It was one of those beautifully clear, icy mornings along South Africa’s Garden Route. Yet it was extraordinary – the stage having already been set about a month prior for this new edition of the annual Featherbed Trail Run in Knysna.

Known as the Phoenix Trail Run for 2017, this 21 kilometre run rose from the ashes and took an uncharacteristic traverse of some parts of its usual terrain with a very different and sombre mood beneath my feet.

This Tale tells a story of more than just trail running in Knysna, but as a humble reminder of what legacies fire leaves behind…

Starting at Buffalo Bay Beach, the route first circled the small seaside town and headed onto the Buffalo Bay Trail.

A long, flat section on the beach linking the towns of Baffalo Bay and Brenton-on-Sea followed.

Up and over the cliffs around Brenton-on-Sea the trail took another descent to the beach.

After a long climb up near the summit of Knysna’s Western Head, great views of where I started came into view.

Onward towards Knysna the trail traversed some incredible single track – some with tracks across a bridge, over water!

Finishing this race was humbling in more ways than one.

Speaking of legacies…