Our Meandering

Cricket match 30 Sept-3 Oct 2010

2010-10-15T14:22:00.000+02:00

While at the cricket someone was working up their
time in the air.
For us it was like at an air show.

The bowler

The batsman

The main boys.

Jakkalsgat 18 September 2010

2010-09-18T16:29:00.000+02:00

The fist step in the improvement project of Jakkalsgat (jackal hole)

Collect or harvest the rocks needed for the walls.

Good for the help of the truck.

All the man or boy power available
is accepted.

Always time for a bit of playing.

Fred and Louise 3-5 September 2010

2010-09-06T09:52:00.000+02:00

Every time we get visit on the farm we are very exited to go. This time was no exception. It is always good to visit with these two and they treat us so well.

It is spectacular to watch the buffalo being fed

how they storm and mill till the "food is dished"
but it might be better for Fred's safety if there is another way.

The huge bull calm at the trough.

A cow measuring the photographer?

Sometime later
the same bull grazing in the veld.

The 'majestic' sabel
The bull and a cow.

See those horns!

Ready to leave the artificial feeding ground for the day.

A fox terrier?
No, a hand reared lamb.

Monateng Safari Lodge 9-13 August 2010

2010-08-17T08:02:00.000+02:00

To start any post like this looks funny
but here we were so happy to be in such a comfortable place.
Be it the toilet it is fine.

It was just a few kilometers to travel
it took longer than most few kilometers do.
The en-suite complete with toilet and TWO basins!

Very close roaming eland
Will they are better than watchdogs?

Spring blossoms.

A female masked weaver
(I think?)

They are used to going between the lodges,
seemingly not so used to the people coming here.

Fiscal flycatcher

Practising to follow in the footsteps of Tiger, Ernie
no just us playing putt-putt

There are giraffe here!
We have seen them every time we came here.

Sedgefield 12-21 November 2009

2009-12-12T15:18:00.000+02:00

We looked forward to this holiday of ours for a few months. We took a bit more time than usual to plan and find accommodation on the way, it was a long way to travel. We left very early- 4am.

Our first stop was to have a rusk and a cup of coffee.
At the garage were a few chickens roaming around, enjoying the many easels.

Can't remember when last we saw
such a good looking rooster.

The house of my mothers' maternal grandparents,
although this farm is not in the family any more
it is good to have seen it .

One of the stones from the paddock
is now in our lounge as an ornament.

The mostly flat Orange Free State

The might Vaal
in the dry season.

Wonderful sight at this rest room.

Spring buck

Black spring buck

A farm house far in the distance.
Table mountains in the Karoo.

Karoo rocks.

"Spitskop"

Almost at our first destinations.

An old farm house.
Prepared for paying guests.

I liked the size of the bathroom
and the decorations.

Late after noon in the garden.

Early morning.

It was such a lovely place!
Will stay there again.

She was sitting on eggs.

The information centre in town.
The people are so open and friendly
in the smaller towns,
but in the Karoo I think they are even more so.

A sentinel watching us
watching them.

Karoo flowers.

Even these old churched are affected by technology.
An Afrikaans church.

An English church
from 1904

Many passes to get to where we want to be.

Blue crane.
We saw two groups in this area.

A defaced statue of an old Voortrekker.

Long thorns forms the ceiling in this shop.

No thorns on the outside
just fun decor.

Cape white eyes fighting with themselves in the mirror.

Good scone with nastegaal syrup.

Old fashioned milk tart.

And a huge croissant.

This old house is now a bed and breakfast.

NG Groot Kerk in Graaff Reinet

The knocker at the Andrew Murray home.

Drosdy in Graaff Reinet.

Dorpers in the Karoo heat

Seems the only way to get water here.

Another old church in another Karoo town.

How many adhere to this sign
I do not know.

Posing.

The only glimpse we had of Uniondale.

The last long straight stretch
to our destination.

Outeniqua pass
not too far
on the other side of the mountain
is where we are going.
We arrived!
This stairs the strangest, but we enjoyed even that.
How many times did we drive on this road?
I did not like driving here for two reasons
1. How fast the people drive here
2. The road is not built on the mountain, but in the air
3. Such a view while one has to concentrate on driving.
The lovely beach.
If you've been to this beach you will know this dog.
Chalky has a home but roams the beach the whole day.
"Petrified sand"

The river mouth.
Tea time.

This looks like breakfast.

These tortoises are protected in this area.
Flowers growing from the rock.
A crab.

A very calm sea
but a cold very cold wind.

Kite flying.

Not our own experience
we arrived as this guy/girl was released back into the bush.

Low tide here is really low.

There far across the river
we had a sighting of an oyster catcher.

Our home for the week.

Dung beetle on the outside of the shop
selling handmade paper of elephant dung.

Old cars on their way somewhere.

Belvedere church

And old forest worker's cottage.
They were all sent away long ago.

One of the very last "ou grotes"

We went up there
and how spectacular the view!

On the way down.

Some of the flowers we saw at the top.

Somewhere on the prince Alfred pass.

A ruin in the forest.
A well made road!
Narrow, steep and winding it was for certain.

Where this cattle comes from no one knew.

One cross the same stream many times on this route.
Every crossing has been named.

I won't mind living there
far away from everything.

This pass we skipped
only saw it going to somewhere from high up.

There, there it goes to Monteque

Swing in a tree.

The start of our boat ride.

A longing look to terra firma?

We only saw two of these.

Pulled out one that day.

More inside weather at the sea.

Black Horse Trails
a place one can go and ride.

The unexpected visit at a farm.
Rocky the small pig.

A day old calf.

wiiilllyyy

View from the farm to the sea.

Perfect place to fish.

They thought so too.

Evidence!

All the time there is was too cold to swim.

Another pass,
more names over another river.

We were surprised to find this ablution facilities on the road.

Even more so to see how clean it was.

