Creatures big and small

One of the highlights of our trip is spotting all kinds of wild (and not so) wild life on the side of the road.  We passed through a few Nature Reserves and lots of farmland.  Everywhere teemed with life.  Obviously I couldn't photograph everything, but here are some those I managed to catch on film.

Eland in De Hoop Nature Reserve

Blesbok in the De Hoop Nature Reserve

We saw lots of Southern Right Whales all along the coast.  This time of year they come close to the coast to either mate or calf and the waters teem of them.  It is really difficult to photograph them as you never know where or when they are going to show themselves.

Cape Vulture on a power line pole next to the road.  There was two of them and they were keeping a close eye on the newborn lambs in the fields...

Sheep with lots of new (very vulnerable) lambs

A chameleon on the fence

An owl! In broad daylight.

We also saw lots of baboons, monkeys, mongoose, ground squirrels, foxes and a wide variety of birds.

We are still enjoying every minute of our road trip.  It is such a blessing to see all these beautiful things.

African Flower Chain: Link 10

We turned back to the coast to stop at L'Aghulas, the southern most tip of Africa 

and the place where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.

What better place for the next flower?

The drive to and from L'Agulhas passed through fields and fields of canola in full bloom. 

What a sight!

African Flower Chain: Link 9

From Hermanus we turned inland towards Baardskeerdersbos.  It is one of those places you only see on a map but never go to.  But this trip is about going to places 'off' the map.  We traveled on a gravel road among the most gorgeous scenery.

Baardskeerdersbos is a quaint town of artists and interesting characters.  We stopped at Baardies Coffee Shop and Gallery where we spoke to the owner Hans Swart.  The shop/gallery is part of their house.  He allowed me to plant my flower in this cosy place.

From there we drove through Elim, a Morovian missionary town. 

As far as we went we saw life.  Birds and animals of all kinds. Above are two Spoonbill Storks and below two Blue Cranes, South Africa's national bird.

African Flower Chain: Link 8

After three wonderful days in Kleinmond visiting family, it was time to move on.  

We made a quick stop in Hermanus for a hot chocolate on the waterfront.

It was time for the next flower.  

This one is above the old harbour at the whale lookout. 

 It was cold and rainy, but beautiful. 

Hermanus is a quaint, not so little, town with some beautiful architecture.  During summer it is a madness of people and holidaymakers, but now, during winter, it is peaceful and relaxing.

It is a pity we didn't have more time to spend there.  But it was time to move on...

Flower Feedback: Augrabies 2

The second response from the Augrabies Flower!  I am so happy to see it is still there.

This one from Simone Jones.  This is what she says:

Hope and trust you are doing well! I am Simoné Jones, a 22 year old woman from Barkly West in the Northern Cape.  It was August, 18^th 2012 when my boyfriend and I visited the Augrabies Falls.  Our ‘1^st anniversary’ was on 19 August 2012 and we decided to take a trip to the Falls.  It was my first time visiting the Augrabies Falls and I enjoyed every bit of view I could get.  The peaceful sound of the falling water took away all my worries and I allowed myself to just live in that moment.  I’ve always been very fond of the nature, especially water! I could say without a doubt that the pose with the flower was one of the highlights of the visit (I simply adore flowers).  Before I even got onto the platform where the flower is, I already saw it and thought it was really cute!  I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and can’t stop looking at all the photo’s I took.

It’s things like these that makes me a proud South African!

Thank you Simone.  Thanks for sharing my joy!

Flower Feedback: Cape Point

I received another beautiful e-mail in response to my flower at Cape Point!

This is what it says:

My name is Liana Gilb and I had the privilege of crossing paths with one of your beautiful flowers at the Cape Point Lighthouse. I am 23 years and from a small town in the countryside of Virginia in the United States. I recently returned home from New Zealand, where I was living and teaching at a primary school for a few months. (I kept a blog, too!) 

I traveled to Cape Town on holiday with my family to visit my brother who is currently a student at the University of Cape Town. We ventured down to the Cape of Good Hope on Saturday, August 18th to celebrate his 21st birthday. The day yielded glorious blue skies and sweet sunshine; we could not have asked for a more perfect day to see the tip of Africa. I found your flower right before my brothers and I left the lighthouse to go explore the trails out to the cliffs. What a lovely place.

Your story is beautiful. I, too, have a deep appreciation for both travel and creativity and I am so encouraged by the way that you are using your talents to weave a story! Your words have blessed me and I look forward to seeing how your splashes of color continue to make an impression on others.

With love,

Liana

Every response is a blessing.  Please keep them coming.

African Flower Chain: Link 7

We spent two days in Cape Town visiting friends and family. The Cape saved it's most glorious days for us.  Blue skies and sunshine. No wind.  It was beautiful.

From there we followed the coastal road past Gordon's Bay, Pringle Bay and Betty's Bay into Kleinmond. This morning we visited the fisherman's harbour just as the fishing boats were coming in.

"Die snoek loop!" How could we resist? 

Snoek braai 'valie' style

My seventh flower is at the top of the stairs above the harbour in Kleinmond.

Flower Feedback: Augrabies

 I am absolutely thrilled!  I just received the first feedback on one of my flowers!

Val Marsh and her twin sister Marion Neethling from Great Brak River sent me these photos from Augrabies.

They passed through there on the 14th of August on their way back home from the Khalagadi Park.

This is great.  I am so happy to see the flowers are still there, and that people are reacting to it.  Have you seen a flower?  Please send me a pic. And a story.

African Flower Chain: Link 6

And then we reached Cape Town. 

It is still one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

And it was a glorious day.

We drove along the coast from the Fishoek side past Simons Town down to Cape Point.

From Cape Point we headed up the west coast towards Hout Bay. 

Just passed Llundudno we saw the sun set over the Atlantic for the first time in many years.

Flower No 6 is at the lighthouse on Cape Point.

African Flower Chain: Link 5

I planted Flower No 5 on the same day as Flower No 4.  I was trying to make up for lost time.

In Franschoek we stopped at the La Motte Wine Cellars.  We tasted and bought some excellent wine, but what impressed us most was the farm and Cellar buildings.  The original buildings are more than 300 years old. The new cellar, taste room, restaurant, etc was added more recently and in such good taste and style.  It is modern but very sympathetic to the original Cape Dutch style.

 But what blew us away was the art. The cellar buildings are decorated with Pierneef lino prints.  The estate also houses a Pierneef museum containing all the Pierneef paintings from his own collection.  What a sight! 

If you even remotely like Pierneef's work, do not drive past the La Motte estate.

From Franschoek we traveled to Stellenbosch where I planted my fifth flower.  It is at the entrance of "Oom Samie se Winkel" in Dorp Street.