Windpomp

Windpompe goes together with the Karoo like ice cream and chocolate sause, Batman and Robin, Egypt and the pyramids, and Angelina and that Pitt guy. Windpomp is the Afrikaans for windpump and is the heart that pumps the life blood of the Karoo to the surface. The Karoo is a semi desert area and most farms and towns are relient on the water from boreholes and windpompe. They also make for nice subjects in photographs.

This specific windpomp was standing in front of the selfcatering units at Buffelshoek Farm Guesthouse where I stayed on my recent trip to Graaff Reinet.

Two suns

The reflection of the sun in one of the farm dams at Buffelshoek near Graaff Reinet. The previous day the area had a monster of a thunder storm which filled in all the dams in the area, so the picture would not have been possible the day before.

For more absolutely awesome sky pictures from around the blogosphere, visit Skywatch.

Farm fence

On my trip to Graaff Reinet we stayed at Buffelshoek Farm Guesthouse. The guest house is on a farm about 15km outside Graaff Reinet. Even though Graaff Reinet is a quiet place, its nice to get away from the whole city life thing and stay a couple of nights on a farm. Quiet nights with no lights around to spoil the view of the stars, the only sound being the frogs by the dam, no cars driving past all the time, fresh air, coffee with rusks on the stoep at breakfast... and so I can go on. It was awesome to get up early in the morning and taking a walk around to get some pictures in the early morning light. More to come from the farm over the next couple of days.

For some reason I seem to have a thing for barbed wire these days. See here and here.

Valley of Desolation

One of the iconic tourist attractions in the Eastern Cape is the Valley of Desolation just outside Graaff Reinet. It is situated in the Camdeboo National Park which covers an area of 19, 457 ha and virtually encloses the town.

The drive up to the top of the mountain from where the Valley of Desolation can be seen is a very interesting one in itself. Along the way up visitors can stop and walk to a lookout point from where the whole town and surrounding area can be seen. A feature of the landscape is the imposing figure of Spandaukop standing next to the town.

A short distance further visitors get out their vehicles and walk up to the top of the mountain for the awe inspiring view of the Valley. The Valley of Desolation is a geological phenomenon. The vertical cliffs and columns of dolerite that teeter precariously 120 metres above the valley floor are breathtaking. This unusual feature is the product of volcanic and erosive forces that have taken 100 million years to form. They stand sentry over a valley with the plains of the Karoo stretching out behind them. It really forces one to contemplate the force and beauty of nature.

The best time of the day to visit the Valley of Desolation is in the late afternoon or early morning when the light is perfect for photography. A lot of visitors go up to the top at sunset with a picnic basket to watch sun setting over the distant mountains. The picture for last weeks post on Karoo Sunset was taken from here as well.

Shongololo

Millipedes are known as shongololos in South Africa and are arthropods. Arthropods have two pairs of legs per segment (except for the first segment behind the head which does not have any appendages at all, and the next few which only have one pair of legs). Each segment that has two pairs of legs is a result of two single segments fused together as one.

The name "millipede" is a compound word formed from the Latin roots milli ("thousand") and ped ("foot"). Despite their name, millipedes do not have 1,000 legs with common species having between 36 and 400 legs.

Millipedes are detritivores and slow moving. Most millipedes eat decaying leaves and other dead plant matter, moisturising the food with secretions and then scraping it in with the jaws

Millipedes range from 2 to 280 millimetres (0.079 to 11.0 in) in length, and can have as few as eleven, to over a hundred segments. They are generally black or brown in colour, although there are few brightly coloured species.

For more information on millipedes, visit Wikipedia.

Graaff Reinet Church

Graaff-Reinet is South Africa's fourth oldest town and is home to some magnificent examples of Cape Dutch architecture. The town has over 220 heritage sites which is more than any other town in South Africa. For more information on the town, go to Graaff Reinet Tourism.

As you drive down the town's main street, an imposing building waits for you at the end of it. The Dutch Reformed Church is situated in the centre of town and is one of Graaff-Reinet's main landmarks. The church is a replica of Salisbury Cathedral with the corner stone laid on 12 April 1886.

The architect was Bisset and it is said to be one of the best examples of early Gothic style architecture in South Africa. The church is the fourth church to be erected on the same spot. It was built using local sandstone. The ecclesiastical silver in use at the church is exceptionally valuable and is only viewable in pictorial form. The church's steeple is 150 feet high and the church is lighted throughout with stained glass windows. The pulpit is an extremely handsome Gothic style structure.

At night this magnificent building is lit up and makes as beautiful a sight as it does during the day.

The history and information on the church I got off the Karoo Park Guest House website.

Skull