WILDCLIFF WEEKEND 1 MAY 2009.

WILDCLIFF WEEKEND 1 MAY 2009.

Barbara and I had a busy schedule on the Thursday 30th April. Ally had sport and I was busy at work so we were only able to leave town at 17.30. We did our grocery shopping, I bought Ally a DVD series to watch in the car as we traveled. The road out of PE was not too busy but as we passed Mossel Bay the traffic became quite heavy. On the way to Wildcliff we made just one stop at the Mossel Bay garage where we bought toasted sandwiches and coffee. I ordered too much and we ended up being stuffed and having left overs which I put the the fridge for the next day.

As we approached Heidelberg we phoned Niccy and they told us that they were just approaching WC from the Tradouw pass when they came across a young man who had had an accident in his car. His car was literally wrapped around a tree. He had driven onto the dirt road at speed, lost control and that was the end of his car. Stefan helped him load his stuff in to their car and drove him the last few kays to Heidelberg. The police were quite helpful and they left him there to sort out his trip to visit his parents in Oudtshoorn.

On the dirt road approaching WC, on the section of the road that leads up to Bob Brown's farm, going past the stone wall on the right; we came across a porcupine. (see below for more information). I think that this is the first time that Barbara & I have ever seen a Porcupine in the wild. We did not have a camera. Barbara tried to photograph the animal with her phone, but the result was not good. Also it was 23.30 and we had the lights of the car to capture an image.

We arrived at WC just before midnight. Stefan and Nicci had only been there a short while. We sat chatting and then fell into bed.

Friday morning: Stefan and I had planned to go for a walk but the children also wanted to have an outing so we gathered them together and walked up to the Rain Frog Dam. Paula, Abigail and Bryce joined us. The children all became saturated as they played in the water. We had a little picnic with some biscuits and fruit. We took a variety of routes home. Stefan, Zara, Aaron and I took the road to above the houses and then took a short cut across the Fynbos. Interesting to see how well the two little ones coped with the prickly bush.

Back at the house I had arranged for the DSTV to be turned on but as the baboons had messed around with the aerial I had to climb onto the roof and try to adjust the dish. I did some back and forth for quite a while. Then I took my Leatherman and reconnected the wire leading to the LNB. Finally we managed to get it working. Stefan down in the lounge and me on the roof as he called instructions to me through the chimney. The rest of the day was a little overcast with rain and we did not do much more than read, eat and sleep. Stefan made us a pooitjie supper which turned out to be quite delicious.

Saturday morning; Stefan and I saddled up and went for a walk down to the meadow. We followed the Wilderkranz stream in a Southerly direction. The wood cutters had been working hard to clear the wattle. We followed the area that had been partially cleared. Some of the trees are cut and others have been ring barked. Unfortunately the felling of trees has, in some sections of the river, caused blockage and we are quite concerned as to what the consequences will be in the event of heavy rainfalls.

At times we had to do a bit of climbing over branches but staying with the stream we finally reached the Meadows of the neighbouring farm. I had been here once before with Ian, approaching from the Plattekloof side. We could see that the clearing of Wattle from the side of the power lines would reach the Wilderkranz stream. This will take some time. As we walked we saw two separate bushbuck.(see below for information) On the side of the Plattekloof we could see the spoor as this ram had gone down to drink and we saw him fairly close to us as he ran up and away from us. We made our way down to the Plattekloof stream and walked upstream for about an hour. We took our time looking at the spoor and surrounds. We even saw a few tiny fish in the stream. Before we reached the start of the Peter Kloof we turned up the hill and walked over to the Kaolin (See below for Kaolin information) mine and dam. We had to clamber over wattle branches to the extent that we were over a meter above the ground. As we walked up we came across some bulbous looking plants. Almost like Gladioli.

The wattle clearing on this side has been quite substantial. From here we walked back down to the house for a cup of tea. We loaded the little children and Abigail into the bushpig and took a slow drive up to the Ena's Falls. This was the first time that I had driven the vehicle and it took a little while to get used to the feel of the steering. It was a good experience to drive a 4X4 for the first time. We had a look a the site where the mountain hut is due to be built. We then went over to the top and walked along the spiky protea road. We picked ourselves a few of these unique flowers. They really do not look that good once they are a few days old. The children loved the outing and then back at Talari we all walked down to the Oak Tree Meadow where we played in the stream with the children.

As I walked up back to the house I did a little detour past the Poplar Trees and was really quite sad to see what we had thought to be the case as we looked from the house: the trees have been killed off with ring barking. They never appeared to me to be a real threat to the environment. I hope that we are going to spare the Oak Trees. That evening we watched some Rugby with Paula, Keith and Hanna. We had a bit of a marathon session of super 14 rugby watching nearly three games in succession. We had some delicious roast chicken for supper. It was late when we finally made it to bed.

Sunday morning was spent cleaning and packing and we left for home at around 10.30am. Paula was off to Barrydale to collect a Caracal (see below for more on the Caracal) that had been caught and which she later released up in the pines on the fynbos road. We had an easy drive home with just one stop in Knysna to fill up with petrol. The protea that we had cut were full of bugs and miggies. But I put them in water and left them outside for the night. Then next day the spiky protea that had new buds had opened and they looked stunning.

Email from Paula:
Dear Ian, Jenny, & Peter,


Please welcome our newest Wildcliff member, Rosa, the rooikat.


I received a call from Nola Frazer asking if we would take a large female caracal. Peter was certain you both would agree to our taking her, so Hanna, Abigail & I went to pick her up yesterday. She was taking some farmer's geese and had been trapped and taken to the Frazer's. Unfortunately, she sustained some injuries around her face/eyes from the farmer's trap, but nothing serious. Peter darted her around 3:30 pm so that she could be released at dusk. She must have been sensitive to the Ketamine as she didn't wake till almost 8:30 pm. We waited with her in the Pine Hill area and were hoping for some great video footage of her release, but it was too dark (and she was groggy). This isn't a good photo of her, but she is beautiful. We wished her well and hope she'll make Wildcliff her home.


Paula







Rosa






Peter Giddy
5.5.2009.

