Day 2: Cape Town
By Casey Spagnuolo
Day two began at a crisp 6:30 AM with a trip up to the top of Table Mountain, the oldest mountain in the world. Deemed a ‘fairly easy hike’ by our tour guide Frank, both teams quickly found that it was harder than initially expected. The hike was more steep than we first thought, and just when it started to even out, we found we went the wrong way! After turning back, our hike took us through steep steps and beautiful views, all under the blazing sun. The view at the top was more than worth the climb. The view of Cape Town, the Ocean and the surrounding mountains was nothing less than breathtaking, which made each step worth it. On the right side, there was a wonderful view of cape town and the Atlantic Ocean, with Robben Island looking so close you felt as if you could touch it. To the left, the warm Indian Ocean sat with more mountains glazing the horizon. For everyone who went up, it was an unforgettable sight. The exhaustion ensued shorty after, resulting in both teams’ games getting canceled. Following dinner, both teams engaged in a discussion regarding the lessons learned during the hike. Some admitted that if they had known the degree of intensity the hike would require initially, they may not have even attempted it. Everyone ended up learning something, led by ‘half-man’ outside back Bobby Dennerll. His crippling fear of heights kept him from looking down or up during the entire 5-mile hike, yet he pushed through and climbed to the top. His mentality and courage alone is something we can all take a lesson from, not to mention the importance of teamwork found in his teammates encouraging him throughout. The lessons of persistence, teamwork, and the benefits of hard work made all who climbed realize that the climb, much like life, is more about the journey than the destination.