Langenhoven se klip

Two creatures living on Herrie se klip.

The 'dry outstretchness' of the Karoo

Road works

Coolness of the guest house.

Few sights from town.

Back at the guest house.

On the road again.

The owner of this shop must have been from another area.

Pale chanting goshawk
feeding on a mongoose.

More road works.

Kimberley my mumpsy-wumpsy-lumpsy

Just outside Potchefstroom
what clean toilettes they have
with the delightful eats.

Carletonville 6-8 November 2009

2009-12-06T14:28:00.000+02:00

These few days away was for the 70th birthday celebrations of my mother. Staying at Françoise's, my first reaction, no we can't stay here! There was no time to look for other accommodation so we stayed. In the end it was not that bad. It just looks worse than it is.

The bed, at least it was a good mattress.
There was enough space to move in an extra bed for Ethan.

The bed lamp on the wall.

The room was big.
Between the room and the bathroom was another small room
a changing room I suppose.

The sister arranging this party, had good ideas for decorating the hall. The children, brought our old things and she did arrangements.

In the foyer
the door into the hall on the left hand side.

Coming into the hall, this what you see
green tables.

Place mats
photo copy with a photo of my mother - as she is now.
A scripture and at the back a few sayings on getting old.
Normal brown paper was placed as runners.
A table with heirlooms and family photo's

The cake, 70

New coffee shop 29 October 2009

2009-12-06T13:41:00.000+02:00

Instead of doing the days learning we went to fetch Jason from work to go have something during his lunch break. The little shop we happened upon was very pleasant to be at.

We chose to sit outside a little ways off
from this birdbath that is being used as a bird feeder,
to great results as well.

Drinking from an improved straw
is not as easy as it looks.
Although the joints might hold
the length is what might cause difficulty

Stay over at Rietvlei 18-20 September 2009

2009-09-23T20:12:00.000+02:00

Soon after the grass was burned
the rain came and the animals
may feast on the early green grass.

As the spring buck is doing
and the crow is able to find its own food in abundance.

Black wildebeest

Reward for waking early morning in search of the buffalo.

Not too far from the road

but all the time just behind that one tall grass.

It always gladdens us to see
a mongoose by the roadside,

not quickly disappearing into the bush.

A very old blue gum was felled.
During sometime in its life there has been someone
who might have done target shooting.
Now, years later, after it was killed
we are able to see how the tree dealt with this hurt.

Some bug on a veld flower.

Spring, time for the new arrivals.

As well as the season where the rain starts
to protect the bird hide wood it has to be treated
by the friends of Rietvlei.

White Rhinoceros.

Eland grazing on a hill
where the green shoots are not so clearly visible.

A bit of learning,
how the shadows tell us direction as well as time.

Believe it nor not
this is a worm.

Our table decoration Ethan made
at the start of the oorslaap (camp).

How long this tree will still be here
I do not know.
Again one can see how the tree grew over its difficulties.

The start of the work on the original farmhouse
to turn it into a guest house/coffee shop.

The bridge won't be known by its former name any more.

Durban 21-28 June 2009

2009-07-08T22:00:00.000+02:00

Early, before the sun rose,
winter morning we left home
for Durban.
Surprise birthday holiday for Ethan.

A seemingly on a deserted farm wind pump.

This a deserted dwelling

Morning mist
at a place where there once was
concrete stools and a table

Bored already?

Watchcat,
for safety or for the postman.

Harrismith NG Church.
People coming out.
Someone from this congregation took us out of town
and set us on our way.

Across the street,
another very old building.

Refurbishing on the city hall
down the road.

Work on the Badenhorst gebou completed.

This is the route we took.

Herds woman with the herd.

Further on our route
a cattle herd at the water drinking.

Cape Vulture at the vulture restaurant

at the Sterkfontein dam.

So far from the vantage point
the carcasses and the birds just visible.

Another arriving to feed.

At the start of the Oliviershoek pass

Over there we are going to drive
and we did.

Some power station or water some or other
on top of the pass.

Chacma relaxing on the rail

Observer

Jackal buzzard

Same bird turned
for a better view of us.

Just after we passed Winterton
we spotted this African Wild Cat

Still enough people in the area to attend services.

Where Churchill was taken captive.

It always so happens that we
arrive after hours in Escourt,
one can think the town is never open for business.
The civic centre

and this church taken on the drive.

Just what we would like to see,
an old fort.
The old building as well as be able to have

a birds eye view of this area.

But is was all locked up.
Try to make a three point turn on a one lane road
bushes on the one side and a steep slope down the mountain on the other.
Suffice to say, Jason got his licence legal.

Another Jackal Buzzard,
why the only raptors we see
I do not know.

I press the wrong buttons for this huge photo.
We try to always stop here, the young guy in the shop is very pleasant!
The chocolate lovely.

But we have never found any of the other shops on this property open.

Far behind the water is the-N3-
national high way.

Look more careful
a truck somehow left the road,
spilling the load.

Having our first breakfast
and the usual gifts.
Set to explore the creatures on the beach.

Those seals in actual fact
were dolphins.

A rocky part of the Umhlanga Rocks beach

Investigating movements
of a certain sea creature.
on this convenient 'table' rock.

2010 construction at Umhlanga Rocks

The walking on the beach became
playing in the waves,
jeans and all.

No keeping this tiger back.

Next morning

Steep littered hill towards Umhlanga Rocks beach

A freight ship waiting to enter the Durban harbour.

The rock pools are so clear,
sometimes very slippery to walk here.
Many small fish swimming around here,
they are too clever to be caught.

The high rise buildings of Durban visible in the distance.
The entrance to the harbour infront of the mountain on the horizon.

As the tide came in
playing his own game on the land side
of the table rock.

Running away from the incoming tide.

What is the beach without a sandcastle.
Surprising how long the tide was kept out
by the "keerwal"

Clairwood race course.