CARACAL







Appearance
A large, rufous-fawn Cat with tufted black ears, creamy underbelly with faded orange spots, and long legs. The face has exquisite markings. This animal must be regarded as one of the most beautiful Cats in the world. The Caracal moves with grace and a sense of confident power. It is an expert climber and regularly takes refuge in trees. Melanistic or all black Caracal have also been reported.
Diet
In hunting, the Caracal is mainly nocturnal, but will also use the twilight hours to search out its prey. Diurnal activity has also been observed, specially in the hunting of bird. For its size the Caracal is strong and fast, and as well as taking smaller prey such as Jerboas, Sand Rat, Ground Squirrel and Rock Hyrax, it can also bring down the larger Reedbuck and Duiker.This Cat is able, from a sitting position, to launch 4-5 metres in the air by using its strong hind quarters and limbs. They do this to pluck flying bird prey from the air.
Breeding
In most parts of its range the Caracal has no set breeding period and a female may often mate with up to three males. The litter size varies between 1-6 kittens, which are born after a gestation period of approximately 78 days. The kittens have a daily weight gain of approximately 21g per day and although they reach maturity at about 16-18 months of age they are often independent from about 12 months.
Behaviour
Mostly nocturnal, secretive, solitary, and an aggressive animal. Due to being hunted as a problem animal by farmers, Caracal became even more elusive and thus a sighting of one is very difficult.
Habitat
The Cat is found in dry savannah and woodland areas, scrubland and rugged terrain in mountainous regions, where it is known to live as high as up as 3000 metres. Like other Cats found in dry, arid or semi-dessert locations, the Caracal can survive for long periods without water, instead obtaining its requirement form the metabolic moisture of its prey.
Where they are found
It occurs throughout South Africa, and prefers open areas in woodland savannahs as well as rocky, hilly areas.
Vital Statistics
Latin Name : Felis Caracal
Weight (Female) : 11 kg
Weight (Male) : 15 kg
Length (Female) : 109 cm
Length (Male) : 117 cm
Gestation Period : 117 cm
No of Young : 2 - 4 (sometimes 5)
Order : Carnivora
Family : Felidae
Breeding : 2 - 4 (occasionally 5) young are born from October - March after a gestation period of ± 2 months.
Description
Compared to those of the serval, the footprints of the Caracal are broader and the indentation at the front of the intermediate pads are more prominent.
Spoor Description
Compared to those of the serval, the footprints of the Caracal are broader and the indentation at the front of the intermediate pads are more prominent.


PORCUPINE





Appearance
Both the male and female African Porcupines weigh from 18 to 30 kg (about 40 to 60 pounds) and are about two feet long. The African Porcupine is a type of Rodent that has long sharp spines, up to 50cm long, which cover its whole back and can be raised by muscles under the skin. Although it is similar in appearance to the Echidna it is not closely related.

The Echidna, also known as the spiny Anteater, is a type of Monotreme that is covered in stiff, sharp spines mixed with long, coarse hairs. Like the Echidna, the African Porcupine has a browny black coat and paler-coloured spines. The African Porcupine is twice the length of the Echidna (80.0 cm vs 47.5 cm).

African Porcupines are the largest rodent in their region. Females are, on average, about one kilogram heavier than males and both sexes are larger than half a meter long. They are also long-lived for rodents, surviving 12 to 15 years in the wild. These porcupines are covered with flat, bristly hairs and have quills and spines on the posterior back and flanks.

The difference between quills and spines is largely one of length and thickness, with spines up to 50 cm long and quills up to 30 cm long. The white and black crest of spines and quills can be erected at will to make the animal look enormous and threatening. Some spines on the tail are hollow and make a rattling sound when shaken. The very sharp spines and quills come off when touched by a predator or shaken off, but they grow back rapidly. African porcupines also have very long mobile whiskers.
Diet
African porcupines are mostly vegetarian, using their strong digging claws to get roots, tubers, and bulbs. They are also fond of fallen fruits and will sometimes gnaw on bark. Their anterior large intestine and enlarged appendix contain microorganisms that break down undigested plant fibers. They have also been reported to eat carrion in some instances. In areas deficient in phosphorous they practice osteophagia, or gnawing on bones. These porcupines will often accumulate large piles of bones in their dens.
Breeding
Male porcupines reach sexual maturity between eight and eighteen months, while females reach sexual maturity between nine and sixteen months. Because of their dangerous anatomy, females initiate copulation by presenting to the males.

Gestation lasts for three months. The young are born in litters of one to four into a grass-lined chamber in the parents' den during the wet months of August to March. The average litter size is 1 and the average newborn mass is 311g.

Young are born relatively well-developed, with their eyes open and teeth present. They have soft quills and spines at birth, most likely to ease the birthing process but they quickly harden in the air. The young grow rapidly, reaching full size in about a year. They nurse for three to four months at which point they will weigh four to five kilograms. After the weaning of their young, female porcupines can not conceive for another three to five months.
Behaviour
When the porcupine is tired, it grunts and raises it's black and white quills. There is one case of a leopard almost killed by a porcupine. Porcupines travel alone or in small family groups. They normally they sleep in the day and feed at night. The African Porcupine is primarily nocturnal, although it may be seen during the day.

They have quite acute hearing and will freeze when approached by predators, such as big cats, large predatory birds, or hyaenas. When cornered, these porcupines can be aggressive, runnning sideways or backwards to embed their sharp quills in an attacker.

Contrary to myth, they can not throw their quills, but they may become dislodged when they shake their hollow rattling quills. Another defensive behavior is to hide in their holes facing in and erect their spines so that they can not be dislodged. Specially modified quills known as rattle quills add to the noise made when shaken.

PORCUPINE



Habitat
African Porcupines are found from sea level to 2000 m above sea level in most areas with vegetation. They prefer rocky hills and outcrops, as they must have shelter during the day. They often take shelter in caves or antbear holes. They also build dens which can be up to 20m long with a 2m deep living chamber.
Where they are found
They live in North Africa, South Africa and East Africa.
Latin name
Hystrix africaeaustralis.
Vital Statistics
Latin Name : Hystrix Africaeaustralis
Weight (Female) : 10 - 24 kg
Weight (Male) : 10 - 19 kg
Length (Female) : 84 cm
Length (Male) : 84 cm
Gestation Period : 7 weeks
No of Young : 1 - 4
Birth Weight : 315 g
Order : Rodentia
Family : Hystricidae
Breeding : 1 - 3 young are born anytime during the year (summer rainfall areas, August - March) after a gestation period of about 3 months.
Description
5 toes on the front feet, the first toe being reduced to a small stump without a claw. Other toes have well developed claws. 5 toes on the hind-feet, each with a claw. The fore- and hind-feet each show 3 intermediate pads and 2 proximal pads in the spoor.
Spoor Description
5 toes on the front feet, the first toe being reduced to a small stump without a claw. Other toes have well developed claws. 5 toes on the hind-feet, each with a claw. The fore- and hind-feet each show 3 intermediate pads and 2 proximal pads in the spoor.



BUSHBUCK



Appearance
The very sharp horns render the Bushbuck very dangerous when wounded. A close relative of the Kudu and the Nyala. The rams are very elegant in appearance, sporting dark greyish-brown fur, with white spots on the flanks and prominent white socks. In height they are 700mm at the shoulders, and have a maximum mass of 54 Kg's.
Ewes are smaller and adult ewes are lighter in colour than rams, with more pronounced white spots and stripes. Both males and females have geometrically shaped white patches or spots on the most mobile parts of their body, namely the ears, chin, tail, legs and neck, as well as a band of white at the base of the neck. On males these markings become more visible during their displays when they arch their backs and slowly circle one another, walking in a tense, high-stepping gait. These highly ritualized displays usually make fighting unnecessary. Alongside this, a rigid age-based hierarchy among keeps males in check.
Diet
Bushbuck are mainly browsers, but on rare occasions will consume grass. They are selective feeders, but during hardship are able to adapt their feeding habits for the sake of survival.
Breeding
With a gestation period of 6 to 7 months some females are able to reproduce twice a year. The birth peak is generally during the rainy season in dry regions, but in high-rainfall areas there are not really any peaks. After giving birth, the mother cleans the newborn calf and eats the placenta.

