Walking in the rain

It’s not often we voluntarily walk in the rain. Close scrutiny of various weather forecasts led us to no real conclusion, and we were forced to look to the skies to make a decision. Although the wind direction indicated that the dark clouds over the sea were in fact headed our way, and a light drizzle was dotting our hiking hats, we decided to make like King Canute who commanded the tide to recede. We were as unsuccessful as he, and a few kilometres down the jeep track from Silvermine East, some of the group turned back to make their way up the long hill to the cars, after which they doubtless enjoyed a large basket of hot chips at a cosy restaurant. We refused to give in – how bad could it get?

The distant hills came and went into and out of view, with varying intensities of drizzle. As half of the cars were parked at the bottom of the valley, and it was downhill all the way, our only decision was whether to stop for coffee or not. With no sheltering place along the 5.5km route, we dispensed with our usual break and strode resolutely ever onward. Our spirits were high and we stopped often to put a hand out to feel for precipitation, but mostly we knew it was still raining as rivulets dripped off the brims of our jacket hoods and pants became sodden. Some were lucky – their raingear did the job and a cosy fleece under the jacket staved off the cold. I can now state that my expensive Deluge jacket, which proudly bears a label saying waterproof, windproof, etc. and that the wearer will be comfortable in all hiking conditions does not fulfil its promise.

The rain never became more than a drizzle, but I was literally soaked to the skin and would have been better off wearing my trusty black garbage bag that served me so well before I bought a ‘proper’ rain jacket. I once bought a waterproof long raincoat at a charity shop in Yorkshire, but it is more of a man’s size and is bright scarlet (so the rescue helicopter can spot you) and misplaced vanity has prevented me from using it. Then again, if I am prepared to wear a garbage bag…

A light breeze picked up after a few hours and in no time I was pretty cold, having only a wet t-shirt (yes) under the soaking jacket. Once again, listen to the experts and always carry adequate clothing. Lots of arm-swinging kept me going, but the sight of the cars was so welcome I almost broke into a run. And of course, the rain stopped, blue sky peeped through the clouds and we laughed at Murphy’s Law once again at work. I think we all actually rather enjoyed the walk, and nobody complained about being wet – it was almost a competition to see who had the wettest clothes – and if it weren’t for the chill, there would be no good reason to avoid walking in the rain. Most of the world goes out in the rain. It’s only in sunny South Africa that we haven’t got used to the idea yet.

So all in all, not a bad morning, but a sleep on the couch in warm sunshine certainly helped to thaw the bones!