the staircase climbing).

Welcome to New Members

Joan Harris, David and Janine Spiller.  May you have happy times rambling with our club.

Membership fees received:

Claire Hannington.  Thanks.

NEXT OUTING ON THE 20 SEPTEMBER 2009

PARADISE VALLEY

Paradise Valley Nature Reserve is surely one of the most visited in the world, with tens of thousands of people passing through it each day. The problem is that most of them whoosh by on the Paradise Valley Viaduct at an altitude of 50 metres without having the faintest idea that far below them lies a tranquil reserve. There's a waterfall, lots of flora and fauna to ooh and ah over, as well as a fair chunk of local history, with about 80 mysterious burial mounds, and the ruins of Durban's first waterworks, dating to July 1887.

Situated along the Umbilo River, the 100ha reserve has several graded trails and picnic and braai sites on the banks of the river.

Visitors might see mongoose, bushbuck, duiker and otter.

Cost:  R8.00 Adults, R4.00 Pensioners and R3.00 children

Directions:

Eden Road, off Stapleton Road, R103 just before Pinetown. 

We will be walking – rain or shine – so look forward to seeing you all there.

Please note: With the hotter weather approaching we have decided to start our walk half an hour earlier.  So we will be meeting at Lords and Legends between 07:30 and 08:00 to organize the lift club – or meet at Paradise Valley at 08:30.