The young calf does not accompany its mother for long periods during the day until it is about 4 months old and so it must leave the calf well hidden. When she visits and suckles it, she even eats its dung to remove any scent that remains which may attract predators. Ewes reach sexual maturity at 14 months. Even though rams reach sexual maturity at 11 months they generally do not mate until socially adept at the age of three years.
Behaviour
Usually most active during early morning and part of the night, Bushbucks become almost entirely nocturnal in areas where they are apt to be disturbed frequently during the day. When alarmed, individuals react in a variety of ways. Sometimes they will sink to the ground and lie flat, or they may bound away, making a series of hoarse barks.

When surprised in the open, they sometimes stand still or slowly walk to the nearest cover. The Bushbuck is primarily nocturnal, but it is also fairly active during the day. Half of a Bushbuck's day is spent standing and grazing. Around dusk bushbucks move toward their night range where they feed before moving off at dawn.

The Bushbuck is also the only non-territorial and solitary African antelope with neither males nor females defending any part of their home range. Though Bushbuck have small home ranges which may overlap with those of other bushbuck, they are solitary animals with even females prefering to keep social interactions with their young to not more than a few hours a day. Mature males usually go out of their way to avoid contact with each other.
Habitat
Bushbuck’s preferred habitat is dense bush at the base of mountains or along river courses. This antelope is always found close to permanent water courses.
Where they are found
The shy and elusive bushbuck is widely distributed over sub-Saharan Africa. In East Africa it is found in a variety of habitats, though rarely on open land. Bushbucks have a lot of individual and regional differences in their coat colours and patterns. In general, Bushbuck inhabiting deep forest have darker coats. They will live anywhere from sea level to mountaintops, from rainforests to subdesert terrain.
Predators
Bushbucks are most vulnerable to predators such as Leopard, Lions, Hyenas and Cheetah when on the run, but if cornered the male will fight bravely and if attacked may even become a dangerous foe. Even though Baboons sometimes eat the young, Bushbucks continue to associate closely with them at times, picking up fallen fruit and other foods that foraging Baboons drop.
Latin name
Tragelaphus scriptus
Vital Statistics
Latin Name : Tragelaphus Scriptus
Weight (Female) : 30 - 36 kg
Weight (Male) : 40 - 77 kg
Gestation Period : 6 months
No of Young : 1 lamb
Sexual Maturity : 11 - 14 months
Birth Weight : 4 kg
Order : Artiodactyla
Family : Bovidae
Horns : 40 cm
Breeding : A single young is born anytime during the year after a gestation period of about 6 months.
Description
4 - 5 cm long. Neater and smaller than the Impala.
Spoor Description
4 - 5 cm long. Neater and smaller than the Impala.

Kaolinite is a clay mineral with the chemical composition Al2Si2O5(OH)4. It is a layered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet linked through oxygen atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedra.[3] Rocks that are rich in kaolinite are known as china clay or kaolin.
The name is derived from Gaoling or Kao-Ling ("High Hill") in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, China.[4] Kaolinite was first described as a mineral species in 1867 for an occurrence in the Jari River basin of Brazil.[5]
Kaolinite has a low shrink-swell capacity and a low cation exchange capacity (1-15 meq/100g.) It is a soft, earthy, usually white mineral (dioctahedral phyllosilicate clay), produced by the chemical weathering of aluminium silicate minerals like feldspar. In many parts of the world, it is colored pink-orange-red by iron oxide, giving it a distinct rust hue. Lighter concentrations yield white, yellow or light orange colours.
Kaolin is used in ceramics, medicine, coated paper, as a food additive, in toothpaste, as a light diffusing material in white incandescent light bulbs, and in cosmetics. It is generally the main component in porcelain.
It is also used in paint to extend titanium dioxide (TiO2) and modify gloss levels; in rubber for semi-reinforcing properties and in adhesives to modify rheology.[6]
The largest use is in the production of paper, including ensuring the gloss on some grades of paper. Commercial grades of kaolin are supplied and transported as dry powder, semi-dry noodle or as liquid slurry.
A more recent, and more limited, use is as a specially formulated spray applied to especially organic fruits, vegetables, and other vegetation to repel or deter insect damage, and at least in the case of apples, to prevent sun scald. A traditional use is to soothe an upset stomach, similar to the way parrots (and later, humans) in South America originally used it.[7]
Kaolin is or has been used as the active substance in liquid anti-diarrhea medicines such as Kaomagma and Kaopectate . Such medicines were changed away from aluminium substances due to a scare over Alzheimer's disease, but have since changed back to compounds containing aluminium as they are most effective.
In April 2008, the Naval Medical Research Center announced the successful use of a Kaolinite-derived aluminosilicate nanoparticles infusion in traditional gauze known commercially as QuikClot Combat Gauze.[8] [9]







Kaolin is used in ceramics, medicine, coated paper, as a food additive, in toothpaste, as a light diffusing material in white incandescent light bulbs, and in cosmetics. It is generally the main component in porcelain.

It is also used in paint to extend titanium dioxide (TiO2) and modify gloss levels; in rubber for semi-reinforcing properties and in adhesives to modify rheology.[6]

The largest use is in the production of paper, including ensuring the gloss on some grades of paper. Commercial grades of kaolin are supplied and transported as dry powder, semi-dry noodle or as liquid slurry.

A more recent, and more limited, use is as a specially formulated spray applied to especially organic fruits, vegetables, and other vegetation to repel or deter insect damage, and at least in the case of apples, to prevent sun scald. A traditional use is to soothe an upset stomach, similar to the way parrots (and later, humans) in South America originally used it.[7]

Kaolin is or has been used as the active substance in liquid anti-diarrhea medicines such as Kaomagma and Kaopectate . Such medicines were changed away from aluminium substances due to a scare over Alzheimer's disease, but have since changed back to compounds containing aluminium as they are most effective.

In April 2008, the Naval Medical Research Center announced the successful use of a Kaolinite-derived aluminosilicate nanoparticles infusion in traditional gauze known commercially as QuikClot Combat Gauze.[8] [9]

A HECTIC SUNDAY IN MARCH 2008.

A HECTIC SUNDAY IN MARCH 2008.

On Friday, 7.3.2008, evening, Barbara & I realised that we had just one weekend left to take the stuff that I had brought from Dawn’s house in East London, down to Wildcliff and that was this weekend. Otherwise we would miss taking it before the Easter weekend. Ally had been invited to Meghan Derry’s Party but was unable to go as she was feverish and not at all well. Normally we would have asked one of her friends if she could stay over for the day on Sunday but decided to take her with us instead.

