The calm before..........

It was on my second visit to Kliphoek Pan in search of a rarity that I happened upon a Red-necked Phalarope again, this time in non-breeding plumage.  On a whim I checked my records and found that this was also a lifer! 

After seeing convoys carrying parts for the Perdekraal Wind Farm I decided a visit was in required.  Situated 80 km north of Ceres, the road there passed through some spectacular scenery, somewhat marred by the new power line that runs from the project towards Cape Town.

Stopped in at a site that was once home to a charming little bird called a cinnamon breasted warbler which, unfortunately, was not at home in it's previous haunt around this rocky outcrop.

The construction of the 48 units at Perdekraal was nearing completion but I fortuitously arrived as one of the mega-lifting operations was about to commence. Two cranes are required to complete the operation and .....

............just to give an idea of the scale of things, there are three riggers standing under the blade to the right of the tower.

If you're interested in seeing the entire operation, just scroll down at the end of this blog.  The second, smaller tailing crane just keeps the third blade clear of the ground during the initial lift and casts off when the assembly is erect.

Good old man-power is still required to keep the blades away from the tower and when it clears the top, to align it..................

.........and once positioned, it's moved into contact with the turbine.  Brilliant engineering and amazing skill shown by the crane operator.

Back in Riebeek another sunset treat occurred which made the glass of good stuff taste even better.

What turned out to be an abortive ride, started out well enough with the clouds languorously, lowering over the mountains.  (Any idea how long I've waited to use that phrase, and of course it's compulsory to pronounce lowering with the poetic version, using ow not oh!)

Mission abandoned at the top of Sir Lowry's Pass as the clouds were on the deck and it was freezing.  By the time I'd taken this picture I was shaking uncontrollably with a howling gale screeching around my ears.....

......so headed back to 30 degrees in the Riebeek valley, viewed here from halfway up Bothmaskloof Pass

On another day I took a tootle along the floor of the Breede valley where the clouds perfectly complemented the mountains............

..........and finally found a grape harvester in action close enough to observe.  There are self drive units or ones like this that are towed by a tractor.  What I found astounding was the fact these machines are actually more efficient than hand picking by up to 6%.  They have fingers that strip the grapes off the bunches onto conveyors and are transferred to hoppers on either side with very little damage done to the vines.  The two fellows on the back are there to clear the occasional twigs from the system and the hoppers are tipped into trailers at the end of the row.

One final time over DuToit's Kloof via the old road, while the majority take the shorter less interesting route under it via the tunnel.....

...........and a farewell cup of coffee near Franchhoek at the very smart La Motte estate.

It was finally time to welcome the Kings back from their four month sojourn but as the Beast was still being repaired I took advantage of a friend's kind offer and headed for Marina da Gama near Muizenberg.  A bit of excitement soon after arrival, was an old Huey chopper water-bombing a fire up on the mountain.......

.......then heading back for a refill.

Boyes Drive has to be one of the most scenic routes in the country, here looking back towards the Marina - all the white houses on the far side of the lake......

...............or over Muizenberg and out across False Bay to the mountains behind Gordon's Bay.  If you look closely just left of centre, way out in the bay there's a little patch of brown which is Seal Island.  Once home to the largest congregation of Great Whites in the world, unfortunately this population has been decimated by of all things....Killer whales.

Further along one overlooks Kalk Bay harbour, Simonstown and the hills which form Cape Point.

Just outside Simonstown, the Red Hill Road snakes up into the mountains towards Scarborough, and from here there's a view of the harbour where our magnificent navy has all it's totally unseaworthy boats parked!

And what would a visit to Cape Town be without a stroll through Kirstenbosch and a view of Castle Rock framed on the left by the imaginatively named Silver Tree Leucadendron argentium.

There's always something in flower, unfortunately there are not always signs to tell you what they are!

Just down the M3 is the turn off to the Rhodes Memorial, who has fallen from grace somewhat if the state of the grounds is anything to go by. It is a trifle over the top however, much prefer his grave site in the Matobo Hills outside my hometown of Bulawayo.

Managed to find a Cape Autumn Widow nearby, that actually sat still long enough for me to get a shot of what is a new species for me.

Lift

I was fortunate enough to visit the construction site of a new wind farm at Perdekop 80 k north of Ceres and just happened to arrive as they were preparing to lift the rotor into position atop a 168 m tower.  Just to get some idea of the scale of things.

