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Published: September 5th 2010
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Blommetjies
Namaqwaland Blommetjies We spent the next couple of days on the move and doing a few touristy things. Theo got chatting to Tromp, a worker at the Waterfalls, who was prepared to show him how to plait and make a whip (a dying tradition) so we jumped on the bike to Niewoutville to look for a guy called Dupie at the Hotel who could apparently sell Theo some rawhide strips needed to make the whip. Unfortunately he wasn’t around so we explored the town and visited the nature conservation office where a friendly guy gave us the low down of everything to see in the whole Namakwaland area.
This area is definitely not just for ou toppies with a hat doing scenic drives to look at the blommetjies. There are loads of mountains and valleys for the extreme adventurers as well as keeping the 4x4 explorers and off road bikers happy.
We rode out to see a forest of quiver trees and then a glacier floor which proved evidence of glaciers scraping through the Karoo 300 million years ago. We stopped at the nursery, yes still looking for Kougoed but no luck. We drove past stunning fields of yellow flowers to Oorlogskloof Nature
More Pretty Blommetjies
More Pretty Blommetjies Reserve where we did a 5 km circular hike through the mountains. Busy day hey!
Next day we drove further to Van Rhynsdorp, where we stopped off at a house where they make home crafted leather suitcases or anything on order. We spent some time chatting to the very friendly owner who showed us their workshop. It was informative and now Theo is even more inspired to make his whip but still hasn’t found any raw hide. Then we stopped at the biggest succulent nursery in the world but they didn’t have Kougoed. I bought a Hoodia plant which will come in handy when all our food runs out. Theo has been sulking for a couple of days because I tried getting him to switch to Weetbix in the mornings and a peanut butter sarmie or two for lunch. It didn’t wash well with him but now he is all smiles again because our freezer seems to have packed up so guess what, we’re having meat 3 times a day now, much to his delight. I’m sure he kicked the thing when I wasn’t looking out of frustration because I told him sausage was off limits for breakfast. So
Quiver Tree Forest
Quiver Tree Forest between Loeriesfontein and Nieuwoodville, trees used by bushman in days gone by to hold their arrows this week we are stocking up on protein but next week I’ll be chewing a leaf. A stop at the Lutzville Wine Cellers (free tasting) was obligatory. Funny how you assume Cape Town winelands is the only place for wine.
We are parked next to an old dilapidated building here on the beachfront at Pappendorp. It’s a little little dorpie (village) with not much to offer except Bokkoms (fish biltong), a long stretch of coastline, and a wetland area. The tannie at the bar down at Doringbaai told us that the harbour there closed 3 years ago and everyone, this being a fishing village, has been out of work since.
There is a rock kestrel calling away next to me as I’m typing. He sleeps in the old building next to us so I’ve been able to keep a close watch. I’ve noticed that the bird books aren’t very imaginative when describing the various bird calls that supposedly make chirrup chirrup, kkkrup tweee, gri gru and such like calls. I need a better explanation. For instance, why don’t they just say that the rock kestrels make a repeated call like the sound of your cars CV joints packing up. Works
glacier scratches in the desert
300 million years ago this was a glacier floor much better I think.
Today we watched a couple of Southern Wright Wales in the bay which was awesome and reminded once again of how wonderful nature is. If only we all lived more in harmony with nature and absorbed the wonderful energy it offers, free for the taking. I think that’s the answer to the downfall of the human race. If we listened to the rhythms of nature instead of the rantings of politicians or the dictations of religions we would realise what life is meant to be about.
Glossary for non South African readers (particularly for you Mark since unfortunately I think you are my only foreign reader and Charlene who might have forgotten how to praat die taal)
ou toppies - old timers
blommetjies - flowers
tannie - aunty
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Roy
non-member comment
On the road again...
Hi Debby, stumbled onto your blog somehow. Take care, have fun and keep updating your blog. Regards Roy