We then decided to hire a trailer and that we would leave at 02.00am on Sunday morning and return the same afternoon. On Saturday afternoon, after work, I went to the trailer hire and we hired a really big (3m X 2M) trailer, took it up to Michael’s house and loaded the two couches that we had stored there. I collected Noluthando (Michaels domestic) and her child at the same time.

While driving home I questioned her a bit about her life. She told me how her mother had abandoned her and her two younger brothers when she was about 5 years old. Her mother had left with another man and went to Durban she thinks. Her father and mother had never married and so she went to live with her aunt in Walmer township while her father married and had six children of his own and lives in Motherwell. Her two younger brothers have subsequently died. It seems that the youngest was a sickly child from birth. Noluthando was introduced to us by her aunt who attends the same church as we do. She has two children. Her son is about 12 and attends a school in Peddie where he lives with his paternal grandparents and her baby lives with her in a RDP house in Walmer township.

Noluthando had agreed, at short notice, to house sit for us. That afternoon we loaded a double bed, a table with fixed stools (chairs), a TV Cabinet and some other small stuff. I tied it all down and hitched the trailer to the car ready for Sunday morning. My alarm woke me up at 01.30 and I made ready for the trip. Ally unfortunately was still not feeling well and had a fever. We bundled her into the back seat and left at about 02.15am.

The trailer was heavy and so the going was slow. We were very lucky with traffic and for the whole trip had to pass just one truck and saw probably less than 50 cars on the road. Our first stop was the Shell station at Plett where we off loaded some of the internal fluids. We had Digby with us and he did a bit of territory marking just for good measure. The BP filling station in Knysna is not open all night so we pressed on to Sedgefield where we filled up at the Engen and had a Wimpy Coffee. We are never disappointed with their coffee. As we approached the open fields of the Riversdale area we saw a Secretary bird walking the field with a deliberate no nonsense walk that said: “watch out snakes. Here I come.”. We also saw three Blue Crane feeding on the leftovers of the cut wheat field.

We swapped driving a couple of times but otherwise drove straight through and arrived at Heidelberg at 08.45am. Brett drove through from Wildcliff to meet us and we hitched the trailer onto the Bushpig. Brett had to use the 4 wheel drive facility and we had a slow drive to Wildcliff with Barbara following.

Brett told me a little of his background. His parents live in Benoni where he went to school. He has taken on a number of challenges since leaving school but seems to be destined for the outdoors which he loves. He has worked in the Timbivati / Kruger National Park where he acted as a guide. He would have to be on duty for up to six weeks at a time. It was at this time he met Emily who is from North East America. She studied at Washington DC and took on a job in South Africa. Brett makes no secret of his love for this attractive young woman and hopes that they will be able to commit to Wildcliff for a year. Brett tells me that he has a brother who is equally adventurous and who is teaching English as a foreign language in France. His brother did the same in Indonesia and England.

Brett is enjoying the experience of being the manager of daily operations on the Reserve and Emily tends to manage the house, administration and recording work. As we arrived at Wildcliff, Pascal (Swiss doing a Primates study) and Emily joined us and helped off load the trailer. We packed most of the stuff under the Casita which is now being developed into a Nursery. There are no plants yet but the netting has been put into place and Brett is busy building shelves.

We walked up to Talari where a huge amount of renovation has taken place. The floors have been completely redone, two extra bathrooms have been built, a courtyard is in construction and the garage area is now a conservatory or similar with see through corrugated roofing. The front stoep is much wider and has new tiles. Ian has made a cosy area for the main bedroom, study and bathroom leading onto the courtyard on the north side of the house. Each bedroom now has its own bathroom.

The Kitchen has been opened on to the lounge area and the cabinets should be started soon. We saw all the cabinet wood lying in the lounge. The walls of the Kitchen look old and shabby compared to the rest of the house and I am not sure if they are going to be re-plastered, painted or covered up with boards and cupboards.

There are huge piles of builder’s rubble lying around where the front garden used to be. Once the building operations and building materials have been removed this is going to be a wonderful place for all kinds of purposes. The bottom house that used to be known as the White house is also undergoing renovations and is being re-plastered with new windows and fittings.

Barbara had her eye on the old wood burning stove and we loaded this onto the trailer with the assistance of the labourers who were having tea. We did not linger and Brett hitched the trailer back on to the Bushpig and we headed back to Heidelberg. As we drove down past Heron we saw a Puffadder crossing the road. He looked healthy and in excellent condition. The Toyota Bushpig is not pulling well despite the fact that it has just been serviced. It looks like it will need to be diagnosed and repaired to restore the power that we expect from a vehicle like this.

Once back in Heidelberg we filled up with petrol and hitched the trailer back on to the Toyota and left at about 12.00 for PE. From here we again made just one stop in Knysna to refuel and buy some provisions at the Spar. When I was in Canada earlier this year I had bought a book on CD. It was a Ludlum book and we listened to about half of the story during the trip. It is not that easy to listen to a story like this as there are all kinds of characters and intrigue. You need to concentrate and if you are not the driver at the time it is easy to fall asleep and miss a whole section of the reading.

Pat phoned from Cape Town to say that she had ridden a good Argus cycle tour in just over 5 hours. Herman was also riding but we did not hear from him. We had missed Nippers and the Biathle for the day but Ally would not have been able to take part anyway. I tried, on the phone, to persuade Ena that relationships were more important than opinions and being right. I had met up with Alice the previous weekend and had heard that they are no longer “best buddies”. This upset me and led me to this vain attempt at patching up their friendship. I should know from experience that this never works.

Ally was still not feeling well and basically slept the whole journey there and back. We tried to get her to eat but nothing interested her. We had stopped at Albertina for Gekervde (sliced) Biltong and she was not even interested in that. I also tried some fruit salad that I bought at the Spar in Knysna but after a feeble attempt she left that as well. We also bought a Beef Fillet at the Albertina shop. Their prices are quite a bit better than in town. The return trip was easier pulling the empty trailer but a lot more traffic. We surprised ourselves by arriving back home by about 17.30. I off loaded and took Noluthando home.

The whole trip was 1000kays and we had taken 15 hours. But there is nothing a shower and coffee cannot refresh you for the next activity of life. We were pleased with our efforts and glad to have gotten this job behind us. It was Emily’s birthday and we returned home to a batch of photo’s of Jacqui’s family and the party. Nicci had run two events recently and seemed to have hurt her heel. She too sent us a number of photo’s of the event and of the family at the beach.

DIRECTIONS TO WILDCLIFF

DIRECTIONS TO WILDCLIFF

Heidleberg Western Cape

Drive past the BP filling station on your left to the first stop street. Turn right and then at van Riebeck street right again. Drive along this road and cross the Duivenhoks River. (If coming from the PE side you would turn right at the Tradouw Pass Turn-off and then right to the golf course.) Turn left towards the golf course and the Bowling club.