The smaller of the two cranes, white boom, is at full stretch and is about one third of the Lebherr 1750 monster..  Both lift together, yellow attached to the hub, white the third blade.  The black marks on the blade are saddles from which guide ropes are slung.

Lieherr now lifting faster and second crane just keeping the tip off the ground.

White crane now lowering the third blade.

Almost upright..........

.............the guys in the foreground are keeping the blade from hitting the tower with the ropes, those in the background preventing it swinging the other way.

Vertical and white releases.

 Ups-a-daisy

Once the blade clears the tower.................

......................the crews on the control ropes walk it around anticlockwise.  The last fellow is carrying a 100 litre drum with the rest of the rope in it.

When positioned the crane swivels to bring it closer to the generator.

Can't see them but there must be guys in the housing waiting to bolt it together.  Having to climb 168 m to work must make them pretty fit. The red section was obviously added as the 1750 boom is only 150 m long.

Contact - absolutely beautiful to watch.

Almost done

Caught up with Barrie and Bern Cameron at the Franschhoek Motor Museum and was once again blown away by the magnificence of this collection.  Every single vehicle is finished to astonishing exactitude and look as if they've just been delivered from the showroom.  This 1927 Buick Standard 6 Roadster with wooden, spoke, wheels epitomizes the standard.  Guess if your name is Johan Rupert it's all quite affordable!

The collection features over 200 vehicles covering 100 years of motoring in four barn-like buildings with the towering Hottentots Holland mountains in the background.

Absolutely convinced that whoever designed this 1936 Cord 810 Convertible was influenced by certain parts of the female anatomy!

Have had a few days where temperatures have gone over 40 C and a handy escape mechanism is available at Melkbosstrand where the wind coming of the Augulas current keeps ambient in the low twenties.  Take a flier at which way the wind blows in these parts.....

...........and the return trip via Klapmuts gives an indication just how dry things are at this time of year.

Every now and then the mountains beckon and with Big Red freshly fettled with rust free shocks - why not?
On a section of Bainskloof Pass I noticed this natural rock wall exposed by eons of erosion.

Its a sad fact that it is near impossible to portray these drosanthemums because in low light they close and in sunshine they reflect so much that their true colour is hidden.

Drove up to the Grootwinterhoek via Dassklip Pass near Porteville, which is a popular launching spot for paragliders and and provides panoramic views of the mountains behind Piketberg.

The reserve protects a large patch of mountain fynbos and unlike the valley below was quite verdant, with a number of erica species in flower including the fireheath E. cerinthoides being rather showy.

Like the Cederberg the rock formations around here have been eroded into fantastical shapes such as this imitation dinosaur skeleton that a familiar chat was using as hunting perch.

A natural Stonehenge...............

...............and another erica which might be nudiflora ......or any one of the other 660 species.

Red decided that a blast from Gordon's Bay to Kleinmond was in order and there's just no arguing though it is a rather special piece of coastline..............

..............and being a Saturday there was plenty of company!

Returned via Theewater Dam which has recovered from all time lows of under ten percent but still has a way to go, then over the superb Franschhoek Pass. Have just about doubled the mileage (kilometerage?) that Red had achieved in it's first 6 years of life and it's still under 9 000 km.

Got back to find someone had iced the Kasteel!

As another rarity had pitched at Kliphoek Salt Pan just had to return.  Passed these huge Acacia karoo on the way and the smell from the blossoms was divine.

Met up with, among others, a couple of Kittlitz's ...................

................a sandwich tern, with a barely visible yellow bill tip, but no white-rumped sandpiper - expletive.

On the way back I was stuck behind a convoy of four abnormals with enough flashing, blue-light accompaniment to keep Zuma happy.  Could not get past so did some sneaky detours and eventually ended up going in the opposite direction.  There is a 48 turbine wind farm currently under construction at Perdekraal, 80 km north of Ceres and these guys were were transporting some of the parts to site. This is one of the 3 blades, 50 odd metres long and fitted to a generator on a tower 168 m high.

Was trying to locate a nature reserve near Paarl situated in the Limietberg but ended up on a logging road that provided good views of Paarl Rock and extensive olive plantations in one direction......

...........and the Franshhoek Valley in the other...............

................and a little crassula with the unfortuate name C. dejecta though it looked anything but to me!