STADSAAL ROCKS - CEDERBERG WILDERNESS
Stadsaal close to sunset - height of summer.
If only these rocks could talk, what a rich history they could unfold.
Showing posts with label My Cederberg Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Cederberg Life. Show all posts
A WALK UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THE MALTESE CROSS IS REWARDING
Even if the weather is threatening, you can expect a 4 - 5 hour turnaround on this hike, which rewards hikers with incredible views and the chance to have a snack on the leeward side of the most incredible weather-eroded rock formation: the Maltese Cross. This happens on the slopes of Sneeuberg, so expect the dramatic scenery.
Here, Adam Henman, conjures up a storm ... Gandalf-style.
Here, Adam Henman, conjures up a storm ... Gandalf-style.
Ons Huisie Sanddrif - a makeover of a house full of heritage
The Niewoudt family recently re-fitted Ons Huise, an early farmhouse on the farm Sanddrif, now a famous tourist resort and base for rock climbers.
Home to the Leipoldt family a long time ago, pre-dating the Nieuwoudt ownership of the farm, Ons Huisie now looks like this:
To the left is a comfortable braai area and recently a pergola was introduced and planted with a grapevine.
And here are our guests, the Griffiths family (no relative) from the States, former South Africans.
Home to the Leipoldt family a long time ago, pre-dating the Nieuwoudt ownership of the farm, Ons Huisie now looks like this:
To the left is a comfortable braai area and recently a pergola was introduced and planted with a grapevine.
And here are our guests, the Griffiths family (no relative) from the States, former South Africans.
Top Accolades for David Nieuwoudt, Alex Nel, Cederberg Wines
Ghost Corner comes out tops at international Sauvignon Blanc event 2019 Six Nations.
Cederberg Ghost Corner Wild Ferment 2017 has won the trophy for best in class at the 2019 Six Nations Wine Challenge, meaning it beat New Zealand. Not a problem, in my provincialistic view.
Cheers, David, Cisca, Alex, Tammy, Pieter and all your colleagues.
Easter in the Cederberg - always a very popular time
So, first begging the followers' forgiveness for not having posted in such a long time.But I thought to share with you an absolutely exclusive annual happening in the heartland of the Cederberg, South Africa. Repeated annually. The Easter period is a very devout and beloved period for all South Africans, but a very important thing takes place in the centre of all the universe, the Dwarsrivier Farm and Cederberg Private Cellar.
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Now that I've got your attention, let me tell you about the Easter phenomenon.
The Cederberg experiences cold weather much earlier than other places in the Cape, so always come prepared for chilly nights.
But it is the Saturday gathering at the Cederberg Cellar Tasting Room that gets top prize. Tens of wine 'tasters' crammed into the new cellar tasting room (as in built in the past four years) to enjoy David Nieuwoudt's great hospitality towards visitors.
Cederberg - centre of the universe - metaphorical and real.
If you LIKE this post - please SHARE IT!
Now that I've got your attention, let me tell you about the Easter phenomenon.
The Cederberg experiences cold weather much earlier than other places in the Cape, so always come prepared for chilly nights.
But it is the Saturday gathering at the Cederberg Cellar Tasting Room that gets top prize. Tens of wine 'tasters' crammed into the new cellar tasting room (as in built in the past four years) to enjoy David Nieuwoudt's great hospitality towards visitors.
Unknown guest with tok-tokkie dung beetle t-shirt scollying a free glass of vino. David in the background.
So the rest of these pics share the story further.
Alessandro (Alex) Nel, ace white wine maker and assistant wine maker at Cederberg.
Now the 'GLUP' that Alex is sharing is made in Chile, just south of Santiago. David and his fellow Cederberg winemakers are consultants to and winemakers for Longavi Wines, Maule Valley. Chile. The Longavi is a tributary of the Maule River. Surprise, surprise! It is the Longavi GLUP Chenin Blanc that Alex is sharing with us, made in a style to interest and attract the younger wine drinkers.
The absolute top, top, top Shiraz 2016 winner of lots of glitz.
I just expressed an opinion in the photo above, but each wine lover will have their own opinion. My opinion is that David's shiraz is rivalled only by some of those cultivar shirazes that come from the Elim/Agulhas region. Cool climates, all, but without the drop in alcohol content seen in some other cooler countries.
Here I am with the winemaker, David Nieuwoudt, someone I am proud to have known since before he studied his profession.
