Hiking in Pretoria

On May 2 I had the opportunity to go on a hike with a few of my friends from my church. I’ve wanted to go on a hike for a while, and I got my chance. It was a rather strenuous hike and one way was 9 km (a little over 5.5 miles), so it took 2.5 hours up and 1.5 going down. We found out afterwards that there was actually a shortcut that we didn’t know about, but oh well! We’re all the wiser for next time. But SO worth it when you get to see this when you get to the top:

Breath-taking view- the Hartbeespoort Dam

Beautiful!

Here's the crew that braved the elements (minus Jessie in the middle on crutches- she was just eager to get a change of scenery, and stayed out by the cars and soaked in the quietness and beauty.

Hiking brought back so many memories back to hiking in Israel when I went with the Forge in 2008. It's just something about it to take in all of your senses complimented with your feet hiking through the mountains.

We hiked the Uitkyk trail which is about 30 km outside of Pretoria.

This is Candi and she was our pace-setter, and she went FAST. She doesn't have a car and so is used to walking everywhere and let's just say, the rest of us aren't and it showed!! ;) I think we finished almost a third of the time faster and she was always like this, waiting for us to catch up to her- haha!

There were white footprints all along the way letting us know we were going the right way. This picture let us know that you could continue on one of two ways. It was funny because if it had been a while and you hadn't seen one of these footprints, we would ask each other "Have you seen a white foot lately?" I couldn't help but thing of Psalm 119:105: "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Here I raise mine Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I'm come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.

Me and Carlin- thankful for the friendships I have made here in Jo'Burg!

Looking a little rough, but soaking up the view!

Me and Vanessa- who introduced us to the hike!

To end the day, we arrived back to braai some good meat and ate some yummy sides. Aaand, a beautiful sunset to end a wonderful day!