The Golf and Bowling club is on your left. This is a tar road which soon becomes a gravel road. Up ahead you are now able to identify the Zig Zag (Zorro) Road on the mountain ahead. Do not take the Jonkersfontein turn to the right but do take second the right fork to Eden Country T1 and up Zorro Road. Here you see a sign saying: Wadrift, Zeekoeigat and Gysmanshoek.

Follow this road up and down the other side and then up again. Pass the turnoff to the farm of Bob and Wilma Brown – Zeegat. At 19kays from the golf course you reach the top of the second hill and there is a gate on the Left hand side with a red and white plate and a sign that shows the Duivenhoks alien plant removal project. Open this gate and carry on along this ridge for a short while before heading steep downhill through wattle bush. Cross the river and up the other side leads you to the homestead of Wildcliff. The house is 2.4kays from first gate you had to open.

Phone numbers 028 7222 633
phone numbers 028 7222 448

WILDCLIFF MEETING AND WHALE TRAIL NOVEMBER 2007.

WILDCLIFF AND WHALE TRAIL NOVEMBER 2007.
Minutes of the second meeting of Trustees. 10.11.2007.

Saturday morning 10th November 2007.
Barbara, Dawn & I left for Wildcliff at about 7.00am. Ally was going to be coming with us but we had to leave her at home as she had an important Band practice at school over the next few mornings and did not want to miss that. Ally stayed at the Zeelie’s for Saturday and Sunday and then Michael would stay at our home for a few days while we were away. Our first stop was at Storms River where we topped up and down with coffee.

The next stop was Sedgefield where they have a Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. We had planned for this and enjoyed a full breakfast there. We bought a few different types of bread and pastries for the Wildcliff stay. We made a brief stop at Albertina for some Biltong. The lady in the shop asked me if I wanted Gekervde Biltong. It was the first time that I had heard the term and while I realised that it meant Sliced, I phoned Gerald to confirm and let him know of this quality biltong stop. We also purchased a good looking piece of Fillet Steak for a reasonable price.

Our final stop was Heidelberg where we filled up with petrol before heading up to Wildcliff. As we approached Wildcliff we saw two Blue cranes which we have not seen before. Bob’s Grey Rhebuck were grazing on the plain. As we arrived at the house we were met by Roger & Tory and Rogers son Andrew and family. Tory left with Andrew and Roger stayed for the Trustee meeting that was planned for 14.30. Other Roger, Gael and Ian were still on their way from Cape Town and would be a little later than planned. We settled into the Casita.

It was a great afternoon and we decided that tea on the stoep would be a good place to hold the Trustee Meeting.
Minutes of the Wildcape Trustee Meeting:
Present: Ian & Jenny
Peter, Barbara & Dawn
Roger Gush
Roger and Gael.
Researchers: Alex, Sarah & Kelly
Bob

1. Ian confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting.
2. Peter explained the Financial Situation. Peter has an ongoing track of the financial situation.
3. The Pond: building is complete and planting of trees and shrubs has begun but baboons have already destroyed some of them. Roger’s son tom will be bringing some new plants this weekend. Roger will give some advice to Alex regarding future trees etc to plant. Some trees may be sourced from Grootvadersbos and others from local sources such as Wildcliff and Bob’s farm. We should obtain aluminium tags for identification purposes.
4. Mapping: boundary and vegetation mapping should start. Ian provided a GPS computer to assist with this.
GIS mapping will also start as soon as Dominic Giddy (research assistant) arrives.
5. Bio Monitoring. Take an area that has been disturbed. List as many factors as possible. Reassess regularly. Choose 5 to 10 spots. Take photographs. Measure recovery.
6. Kelly and Baboons: Kelly has started an observation log and is sending droppings for analysis. Someone suggested growing stuff out of Baboon poop to see what they are eating. Fitting a collar is a consideration and will need expert involvement.
Bob: Baboons feed on the oak trees and then move across to the fruit trees later. IN February and March they rip the protea apart to eat the beetles that are in the protea flower.
Pit Trap. A shrew was caught in one.
7. Sarah & Black Wattle: observed that BW grows where there were plantations. Sarah will start a process of cleaning up from the outskirts of the infestation. The method will be pulling of saplings, lopping of larger trees and the use of Garlon Poison that is dyed blue with a hand held spray. All areas are to be marked out and a weekly report is to be submitted.
8. Dominic Giddy from Westville Durban and Mickal Houadria (insect research) from France will be joining the team shortly.
9. Proposal for a nursery; This was shelved due to the cost, the potential availability of plants from Dept of Forestry (Saarsveld) in George and destruction by Baboons.
10. Renovations and restoration of buildings:
Heron: There is still some work to be done. The gas should be connected shortly. The water system works intermittently.
Talari: Plans for renovations to be discussed with Jacques from Homecare and with Mike from Cape Town.
11. Vehicle: Bob will order a spare key.
The meeting was closed as Jacques arrived.

We had a Pootjie that evening. I had brought my pot from home and we cooked on a fire at the back of Talari. After a really good evening we were about to head back to the Casita when we discovered a pool of water in the garage. A join in the main pipe had come apart and we spent the next hour trying to repair joins and dam up gullies to prevent the house becoming flooded. This was not an easy job as we had all had a few beers and were trying to work by torch light.
Sunday Morning.
In various groups we walked up the road to Ena’s Falls. Dawn, Barbara & Peter walked all the way up. Others had driven in the Toyota and by the time we got there they had found a way down the valley to the pool at the bottom of the falls. Barbara, Jenny, Dawn & I walked up and on a bit further and then headed back down.

We hitched a ride back to the house as Ian was expecting Mike and Basil the builders to meet him there to talk about renovations to Talari. Mike did quite a thorough estimation of what work would be required. Basil, his father, Bob and some of the rest of us had some tea. Roger, Gael, Sarah and Emily had opted for a walk down and we saw them a little later. It seems that Basil has a house just below where Bob stays and the work would be based there.

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon and I fell asleep on a chair in the Casita when I heard Ian asking if I would like to go for a walk. Ian, Alex, Roger, Gael and I walked up the hill to the start of the pine forest and then down the East side towards Plattekloof River. We walked through some really nasty bush (probably part of the Erica family) towards what we think is the North Eastern boundary of Wildcliff. As we left the bush we came to the obligatory Black Wattle but once we were through that we were surprised by some pristine indigenous forest of Stinkwood, Keurboom and other trees that the experts can name. It was like entering a new world.

The Wattle is hard and totally dominates while the indigenous forest has a wide variety of plant sorts, the ground is bouncy and soft from the leaves and the temperature was noticeably cooler. At the bottom there was a flowing stream with tadpoles, frogs and even some fish. We climbed upstream first there were a few rocks to negotiate but then we started climbing some steep waterfalls and rocks. It is a beautiful part of Wildcliff that we were all delighted to discover. Bob tells me that there is an old “Spook House” around here somewhere.

