Onwards and upwards with our Thirteen Peak Adventure. Constantiaberg brings out the truth in this statement like no other: “When you are hiking the 13 Peaks, it is the journey between the peaks that takes the most energy.” What stands out of from this hike, was not just the kicker at the end of it, we were starting to expect it at this stage in our journey, but rather the first bee sting of many. After years and years of raising kids and nary a bee sting insight… 13 Peaks introduced us to the burning sting. To make it worse every time there was a bee sting, we thought, “WOW, that never happens… a once in a lifetime event.” And yet, again and again we were stung…
![13 Peaks and Segment 10: Constantiaberg 13 Peaks and Segment 10: Constantiaberg](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112019328_93396f4052_z.jpg)
From Silvermine to Constantiaberg
We wanted to start this hike from Silvermine Dam, which is why we did the Silvermine River Walk the week before, the only thing is… you can only enter the nature reserve (to drive up to the dam) from seven in the morning in the summertime. You have to check the opening hours. You can hike in, at any time… but it will make your segment longer, something we were really trying to avoid. The later start was received with much enthusiasm from the gang… and for the first time in weeks we started our hike in sunshine.
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The sunshine was quickly replaced by mist…
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And another typical Cape Town day, with every season experienced in a day.
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Definitely one of those up and up…
![se7en-06-Mar-21-Whitagram-Image 114](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112133836_a1b22d66af_z.jpg)
And then up so much more routes…
![se7en-10-Apr-21-IMG_8924 2_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111550657_3cf2004d4d_z.jpg)
But the Flowers Along the Way Made it Worthwhile
![se7en-18-Mar-21-DSC_0424](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111924729_b2709d3c96_z.jpg)
![se7en-18-Mar-21-DSC_0422](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112956430_c3164a4973_z.jpg)
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And Breakfast on a Mountain Top
And if I have learned nothing else on this Challenge, it is to put one step in front of the other and eventually you will get there… you have to!!!
![se7en-10-Apr-21-IMG_8967 2_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112025293_1d6869104d_z.jpg)
Oh the heady excitement of pork sausages (something salty), bran muffins stuffed with dried fruit (something sweet) and hot chocolate… at this stage we pretty much had our menu down to a T. Friday night prep for a Saturday hike had become a bit of an art.
![se7en-06-Mar-21-Whitagram-Image 126](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111884494_9f752c61b8_z.jpg)
And what a weird landscape the top of this mountain turned out to be…
![se7en-18-Mar-21-DSC_0461](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112173721_77d0acc392_z.jpg)
Out of the mist loomed this lunar landscape…
From Constantiaberg to Constantia Nek
Possibly the most surprising thing of all… from the top of the mountain there is a concrete road…
![se7en-06-Mar-21-Whitagram-Image 143](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112131646_e70d8bceaa_z.jpg)
Oh the heady joy…
![se7en-18-Mar-21-DSC_0553 (1)](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111607187_7a20702faf_z.jpg)
And an easy skip down the mountain…
![se7en-06-Mar-21-Whitagram-Image 141](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112040398_e5a3050176_z.jpg)
![se7en-12-Mar-21-DSC_0527](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112083823_1a50d8ef5c_z.jpg)
Down and down…
![se7en-10-Apr-21-IMG_9013 2_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111867614_b938221835_z.jpg)
Until we got to the turnoff…
![se7en-06-Mar-21-Whitagram-Image 148](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111566582_c4e765664a_z.jpg)
And back onto the trails…
![se7en-10-Apr-21-IMG_9025 2_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112897790_faab289d08_z.jpg)
And the Final Kicker…
We were all very optimistic at this stage…
![se7en-18-Mar-21-DSC_0342](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112173686_5ffd0d4894_z.jpg)
We were nearly there… and then we discovered the kicker… yup we had to get over this.
![se7en-12-Mar-21-DSC_0589](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111925994_a46b79eb74_z.jpg)
But getting up mountains is no longer a problem…
![se7en-10-Apr-21-IMG_9050_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112021413_2436f21bc9_z.jpg)
Well maintained paths… it was really lovely…
![se7en-10-Apr-21-IMG_9044 2_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111865414_baa14a8f83_z.jpg)
This was a hike we all enjoyed, until we had to get down to Constantia Nek… this section took us for ever. Don’t ask why… there were zipliness to watch and loads to look at and distract us…
![se7en-10-Apr-21-IMG_9063 2_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112110841_805e977801_z.jpg)
But we were slower than tortoises…
![se7en-06-Mar-21-IMG_4957 2_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111550202_2185eb7d48_z.jpg)
Beauty all around us…
![se7en-10-Apr-21-IMG_9088 2_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111543162_60fb6fd54c_z.jpg)
Even a forest of Silver Trees…
![se7en-10-Apr-21-IMG_9081 2_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112110981_fd6025c186_z.jpg)
But eventually we got there…
![se7en-10-Apr-21-IMG_9095 2_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111860299_24163ec87e_z.jpg)
All thanks to our Best Balega Socks…
![se7en-10-Apr-21-IMG_9104 2_result](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51112017753_76a2ffcfb4_z.jpg)
Champions of the Day
![se7en-06-Mar-21-Whitagram-Image 133](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51111567137_5e090dc541_z.jpg)
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Previous Posts in this Series:
Se7en and The Thirteen Peak Challenge…
- 13 Peaks and Segment 1: Signal Hill to Lion’s Head…
- 13 Peaks and Segment 2: Muizenberg Peak…
- 13 Peaks and Segment 3: From the Vida Truck to Kloof Corner…
- 13 Peaks and Segment 4: Kloof Corner to Suikerbossie…
- 13 Peaks and Segment 5: Kasteelspoort to Suikerbossie…
- 13 Peaks and Segment 6: Little Lion’s Head.
- 13 Peaks and Segment 7: Chapman’s Peak Drive.
- 13 Peaks and Segment 8: Suther Peak.
- 13 Peaks and Segment 9: Chapman’s Peak and Noordhoek Peak Together.
- 13 Peaks and Segment 10: The Silvermine River Walk. Not part of the route per se, but a good place for family and friends to join you if you are taking it slow.
Click on the Image Below to see Our Photo Gallery.
![13 Peaks: Segment 11: Constantiaberg](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51113634433_2cc05afd1d.jpg)
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