Moz Trail Recce

Good to go!

At the Giriyondo border post with our PNL Ranger Manulito.

Marius

Joris

Manulito

Trying to find the first nights waypoint. We seemed to be close but no cigar! Ended up sleeping in a very damp, mosquito ridden path next to a stream. Not ideal but we enjoyed it.

Marius about to say something about the geology. Nothing I can repeat here!

With all the rain the streams were in full spuite and we had wonderful drinking water.

One of the waterfalls we passed.

Constantly crossing streams, as we tried to find a suitable route.

My tent on the second night. Very cool and comfortable spot, with great swimming in the stream below.

We found a poachers camp right here on the bank of this beautiful section of river. The sign was about two days old! So not a lot we could do about it. We also saw their tracks on the first day very close to the Kruger boundry. No doubt after S.A.'s rhino !!

I had to have a picture of me wearing these Hi Tec boots. I normally walk in takkies but for some reason decided to wear boots. It proved to be a wise choice with all the loose rock. I must say these are the lightest boots I have ever owned.

This little package was waiting for Marius in his shorts! Could have been a very nasty surprise for both parties!

Some elephant tracks. This guy just stuck to the path even if he sank in up to his knees! You can just imagine a dinosaur doing the same thing millions of years ago.

Parque Nacional Do Limpopo.

Breakfast stop.

An amazing plant growing in all the water filled rock pools on the rhyolite koptjies.

Looking east towards the Shingwedzi River flowing into Mozambique.

My favorite stop on the whole walk. Even with the two large crocs in the pool below. We managed to have a swim in the stream as it dropped over the rocks into the pool below. Luckily there was no space for crocs.

Weary but satisfied.

After The Floods 2012

The Swartspruit.

This small stream was at least 40meters wide and about 3meters deep.

Some of the debris brought down by the water.

The causeway we cross to get out of the reserve.

Not a great place to find your trailer!!

As the flood started there were a number of Hippo and Croc's moving up this stream to stay out of the Olifants River. The rain started on the Monday or Tuesday. On Sunday evening we saw some hippo moving up stream in front of the house. This only happens if all the grazing down stream is finished or if we are going to experience high water levels in the Olifants River.

I am always amazed by how perceptive animals are to the changes in their environment. A talent we seem to have lost! Having spent the last few weeks working on my tracking skill, I now think I have found a way to build that skill and be far more aware of your surroundings.

Flood!!! Jan 2012

The path leading down to the Olifants River. Normally about six meters or more below this point.

Our access road thru a small drainage line which was 40m wide when the photo was taken!

Our neighbours house so lucky. Only a muddy deck to show for it!

Limited access.

These figs are normally a few meters above the water level.

Going Green!!

A Table.

Made from old planks given to me. They were from the base of a bed, but they were cut too short and have now been put to good use as this art table. Sue was short of a work surface for all her art material. So I made her this table as a Christmas present.

I decided against glue and so created this joint using some off cuts.

The dots are the dowels that join the two planks together to create the legs.

Shotguns.

With three young boys for Christmas another recycling idea came to mind. I had some old shipping pallets and they were not being used, just taking up space in the workshop. So I dismantled them and used the planks for these shotgun stock's. The barrels come from a very old broom handle! That was when I realized that they don't make things like they used to. The broom handles are more than half the weight of the gun! must have been some solid timber!!

Climate Change!!

A scene more reminiscent of Europe!

We have had some major storms and with them some very large hail stones just smaller than golf balls! Not what you expect in the Lowveld! The windy month is normally August but that seems to now be September? There are rains in the middle of the year which is also not the norm for this part of the country.

I just wonder if we are seeing the beginning of climate change?

Competition

Warthog with porcupine quill.

I have often wondered how much competition there is for Aardvark holes? Well it looks like this warthog has found out! There are three or four young warthogs that we see almost daily in our garden that have quills sticking out of them. I think that when the warthogs go home in the evening the porcupine is still in the hole and only leaves later once it is dark. In trying to get out the porcupine must have to push past the warthogs.

There are numerous animals that use aardvark hole's from warthogs to snakes and even some bird species.

The Working Gundog & Conservation Club Trial

What is Gundog Field Trialling?

Gundog field trailing is a competition to find the best hunting dogs, which either find and point game birds - (Pointers, Retriever breeds) - or quarter, flush and retriever these birds (Spaniel breeds) or simply just retrieve shot birds, especially duck (Retriever breeds). Each gundog section is very specialised, therefore each section in South Africa runs its own separate trials. In this country, the USA and most other countries in the world, field trials are simulated hunts. Field trailing is the platform for hunters and breeders to ascertain that the dogs bred and sold preserve true hunting capabilities, i.e. drive,. perseverance, superb nose (scenting abilities), biddable soft mouth (does not harm the bird) are not gun-shy. One might ask why are dogs used in hunting situation? The Pointer / Setter/ Spaniel breeds are used to find the game (they can also be used for retrieving) and the Retrievers (although they can be used to find game), are specialised in retrieving wounded game as quickly as possible. Taken from www.goldens.co.za

Camo is compulsory, or is it a new fashion?

Field trials are as true to normal hunting as possible so competitors wear camo as they would in the field hunting.

New kids on the block watching the first few dogs working.

Waiting our turn.

Bailey's first ever pheasant!!

The day before she had tried to retrieve a rooster but spent more time playing with it. So it was a relief when she returned at speed, like she had done it a thousand times.

Relief after the first session of the day.

Guns and trialists.

A snoozy spectator in the winter sun. Especially after the four thirty am starts to get to the venue.

Retrieving a pigeon.

A easy test after the pheasant but a little confusing for the young dogs. Just as they had got used to bigger birds.

Out the blocks!!

Eye's fixed on her bird.

The water retrieve.

Setting up for the water retrieve.

Nothing like a dip in freezing water to cool off on a sunny winters day!

Bailey swam like a small motor boat.

Well Done, good girl.

Dog Tired.