A working-walking weekend @ Riversong

On Sunday we drove up to the Cederberg in the new car. We had to stop at Rietdakkies farmstall to stock up with some Hanepoot grapes, and I made friends with a little girl and her brother while we waited.

Then we got to the cottage to find that we couldn't get into the bathroom - and Bernard-the-farm manager and the Alph banged and hit and thoroughly rattled everything  - including us Scotties - but eventually they managed to break the lock and open the door.

Then the Alph disappeared under the sink with a bleeping thing and did some more alarming banging. But eventually he came out and said he was defeated,

so we went for a walk to find somewhere to cool down as it was fiercely hot.

Even the Lad got a bit wet and had to shake, rattle and roll in the dusty sand afterwards.

We collected some firewood and walked home but the Alph and the Food Lady were rather depressed because there was not a drop of water in the house and no-one really seemed to know why.

The next morning joy of joys! there was water in the cottage. The mood lifted somewhat and the Alph decided to go and find out was going on with the water pipes and tanks. We admired our new wheels, glinting in the morning sun,

and set off with the Food Lady, leaving the Alph went to walk through the prickly veld along the water pipe. There were lovely Grey-leafed Proteas (Protea laurifolia) all along the road - some new and sparkly and silver,

some old and gold. Waiting for a fire to release the seeds.

The Alph had met Bernard and we met up with them both, and walked up to the tanks with Bernard's young pup, Optel. He was very deferential to Laddie who was acting rather pugnaciously (ever since the idiot caught his rat he has been a bit overbearing).

The N-for-Notten tank that takes quite a while to fill up with water for our cottage. As the water pressure is very low at this time of the year, and a lot of the cottages are using water to water their silly lawns, it took a whole day to fill the tank - but at least we knew that nothing was really wrong.

We continued on our walk with a spring in our steps and our tails up high. This is a Kleinmaartblom (Brunsvigia striata) growing on the path to the tadpole pools.

Sugarbirds irritate us Scotties with their tantalisingly small-mammal-like calls.

Pretty patterns: Common Sunshine Conebush (Leucadendron salignum) and twining Devils Tresses (Cassytha ciliolata).

Tea at the Tadpole pools.

Laddie wanted Optel and his black lavatory door brother to come with us, but Bernard called them back.

We all had a last swim in the cold water,

and Lad had another sand shake, rattle and roll,

then we walked back past these bright Skilpadbessie berries that we think Phil would like to use to make a delicious gin and tonic drink.

On the road again, past Prince Alfred's Hamlet,

with ribbon clouds weaving in and out of the mountains.  

I was pooped. Luckily I had the whole of the back seat of our brand new Subaru to myself

as the idiot insisted on sleeping on the floor in a rather cramped and uncomfy space. Such a funny Lad.

Mis'ble humans

We were deserted last weekend - although we had a lot of fun with Phil and Kerryn and Harvey - even a beach trip. But we are still feeling a bit injured that they left us behind and went to our favourite Land of Tortoises.

Lad and Harv looking mis'ble. We hate the packing up.

The glorious Land of Tortoises. Without us!

Strange blobs in the water,

made by a colonial microscopic single-celled protozoan called Ophrydium versatile. According to the website, Ask a Naturalist, they can be found all over the world in fresh water. The individual cells line up side by side in the “blob” and attach themselves to a jelly-like substance they secrete. They are symbiotic with microscopic Chlorella algae which live inside the Ophrydium cells and give the blob its green colour. Amazing.

Rooibos Tea in bloom.

Agamas and Mountain Wheatears all over my rocks. I would have spotted them and flown up there to dispatch them forthwith!

Work, work, work - clearing some rather exuberant growth.

Lots of food as usual. Here is the Alph with John and Julie. Is our Alph saying grace or contemplating the deliciousness on the plate?

And lots of good drinkles. John and Julie brought some Valentines Day rosé (or was it vin gris?) bubbles called Rose of Sharon. And frangipani flowers for the gels. The Food Lady must have been in heaven!

Finding a pretty but prickly Pelargonium alternans,

and a very dead Solifuge. Maybe the one Margie bopped on its head?

Climbing up to see the flowering Kraansaalwyne (Aloe perfoliata).

Even the acorns were celebrating Valentines Day.

But soon they had to come home to their two Scotties, and our bestie bostie.

Working and walking - and lots of flowers

Harvey came to stay for a few days, and he and Lad have such fun together - like digging up the vege garden and chasing doves (Lad has the dove in his sights).

Then on Saturday morning we were bundled into the car and off we drove, and drove, and drove to the Land of Tortoises. And in about three minutes flat, I had located my first tortoise. Then in another minute flat, the spoilsport Food Lady shooed us away and locked us in the house.

The Alph had some repairs to do ...

But once the geyser was up and sputtering out hot water, we all went for a walk. There were lots of flowers, and even though the Food Lady complained that she had to keep an eye on three of us, she still managed to photograph lots of flowers. This is the sticky little Moraea inconspicua.

We met Bernard, the new caretaker, and his pup called Optel, who is "vreeslik stout". At least he isn't a stinkvark brak which is what we get called.

Bernard has been busy ploughing up the old fields in front of the cottages under the gums. I hear plans are afoot to grow rooibos and honeybush tea.

As the sun got lower, the Aandbloms (Hesperantha cucullata) came out.

Lots of Small Satinflowers (Geissorhiza juncea) too.

Collecting firewood on the way home,

where it was put to good use.

Paraffin lamps lit - and red wine for the Alph and Food Lady,

and sleep for the crazy little Harv.

There being no more chance of hunting tortoises, we all retired to our beds. I am out of the photo, as far away from these idiots as I can get. One needs to maintain some decorum.

Next morning Laddie grabbed his lead and eventually persuaded the humans that we needed a walk.

We saw lots of Arid Pincusions (Leucospermum calligerum), and  

we found a Harveya specially for Harvey. This root parasite is named after the Irish botanist William Henry Harvey (1811-1866) who visited the Cape several times between 1835 and 1842 and was Treasurer-General here from 1836 to 1838. Later he became a professor of Botany at the University of Dublin.

A little Kappieblommetjie (Nemesia cheiranthus)

and lots of Grey Sugarbushes (Protea laurifolia) in flower.

It was all very damp and clean and green.

We walked past some of the great wind damage, 

past little Wurmbea spicata spikes,  

and through sundews in soggy seeps.

The next door farm had a fine crop of oranges,

but ours was full of natural things like this Spiny Tortoiseberry (Muraltia spinsosa). Now just think of what is under that bush! I get palpitations just imagining.

One flowering Gladiolus vanderspuyiae tightly wedged in between the rocks.

Back home - Harvey leading the way.

Expensive cheese (mistakenly bought by the Food Lady) and gees and tees and reading,

and me on tortoise watch.

Harvey fast asleep.

Laddie exploring amongst the Kukumakranka leaves. This must be the same as the flowers we saw in January - Gethyllis verticillata. (To see the flower, click here.)

Too hot for hunting, we retreated to the shade.

Watching the packing up from our cave. Still hot.

Time to go home.

Bye bye mountains.