Durban International airport
a stone through from the track.

And they approaching the finish line.

Collection of cards received in the morning
to reveal the plan of the day.

Accommodation on Amanzimtoti beach.

A huge hole and going deeper.

Going vertical now.

Happy birthday!

Good book,
lets rather go out for the BIG event.

Found the place,
waiting at the airport for the time to come.

Having a sip of water and a bit of a laugh.

Here we are!
Every one getting allocated a horse for the trip to the beach.

Through the bush
not too far from the industrial businesses.

Walking on Isipingo beach.

Halfway, the horses needs a drink.

What is a birthday without a cake and candles.

The morning after the late evening visit
with the family we saw this time.

Playing cricket on the beach,
the last day.

Last playing in the waves and viewing
of the sea.

Leaving the accommodation after a very enjoyable few days.

Such good rain,
in the middle of winter the water
is gushing over the Midmar dam wall

The Drakensberg mountains.

Snow on the Berg.

Harrismith

Another church in Harrismith.

Durban 1-3 June 2009

2009-06-13T13:54:00.000+02:00

For some reason I did not take any photo's of our travel nor of our accommodation. At least I did get these.

Ethan flying his kite on Durban beach.
The only time he get to fly it is when we are a the sea
no wind where we live.

Fishermen on the pier.

Seagulls

Oops, pick it up pick it up.

Sand art maintained

A huge vessel entering the harbour.

Bloemfontein 7-8 April 2009

2009-05-10T14:37:00.000+02:00

On the way to Bloemfontein
This restaurant had the feel of a pub
huge photo's of sport stars and other sport paraphernalia
the food was good enough.

This church was built in 1935
maybe not as old as some other buildings,
even in our own country,
but it is so well maintained!

The garden so green the lawn just being cut
the windows clean.
A welcoming face.

It is a very long story
but we were not prepared to sleep in this hotel,
even though one could have braaied chicken for supper
right on your door step.

A monument-
there was no time to stop for some history
(also to prevent ourselves from becoming history)
taken while the traffic light was red.

Winter is coming.

After much driving around and phoning
only to get fully booked as a reply
we ended at this caravan park
with rooms available.
A bed, a lamp and a few pillows
to read ones book
makes all right.

Eiland View opening 24 April 2009

2009-04-26T16:51:00.014+02:00

Seen from the parking towards the hide.

Dangerous animals on the property
those thick poles are to slow the animals down

The name board
and a close up of the ribbon

There was a bit more that happened. The little ceremony included a bit of history and a few happenings while the building was in progress. The cutting of the lint and a something to drink.

Back at the 'lapa'
what is any function without eats.

Work session 21 March 2009

2009-03-21T22:09:00.019+02:00

We drove the usual route to work on the bird hide
this morning a huge difference,
we knew to expect the bridge under water
but to see this guy here, was not expected.

Seems he was also wondering how he will cross the bridge.

For a moment he was distracted
by us.

Quick, quick he fled.

This is what he was contemplating

The other side of the bridge.
Not much later someone saw
him and his brother crossing here.

After so much of excitement
it was not going to be easy to make another spectacular sighting.

Some or other veld flower.
Wattled Plover
Swallows

Crested barbet.

I was looking at the fiscal shrike

when I saw a red collared barbet flying past
right infront of me.
I tried my best to take a photo,
but it would not sit where I could.
Just to see much later the same bird is sitting
in the same tree as the shrike
a bit to the right an down.

A group of zebra,
seems they went to school,
seemingly neatly in a row.

Hamerkop
waiting for a bite of fish.

Eilandsig 28 February 2009

2009-03-07T23:21:00.006+02:00

On a very overcast day
seen from the gate
far in the distance to the right behind the clump of tree in the dam
Eilandsig is just visible
maybe just because I know it is there.

The walkway to the hide
the part uncovered will stay like that.

When the planks are bigger than you are tall
the walkway seems to be very long.

Waterlake farm 17 February 2009

2009-02-28T22:18:00.007+02:00

From the mountain
overlooking the area.

Clo0ser view

(see theere Elvis is running)

Summer is almost over.

Time share 11 February 2009

2009-02-22T17:53:00.003+02:00

We went to the 'presentation'

for that we became the proud owners of
a week long holiday in the Cape.

National Zoological Garden 3 February 2009

2009-02-04T19:59:00.083+02:00

Jan Willem Boudewyn Cunning M.D. F.Z.S.
founded the national zoological gardens of SA
in October 1899.

Flamingo

Ground hornbill
These birds lay two eggs
when the first hatched the other is 'salvaged'
by an organisation whom is involved in the saving of this bird,
and hand reared.

Sammy Marx was a business man
his house, just outside of Pretoria is now a museum.

On the right hand bottom corner of the top photo
the sign to tell us Sammy Marx paid for this fountain.

Some Ibis.

I do not know what monkey this is.

Wattle crane.
There is something like 280 individuals left in southern Africa.

Cape buffalo.

Nguni cattle

Boerbok
(goat)

Bosveld chicken
crowing

Crowing again

Just finishing crowing again.

A reminder at the kiosk.

Already tired, so early?

Pygmy hippopotamus

looking like a rock another hippopotamus.

Hamerkop
We watched it flying/skimming over the pond
dipping its beak in the water

and landing here.
Eventually it did catch something to eat.

Koalas

Their food is placed in this metal containers
attached to the 'trees'

Kangaroo, not running, walking

One can see what seals do when they are under the water.

Feeding time at the seals.

Some or other bear.
There is something in the water

taking it out

a tasty fruit.

Sable antelope

Tiger prowling,
(all over the paving)

Still it is a beautiful animal.
But huge!

Shall I
shall I not?

Let me see

Yes, I will
climbing stair not too difficult.

What, what you saying
oh, nothing to worry about
it is Mr. Lion clearing his throat

Now that I am at the top
what is it I see there at the bottom?

