Dot’s Dash – April 2019

Eleven Hurriers turned out this morning to walk Dot’s Dash.  The weather was cool, with quite a cold wind blowing, and it was partially overcast, so good walking conditions.  Our climb on the initial section reminded us of our advancing years, with many stops to mend bellows.  Once up on Spooknek, however, we were relieved at the prospect of some downhill hiking.  This we did through the magnificent fields of Erica pillansii, which is once again back to its pre-fire splendour, along with good showings of Erica perspicua, whilst the entire walk was characterised by wonderful, colourful fynbos.

Erica sp.

Erica sp.

Mick appeared to want to go downhill!

Erica sp.

Looking west with the recently burnt mountain above Betty’s Bay in the distance

Tritoniopsis lata

Watsonia sp.

Fields of Erica pillansii

Erica tenax

New houses in the burn near the Kogelberg office

Berzelia albiflora

Erica massonii

Aulax cacellata

Erica sessiliflora

Erica pillansii

Erica perspicua

Erica pillansii

Diastella fraterna

Leucospermum sp.

Our route – 7,2 km

On the way up

Kagga Kamma

A three night visit to Kagga Kamma, with Roy and Avril as our companions, proved to be most enjoyable.  The small privately owned reserve is situated in the Koue Bokkeveld, and was an ideal place to find some solitude amongst the wondrous rock formations that characterise the area.  It was so quiet that we often wondered whether we were the only living souls in the area.  Obviously everyone else there was enjoying the same and did not want to disturb the peace.

We went for a couple of hikes, one of 7 km and one at 10 km.  They provided a good opportunity to get close to nature and even see some of the antelope that roam the reserve.  Birds were pretty scarce and we struggled to see more than around 15 species in the reserve.  These did, however, include some of the Karoo birds which we do not see around Hermanus.

Our return journey took us down the long gravel highway that stretches between Calvinia and Ceres, and we passed a large number of intrepid hikers, who were walking the 270 km long Tankwa Camino.  We did not envy them at all!  They walk around 27 km per day with absolutely no shade along the entire route, and nothing but glaring, bright, semi desert plains all around.

Looking towards the Cederberg

Mountain Wheatear

Cape Bunting

Wonderful rock formations abound

Roy at our cottage

Sunset

Part of the camp

We met eland on our walk

The magnficent pool setting

An evening drive and drinks along the way

On the 10 km walk

Roadworks on the Montagu Pass

Fernkloof on 3 April 2019

The walk on Wednesday can best be described in musical terms as “the Fractured Heart Symphony” AMOEBA

Eight Hurriers met at the Fernkloof Visitors Centre  for the advertised walk. It was a good day for walking; coolish with some light high clouds.  After wishing Gert a happy birthday, the Octet set of on the first movement, an Adagio, through Boekenhout forest and up the Adder Ladder.  Taking a break at the bench we enjoyed drinks and the goodies brought by Gert

In the notice of the walk Gert said that he would consider a Brexit if the party so desired and, unlike Mrs May, he would be happy to consider suggestions, hard or soft.  This was his mistake.  A sextet opted for a lighter version of the symphony and their next movement was a little Minuet to the top of  Kanonkop.  Here a duo including a departing  swallow decided that they had early arrangements to get down so they set of for  an Allegro down the face of Kanonkop back to the Visitors Center.  The remaining quartet took an intermission,  enjoyed their sandwiches and instant cappucinos and did a leisurely Allegro via Klipspringer to the VC, completing the left ventricle of the Fractured Heart.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch the orchestra leader and his 80 something protégé, set off in an Easterly direction on a somewhat lengthy Allegro along the Jeep Track, down the zig-zags and along the contour path towards Fernkloof.  At the end of the contour and before crossing the Mossel River they stopped off at a local hostelry at the top of Reservoir Road for some liquid refreshments and then did a quick Scherzo back to the VC completing the Right Ventricle of the Fractured Heart Symphony AMOEBA

From the sounds of it all enjoyed a lovely day in the mountains although with different tunes.

Piet

P.S. Photo’s by Jenny

Wednesday in Fernkloof

Ten lucky walkers enjoyed some perfect Autumn weather for their hike in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve this morning.  We climbed up the front of Kanonkop and joined the Jeep Track, which we then followed to the top of Adder’s Ladder.  This brought us back down to the Visitors’ Centre, after a couple of hour of walking and around six kilometres covered.

On the Jeep Track below Kanonkop

Gladiolus brevifolius

Tritoniopsis lata

Birding at Strandfontein

We spent Tuesday morning birding at Strandfontein, after a quick foray into Rondevlei.  The latter is being drained and undergoing some upgrades, so there were not that many species around, although we did see many Avocets.

At Strandfontein there were the usual large flocks of birds, especially Sacred Ibises, as well as many gulls, one flock of Greater Flamingos, many Pelicans and a plethora of various ducks, but very few small waders.  It was nevertheless, an enjoyable outing!

South African Shellducks

Great White Pelicans

Great White Pelicans

Great Egret

Sacred Ibis

Sacred Ibises

White Stork

Pelicans

Greater Flamingos

Cape Shoveler

Black-wingd Stilt

Some Good Hockey in CT

Keagan participated in the Under 16 Hockey Festival hosted by RBHS and we were lucky to watch a couple of his games.  It was a wonderful opportunity to see how he has progressed, and it gave him the chance to get some good experience whilst Jordan is doing likewise in Holland and Spain.

Mooiwater

Our walk to Mooiwater, which John has been promising for the last few years, eventually materialised this morning.  It was worth waiting for, as eighteen Hurriers discovered on arrival.  We were greeted by Nicky with tea and coffee, after which we set out up a stream to the source of the farm’s domestic water.  The weather was perfect and we were treated to a view of four Klipspringers on the mountainside above us.

On our return we gathered next to the dam and enjoyed our picnic lunch, before returning to Hermanus.  The promised swim in the dam did not occur as it was a bit chilly, but the surroundings were beautiful!

On arrival at the picnic site

There were beautiful ericas along the path

Nicky leading the way

Tritoniopsis sp.

Happy Hikers

A watchful Klipspringer

The weir for the water intake

Walking back

Tea on arrival

Picnicking

The picnic site at the dam