Back On Top
First I burnt my hand pretty badly, then Kili became very ill and finally I lost someone very very dear to me. Things didn't feel great, but as you can see both Kili & I are back on top (of Table Mountain) - and so is Meru! We had a wonderful day ascending through the mist and descending back below the cloud. We saw three iconic plants - The South African National Flower (Protea cynaroides), the Western Cape Provincial Flower (Disa uniflora) as well as the SA National Tree (Podocarpus latifolius). The...
A log, a dog, a beach (and of course) a flower
Today we enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the beautiful Noordhoek beach. The cool weather was a welcome change from yesterday's heat, and the lack of gradient was equally welcomed. While Pirjo demonstrated "strong women in Finland", Risto watched and encouraged her. Meru was totally unaware of all the effort being exerted in order to elevate him! Just before we ended the hike for the day, we came across this beautiful Haemanthus sanguineus (Blood lily) from the Amaryllis family. The deep red colours of this plant certainly attracted the attention of the taxonomists. The genus...
Anyone for cricket
The Cape Town weather is famously unpredictable & variable. Yesterday was wet & cool and today was HOT HOT HOT but beautiful. There was barely a breath of wind and not a cloud in the sky and the air was clean. We had exquisite views of Hout Bay The walk took us along cliffs and ledges And along the way we came along this handsome cricket sitting on a pincushion Protea. Notice the fine hairs on the leaves of the protea. One theory suggests that these hairs clog the mouthparts of browsing insects...
Out with the Orchids
I'm walking with a group from Finland at the moment. Our first day on Table Mountain was misty but lovely. We came across this very young Dassie out all on its own. For me the highlight was the display of Disas, which are a group of Orchids. I was teased for taking so many photographs but I'm sure that all those who teased me will now appreciate the results! First we saw the Cluster Disa (Disa ferruginea) which looked all the more beautiful for the drops of water that adorned it like jewels...
An Epitaph
I lost a friend a week ago. He was only 24 years old and full of passion and joy. I spent a long day on the mountain looking for him before his body was discovered and during that time it struck me just how fragile our lives are and how we have to buy viagra soft onlinesGeneric levitra without prescriptioneize every moment that is given to us. I think Robbie lived like that. I believe that he crammed more into his short 24 years than many people manage...
An Epitaph
I lost a friend a week ago. He was only 24 years old and full of passion and joy. I spent a long day on the mountain looking for him before his body was discovered and during that time it struck me just how fragile our lives are and how we have toviagra prescription uk seize every moment that is given to us. I think Robbie lived like that. I believe that he crammed more into his short 24 years than many people manage in three times more years. I...
Once were Crimsonbreasted Shrikes
The Central Kalahari was exquisite and we saw so much that was special but before I even begin this blog I must get something of my (not-crimson) chest . . . I am sick of these bird name changes! It was bad enough that southern Africans had to buying viagraadopt most of the East African names but the changes of common names just seem to continue. I am beginning to wonder whether the conspiracy theorists aren't correct and it is all just a ploy to increase sales of bird guide...
Kalahari dreaming
I am currently in Botswana and have just emerged from the remarkable Central Kalahari Game Reserve. I am preparing to go to Moremi & The Okavango so I don't have time for a comprehensive description of my time in the Kalahari. Suffice it to saCialis best place to buyy that I saw Cheetah more time than I can remember, including a mother and her cubs eating a Springbok, I had mating lions almost in my camp as well as all the other desert miracles. So please watch this space...
More (and more) Meerkats
Meerkats live in family groups of up to 30 individuals. It is no coincidence that Meerkats are social animals. The desert is a harsh environment and in order to survive Meerkats require the cooperation of the entire colony. So dependent are they oInternet-Based Business n cooperation that research suggests that if the number of individuals in a colony drops below the critical threshold of 6 animals, the colony will not survive. [caption id="attachment_1293" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Meerkats are social animals"][/caption] Meerkats are a diurnal species (ie they are active by day). In...
The luckiest guy in the world?
I may be wrong but I think I may be the luckiest guy in the world. This week I took a wonderful group from New Mexico and/or Wyoming up Table Mountain. The mist was thick, the ambience was perfect and the Protea cynaroides (Protea cynaroides) were sublime. . . They are MAGNIFICENT and they are South Africa's National Flower and this is what they look like from close up: And this is what they look like from SUPER close-up: The point I'm trying to make is that last week I was in the Makgadikgadi,...