Oh well,
maybe it is nothing.

Mr. Lion resting after the long and loud roar.

A closer look.

The females looking for a comfy spot.

The best seats in the house,
cool with a view.

Captive or not
those teeth are real and very big.

Bongo
Not from SA

Something attracted their attention
and startled the one in the front.

Huge horn goat

The horns reaching its shoulder

After climbing many stairs one get to the view point
over looking the city centre.
(Maybe they give the opportunity to see what the animals sees.)

Same view
Only taken from in between bars.

This shows the different sizes of the animals.

A shadow of a peacock.

Koedoe

Dassies

A 'baby' having its meal

The 'plate' bigger than it.

Some huge 'unknown' pigs.

African Wild dog.

Sci-bono 12 January 2009

2009-01-17T00:06:00.013+02:00

Studying the menu to see what there is to eat
with lots and lots of sugar and syrup.

We stopped at the restaurant that is built across the highway.
Far, far on the horizon some of Johannesburg is visible.

It came as ordered
with ice cream too!

At the science centre
where I hardly took any photo's.
It was walking, walking and even more walking
still we did not do half of what there is to do.

Climbing around in the catacombs.

Perception, investigated.

Absolutely the best station in the whole place!
The construction site.

Building a house.
Where is your hard hat!

The scaffolding is firm
and my wall is complete.

Many bricks and a lot of cement is needed.
The sponge bricks are light
the sponge strips of cement won't dirty my clothes.

Struben dam 7 January 2009

2009-01-10T19:27:00.000+02:00

If the fish refuse to bite
then I'll entertain myself.

This dam is right in the middle of the city.
Behind those trees are many house
In fact about two street blocks from here is a very busy high way.
Sitting here, one can not see or hear any of it.

The Cattle Baron 31 December 2008

2009-01-04T08:47:00.007+02:00

We had an early supper so that Ethan could enjoy his meal before he gets too tired to eat. The plan was for us to have dinner and go home for a quiet evening. While we eat it changed.
After dinner we went to visit our friends in Eersterus to wait for the new calender year to start. Looking at the display of crackers and hear the young energetics scream their excitement. I still do not understand that.

Spring roll starter.
It had a sweet chilli sauce over,
it was very nice.

Again, i almost forgot to take a photo of the meal.
Jason and I had ribs,
with vegetables- not in photo.
Ethan had ribs and lemon and herb prawns.
Of that I do not have a photo.

Ethan and I had ice cream as well.

This was a very pleasant experience. The food was very tasty! We also thought it reasonably priced.
The service was friendly and the waiters did come see to us regularly.

Lights at the casino.

2008-12-29T19:21:00.022+02:00

Actually it was in the garden of the hotel by the casino. That does not mean we were not inside. We were inside the building and had something to eat, even played spectator to some of the machines and their occupants.

From the parking we had a view onto this airport.
It seems that this aeroplane is hiden somewhere far out of sight from the airport.
Why it is here I do not know.

We watch the planes landing.

The same horses

Cesear and his friends still guarding the entrance.

Julius Cesear

Tribes, a restaurant for the meat lover.

All the lights in the parking lot was decorated like this
with stars and a Santa Clause

A huge tree

The garden of lights. There were much more than these few photo's. It was all very well planned and put up. There were foam-snow for the children to play in, even candy canes on a tree for them to fetch.

The candles was flickering.

These gnomes were on the side of a 'hut'
what they were doing is still unknown to me.

The penguins were 'walking' to ward an iglo

then 'slid' down the roof.

Not the birthday of christmas,
the birthday of this business.

As we drove out the gates
we saw this tree.

Carletonville 16 December 2009

2008-12-18T21:24:00.016+02:00

We left early morning for a visit to Carletonville, in time to have an early tea. At the home we spend the day we had a big dinner. After visiting some more we decided to depart later than we planned and first had supper too.
We took a different route than we normally take. At first we felt uneasy because we thought the road might be too quiet, that would be unsafe. But it tuned out to be more busy than we thought. By the time most people reached their destination we were on the national highway.

Early morning when we left, it was cool and overcast.
We did have a few drops on the way.
As the day progressed, the clouds disappeared
and became hot.
While having supper we sat outside and could enjoy the stars.

On the far horizon lies Johannesburg.

Before the mountains made way for the flat land
I could take this 'driving photo'
It is all so green.

It is good rains of the past two months.
As far as we travelled we could see there were more rain the previous day.

Although an exotic tree
this blue gum must be old to stand so tall above the rest.

This little wagtail behave as if it is a pet.
Walking alaround even coming inside looking for a morsel.

A more elusive red headed finch.

The wagtail strutting

Mount Azimbo Lodge 7-9 December 2008

2008-12-12T23:20:00.026+02:00

Early morning as we left town the need for something to do was already strong. Must be because there was hardly a thing to see. Seeing out from the panel part of a Veto panel van is not too easy. Being a passenger in a vehicle that belongs to someone else's work, one do not have too big a say.And there was 3 of everything.
Not like many other establishments where we have to ask for a third of everything!

Lovely beds even a chocolate before bedtime.

At least we know it was Black Eagles.
Verreaux's Eagle

I have to go see what is down there.

And up there is on the other side.
The 'grensdraad' on this side of the property.

It is uncertain as to who played with who.

Another day
and the only cow is being milked.
Although the bull is the one who like humans more.

And she does not like this one bit.

Seen from across the road coming from Zimbabwe.

Zim is lying far beyond those mountains.
See how steep this hill is?

Watching TV in bed
while having 'Gulab Jamun'The second mornings breakfast.
Not that we did not eat before,
I just forgot to take a photo.

The other one was poached.

On our way back we stopped at Nylstroom/ for something to eat. The coffee shop we stopped at was such a pleasant place! Even the toilets i n this complex was very neat and clean. I just had to take a photo. Although I normally do, I do not take photo's of public toilets!

This waterfeature is part of the decor.
See those thorn balls?

I wonder what his fingers look like.

Dropping the last passanger ment going into the town ship.
My husband and I though it safer for all of us if Ethan and I stay back in town.
After some driving around we found where we started off was the best place.
There underneath those palm trees we waited.
We had a colddrink from the shop and played a game
of counting the cars.
Before we knew it our 'lift' home was back.
All safe and sound!

Waterberg Game Lodge 3-7 November 2008

2008-12-01T19:49:00.000+02:00

Before we left
was the last opportunity for a photo of the Jacaranda.

On the road from Warmbaths(Bela-Bela)
towards Rooiberg.

At a 'padstal'
The last time we passed here we bought pigs ears
Ethan wanted us to stop for that again
no luck this time.

The road almost disappear
when we 'top' a whole world lies ahead.

Part of the world
that was burning.

The flames seen from the road
up the mountain.

Further along our route, still
the mountain is burning.

This was not our road into the future
this one made a t-junction to the road we were travelling on.
Roads to the far blue mountains are always so long and so straight.

Cattle

While Jason and Ethan decided on the left or right att his t-junction I admired the tree.

A close look at the bark on this tree.

More cattle.

Police stations.
A good place to stop and see the locals
and ask if you are still going where you are going.

The road ahead seen from the general dealer across the road from the police station.

Almost there, Vaalwater.
A lovely coffee shop and gift shop.
We have three of those now.

While we waited for our meal
this is what our coffee looked like.

Ethan had a good chocolate cake.

Jason a hamburger.

And I a ham and mushroom quiche.

Even at the toilette
one felt like this is a place where I am welcome to be.

The basin with a reflection of the lady's art
with needle and thread.

Material flowers even there where
'no one' will look.

A bit out of focus
but this is the curtain in the
toilet.

Just outside of town is this reservoir.
At least that is what we think it is..

A good sighting of Kudu.

Workers, I think, on their way back after the delivery.
Jason thought to say;
this is how people travel here.

A Njala bull.
They are suppose to be secretive
but this guy gave us a good long 'show'

He could not help for the fence,
else our pictures would have been better.

Our braai to the right
it was only the warthogs and two bushbuck
that was walking close to people.

The bushbuck female walking amongst the chalets.

A view from the lounge towards the kitchen and the 'back' door.

The en-suite bathroom had a shower
and the basin out of view underneath the mirror.

The braai area, a light right by it
very convenient.
See the indegenous bush in the back ground

An "ou volk"
(sorry, I do not know the English)

An increased load for this miner.

See we are 'buds'

Breakfast on the patio
Note the new serviette ring!

More cattle
I think in our 'previous lives' we must have been cattle farmers.
Or maybe it is still to come.

A dead snake was the only snake we saw during our stay.
This one was lying in the road
I turned it over, using a long stick.

Another type of 'lizard'
On our way to town
this guy was sitting in the national road.
Must have been a good hot place to bask.

We went to town in search of a place to download our photo's.
Strangely this town with one chain supermarket
had two coffee shops.
We visited the first on arrival the second also in internet cafe
just what we needed.
The people are so friendly!
After a long struggle and a box of DVD's,
a lady visiting a friend at the same shop overheard our struggles and
down loaded our photo's onto a CD of her own!
The pc we tried did not have DVD writers.

Nothing like a cuppa' to while the time and soothes the irritation
of not getting do what is so easy.
This coaster with a few more was on the table.

Our nook,
yes it is a part of some car's booth
that became this seat.
The coasters on the table.

This was done beautifully!

Long straight dusty roads to take you where you want to go.
Far, far into the distant bush veld.

A common lizard visiting us while we are sitting on the patio.
Or maybe seeing is there a place for him on the inside.

The warthog resting
on a cool spot.

I did go on the horse ride,
took part in the trot
my horse even took off with me.
But they say I asked it to go faster?

And the one who can ride.

One can not take photo's off the back of a horse.
Maybe it is only because of inexperience.

A lovely flower to look at.

A masked weaver see where else to weave another piece of grass.

Just there, inside will be the perfect place.

A type of "bloukop koggelmander"

A dung beetle on its way to bury its load.
We stood and watched until it went underground.
These little creatures walk very fast.

A "toktokkie"
(again I do not know what this is in English)

Our kitchen door the furthest one.

A huge grasshopper.

The rain is coming and we are in the middle on the bushveld
not knowing when the road will become too muddy for our little vehicle.

On top
one can see the far, far blue mountains and then the even further ones too.

Mountains closer to the road.

Another "padstal"
at least we are on the tar road now.

Come fetch me,
I do not go trough mud.

This stall had old fashion "gemmer bier" ginger ale.
These are ornaments one put in the garden
when the wind blow the propeller the figurines are moving.

A wife beating her husband.
I wonder when these against abuse campaigns
will include men.

The milkman needs the wind.

Lunch 21 October 2008

2008-10-26T12:01:00.010+02:00

We went for a meal, not too far from Jason's work.
Beside the fact that our order got lost between the waiter and the kitchen this place was not too great. At least the service was friendly and honest.
Some of us had tasty food, the décor no really existent.

We sat at a booth.
Between the one back rest and the wall was this rock and bible lying together.
"what gets
you into hea-
ven is who you
know; not what
you know"

I still find this worth smiling.
Isn't the bible firstly knowledge?

A juicy sweet and sour chicken pizza.

Anyone thinking those sausages
were rimpled up and dry
can be forgiven.
It was just not dry.
The meatballs were tasty.

At least they tried to make an ordinary salad look
less ordinary.
The olives, well maybe take your own next time.

