The predatory plant that does not eat its prey
I recently went walking in the Hermanus mountains with Gill & Jim Young. It was glorious day and in case you've never had the good fortune to walk there, this is how the views looks: However, we weren't simply enjoying the walk. We were on a mission . . . to find the rare plant Roridula gorgonias. This strange plant is related to the insect-eating Sundews (Drosera species) and in fact also has sticky drops of glue with which it captures insects - but does NOT eat them! The plant has a...
The Cape’s contribution to the theory of Evolution
Last year (2009) marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. For those who don’t know, it was his theories and research that provided a scientific base for understanding how life on earth has become so diverse. The exciting but ratheviagra pillsr unknown bit of information related to this is that on his Voyage around the world, Darwin spent a bit of time at the Cape Colony. He arrived to stay in Simons Town and corresponded with naturalists at the Cape whilst adding to his research. Among the...
Sureal at the Sea Shore
The last day of the Whale Trail involves a very short walk, but what it lacks in distance it certainly compensates-for in aesthetics. It is photographic wonderland. The sandstone rocks along the sea have been eroded into wonderful shapes. Long shelves of rock project far out to sea creating bizarre meeting places of calm and rough I enjoy this photograph. On forst impression it appears to be a meteorological photograph of our planet, taken from outer space and showing developing weather patterns. But in fact it is a picture of an Oystercatcher! At...
The fourth day of The Whale Trail saw us spending much of the day on the beach. Many of these beautiful beaches have eroded sandstone walls on the landward side. Although it was already failrly late in the season, we were thrilled to see a mother Southern right Whale with her newborn calf by her side. Unfortunately conditions were not conducive to photography, but we watched them for a long time. Southern Right Whales received their name for all the wrong reasons - the were considered by the whalers to be the...
Dolphins
The Whale Trail is a remarkable Cape Hike. The first days take one through beautiful fynbos vegetation and over hills with magnificent vistas, but then it drops to the coast and one walks along the sea for days. Here the focus shifts away from flowers to marine creatures and breathtaking scenery. Although there is less fynbos to see, this collection of gooseneck barnacles were reminiscent of an abstract flower arrangement. Dolphins are reguarly seen on along this section of the Whale Trail. And we also found this nesting colony of Cape Cormorants that...
Of lizards and birds
On the 2nd day of the Whale Trail we met this magnificent rock agama and he illustrated the concept of selective conspicuosness. His brightest colours are below his neck. So he positions himself on a high rock and bobs his head. In this way the lizards get an excellent view of his brilliantly coloured neck, but the birds of prey above do not! Pretty smart. Later we saw a male Cape Sugarbird who deals with a similar challenge differently. He is drably coloured but has a long streaming tail. When he...
Whale Trail tale
A cosmopolitan group set out from the starting point at De Hoop Nature Reserve yesterday morning to conquer the Whale Trail. Gill and Jim from Scotland, Alison from England, Louise from Australia, and Bruce from South Africa, with Steve as their intindian viagrarepid leader. This was the spectacular view from the highest point of the day over the Breede River Valley. Watch this space for the next instalment!...
Err . . . did I say “perfection”
Is it possible for something to more perfect than perfect? Today's walk was just that. It started-off OK: It was still pretty good when we stopped for a snack but then it just got crazy beautiful to the point where we were laughing with disbelief and joy ...
Over the Hill
Actually the title of this article does not refer to me - nor to Kili (and obviously not to Meru). It refers to the route that we walked today. We started on the beach and walked to the wreck of the Kakapo, which went down (actually 'up' in this case) in 1900. Captain Nicholayson miscalculated his position under conditions of poor visibility and instead of rounding The Cape of Good Hope, he parked his ship on Noordhoek Beach! A little later we found an enormous log which was part of a ships...
Is perfection possible?
My parents always told me that nothing is perfect. Perhaps they were hoping to assist me to deal with my flaws, but I believed them - until today that is. Today was a perfect day. The perfect walk in perfect weather. Unless you count the fact that weorder cialis online no prescription didn't see any whales as imperfect!! We started-off in glorious sunshine and perfect and soon could see back to Table Mountain where yesterday we had been in the mist. Once again the flowers were wonderful and this ice plant (family...