All round Riebeek

A familiar refrain of mine about the general lack of raptors doesn't apply in these parts with five species being seen regularly and the common (steppe) buzzard appears to be the most err....common.  These guys come all the way from their breeding grounds in and around steppes of Russia to enliven our summer months.

Went out for a walk in the vineyards and simply had to take this as it reminded me of a couple of clowns currently power!

On the other side of the Kasteelberg is a road that skirts the slopes and provides some good birding including this rather natty capped wheatear.

Apparently an artist from Cape Town was commissioned to paint a picture of the Verreaux's (black) eagles which nest in the area and this is what she produced.  A local wag added added the correction.

When taking the previous picture I noticed a clump of our local version of the sweet pea Dipogon lignosus.

At a picnic site surrounded by natural vegetation, I was accosted by a family of Karoo scrub robins, this little fellow being one of the offspring.  They really have an attitude and strut around like sergeants major with a ramrod posture, barking orders at all and sundry..

Wonderful to also see numbers of our national bird the blue crane, who have really found the wheat-belt to their liking.  Came across a group of eight at a small dam, but they didn't fancy me and took off uttering their raucous toad-like calls.

At the entrance to Bain's Kloof Pass is a height restriction warning.............

............this being the reason!  When the original road was completed, wagons were the only form of transport, so why waste time and energy removing what became known as Dacre se Preekstoel (pulpit) after the local priest delivered a sermon here during the opening ceremony.

Similar in size to a head of broccoli, the False Karoo Hymenolepsis erithmoides were prolific, though false Karoo what is anyone's guess!

Just past the summit I fortunately happened upon a crystal trickle which slaked a thirst generated by an addled brain forgetting to bring water.

On through the picturesque Slanghoek valley vineyards surrounded by mountains........

........then up over Du Toit's Pass and a view of the Paarl Valley and surprise, surprise, more vineyards.

At a comfort stop (as the ever correct Americans call it) I heard the distinctive sounds of an orange-breasted sunbird and discovered what it was visiting.....Erica discolour.  I consider it an achievement just to be able to recognise an Erica species let alone identify it.  Let me elaborate, the Field Guide to Fynbos shows around 30 of the 660 odd species that occur locally, so even though I'm reasonably sure this is discolor it's neigh on impossible to be certain.

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Most of the vineyards around the house produce table grapes by the ton with white.............

............crimson and black varietals represented.

In search of another pass, a visit to Franschoek provided perfect entertainment and there I managed to locate another roadside spring that I last visited 4 years ago. Extremely refreshing as I'd forgotten the water again.  Ah the joys of aging.

Further up the pass I came to the delightfully named Joubert's Gat.  As gat in Afrikaans is used to refer to two different sorts of hole, I'll leave you to ponder which was being alluded to here.

Upon my return, something rather dramatic was up.  The vineyard Allseverloren (all is lost) was apparently named after a fire destroyed the farm house and it appeared to be in danger of the same thing happening once more.  Fortunately the neighbours rallied around and the fire was diverted but nevertheless burned for nearly two days..............

.....................right over the top and down the other side.  At the summit it had the appearance of  a volcanic eruption.

Only noticed this amazing aloe in the garden, when it sprouted a pair of flower stems that were nearly 2 m long.  The book enabled me to identify it as A comosa, a species that only occurs naturally much further up the west coast.

Was rudely awoken by chopper blades just after six one morning, closer inspection revealed spraying in progress - these guys like to get going early.

An interesting bit of local history involves the "Post office" tree, a 300+ year old wild olive Olea europaea, which is now impossible to photograph without including some part of the power pylon Eskom callously planted next to it.  The nearest railway station was at Hermon, a few kilometers away, and the rather idle postman would only drive his cart as far as this tree, then he blew a horn to let the burghers know a delivery had been made.

Driving to Wellington one morning I overtook the famous Blue Train, which is apparently the epitome of luxury and it costs a fortune to ride from Pretoria to Cape Town.  Thought the ambiance was rather marred by the filthy, orange "Spoories" locomotives.

For those of you who haven't yet been introduced, this is Diego and while I may be biased he's got to be the coolest cat around..... I mean how laid back is this pose?  Sally and Nicholas have adopted him on my behalf for the 70th year of my existence and though he currently resides near Hluhluwe, I'm certainly going to make every effort to visit him at least once.