Roger was expecting his son, Tom, to arrive with some plants so we headed back up the side of the Kloof. It was quite a tough climb but we were soon out of the hill and into the Protea field and heading back down the road to Talari.

Ian and Jenny took Sarah and Emily to Cape Town for a few days visit there. Ian had some business to attend to and would meet us at Potberg on Tuesday afternoon. When I got back to the house I found Roger battling with the water pipes. One of the joins had come adrift again. We managed to secure it and he was able to leave. Tom had left us a variety of plants from their Nursery in Cape Town.

Nicci and Stefan had met Roger and Gael at Wildcliff and while on a drive one day had been able to visit the Nursery on the Cape Point. Once Roger and Gael had left there was now only the three of us in the Casita and Alex in the Heron. Alex joined us for some left over Pootjie for supper and flopped into bed quite exhausted.

Monday morning.
We had a lazy morning drinking lots of tea and coffee and chatting on the veranda of the Casita. We sat watching Baboons as they roamed all over Talari and the pond. A grey heron wandered around the long Kikuyu grass in front of us. The weaver birds began building a nest in the tree next to us until the fussy wife came along and showed her total disgust in his efforts. He had painstakingly begun the nest building from nothing. Holding two thin branches together with his talons and trying to get the first strand of grass to bind, then flying up and down had managed to get a good beginning of a nest on the go. But all for nothing. Women!

Bob came round and worked on the water pipes. He created a relief outflow just below the Casita where pressure could be released and water could flow down to the stream below. After lunch he and I drove his bakkie to the village where he left it to be repaired. We visited the shop for some bread and the Lawyer Hoffman and the Co-operative where I was finally able to open an account.

We discussed the possibility of a water powered generator as a source of power for Wildcliff. The manager of the Co-op, Hennie said that he had not had such a request before but would do some investigation. Richard had also offered to do some research into the possibility of Hydro Power.

Bob pointed out something that has been a question in my mind for many years: the big white bales, that we see on the fields as we drive past, are Oats that have been treated and provide a very nutritious fodder but also quite expensive (R250 each). The open rolled bales that we see along the road are the Chafe of the wheat that has been reaped. These leftovers provide a far less expensive fodder (R50 each). We had tea with Wilma before I headed back to Wildcliff for supper. I had bought some Kingklip at the Farmers Market and we had this with potato chips for supper.

Tuesday 13th morning.
Ann had said that she would be coming today to fetch the Mercedes as well as Peter’s Bakkie that was broken down at Heron. This morning there were Baboons everywhere and when I said that I would be going to the top dam to see if we could find the problem with the water supply, Barbara was quite worried. I think that Bob’s assistant, Hendrik had not turned the tap at the dam open wide enough and this caused the water to stop flowing. I then made the mistake of opening it too wide and the result was that the pipe separated again. Water is a constant battle at Wildcliff.

Gerald phoned to say that they had bought some Gekervde Biltong in Albertina and that we would see them in Potberg. Ann arrived and began to load her Bakkie and the Mercedes with all their stuff. The house looked quite bare and we decided that it was time for us to leave as well.

The drive to Potberg took us through Heidelberg where we stocked up at the local Spar before taking the road past Slang River and then to Malgas where we got onto the Ferry. Gideon and Booi were the operators. They were their normal jovial selves and ended up charging us too much (R40 instead of R30) but I felt that their good nature and friendly banter was worth the extra R10.

On the last section we saw a number of Blue Crane and even a Secretary Bird. We stopped off at the Trading Store at the intersection leading down to Cape Infanta where I asked a chap in a Landrover (Brian) to confirm the direction that we were taking. He became so excited about talking to us that he jumped out of his vehicle and nearly lost it as he had forgotten about a small detail called a Hand Brake. He then told us about the 10 Whales that were cavorting at Cape Infanta. As we approached Potberg I did my traditional stop for Ostrich Feathers (which I had done the last time we were here). The Bontebok that one sees close to the fencing are quite spectacular with their white rumps and deadly looking horns.

At Potberg we parked our vehicle next to the huts and started to offload only to be greeted by a distraught Gerald who told me that the organisers now supply boxes that we had to use to load up all our stuff instead of the suitcases that we had thought that we would use. In the end we took a few extra boxes and coped quite well. Another feature that took us by surprise was that, at every overnight hut, we were supplied with a complete set of cutlery, can opener, plates, pots, gas stove and cups. They also have dish washing facilities with hot water, hot showers and flush loos.

While the hiker is expected to clean up after each day, there is a cleaning team that will empty bins and make certain that the hut is in pristine condition for the next day’s hikers. Ian and Jenny arrived a little later and we set up our cooking for the evening. Robin took on the duty as chief fire man for that evening and retained the duty though-out the hike. That evening we set up a couple of stretchers to accommodate the extra two bodies. I, for one, had a stunning evening after enjoying some snacks, drinks and a delicious supper. The hiking banter began early as we told the same old boring stories that we always tell but find incredibly funny & interesting every time they are told.

Wednesday 14th November Morning.
We had decided to leave at 07.00 and after some tight packing and rearranging of stuff we managed to get going on time. Barbara and Jenny were left all alone. Barbara commented later how empty she felt as she saw us heading off on a five day adventure and she had a long and lonely drive home.

The day starts off through some Eucalyptus and Wattle trees before heading uphill. The natural fynbos soon takes over and I found it interesting listening to Ian, the American, telling all of us South Africans that the Fynbos consists of four main plant types: the Protea, the Erica, The Restio and the Geophytes.

Most of us know the Protea Family quite well and can recognise the plant as being a protea. There are huge varieties and we would be very knowledgeable to be able to identify even a fraction of this variety. The Erica is tough stemmed with small flowers and round leaves. Here too there are wide varieties. The Restio is the grassy looking part of the fynbos that often grows in clumps. The Geophytes are the bulbous and often very pretty plants such as the Arum Lilies and the Watsonias.

As we walked up the pathway we were fortunate to see some Cape Vultures as they circled lazily in the clouds above us. The fortunate thing about climbing high like this morning is that we get closer to this elusive bird. Robin took a bit of strain going up the hill. He became quite out of breath and dizzy. Robin is a regular hiker doing day hikes almost every week. Fortunately he knew how to handle himself and took it easy until we finally reached the top of the Potberg (5km) after a hike of about 2.30hours.

Out came the Cell phones and refreshments. Ian called Jacques (082 788 8375) to confirm building operations. We were able to check up on loved ones before setting off again. Barbara told me that both she and Jenny had reached Heidelberg safely and that she was now on her way home. We walked the ridge of the mountain with the Breede River to the East and some deep gorges to the West. I wonder if there are such vast protea fields anywhere else in South Africa? They stretched as far as the eye could see. I think that both Roger and Tory were battling with their boots until they fastened their laces which helped to stop the jarring of the downhills.

