PETER GIDDY.: October 2020

September 2020 Namaqualand Flower Tours.

Hikes and walks in and around Port Elizabeth.

Saturday 19th -- Lady Slipper

Sunday 20th.... Kabeljous

Wednesday 23rd -- Lower Guinea Fowl. Settlers Park. with Wednesday walkers.

Thursday 24th is Heritage Day -- The Schoenmakerskop Heritage trail

Saturday 26th is the Storms River outing where we walk to the waterfall and then the suspension bridges

Sunday 27th. Roseatte Tern Trail at Cape Recife

Tuesday 29th is the Addo Game Drive

Wednesday 30th. We do the Van Stadens Flower Reserve with Wednesday walkers.

Walking through the fields of Flowers in the Nieuwoudville Wildflower Reserve.

This is an Orchid which we first discovered in 2019 with Strelza and Eckart Schumann. Orange Satyre.

This is a Hongerblom. Looks wonderful in the vast numbers we see on these tours. Also known as Sandwort.

A Two Leaved Cape Tulip. At pen mightier than the sword. Quite distinct in fields of Salmon Colour.

Naked Lady at Pen mightier then the sword.

Bell that I found at the Travellers Rest.

At Garies and Letterklip. Namaqua Chink

The first two weeks of September 2020:

I have two x 7 day Namaqualand flower Tours. Leaving 2nd and 10th September.

Both are huge successes. My guest have a wonderful time on tour. I learn some new stuff and have some new experiences.

Meanwhile Barbara has both eyes done for Cataracts which I had done in July this year.

Thursday and Friday 18th. I have time to sort out stuff that I have neglected over the past 4 weeks. And update the tour schedule. And start promoting and preparing for the next level of tours. Plus promote and prepare for Hiking trails planned for this month.

Faye brings her group to the hike.. Faye; Chantal; Mary; Monica and Maria.

Walking on the Mountain fynbos trail.

At the top of the mountain. Some struggled a bit as we approached the summit. Everyone made it.

Janny and Gillian on the way up.

Paragliders all around us this morning

Peter on the hiking trail.

Sally and Janny on the snacking on Strawberries.

On the way up on the tar road.

Kaylin; Astrid and Mason.

Peter on the uphill.

Janny; Sally and Albert on top of the mountain.

a view from the Radio Masts of the van Stadens Berg

Sam and Peter's children. Luke is the youngest. Rebecca and Katherine are the middle two. None of these youngsters complained of being tired. They simply enjoyed the outing.

Saturday night braai. Porkers. I moved the Braai to the front next to the lounge.

The result is Bangers and Mash with a spinach side.

We end the evening with a game of Iced Tea.

Saturday 19th September

Meet Janny; Cheryl; Jeanne; Gillian; Sally; Seelan and Albert. Then the rest of the group -- Vanessa and 3 boys; Gillian and Cade; Sam; Peter; Daniel; Rebecca; Katherine and Luke; Faye; Chantal; Mary; Maria and Monica; Astrid; Kaylin and Mason. (28 hikers)

We walk the back of the Lady Slipper. Up the tar road to the radio masts. Across the ridge and over to the top of the mountain. It is a perfect day for a walk. Cool and overcast. We end the morning with Coffee and pastries at the Windfarm Filling station. I buy one of the best croisants that I have ever had.

Crossing the Porcupine Bridge with Jeanne and others

A number of first time hikers with us today

Lolo; Janny and Margies share a joke.

Robyn and Andre.

Kirsten and Allison

Our group of about 25 walkers at Kabeljous today.

At the beach cairn are Chenness; Gareth; Marylise and Tony.

Cancer bush with seed pods.

Enjoying a short break with Jeanne; Margie; Chrystal and Marj

On the beach with Margie and Janny who were on the Flower tour and Marj

Beach walk at Kabeljous.

Toktokkie beetle at Kabeljous

Pink Flower at Kabeljous. Gladiolus. Green Kalkoentjie.

Pickleweeds at Kabeljous wetlands.

Sunday 20th September. Today the hike is the Kabeljous trail near to Jeffreys Bay. On the trail is Janny; Albert; Jeanne; Janice; Athol; Joy; Alison and Kirsten; Margie; Marj; Chrystal; Lolo; Jen; James; Christian and Annleah; Marylise; Gareth; Chennes and Tony; Robyn and Andre; Madelein and Liezl;

A number of first time hikers in this group. Great to meet and make friends with new people. A bit chilly today. Overcast and a breeze. Everyone enjoys the hike. And we stay over at the Suikerbossie for tea and pancakes after the walk.

Monday evening. Bobby picks me up and we meet, for the first time since mid March 2020 for our Cell Group. It is held at Rob Ermes home. In the group this evening is Claudine and Cronje; Bobby; Rob and Venessa; Gary and Sue Hageman; Charles Du Toit who lost his wife, Ingrid, to cancer a few months ago and myself.

Tuesday 22nd. I start the St Georges Hospital transport contract again. Bruce has been standing in for me and now I have just one week until the contract ends.

Cake for Lucy who turns 80

Alwyn and Janny at Dodds farm

Anna Marie Van Deventer -- Pierre was in Round Table with us.

Our group at Dodds farm
Wednesday 23rd. After the Hospital pick ups I join the Wednesday walkers -- also for the first time since March -- we walk from the Badminton Courts through the Baakens Valley to Dodds Farm. On the trail today -- Robin; Di; Jimmy; Lucy who turns 80; Marjorie; Dave and David; Leslie; Jurgen; Errol and Mo; Alwyn; Des; Dennis; Anna Marie v Deventer whose husband, Pierre was in Round table with us; Ian Andrews; Iva; Eugene; Janny and myself.

