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!