Unexpexted fence fixing 18 October 2008

2008-10-25T09:50:00.015+02:00

As most often on a third Saturday the friends of Rietvlei arrived for their monthly session. This time there came a call, a fence is in need of repair. On arrival the rangers and the friends saw a vehicle has driven from the main road and right through the fence. Needless to say this driver had to be at a high speed and there is considerable damage to the vehicle.

Quick, quick the workers and the friends put up a temporary fence. To keep the animals inside and make it less accessible for those who would want to take some of the animals from here.

The car came through the fence and went out over the fence again. The half moon tyre marks closes to the fence is from the said vehicle.
Here the bent fence and the part that was completely flattened is visible.
Even those steel poles was bent in half or ripped from the soil.

Next to the truck, by the long (new) pole the fence was bent towards the road.
Here the car left the reserve.

This part had to be removed.

How many do people do you need to bend one pole,
one, two, three..

What is bigger the pole,
the hammer or the guy with the hammer?

Some progress,
A roll of 'doring' wire being rolled down for use.

Any job needs an inspector.

The old and the new fense is joined here.

Checking to see the wire is layed in the right place?

Maybe the inspector was actually taking notes to help carry.
Let me tell you this IS heavy.

After the hard work
Some workers saw a few animals.

A waterbuck.

A huge bird.
Maybe a sparrowhawk?

The fair and the Arab stud

2008-10-16T20:08:00.016+02:00

We try to attend the fair of the church just up the road. What the three of us enjoy the most is that they actually have second hand stuff that is absolutely usable as well as affordable. It is also known far and wide that the breakfast they serve is worth having.
This year we wanted to be somewhere else as well, so we made sure we are early, just to arrive at a change of plan. All the happenings were held at the back of the church behind locked gates, it used to be here on the front lawn. At the appointed time the gates was opened and we were allowed in. While we waited we enjoyed the garden.

Before the Jacarandas were spoiled by lots of feet going over it.
The church is to the left of this photo
part of the rose garden is visible on the right.

We do not know how old the building is.

Roses are red
Violets...
this time there is only roses.

All these roses had names, I can not remember one of them.
It is good enough for me to see it.

Unfortunately there was no toys for Ethan, but we did get a few things. Here our find.

A scale weighing up to 500g.

A game none of us has ever seen.

And a bread slicer that we do not know if we will use.

Then we were of to the Strydom Arabian open day.
This was a pleasant experience. Although we missed the turn, it was not too difficult to find. The farm is set on a hill with more hills and valleys around. It is a dry area, but it is still beautiful there.

We saw horse upon horse upon horse upon ...

They are all magnificent creatures! But then again we do not have the education to know when an Arab does not full fill the criteria for qualifying as a show winner.
I say, they werte all created beautifully!

Ukuthula 6-8 October 2008

2008-10-10T19:49:00.053+02:00

When ever we go on holiday or a drive, we drive slowly. Next time you are held up look ahead you might see us there in the front. But then others drive so extremely fast when I drive at the speed limit I am still over taken as if I am standing still.
We look to see thing while we drive at the presented opportunities we stop to take a closer look and we like it when we can have some interaction with the people living in that area.

For this holiday we went not very far, still we left early. Not as early as Ethan wanted though, early enough to have padkos on the road. We can not stop beside the road! to have our food. This time we came past a new shopping complex at Hartebeestpoort dam. Our breakfast tasted so much better there than it would have at home with the comfort of the table.

I was driving so could not take photo's of the dam. We enjoy going past there seeing the water, the one lane bridge and the dam wall. To look for the water falling is always good to see. Why, I do not know.

We must have gone past this shop before, but I can not remember seeing it before. Gaanbos drankwinkel, to translate this will be difficult, let me see Go Bush Alcohol Shop? See those lovely flowers, such happy flowers to tell us it is spring. We did not go to pub, could go to the other door and buy if we needed nesseccities. Over the counter! I have ot seen or hear of something like this in years. We bought very tasty koeksisters here.

We are kilometers from home and here we crossed a bridge over this river.
At home it is a small stream.

Unfortunately, we did not see any game or birds on the road from Assen to the Bela-Bela road.
At least we saw two donkies.
When ever possible we drive on the gravel roads
one get such a better feel of our country.
(do not think the traffic goes slower here)

Next to the road we saw this tree standing on a heap
that looks like an anthill, but is not.
From there in the back, by the trees, to the same distance to the front
it seems if there was a man made dam or
the soil was used somewhere else.
It seems strange because this sticking out part is so much higher than
where the soils seems to not have been dug up.

The entrance to Ukuthula.
I have to say when I saw this fence I thought
oh, where are we comming to.
What a pleasant time it was.

To wards reception.
Every room had an allocated parking!
In to reception at those doors.
What a lovely pool.
There is a broad step for very small ones
Another even broader 'step'
then it deepens down a slope to its deepest part
where Jason could still stand flat foot.
Towards the swimming pool and dinning room seen from our room.

Part of the lapa area,
some room doors visable,
ours is sitting behind the front right pole of the lapa
in the corner.

At the back of the property is a huge open space for children to run and play.
A sandpit and a trampoline is built here.
The outdoor chess up there on the right hand side of the picture.

And here it is.
Up those steps is to the dining room.
Everything in close reach.

The bed.
One does see the african theme here too
BUT it is not so overwhelming that you feel like closing your eyes.

The furniture is made of wrought iron.
Although a decoration, one does need candles here.
We have experienced ESCOM putting the power off for many hours.

One corner of the bathroom.
Again wrought iron for the curtain rail.
ANd it all looks the same.

This town existed because of the tin mine here.
It has closed down now.
The accommodation as most other buildings here belonged to the mine.
This was a crusher - many years ago.

The crusher.

Sunset.
There are many places where one does not see
the building, wires and fences

This cowboy is waiting for the dining hall to open.

We had so much of food!
The starter was tuna mayonnasse salad.