David believes it all starts in the vineyards, and having toured around there, I agree!
The Nieuwoudts practice sustainable framing practices and one only has to experience the rugged remoteness of this area of the Cape to understand the how and the why.
But most of all the family remain friendly approachable, including the large extended family.
In this photo, General Napoleon, referred to as Nappies, another Cederberg legend, poses with Hanri Brits, the wife of David's nephew, Pieter. It is usual to bump into various family members at the legendary Easter Saturday wine tastings. Nappies is a serious guard dog and scarer away of baboons. 😉
So another famous Easter happened again this year. More news shortly (I promise!).
CHEERS!
Geminid meteor shower - Cederberg 2018
Arriving when the famed Geminid meteor shower will be waning, the Cederberg will still proved to be a great observation spot.
The 2018 Shower is being heavily punted by the media, especially Google which has honoured the vent with a special Avatar to mark the occasion.
Although the shower will have peaked by the 15th December, and will be more dominant in the Northern Hemisphere, there should still be some residual activity when I plan to do my grand Cederberg stayover, 2018.
See Geminid meteor shower
Ref: Earth Sky by Bruce McClure https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-geminid-meteor-shower
The 2018 Shower is being heavily punted by the media, especially Google which has honoured the vent with a special Avatar to mark the occasion.
Although the shower will have peaked by the 15th December, and will be more dominant in the Northern Hemisphere, there should still be some residual activity when I plan to do my grand Cederberg stayover, 2018.
See Geminid meteor shower
Ref: Earth Sky by Bruce McClure https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-geminid-meteor-shower
CULTURAL HERITAGE PHOTOS - SANDDRIF
A long time ago, Brian Walsh was the district forest officer for the Cederberg Region during the days when National Department Bosbou owned and controlled the forestry in Algeria, the mountain routes and campsites, prior to the takeover by Cape Nature.
Brian was an avid promoter of tourism and helped set up a number of forest campsites, including Algeria. His son Neville, a close friend of mine, introduced me to the Cederberg in 1982 when I first visited Dwarsrivier/Sanddrif on a trip he organised. Brian also set up Tokai Forest picnic area and well known Tweede Tol campsite above Wellington/Bains' Kloof.
He recently shared a few of Brian's photos with me, which included the following two historical images from the 1960s.
I believe they show the Kleinhuis (On Huisie today) and Groothuis on Sanddrif.
Here are the scan's of Brian Walsh's original black and white photos:
They are amazing records of the cultural history and architecture of the area.
Photos are copyright the Heirs late Brian Walsh - curated by Gareth Griffiths.
Brian was an avid promoter of tourism and helped set up a number of forest campsites, including Algeria. His son Neville, a close friend of mine, introduced me to the Cederberg in 1982 when I first visited Dwarsrivier/Sanddrif on a trip he organised. Brian also set up Tokai Forest picnic area and well known Tweede Tol campsite above Wellington/Bains' Kloof.
He recently shared a few of Brian's photos with me, which included the following two historical images from the 1960s.
I believe they show the Kleinhuis (On Huisie today) and Groothuis on Sanddrif.
Here are the scan's of Brian Walsh's original black and white photos:
They are amazing records of the cultural history and architecture of the area.
I believe this may be the 'Klein Huis' farm Sanddrif. (Today's One Huisie)
Possibly the back of the 'Groothuis' farm Sanddrif.
Photos are copyright the Heirs late Brian Walsh - curated by Gareth Griffiths.
The Night of a Hundred Million Stars
Who needs Hollywood? In the Cederberg you can view far more stars and on a dark night they twinkle across the ages at the viewer.
This photo taken at the legendary Sanddrif December 2016.
Can't wait for my next visit.
This photo taken at the legendary Sanddrif December 2016.
Can't wait for my next visit.
Playing the Moon Toon
The Cederberg is one of the best places to play and photograph at Full Moon. Here, check it out ... The soft orb that is the moon gently rises over a windswept mountain landscape
Like what you see?
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Like what you see?
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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
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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.
The Aftermath on the Farm
Refueling near the main farm.
Contemplating.
View down on Jassie. Some big oaks survive!
The Aftermath - Main Campsite and Historical Sanddrif Cottages
Looking up the River
Main Campsite
Dollie se Huis
Around the Historical Sanddrif Cottages
Gently clearing away the burned camping equipment on behalf of the guests.
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