South Africa(n) Rocks

Sure, the Western Cape scenery is grandiose. But looking at one’s feet is often the best way to discover gems. These were found on an aborted walk above the Constantia Nek. Clouds were closing in on us and having started much too late in the afternoon, under-dressed and lightly equipped, we were facing a long hike over unknown terrain, zero visibility and into the approaching darkness. So we turned back.

Suddenly without a deadline, we looked around the trail with texture-hungry eyes and macro-enabled cameras. And since boys will be boys, I let loose the monkey in me and climbed some rocks, my fingers and toes painfully remembering a long-lost love for all places stony and vertical…