Harkerville Coastal Hike ( 15-16 Feb 2003)

Some have said that the Harkerville Trail is to far away for a weekend hike. This is the third time I have done this trail, and every time it has been well worth the journey. I would venture as far as saying this is one of the most beautifull hike arround.

After a casual drive up the N2, Cyclops and myself arrived in Wilderness and decided to go for a swim in the sea while we waited for the rest of the crew, (Lug & Abe). After being battered about in the ruff sea, we met the others in town, and went for round two with the waves. After being spat out by the sea, it was amazing we could still walk, let alone hike the next day. We then cruised up to Plettenburg bay for quieter waves before heading back to Knysna to the Harkerville Hut.

For those who have hiked arround Knysna, you will know that they supply you with the biggest axe and the hugest pile of logs, and so our lumber jack challenge started. This time however, they gave us petrified rock logs and a blunt axe. Many hours later, we finally finished braaing and eating. We then headed into Knysna to sample the night life at "Al's." 2 o' clock we came back, dreading the walk the next day.

Packs on our back and egg & bacon in the belly, we set off for Sinclair hut, 14.5km away. The first 10km is classic Knysna forrest walking, until the path spills out over the cliff onto the best hiking scenery ever. A knee jarring decent later, we emerge on the pebbled beach for lunch. The next 3.5km winds along the coast, and at times you crawl along the cliff grasping onto chains while huge waves pound the rocks below. After some heavy going, you reach to foot off the hill. Two previous trips still don't prepare you for the slog to the top. Eventually, 500m after you reach the top, Sinclair Hut sticks out it's head and welcomes weiry hikers. Again we try the lumberjack challange, but that wood is to hard, so we whip out the cricket bat and play a few overs before dinner.

The next day, bruised and sore and with 12,5km to go, we head off again and soon find ourselves on a steep decent down to the sea again. Another 4km of meandering arround to coast and swimming in rock pools, we hit the killer uphill again, this time in the blazing sun. At the top is a lookout point for a picnic site. Unfortunately, there aren't any taps with cold water, and so, without delay, we rush off to the picnic spot for lunch. The remainder of the hike winds through the forest again, with a few undulating hills mixed in for good fortune, untill you reach the Harkerville hut again. Although the showers are hot, it is realy a welcome end to a great hike.

From here we headed back to Wilderness where we camped at Ebb and Flow campsite for three days before returning the the hum drum of urban life.

The Suspect