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.

I've seen optical illusions before...

Hard to believe that squares A and B are exactly the same colour!!!

If you put your little finger between them....

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Download the following photo: then look at the black cross for a while ... or until the green dots wipe out the lilac ones... keep focused on the cross.

http://listverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/400px-lilac-chaser.gif

Hike in The Hell

A really nice hike. Dry, dry, dry.!! Huts turned out to be fantastic thatched chalets, main building even had a huge indoor braai area (photo) next to the bar and dining area. One loo (photo), at a lunch spot, had a fantastic view, and dehydrates everything.

The river was really low so we didn't have to wade at all.