Robin called the lunch spot. It is important to know that it is the second crossing of the Melkhout stream where the hiker must stop as this is a much better and bigger place for a picnic. This is the one and only time that we could fill water bottles during the day. A couple of us had a cool off in the water before we enjoyed our snack and a short nap. This is the 10kay mark and here after we headed up hill. Robin was again struggling and he and I brought up the rear. Dawn was on a roll and charged off into the sunset ahead of us.




We reached the hut around 3.00pm and then went off for the compulsory swim in the dam. The water was great and a wonderful cool down after a hot day of walking. We saw some men across the dam also enjoying the afternoon at the water. As we had approached the Cupido’s Kraal hut, Robin had been telling me about his bridge lessons that he had been taking.

We managed to connive Roger and Dawn into joining us for some light hearted bridge. Those who know me know that there is nothing light hearted about the way I play the game. I am both reckless and ruthless and play to win! But we had a lot of fun and had Linda as an onlooker who appeared interested.

Just in front of the braai area were some Cape Sugar birds entertaining us with their antics on the (Suikerbossie) Pincushion Protea flowers. Most of the Protea had already flowered and dried up but the Sugarbush was in full bloom. Gerald also pointed out some other Laat Lammetjies in the protea world. We continued the evening with a wonderful fire supported by evening snacks and drinks.

Ian, Dawn and I had our chicken sosaties fresh bread with a cheese topping. Ian made us a vegetable stir fry to go with this incredible bush meal. This evening Dawn and I shared an upstairs room with Ian and Robin in the loft across from us.

I had brought a Farmers Weekly to read. Since Ian bought Wildcliff I have developed an active interest in farming matters and find this a good read. Articles of interest included building a wine brand such as Robin’s friend in Calitzdorp is trying to do and the article about this woman farmer who won awards but who was running a really poor operation. The Transfer of Wildcliff to the Wildcape Nature Trust was listed in this copy. There is an interesting article that compares business management to the game of Rugby. Our GM (Johan Sadie) at Morkels has being making this comparison for years.

Thursday 15th November 2007.
This morning started off with a climb. Gerald & I brought up the rear. As we walked up the hill Gerald pointed put a rock that was in the shape of Africa. Maybe a bit of De je vu but I am sure that we had seen the same rock four years ago. At any rate I now had a relatively empty backpack and could easily fit this souvenir in the bag. Gerald & I shared the load until we had proudly shown the rest of the group who did not seem nearly as impressed with our treasure as we were. In fact Roger said it looked more like South America than Africa.

At about this time it began to drizzle quite strongly and the Ponchos and covers were taken out. This meant that we walked too fast to really enjoy the walk. By the time we reached to top of the hill that looks down onto the cove of Noetsie, the group had spread out by about a kilometre. The rain stopped and we had another bright sunny day for walking.

We saw some of the rangers parked on the road below and wondered if we had done something wrong that they were coming to talk to us about. As I approached these three men I greeted them heartily and asked them why they were climbing this hill that we had just descended. One of the men turned out to be the man we had seen across the dam the previous day.

He proudly introduced himself as Tom Ambrose (082 978 1971), 26 Comrades, 23 Oceans, 1 Rhodes and 6 Foots. I then introduced him to Gerald: 20 Comrades, 25 Oceans, 3 Rhodes and umpteen other ultra events and myself also having done my fair share of these great runs. Tom is a contractor to the Cape Nature as he sprays and cuts the Wattle and Port Jackson Willow. Benny and Oom At were the inspectors who were there to check up on his work rate. Tom also does fire control for the burning of this weed.

Shortly after crossing the road we rejoined the group for a lunch stop. They had found a bridge that was serving as a bench and were sitting in a straight stripe. I pulled out our lunch of cheese sandwiches. Unfortunately the Rock of Africa had by now flattened them somewhat but this combined with an apple and a drink of water was enough to sooth us into an afternoon sleep on the pathway. I could vaguely hear the chatter of the group as they left one by one but was too tired to take any notice.

After a short while Ian and I forced ourselves up and onwards. After this section of Port Jackson Willow we crossed a burnt field of Protea. The pathway takes hikers over a vast area of flat and round rock. The rock has a number of round holes where plants sometimes grow and I am sure that small creatures use as homes. We also passed by a section where the flow of water had eroded the rock in to caves beneath the pathway.

Ian explained to me that this was Limestone. Limestone is made of crushed sea shells and is a million years old. Ian pointed out that when the rock breaks you can see two things: Sometimes you will see the outline of a shell such as a sea snail or muscle. But what we could see distinctly was the layers as huge temperature fluctuations had created the rock formations.

Ian also pointed out another formation that I found interesting. It is the result of many years of pressure between a variety of smaller stones that eventually bind together to form one big rock. When you see this it is clearly made up of many small stones. This is referred to as a conglomerate.

We were quite a little way behind the rest of the group and as we came to the last descent at Noetsie, a small snake slithered across the pathway. It looked like a harmless grass snake about 60cm long and brown in colour. The Noetsie sleeping accommodation is the smallest of all the huts as the kitchen and the sleeping areas are in two separate huts. We saw a number of baboons but they kept their distance and did not bother us at all.

Pat & I had a short swim. It is best to take a pair of sandals on this hike as walking on the rocks is quite tough on the feet. Robin and I managed to rope in a couple of bridge players including Tory and Linda. I think that they enjoyed their brief and intense lesson. With a bit of practice they will become as keen as we are. Gerald took us for a short walk to see the huge log that had washed off a ship and been wedged on the beach. Roger, Ian and Tory did a bit of exploring over the nearby rocks.

Robin did his fireman duty and we were soon sitting around the boma area having cocktails and watching the most amazing sunset of the entire hike. There was a bit of cloud cover and this turned into bright reds, oranges and pinks before the sun finally set on the Western horizon.

Ian entertained us with a quiz: he handed Gerald a limestone, a blue bottle and a rock with Lichen on it. His question was which was mans closest relative. Dawn was quick to answer: “Gerald”. Ian explained that the Blue Bottle consists of three organisms; the tummy is the bottle and there are two other organisms in the tentacles that do all the stinging. And the Lichen consists of two cells in a bacteria and a single cell organism. I am not sure but I think that the Lichen was the correct answer to the quiz.

This evening Dawn, Ian & I feasted on the Fillet that I had bought in Albertina with potato with cheese and fresh carrots and tomato. We had a bottle of red wine for each evening to really make the meal special. I enjoy a cup of tea when I go to bed and am so used to it that I find it a little surprising that others don’t do the same. It did not take long after dark before everyone was in bed and fast asleep.

Friday 16th November 2007.
This morning I thought that I was first awake and sitting on the ledge in the morning sun while drinking coffee I was joined by a pair of redwing starlings and a little field mouse wanting crumbs. Pat emerged from the East Side. She had been watching the sun rise over the ocean. We had decided that we would give Pat some time to make bacon and eggs this morning and only left at 08.30am. The distance was only half of what we had walked the previous two days. This is not a flat hike and there are continuous ups and downs to make you work. By the time we came to the Stilgat stop we were ready for a swim.

