Looking South of East - a faint glow from sunset.
Freak electric storm brings fire but no rain
Cederberg - 20 December 2017.
Freakish weather resulted in a short electric storm without any rain, but lightning started a fire north west of the Uitkyk Pass. This photo was taken an hour after dark and shows the reflection of the mountain fire off the clouds in the west - note also the stars in the night sky.
Bottling and Labeling Time in the Cederberg
A truly busy place to visit in mid-December 2017, Cederberg Private Wine Cellar was busy with bottling and labeling of wines right across the range.
Here, the Waitrose Shiraz was being labeled to get ready for the UK market.
But there is much more to this arrangement than a simple business transaction. Waitrose, in conjunction with the farm owners, pass on a proportion of profits into a trust to pay for educational, social and healthcare projects chosen by the farm's workers.
A truly winning relationship made famous by the stunning people of the Cederberg.
Here, the Waitrose Shiraz was being labeled to get ready for the UK market.
But there is much more to this arrangement than a simple business transaction. Waitrose, in conjunction with the farm owners, pass on a proportion of profits into a trust to pay for educational, social and healthcare projects chosen by the farm's workers.
A truly winning relationship made famous by the stunning people of the Cederberg.
Cederberg December 2017 - Waitrose Shiraz - Vintage 2016
Called the workers' wine, the people of Dwarsrivier benefit directly from the Waitrose partnership.
Cederberg Private Cellar - News on the famous wines
Always something new at Cederberg Wines.
During my recent trip I had the privilege of tasting some of David Nieuwoudt's latest vintages, ably assisted by Alex and Tammy Nel. What a blast.
Here are my great friends, Julian and Simone Ardagh, enjoying a late afternoon tasting with Alex. Alex is responsible for the white wines from Cederberg, Ghost Corner in Elim and also assists with Longavi Wines, which come from vineyards near Santiago in Chili.
Lappies (below) is Cisca Nieuwoudt's (really) big farm dog, known for his keen nose in selecting which Cabernet Sauvignon should go into the famous Five Generations Cabernet. Here he looks keenly in the direction of the vineyard, from where opportunity calls.
Here's a review of my current favourite: Ghost Corner Pinot Noir 2015. (click on name).
I'll cover the latest developments at the winery and also the brewery in the next post.
During my recent trip I had the privilege of tasting some of David Nieuwoudt's latest vintages, ably assisted by Alex and Tammy Nel. What a blast.
Here are my great friends, Julian and Simone Ardagh, enjoying a late afternoon tasting with Alex. Alex is responsible for the white wines from Cederberg, Ghost Corner in Elim and also assists with Longavi Wines, which come from vineyards near Santiago in Chili.
Lappies (below) is Cisca Nieuwoudt's (really) big farm dog, known for his keen nose in selecting which Cabernet Sauvignon should go into the famous Five Generations Cabernet. Here he looks keenly in the direction of the vineyard, from where opportunity calls.
Here's a review of my current favourite: Ghost Corner Pinot Noir 2015. (click on name).
I'll cover the latest developments at the winery and also the brewery in the next post.
New Life in the Cederberg 2017
Thankfully, some areas are showing their colours - the photo below was taken under Uitrus cottage and shows the famous March Lily (Amaryllis belladonna) that appears after the fire. There were just 3 of these!
The Cederberg Visited - After the December 2016 Fire
The best way to follow up is to go there in person - I did exactly this during my annual Easter holiday visit.
All in all, the landscape remains dry, scorched and grey. Here and there, a sign of new life, for example at the top of the Driehoek River Valley, where the fire blazed down to from its origins higher up.
However, further East along the valley, the earth remains dry and grey.
At the Sanddrif campsite, the hardworking Nieuwoudt family have made the best of the situation by clearing all the burned vegetation along the river bank and creating a wonderful recreation area, which gives the resort a new feeling of openness.
However, walking in the direction of the Maalgat trail, the devastation of the fire is noticeable in the North-east, below the Valley of the Red Gods.
Green grass sprouts where the fire burned the hottest.
All in all, the landscape remains dry, scorched and grey. Here and there, a sign of new life, for example at the top of the Driehoek River Valley, where the fire blazed down to from its origins higher up.
At the Sanddrif campsite, the hardworking Nieuwoudt family have made the best of the situation by clearing all the burned vegetation along the river bank and creating a wonderful recreation area, which gives the resort a new feeling of openness.
Above and below: Thanks to some clever landscaping, the resort with its campsite is looking great.
However, walking in the direction of the Maalgat trail, the devastation of the fire is noticeable in the North-east, below the Valley of the Red Gods.
Above and below: These two young baboons did not make it to safety - consumed by the fire, it seems they died clutching each other. Blackened skeletons are all that remain.
Below: A memorial to someone's loved one, exposed by the fire when the bush burned around it.
However, the fire was selective.
Above and below: Thanks be - the famous One Huisie was spared, with its thatch roof, including most of the ancient Oak trees around it. One Huisie is the former farmhouse of the parents of C Louis Leipoldt in a bygone century.
