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.