JKason and I had
chicken, beef pie, spinach -why does it never taste like this at home
cauliflower- this too- rice and gravy and butternut.

Ethan had fish with the same vegetable.

An out of focus malva pouding with custard.

Ethan and I had this very nice ice cream and chocolate sauce.

After all that food we needed some exersice.
What is better than a round of pool.

Enjoying the garden before breakfast.
This fountain waterfall was built using old trees.

Breakfast!
The cereal and juice table.

One must eat muesli and youghurt at a place like this.

The hot food.

Somewhere there is a bird.
I think it is the same bird,
sitting still for long as soon as I have the camera ready to take a picture it flies off.
Some or other roller.

A sugar bird
I can only see that because of the beak.

Another magpie shrike.
There are many of these here.
Many more than sparrows.

A hornbill.

This squirrel was running beside the road,
we are in the suburb here,
running, jumping
eventually it got onto this wall and ran ontop of it.

A bougairnvilla growing over the school roof.

During our touring of the town we saw this
donkey cart.
The three boys on there are still very young
We could not catch up to them with the stop
slowing us down too much.
Further down this road they joind the main road leading to the next town.

Birds are birds everywhere.

The only difference is the colour of what they leave behing.
To avoid a purple stain here Jason and Ethan washed the spots.

For supper we had salad as starter.

There was more food and we did eat that too
I just did not take photo's

Breakfast again.

Our jurney back.
If you see carefully you will see the impala we saw.

What!
The kitchen does not belong to me.
We had to stop and go see what it is like in there
over the phone she said she just closed this
a week ago.
At least we saw the sighn.

Another very small town we passed
with the name of Pienaarsrivier.
In a small graveyard next to the police station we saw old graves.
The oldest of 1910.

Then we had to go on the national high way
for the last few kilometers home.

Breakfast that turned into a snack.

2008-10-05T17:23:00.005+02:00

At first we thought we will have a breakfast. The shop we chose to go to did not have anything that suited us. So we settled for something from the confectionery.

Jason and I had these scones with coffee.
It looks more lovely than it actually was.

Ethan had a croissant,
it was cold.
We asked for it to be warmed.
I already tried to spread the frozen butter on
when it came back that butter was swimming in a puddle on the croissant.

I do not think we will go back to this specific place in a hurry.

Stay over at Rietvlei 19-21 September 2008

2008-09-21T20:27:00.013+02:00

It was our second stay over for the year and for us as well. This time we were a bit more comfortable and had a better idea of what was to happen. We all enjoyed it.
On Sunday morning all the families ran away from the cold. Somewhere south it snowed and we received the cold and icy wind up here.

Ethan spotted this Reedbuck lying down on the ground.
On the following two photo's the male's horn/s is just visible behind the female.

A pair of Eland.
Behind them the weeping willow shows the force of the wind.

Wagtails drinking water at Otter bridge.

Visiting 14 September 2008

2008-09-17T21:57:00.008+02:00

We went to visit, about 140km west from where we stay. The part of the road that was not build up is basically flat land. Gold is mostly mined in this area, with some agricultural activity.
Most of my travel scenery photo's are taken while we are driving. (There are those who will understand why.)

On the mountain slope on the right hand side is a slight white line visible
the photo underneath shows that clearly.

The name of the town.
If that cross is really a representation of how
the town is living,
I can not say.

You might say; mountain, do you call thAt a mountain?
There are those looking down their noses because of what me and my fellow provincials call a mountain. For where I come from this IS a mountain.

Monte Casino 26 June 2008

2008-06-28T18:53:00.022+02:00

We went to Monte Casino for Ethan's birthday, to see the Flight of Fantasy, bird show.

This bird show is staged twice a day, seven days a week.
The birds used might vary.
The 'stage'
Birds fly from the windows, balcony, door ways
and tower (not in view) and land close or amongst the audience.

Wattled Crane
It was walking around,

We were shown how it catch its food.

In the bird garden is also a few other animals.
Like these tortoises.
Have ever tried to take a photo of one of these?
Let me tell you they are much faster than we were led to believe.

It came to the water
Drank water
Lifted its head, looked around
Drank again

Another one eating.

Two Duikers inside the aviary.
This aviary is a piece of garden that
is enclosed.

A roller

Spoon bill
No need to wonder why.

Scarlett Ibis

Saddle billed Stork

We have seen meerkats in the wild. To have come here and see this colony was a bit of a disappointment. This sentinel, was diligently doing its job not knowing there is no need for that.

Eagle at Eilandsig 14 June 2008

2008-06-21T11:48:00.009+02:00

When we arrived at the bird hide site, this African Fish Eagle was already sitting in this tree for some time. I walked closer and closer to see how close a photo I can get.

Sitting or is it standing,
looking at me- the intruder,
turning around
and taking off.

At the picnic site we had a few sightings.
Hippopotamus

Red knobbed coot

Black headed Snake Eagle

CSIR Road 8 June 2008

2008-06-19T21:08:00.012+02:00

We took the biologicals for a drive on this gravel road. Hoping we would see some wild life.
How lucky we were, we saw birds and mammals.

A small herd of Koedoe.

The very young biological wanted to see Giraffe.
How great then to have come upon these, two.

And to see the monkeys is always entertaining.

Drama at Eilandsig 31 May 2008

2008-06-15T22:41:00.019+02:00

Eggs of a Praying mantis.

The ladder that is used to get to the places needed, is made of aluminium.

Somehow with its weight and the wind the ladder ended up in the water.

After a bit of fishing it was safe on deck again.

The framework of what is becoming a bird hide.

There was a group of about four Eland standing and looking at something.This one then started running off for a short distance, standing still and trotting again. Eventually we saw a Black backed Jackal. It looked like the Eland was chasing it. If it was so I do not know.

Wattled Plover

View from the dam wall over the dam into the Rietvlei Nature Reserve.

We are driving on the dam wall.

