A hike - again

Some nice illusions at this site: http://www.echalk.co.uk/amusements/OpticalIllusions/illusions.htm

Rita and Ronel during our visit to an Alliance Francais event. We go every year for a taste of a few varieties of French and French Colonial food, also wine, music, fashion show... and seeing a few friends.

This Boer War double wall is the only one I've seen. Very unusual. There's the remains of an old round-house fort on the hill to the left - lots of those. The wall was a nice place to get out of the cool wind.

We had to walk through the trees and bush on the left. It was full of nettles, thorns, blackjacks and spikey stick-on things, but not too bad.

A relatively open section.

Hiking - again.

Braai, work, hike

We had a braai yesterday; comfortable weather despite no sun. First braai for a few months.


Woke up one morning to see the neighbours looking at our fallen-down wall. Fortunately we had no work the next day and soon got it back up - and stronger than ever, with a good brick column.


A recent work project: turn the atrium into a nursery. Add a concrete floor, brick up a few indoor windows, turn a small window into a door, add a ceiling, add exterior window, add lights and sockets...


Went to the Drakensberg for a hike recently:


Near the hotel.



The peak we'd hope to climb is the one on the right, behind me.


After a night of torrential rain, close thunder and lightning, we had a wonderful dawn but the rock was too wet to climb - even though it's almost just easy walking with a few scrambles. But still a nice weekend away.

Recent hike

Deep in the kloof (gorge) - with vertical sides of 100m - and maybe 10m across.

This pool is wonderful - sandy bottom.

This pool: a more open area - normally bone dry, with no signs of damp or even that water is ever here.
Junction pool, quite a bit colder than the others. And below is a view of this pool from above.

Annual Mountain Club camp-fire

Our tents in the Magaliesberg.
Alex, Yvonne, Thomas.

Thomas checking his marshmallow is cooked - so seriously.
Yvonne and me. I'm wearing light-stick glasses - can't see the light with the flash. Funny thing was that when wearing the glasses you couldn't see anything else as the light was quite strong about the eyes.
Alex. The kids enjoyed the light-sticks.
Rita and Alex. Bernie and John in the background.

Last two weeks

Looked after Yvonne's kids the other day, and took them to a Gogga, Reptile and Environment exhibition at Wits University. We all really enjoyed it. Lots to see. I even ate lots of fried male termites, really tasty. When raw they taste like unsalted butter, so maybe they spiced them a bit.


John and I went hiking for a day and found this nice shaped rock in the Magaliesberg along the way.
Not a lot of flora, but spectacular when found.
These Paintbrush flowers are normally found alone. This was really unusual.