A Cederberg Lad - and lassie

Last weekend we went to Riversong to collect the fridge for repairs. Are we nearly there? I am getting bored.

We stopped to buy some wine at Breede Kloof and have a comfort stop - and came across these rather silent sheep ...

 Heloooo.

 Some Land Rover bother on Michell's Pass, but the Alf sorted it out smartly.

Arriving at our little cottage in the Cederberg. Yay. Tortoises! Must investigate.

 Off we go! Beware tortoises! Here I come. Tails up.

 Cat's Nails - a weird parasitic plant - a species of Hyobanche.

 And BINGO - some tortoises.

 The Pest was quite excited too - so maybe one day he will grow into a proper Scottie and be my friend but for now he is still a silly whipper snapper who annoys me and cramps my style.

Strolling home with the Alf. I think this is one of my favourtie places in all the world.

A sticky little Moraea inconspicua.

Some quiet reflection on the verandah. (Actually keeping a look out for tortoise and lizard activity!) The Pest is sometimes ok, but I miss Dougal and his mad rodent hunting ...

even though the Pest is taking up where poor old Dougal left off so suddenly and shockingly for all of us.

What was that that dive-bombed me?

A Needled-nosed Tabinid Fly! Hovering just above the Pest and out of reach.

Time for supper.

The next morning - Sunday - we set out again down the road and on some exciting tortoise-filled new paths that have been made for us.

 Across the old fields to the pool - where the Pest fell in and had to be rescued. He didn't seem too bothered,

in fact he was as bouncy as ever.

 We then went to visit Jack (and his humans) only to discover that he has been banished to the West Coast as some Riversong owners found him annoying. We were very sad as we were rather fond of him. But Buddy was still there shouting things at us from the front, and the CATS were there too - taking no nonsense from anyone ...

A purple-tinged Grey-leaf Sugarbush (Protea laurifolia)

and some rocket daisies - Ursinia sericea the Food Lady thinks.

We walked all the way to the Tadpole Pools

passing lots of flowers, like this pretty Sundew (Drosera),

and lots of goggas too like this monkey beetle in a Gousblom (Arctotis acaulis) flower.

There was lots of water everywhere, and the Tadpole Pools were so full that there weren't any good wading-in places for us.

The River Heath (Erica caffra var. caffra) flowering profusely on the edge of the Tadpole Pools,

 and more tortoises!

 A hairy snary beetle in a Chinkerinchee (Ornithogalum).

The puddly road home.

An ant in a Paranomus flower.

Then home to our cottage, tails still up ...

for some more fun and games in the rocks chasing Bloukop Agamas.

Back to my post.

while the Pest hunted ants. Ho hum. Little things amuse little minds I suppose.

Using me as a car pillow. Not for long though. Bloody cheek.

 Home in time for a braai and a sip of our human brother's fancy champagne to say congratulations to him and Kerryn for finding such nice jobs in Cape Town and Paarl, and to Simon for landing a job teaching English in South Korea next year. (Simon just checking the soccer.)

Earth , fire and no water

We were left behind while our humans went off to Riversong with John and Julie. On the way they had to negotiate a scary snary fire on the N1,

and there were also fires on the hills in front of Cedarcot,

and in the distant Cederberg.

 There was no water in the cottage the first day,

so they had to go for a swim in the pool to freshen up the next day. Luckily the Alph managed to sort the water supply out later, as there is nothing that makes the Food Lady more irritable than missing a shower at the end of a long hot day!

We've been over that bridge! John and Julie following the Alph and Phoodlady on a hot hike across the river.

Julie - intrepid explorer.

Restio - possibly Katstertkanet (Rhodacoma capensis).

Fiery dragonfly.

Can you see any Scotties? Yes! John and Julie also come from the frozen north where we Scots originate, although technically speaking they are not Scots.

Heading home to a fire and dindins.

Land of cedars and honey

Last Sunday, they left us behind with Simon and drove up to the Cederberg with Peter and Dorothy to join Ian and Ingrid in Clanwilliam to plant cedar trees at Heuningvlei. To get there they were allowed to drive on the 12 km of normally-closed road from the top of the Pakhuis Pass to Heuningvlei. It was also built by Thomas Bains (who built the Pakhuis Pass which was completed in 1874). He was the son of Andrew Geddes who built Bain's Kloof Pass.

And what do I see? A dog! So why were we not allowed to join in the fun I ask? This is Lucy Buckland's boxer (sitting on Lucy's feet) chatting to Penny Mustart who was one of the movers and shakers of the whole Cedar Tree Event which has been going for eleven years now.

The Clanwilliam Cedar (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis) is an endangered tree that only grows in the Cederberg mountains and many people are trying hard to save it. Once a year everyone meets at the little village of Heuningvlei where they all grab a tree (which have been grown in Bushmans Kloof Guest Farm's nurseries down the drag) and hike up into the mountains to plant it.

Here are some previously planted cedars that, ten or so years down the line are looking quite big. (On the left.)

The humans chose an easy-to-identify rock - this half a Maltese Cross - and planted their two trees underneath it so they will know where to look for them next year. The Alph looking pleased with his efforts while a ranger from CapeNature called Patrick GPSed it for monitoring.

Then it was back to Heuningvlei Community Centre for a slap up lunch and a relax in the sun

before the prize-giving and some more speeches. Here is the Alph getting his prize for planting his tree from Allan Winde who is some bigwig minister of tourism and finance in the Western Cape.

Then is was home again into the sunset. This is Anne Paterson, Micky Orrey and Cecily Muller walking home along the Heunginvlei Road.

The sunset from the top of the Pakhuis Pass - which is 914 m above sea level. You can just see this sea in the distance too.

Home for the night was the a farm just outside Clanwilliam called Patrysvlei. They stayed in The Waenhuis which they shared with these horses,

this Golden Retriever who wasn't allowed into the house so it slept half way in,

and this cat. (Oooh lucky we weren't there or it would have been chased all the way back to Heungivlei!) In the photo you can see Ingrid, Dorothy, Peter, Ian and the Alpha Male about to indulge in yet another gastronomic extravaganza.

There was also a herd of Eland on the farm,

and a rather doff looking Great Dane puppy.

On Sunday they drove to Wupperthal where they stopped to photograph these strange looking flowers which are some kind of snake lily or Ornithoglossum.

The road goes through the small hamlet of Eselbank where this dog came out to greet them and wish them a safe trip home to us.

Planting Cedars