Thursday 24th. Heritage Trail at Schoenmakerskop. Heritage day. Ally joins me. She has done this trail a number of times. On the trail today -- Loretta; Kate; Richard; Joseph; Reuben; Mosa; Faye; Carmen and Quinton; Jane Purchase and Gillian January who are neighbours; Ally and myself. We end the morning with Tea at the Sacramento Restaurant.

Storms river mouth. Waterfall hike

Tough trail with rocky sections.

Albert and his Seagull friend.

Heartleaf Falsepea.

Boulder hopping makes this trail really tough

Clinging onto rocks to avoid falling into the abyss.

The suspension bridge walk at the end of the day

Our group at the start of the hike ... Albert and Faye; Jason; Laura and Gareth and Jeanne.

Our group on the way back to the camp after a successful walk to the waterfall

Peter on the trail

After this bridge you are at the waterfall.

waterfall hike is about 3.5 to 4 hours. About 9km total

Peter -- the Blue Duiker trail turn off.

Saturday 26th. I have a group of 6 for Storms River Mouth hiking trails. Albert; Faye; Laura; Gareth; Jason and Jeanne. We leave at 7am and arrive at the mouth at 9am. Start walking at about 9.15. The walk to the Waterfall takes us about One hour 45 minutes. It is a tough walk and should not be taken lightly. Difficult paths; tough rocky sections and some where you have to hold on to the cliff face to stop yourself from falling. The distance is about 9km and in total you should expect to be hiking for 3.5 to 4 hours. We dont swim at the waterfall as there is a strong westerly blowing and the water is freezing.

After the Waterfall hike we hike to the Suspension Bridges before leaving for home. We arrive back in PE at about 3.30pm.

Cape Recife. Beach Break

Cape Recife. Dune Climb

Cape Recife . lighthouse

Cape Recife. Lolo and Loretta

Cape Recife. Rocky sections.

Coast Oxtongue.

Recife beach walk

Recife final dune climb to the WW2 Observation post

WW2 Military observation post

Recife skies.

Sunday 27th. Cape Recife. Roseatte Tern trail from Pine Lodge. On the trail today is 12 year old Christian Vlok. He is a Scout. He had asked me at a previous hike to help him set up as a Hike Leader as part of his Scouting. Today he learns about this hike. Jeanne; Cheryl; Gillian; Dave, Jane and Sarah Purchase; Joanne and Caroline are first timers; Connie and two daughters, Gizelle and Tremaine are with Kholeka who has walked with us before, Burnita and Sam; Hebe; Loretta; Albert and Faye; The weather is not great as the cold westerly continues to blow throughout the walk. Everyone seems to enjoy the outing and we have a good 2.5 hours exercise.

How did the name Cape Recife come about? In 1488, the Portuguese captain, Bartholomew Diaz, rounded a rocky point into Algoa Bay. He named it the bay Cape of the Rocks “Cabo da Roca.” In 1498, Diaz was followed by Da Gama, who had on board ship a cartographer. On the map he drew of the coast, he corrupted the name Cabo da Roca to “Cabo de Arreciffe” or cape of the reef. Over the years, this became Cape Recife

Today we were able to see the top of the Kapodistrias -- a Greek vessel that landed on the Thunderbolt reef in 1985. Also visible during low tides is the Patti which came to an end in 1976.

Cape Recife. The Lighthouse was built in 1851. Technology now beams the light out to 25 Nautical Miles ... Warning ship captains of the Thunderbolt Reef which has sunk many vessels. The worst was in 1902 when 38 ships were wrecked and perhaps a hundred or more people lost their lives in a fierce storm.

As we start our Safari tour we come across this Giant of Africa.

Tuesday 29th September 2020.

I do my first Addo Game Drive since Lockdown in March this year. This is a free tour to see how the Local PE People react to coming with me. In the car is Janny; Janice; Maria; Chante; Annatjie and Alida. Quite successful. We see plenty of animals and everyone enjoys the outing.

Something special was to see an elephant ( I later learn from Mike that this elephant is Bliksem and he learned this trick from Terry) push down a Elecricity Pole around a waterhole to get to the water.

Wednesday 30th September 2020. I have now completely finished the Transsport of Nurses assignment.

Van Stadens Flower reserve hiking trails start with the River Walk.

We walk into the Fynbos.

On the trail today we start with 30 walkers.

This is the first time that I do the Boulder Trail. A little longer and a bit more difficult than the normal trail that takes us up to the Jeep Track.

Some tricky parts on the Boulder walk.

Looking down to the hikers below.

Heather and Dave climbing up with Eckart and Strelza following.

We join the rest of the group at the half way break.

Down and under the Van Stadens Bridge

Into the Forest trail to end the hike.

We made it to the top of the Forest Trail. Now for the last bit past the Bird Hide or some take the Nymph trail .

Van Stadens Daisy unique to this reserve. Blue and White Daisy Bush.

Cape Ink Flower. (Harveya)

Forest Lily. (Velthemia)

The Wednesday walkers do the Van Stadens Trail today. On the walk is Eckart and Strelza who travel with me; Bob and Jean; Jenny and Lynette. These 6 join on my invitation. Regular walkers include: Robin; Di; Jimmy; Paul and Rose; Dave and Heather; David makes the braai; Jim; Mike and Alwyn the bikers; Patrick and Denise are newish; Dennis; Annamarie v Deventer for the second time with friend Alida; Flo and Des; Cecilia and child Kaydin; Lucy; Iva and Ian who is always a good friend to me.

Barbara has this avery full of little birds.

Rosh Hashana --- the Jewish New Year festival, held on the first (and sometimes the second) day of Tishri (in September). It is marked by the blowing of the shofar, and begins the ten days of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur.