A 71-year-old Helderberg resident with an insatiable appetite for walking has completed a nine-day 400 km round-trip, walking from Gordon’s Bay to Cape Agulhas – all in the name of enjoying the outdoors and taking in the picturesque sites and amazing sounds of our beautiful coastline.
“I love walking and we live in paradise, and I’m in relatively good shape and not at all intimidated by what could go wrong,” says a jovial and cheery John Stone.
The avid stroller walks regularly between Gordon’s Bay all the way up to Steenbras Dam and back, as well as to Rooi-Els and back at least once a month. This year he has already walked 4 000 km, according to the health app on his phone. When he’s not walking he’s kayaking at the beach.
Stone has lived in Cape Town for most of his life, but travelled extensively all over Africa and the rest of the world in his younger days as a turbine technician, but nothing gives him as much of a thrill and delight than as what the South African landscape offers.
“This is a beautiful country with beautiful people, and when you walk you come across nature that you wouldn’t have otherwise when travelling in a vehicle. I’ve also met incredible people who’ve warmed my heart with their kindness and offerings. One lady woke up at 04:00 to cook me breakfast at a B&B where I stayed, some people stopped their cars and offered me a ride, others just stopped to have a chat and share kind words. It was just incredible.”
Stone admits he didn’t do much planning or prep ahead of the trip, but just always wanted to do the walk and the time, and weather, was right.
“I started my walk every day at 05:00, carried a backpack with just a few items of clothes, some shaving gear, 2,5 litres of water and two cellphones. I also walked most of the journey with flip-flops as it was too hot.
“I averaged about 40 to 60 km per day, covered some gravel roads and slept at B&Bs along the way, and reached my destinations every day between 15:00 and 17:00. Throughout the trip I never felt exhausted, was never in pain and a didn’t even get one blister.
“I’m grateful that it was so pleasant.”
If there’s one challenge he had to name it was food. “I wasn’t carrying any food aside from some nuts, and often had to reach my destination for the day before I could eat.”
When it came to the highlights, every day and every sight was one to behold and appreciate, says Stone.
“I’ve been all over the world and this part of South Africa is the absolute best, especially if you start at Franschoek and go all the way to Cape Agulhas.”
Stone adds that he wasn’t worried about crime or what may go wrong.
“I’m in good health and have retired, and the alternative is to stay at home and dream. I’m a positive person and I love this country, and I believe there’s much more good people than criminals, and I choose to live.”
Stone’s advice to the similarly adventurous and yearning out there is to make sure of their fitness and be realistic about what they’re capable of.
“Don’t let anything hold you back, do it for yourself and for your pleasure, and just enjoy,” he says.
And what’s next for Stone?
“I haven’t really decided yet, but I’m blessed with good health and will walk for as long as I can.”
