TRAIL RUNNING that spoilt the mood mid-dinner was when the power was suddenly restored and vaporised the candlelit atmosphere . By then , some of the tables were already working their way through shooters and the mood was most festive , but we bailed and headed to our tent , our eyes starting to feel the weight of the day .
Dodging the Waves
We woke to a warmer but cloudy day , and the promise of cliffs and rocky shorelines for the third day ’ s stage . We would be running the St . Blaze Trail in reverse , from Dana Bay to Mossel Bay , ending in the parking lot on the south side of the city , below the caves . The plan was therefore to drive to the end point , drop off the car , and catch a ride to the start point .
The Fransmanshoek promontory , with a different bay on either side
Holding the field at bay before the start , as was the daily routine , was Hano Otto , with his authoritative and yet light-hearted manner , giving a briefing of what lay ahead . You ’ re never quite sure whether he is joking that you ’ re going to get lost or fall over a cliff , and we were all momentarily distracted by a seal pup that popped its head out from the shallow surf to look inquisitively in our direction .
Hano announced that some calculations had been made that necessitated a delayed start , as the first part of the route was on a beach that was still encroached by a high tide . By the time we set off an hour later than planned , the tide was still squeezing the gaps on the beach , and in scenes reminiscent of the Cannonball Run , participants scrambled over rocks and took chances getting soaked by waves as they worked their way up the beach . Choosing different options and paths with different levels of success , some got it right and some got it wrong . We got the first bit wrong , but it was proper fun anyway .
Lessons on a Hiking Trail
The route was spectacular , working its way close to the edge of the cliffs on the 30m contour path around the Pinnacle Point golf course . Here the general instruction was to stick to the trails closest to the cliffs , as all others – and there were many – were dead-ends or wrong turns to be avoided .
Of course , hiking trails do make convenient paths for trail runs , but one has to remember that they are designed to be walked on and not run . So , little things like protruding roots or slightly larger rocks , which pose no threat to the hiker , lie in wait for the distracted or the tired , dragging foot , to snag it and bring the runner to an unscheduled meeting with Mother Earth . I kept feeling lucky to have stumbled so many times without consequence , but distracted by wanting to take some photographs , I tripped over a rock and face planted into my phone . With little more than a bruised ego and a scraped knee , I put my phone away and took the rest of the trail a bit more seriously .
The other drawback of running on hiking trails , in particular one as dramatically beautiful as this one , is that your attention is mostly drawn to the trail and the placement of your next step , preventing admiration of the amazing scenery that is so deserving of your undivided attention and an unrushed appreciation of it all . I therefore made a note to return to this trail with a daypack , a picnic and a full day at my disposal .
Precious Memories
The final portion of the trail , as it approached the southern limits of Mossel Bay , took us past the Pinnacle Point caves . If you ’ re even remotely interested in the origins of man , this is a one-of-akind site . These caves were formed about one million years ago when the sea level was 17 metres higher than it is today . This was followed by a major glacial period around 180,000 years ago , when the sea was 83 metres below current level and receded to about 38km from the caves , increasing to 95km 134,000 years ago ( 111 metres below ). When that period ended about 123,000 years ago , the sea rose again to 6.5 metres above current sea level and some caves were intertidal . Recent excavations have revealed that the caves were home to Middle Stone Age people between 170,000 and 40,000 years ago .
As we ran past the caves and the multitudes of tourists along the walkways , we realised our adventure was approaching its end . The descent into the parking lot confirmed that we ’ d run the last bit of the 16km
final stage , and we grabbed our finish-line beers with delight and that mix of emotions that always accompany the end of an adventure . The pangs of post-event blues are always waiting in the wings …
Sabrina and I hugged , thanked each other for the wonderful time together and we hugged again . I held on a little longer , not wanting the moment to end , but eventually surrendered to the reality that our time on this outing was done . I told her how proud I am . Of her resilience , commitment , and determination . I told her how lucky she is to have discovered the joy of running so early in her life , a gift to be taken in the right dosage and shared with people who enrich your experience of living these moments with a mindfulness and appreciation of the simple joys of life . And I told her how lucky I am to have shared the experience with her , that these are the days I cherish as my best .
Brighter than a Lighthouse
There ’ s a light that burns in all of us … Sometimes it weakens and threatens to be snuffed by the weight of our living burdens , and in those moments , it takes all our effort to keep it alive . Then , the best we can do is just manage to maintain a faint flicker . At other times it burns brightly , fed by the energy of people and circumstances around you . All weekend , I felt mine glowing brighter than the lighthouses we passed along the way .
A few days later and we were back at our daily chores , once again separated by the physical distance between Stellenbosch and Bedfordview , but closer than ever as dad and daughter . My day was interrupted by the ping of a message on my phone … “ Thanks for a great time , Dad , it really was so special to me . I can ’ t wait for the next one !” I smiled . Nothing but light .
Unforgettable footprints in both dad and daughter ’ s hearts
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stefano ' Stef ' Migliore is a Johannesburg-based family man , an enthusiastic runner and cyclist , and a passionate outdoorsman and traveller . His running career has seen him tackle the big road ultras , including Comrades and Two Oceans , as well as a number of trail ultras and multi-day stage races . A long-time mountain biker , he has completed many multi-day events , including the notorious Ruta de Los Conquistadores in Costa Rica and ultra-endurance events like 36One and the Munga .
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