Thankfully, the popular stone pine 'forest' at the Maalgat parking area survived (below).
Above is what the 'beach' looks like now, near the crossing.
Fire in the Wolfberg December 2016
Anybody who reads this and wants to submit a photo - please use the CONTACT FORM on the right of the page to send a short description or caption to me, with some information about yourself. I will send you a link to where you may upload your photo and then I will place it on this Blog for you. All photos sent will be credited on this site and you as photographer will retain all copyright. I cannot however control whoever may download photos off this site and their subsequent usage. So tag your photo accordingly and keep the pixel size small.
THE STORY OF THE FIRE
It started as a puff of smoke in the North, above and behind Tafelberg.
This was a fynbos (veld) fire that burned hot and steadily for several days from 16th December and eventually spewed its wrath on the historical holiday farm of Sanddrif, part of the Dwarsrivier / Cederberg Vineyards complex, owned by the Nieuwoudt family. Passing Sanddrif on 20 December 2016, the fire was heading south of east full tilt in the direction of Matjiesrivier.
There were some narrow escapes for a number of people and infrastructure.
THE STORY OF THE FIRE
It started as a puff of smoke in the North, above and behind Tafelberg.
This was a fynbos (veld) fire that burned hot and steadily for several days from 16th December and eventually spewed its wrath on the historical holiday farm of Sanddrif, part of the Dwarsrivier / Cederberg Vineyards complex, owned by the Nieuwoudt family. Passing Sanddrif on 20 December 2016, the fire was heading south of east full tilt in the direction of Matjiesrivier.
There were some narrow escapes for a number of people and infrastructure.
The Calm before the Fire
A typical Cederberg night sky, but the reflection of stellar light off micro particles of smoke reveal the coming of the fire.
The Story of the December 2016 Fire
It started with a puff of smoke - and some haziness in the North - that was to grow more intense each day. This was exacerbated by extreme heat and a fierce wind speed.
The puff of smoke was dismissed by some as a 'fire near Eselbank' (a small settlement over the top of the mountain). However two days on, the Wolfberg side of the mountain was closed to hikers and mountaineers as a precautionary measure.)
Fire above Kliphuis
At the Kliphuis campsite on the Dwarsrivier Farm, a large gathering of national and international senior scouts were hosting their annual challenge.
The fire burned in their direction on Monday evening and looked as if it was going to head upwards over Gabriel's Pass. We were later to find out that the fire was to break away and head straight down the river instead.
Fortunately the fire missed the scout encampment at Kliphuis, although a large detachment of scouts stood by all night to evacuate.
The next morning, the entire mountain range was smouldering, the fire having been reported as heading up Gabriel's Pass to the upper reaches of the Wolfberg.
Fortunately, the scout camp at the Kliphuis campsite was spared from the fire.
The fire burned in their direction on Monday evening and looked as if it was going to head upwards over Gabriel's Pass. We were later to find out that the fire was to break away and head straight down the river instead.
Fortunately the fire missed the scout encampment at Kliphuis, although a large detachment of scouts stood by all night to evacuate.
The next morning, the entire mountain range was smouldering, the fire having been reported as heading up Gabriel's Pass to the upper reaches of the Wolfberg.
Fortunately, the scout camp at the Kliphuis campsite was spared from the fire.
Fire arrives at Sanddrif
An unexpected change in the wind and the fire split into at least 3 different fronts.
At this stage, the Working on Fire team responded to the emergency call and dispatched two helicopters accompanied by the fixed wind spotter plane. Fantastic assistance also came from the neighbouring farms, notably Driehoek, all members of the Cederberg Conservancy. Cape Nature was also supporting the fire fighters.
One front continued to burn up the Wolfberg and engulfed the world famous Wolfberg Cracks at lighting pace.
Another front burned along the Jeep Track, passing the Shale Band and converging with the third front near the Valley of the Red Gods.
The third front burned along the Driehoek River, crossing the river with impunity near to the former Landsdiens Camp, now called Rietgat.
At this stage, guests at Sanddrif started to evacuate.
At this stage, the Working on Fire team responded to the emergency call and dispatched two helicopters accompanied by the fixed wind spotter plane. Fantastic assistance also came from the neighbouring farms, notably Driehoek, all members of the Cederberg Conservancy. Cape Nature was also supporting the fire fighters.
Working on Fire - at work in the Cederberg - Dwarsrivier and Sanddrif
One front continued to burn up the Wolfberg and engulfed the world famous Wolfberg Cracks at lighting pace.
Another front burned along the Jeep Track, passing the Shale Band and converging with the third front near the Valley of the Red Gods.
The fire along the Jeep Track climbs the hill and threatens the Sanddrif campsite below.
The third front burned along the Driehoek River, crossing the river with impunity near to the former Landsdiens Camp, now called Rietgat.
The fire approaching the river in the direction of Rietgat. Prime Sanddrif cottage accommodation lies in its path.
Burning a path down towards Sanddrif accommodation from the Valley of the Red Gods
Threatening the legendary 'Dollie se Huis' accommodation unit
At this stage, guests at Sanddrif started to evacuate.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)