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Back to the fairest Cape

Yellow Sands Resort near Cintsa and East London had been recommended by several people and it certainly is a superb spot with many of the sites having sea and/or river views.

A stroll around the extensive grounds turned up these gorgeous clivia in all their blooming glory!

Very sad to come across this large jelly fish stranded on the beach but wasn't about to risk picking it up and returning it to the sea.

Next stop was in the Baviaanskloof just past Port Elizabeth and along a very narrow road to Innikloof about 20 km from Patensie.  Never mind Innikloof, the road was so narrow that if I'd met anything coming the other way I'd have been Innikak!  A magical, sparkling river runs along the valley and provides water for the naartjie farm on which the camp site is situated

While talking an amble, I discovered this puzzle bush Ehretia rigida in bloom with flowers far more colourful than usual, must be something in the water.

Simply had to take a ride along the old road to Van Stadens Wild Flower Reserve where the newer of the two bridges forms a stunning backdrop.

This fork-tailed drongo was busy hawking insects in the picnic site..........

......and the leucospermums were full of both yellow............

        

.....................and orange flowers.

Stopped for coffee on the way back at a cafe that looked out on this view ...........

...........and later in the evening was treated to a lovely sunset - SA really is a magical place to live.

Speaking of magic, a Cape Chestnut on the side of the road was really showing off.  It's botanical name describes it perfectly - Calodendron capensis - beautiful tree of the Cape.

And so to Sedgefield and Lake Pleasant on the aptly named Groenvlei, whose water definitely has a green tinge though it was difficult to capture in full sun. Spent a good deal of time helping my former landlady get her newly acquired house in order after the move from Forest Hills.

When you fully appreciate the astonishing beauty of the place it's easy to see what prompted the move.

This beach near Lake Pleasant is mostly deserted and stretches for about 10 km to the mouth of the Buffels River.

Whilst taking an early constitutional I encountered a small family of white-fronted plovers and this youngster seemed very concerned with something above it, though I failed to find what it was.

A little further on a pair of African black oyster-catchers appeared to be either doing some sort of pair bonding routine or a courtship dance involving a lot of bobbing and weaving.

Driving back after the stroll, I noticed these terrestrial orchids Bonatea speciosa with their odd shaped, green and white flowers.

Paid a quick visit to Plettenburg Bay to have dinner with friends and was again struck by the magnificence of the scenery around this part of the world.

Going in the other direction towards George you have the mountains.....

..........and the Seven Passes road back to Wilderness which was a joy on Big Red.

As with all the rivers in the area, the water is stained to tea colour by the high tannin content

Leaving Sedgefield I headed over the Outeniqua Pass to Oppidam, 20 km the other side of Oudtshoorn, the ongoing drought once over the mountain was much in evidence and farmers in the region are having a torrid time.

In contrast the plentiful supply of water from Grobbelaar's River ensured a camp that was well grassed and and provided a full on glamping experience, with individual, kitchen, dining and ablution facilities.

The road up to the Cango Caves was not only ideal for a ride but provided some awesome views......

..........as did the spectacularly winding road through Meiringspoort with it's dozens of river crossings.

Also couldn't resist going back over the Outiniqua Pass on the bike and found a very large species of aristea A bakeri which has flowers about 30 mm in diameter on an impressive metre long stem.

............and a scarlet watsonia W. fourcadei ...... I think.

The trip to Warmwaterberg along the R63 was through some of the most drought stricken regions of the province.  Typical of South African though, just outside Ladismith, was the gang of weed-whacker toting workers vainly searching the verges for a blade of grass to cut.  Priorities people!

Just before Ronnie's (famous) Sex Shop - which is actually a cafe and bar - a dirt road leads up a fairly steep slope to a resort that boasts hot springs and a forever view. 

Final stop was at Siver Sands just outside Robertson which is conveniently close to one of my favourite estates, Van Loveren, home to the very reasonable but excellent Tangled Tree range - good wine cheap packaging.

And finally to Riebeek Kasteel, which, though named after Jan van Riebeeck, has decided that it doesn't need the c. Nestling below the Kasteelberg it's a quaint little village with a monster kerk that could house the entire valley community comfortably.

From the top of the nearby Bothmaskloof Pass the extent of this verdant valley may be appreciated with it's many hectares of vines, olives, fruit and wheat stretching towards the Liemietberg mountains. Fully intend to thoroughly explore all the passes in the area over the next four months.