Stilgat was to be our lunch time break. We all piled into the refreshing pool and cooled off before enjoying a bit of a snack. For me it would be either going to explore the caves or I would fall asleep. Gerald had a look at the memorial to Daantjie De Wet who was drowned in this area. It was decided that we should have a look at the caves. Fortunately we were prepared and had our torches. At the entrance to the firs and most obvious cave there is a huge whale bone. Hannes pointed out how heavy the whale bone is; probably to help it submerge. However the whale bone is quite porous in comparison to that of land mammals.

After we had accustomised our eyes to the dark we walked deep into the cave and marvelled at the stalactites and stalagmites. Unfortunately many of them have been vandalised but it is still worth a look see. We then went to explore the second less obvious of the two caves and here we were treated to some amazing sub caves and little temples created by the dripping limestone.

As we climbed out of the cove and up the ladders we saw our first whale of the hike. It flapped its tail at us briefly. Some of the rest of the group have moved ahead. We followed and saw what was to become one of the highlights of the hike. We sat on a high ledge, just above the whales, watching two cows with their calves staying very close. We could see them clearly but with binoculars, we were able to see the barnacles and formation of the whales.

The whales were Southern Right whales which we had seen described in the overnight hut. These animals grow to the size of up to 12 elephants. The calves drink up to 600 litres of milk a day. As we watched, a pod of about 6 dolphins joined the four whales and swam around them. When the whales eventually began moving on in an easterly direction three or four of the dolphins swam just ahead of the whales as we have seen them do in front of a speed boat in the ocean.

This was truly something special for us. We had sat on rocks, at what is almost the southernmost tip of Africa. The weather was perfect. We enjoyed a cool sea breeze, isolated from the rest of the world and witnessed a spectacular natural show of some of earth’s largest and most interesting animals.

On the whole trip we must have seen about 15 whales but none as close or as interesting as this sighting. We must have seen a total of about 50 to 100 dolphins over the next three days. Another interesting specimen was the lizards that we saw; including a number of the Blue Headed Ground Agama. They seemed quite confident as we approached them. They are incredibly fast and leap across rocks. Deryck spotted a pair of Klipspringer. They were quite close to us and very well camouflaged.

Today the hike ends with a short walk on the beach before reaching the overnight hut. As we sat outside the hut we had a few visitors in the form of the Southern Boubou, the distinctive white eyes of the Cape Bulbul, the happy songs of the Cape Grass Bird and a small field mouse. This afternoon some of the hikers had a sleep while others did a bit of exploring along the beach. Hannes and Gerald had a swim. It was a perfect end to the day as we all walked down to the beach to enjoy the sunset.




The fire was burning; we had our evening snacks and cocktails and persuaded Deryck to tell some stories which had us giggling like children. Ian, Dawn & I had a Pasta Supper with the leftovers of the Fillet. I was impressed to see both Pat & Gerald and Roger & Tory had a pudding each evening. I must remember this for future hikes. Not that we lacked sustenance but it just looks good.

Saturday 17th November.
The day started off with a long beach walk. This is about a five kay section and passes the Lekkerwater House that was built for former president F. W. De Klerk. There were two couples staying there who said that they were paying R5000 for the weekend. They had some small children and while we had a swim we were very careful to stay in an area where we were able to stand, it was certainly not safe for children to even approach the water.

Some of us walked in sandals and others walked barefoot. I think that Robin wore his boots the whole way. Which ever way you hike the beach: it is soft sand and tiring on the legs. Roger reminded me of a set of pistons as he had two sticks and watching him from the front was quite a sight. When we were on the sand he would sometimes tuck the sticks under his arms like a downhill skier.




Once we reached the rocks we had about 5 kays to go to the hut but wanted to stop for lunch at the blow holes. It was about here that we began to see the endangered Oyster Catchers in their pairs. We also saw many of the White Breasted Cormorants. As we walked on the ridges and sand dunes we saw the dunes littered with sea shells. Ian had explained to me that this is the remnants of tens of thousands of years ago. The sea was at this level and had left the evidence in the form of shells.

Unfortunately we did not know that the path leading to the blowholes had been camouflaged and we walked right past it. It was a hot afternoon and we trudged on to the hut. Hannes set a “Ramming Speed” as he sprinted to establish his place in the hut. I think that Jacqui has to battle to stay with Hannes when he puts his head down and heads for the overnight hut. We only realised too late that we had missed the blowholes. We had some lunch (cheese sandwiches with the last dregs of the fillet) and then filled water bottles and walked back to the blowholes.

The blowholes were clearly visible from a long way off and we could not understand how we had missed them. But once we were there we were again treated to a really special show of the force of nature as the water spouts up and through the two narrow apertures creating a spectacular show right in front of us.




By the time we started our walk back to the hut the sun was low and intense. I think that I had too much sun that day and arrived back in the hut quite dehydrated and exhausted. I showered and stayed out of the sun for the rest of the day.

This evening we again enjoyed the sunset and had a really substantial meal of pasta, Tuna and a Stir fry vegetable dish that Ian made for us. On the first night of the hike we had left some money and asked the porters who carry the boxes to buy some fresh bread. As a result we had more than enough bread throughout the hike. Gerald was determined to prove to Hannes that the Vaalkrans hut is built on a cave. Fortunately this is part of the information brochure.

Sunday 18th November.
Our final day of the hike. Roger & I were busy packing lunch and I saw that he had some biltong flakes that he was adding to the sandwiches. It seems that Tory really enjoys our biltong. Good for you girl! We will have her saying Ja and Lekker in no time. As we walked we saw an unusual looking pair of birds perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea. Tory identified them as Egyptian Geese. It was strange to see them in this environment.

We walked at a steady pace and the front group missed the point where the whale bones can be seen. I saw what I thought was a whale rib. Hannes & I looked through Gerald’s Binoculars and were still not convinced. It was only when we took time to walk down the rocks that we assured ourselves that there were 7 whale ribs embedded into the sand and rocks.

The others had walked on ahead and we found them with Ian swimming in a small cove. After the rest of us had joined him Gerald realised that he must have left his glasses at the last stop. He and I jogged and walked back to the Whale Bone cove, where we recovered his glasses and eventually rejoined the group at the parking area at Koppie Aleen where Marylyn was waiting to collect us. This means that it is the second time that I have taken the upper path. Last time Barbara & I also took the upper path by mistake. This time Gerald & I took this less attractive path as we though it would be quicker.

The drive back to Potberg was quite interesting as we saw Eland, Bontebok & Zebra. After a quick shower Ian, Roger and Tory headed back to Heidelberg and African Haven. The rest of us took the road to Swellendam where we discovered that the trailer had a flat. Although the size of wheel did not match it did not seem to make a difference. A visit to the Spar to stock up on pies and cool drinks and we were off. Hannes took the Langkloof road from George and we had an easy ride home.

While this had not been a tough hike by any means, we must not forget that there are a number of short hills over the last three days and that the first two days consist of quite long sections and a number of climbs.