I do not think one can actually see it,
between the fifth and sixth white poles from the top
a iguana-type animal is lying.

At a nearby shopping centre this structure was placed for entertaining the children.

Hard at work 24 May 2008

2008-06-11T22:23:00.010+02:00

In December I thought our interaction with Friends of Rietvlei will come to an end, six months later our interaction has grown so much! The main reason, Ethan wants to work here.

A new bird hide is being built. This one is named Eilandsig(Island view)
The walkway is done, the platform is in place. Work started on the sides of the actual hide.

I can do it myself.

Hard at work.
Painting, a protective layer on the boards.

A bit of rescue work.
This Leopard Tortoise was trying to cross the road.
We stopped looked at it and Ethan had the opportunity to put it in the other side of the road.
On our return a while later this poor guy was back at the same place.
It was actually going in the other direction.

This is where we went,
to go and see how this girl gets her afternoon bottle.

Naboomspruit 21 May 2008

2008-05-29T06:35:00.008+02:00

Jason had work to do at a town not too far from our home town.
Extremely early we were ready and on the road. We thought it will be so easy just on the national highway and off by the town.
Not at all. We forgot to make sure we know the town's name. Lots of towns in this area has new names and they do not appear on the road. When we got past where we thought we should be we came to a toll gate. Here we heard we are almost in the next town.

Passing this lone mountain on our way back.

Jackal Den 9 May 2008

2008-05-22T19:23:00.023+02:00

This little hut is available only for Friends of Rietvlei to overnight in.
It is real primitive here, rather it is only with out electricity. If that means primitive then this place is unless you can take your own gas bottle with. Then you will have hot water, fro shower and for dishes. We don't that is why we did not stay long. Just long enough to be home again for a good bath.

The 'braai' area is just right of this table.
Behind the green door is the two rooms

The kitchen with the rooms right and the toilet
through the green door.

A real toilette!

This used to be two buffalo.

One day when they had a tug-o-war

they could not get untangled again.

When they were found they were no more.

A Cattle Egret

Water buck ram.

These Buffalo are on their way to 'hide' in the reeds for the day,
coming from the night grazing field.

Another Water buck ram, you will also be able to see that.
Look at their horns.
It was looking at another ram across the road.
The sun just busy to rise over the hill and giving us a spectacular view.

A bit of the road infront of the hut shows in the left hand bottom corner.
There at the horizon- that is actually not far- is a power station.
Have you ever heard the noise coming from these.
Luckily once inside to sleep one hardly hear this.

Red Hartebeest
At another angle you'll see the horns looks like a hart.

Some Pied crows having a drink.

And another.

White Rhinoceros.

The name has nothing to do with its colour. You can see it is more grey.

The lips are WIDE, flat. Just right for grazing.

The Black rhino- you guessed it, is not black.

Its lips are pointed just right for browsing.

The Dutch called it wide mouth, this became white

The sun sets in the west - yes by us too.

Another White Rhinocero.

Sleep over at the old farm house 19 April 2008

2008-05-18T21:09:00.026+02:00

The first of two sleep overs a year of the friends. Also the first time we became really involved as friends. The people there are very pleasant and has already accepted us as part of them.

Early before our coffee with the Friday night sleep-over-people we found the Buffalo on their way back to the reeds after their night out feeding.

Buffalo are out there, but where?
In the meanwhile we found this to admire.

Did this one come to see if the coast is clear?
For us it was the start of the herd crossing the road.

They lazily crossed the road.

For a moment we felt the adrenaline rush,
we did not know if it was thinking of charging us
or just curios about this 'phenomena' staring at it.

All the exotic trees are being removed from the reserve.
It is ring barked, to die.
This is a slow process.
As it happens the indigenous trees get a chance take the place of an exotic one.

A red knobbed coot.
This one was taking 'food' to another sitting close by on a nest.

From far off I saw a moving line

That turned out to be helmeted guinefowl.

A favourite animal of this family.

This mongoose must have eaten something like ants,
it kept rubbing its mouth on the ground.

Apparently there is a smaller one living around the same area.
All I can say is this thing moved much faster than I expected.

In the late afternoon we were taken on a ride.

A Secretary Bird with a few crows in this tree.

After the 'braai', the nicest thing to do is linger around the coals.

Sunrise the next morning.
A cold front was arriving this day,
we only felt it in the afternoon, but the animals was already aware of it
and stayed hidden.

Sun is still warming the highveld air over the electricity pylons.

An Ant eating chat one of the few animals we saw.

Emporer's palace 18 April 2008

2008-05-12T22:32:00.017+02:00

As our lives has shown up till now, it does not take much for us to enjoy a ride. This time we ended up driving to a destination unknown, after Jason finished with the business he had at a place about 50km from home.
At the crossroads our choice going to the International Airport or the hotel casino. We have never been to the casino many times to the other.
We spend an hour or so walking around an seeing what there is to see - not much.

Outside in front of the hotel entrance a very impressive fountain-statue.
This pond is build like stairs, the statue is in the segment closest to the building. The traffic moves around it in a one way.
There are four horses
One warrior.
It is written here, this piece was sculptured in Arizona, USA.
It is 5,5m tall
4,3m wide
9,1m long
Weighs 8 640kg
Consists of 385 bronze panels welded together.

The one horse has signatures on its shoulder.

Zebra Lodge 16 April

2008-05-11T21:07:00.005+02:00

We went for a drive and ended up at a lodge where Jason had a conference before. Because he had good interaction with the manager they allowed us in for a cup of coffee.

This is a real cow.

These animals are roaming together on the property. Blue Wildebeest above and Impala underneath.

Sunrise 31 March

2008-05-11T20:49:00.003+02:00

Walk in the neighbourhood 26 March

2008-05-11T20:08:00.006+02:00

Close to where we stay is this old church building

As we came past the guy ringing the bell just finished.