Anysberg: Back to the Dams

Date: 12 April 2012

Location: Anysberg Nature Reserve

Walkers: Dorothy, Michele, Brenda & Helen

Anysberg Map (.pdf 1.6MB)

After our morning walk we lunched, read and napped. Several showers of rain came down, but by late afternoon the rain had abated, and we ventured out once more. A walk back to the dams.



On the way we detoured to the small graveyard.




The yellows and greys and greens of the vegetation were so soft and easy on the eye. I know the knitters in my family would love to combine these shades in a jersey.



The greys and blues above were beautiful too.



This time we took the route signposted to "Rooidamme", a rather overgrown short cut to the dams.




It was lovely at the dams... extremely quiet and peaceful. But the wind got up and blew some more rain in, so we hurried back.



But it soon cleared away and the sunset was gorgeous.


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Exploring Anysberg

Date: 12 April 2012

Location: Anysberg Nature Reserve

Walkers: Dorothy, Michele, Brenda & Helen

Anysberg Map (.pdf 1.6MB)

The last hour of my journey to Anysberg was in the dark, so I was up early the following morning to see what the place looked like. From our little cottage we looked east to the Swartberg in the distance.



We were in a wide flat valley. Looking north-east we could see the reserve office and camp site a short distance away, with the hills of the Matjiesgoedberg behind.



And south of us: the Anysberg itself, a long ridge with deep kloofs.



We set off to do some exploring beyond the accommodation compound.



There are four cottages grouped together, and a fifth near the office.



And that is pretty much all there is in the Anysberg. Apart from lots and lots of fresh air, big skies, wide open space and peaceful silence.



One rough dirt road runs through the reserve, from the Montagu/Touws River side to the Laingsberg/Ladismith side.



And there is another wonderful attraction near the office - a reservoir swimming pool. It has a spacious wooden deck and some shade, and the water is fresh sweet mountain water. A fantastic spot to relax.





The view back to the cottages.



Another thing you'll see in the reserve is horses. When not being used for the two-day horse trail the ponies roam free. We saw several munching on the grass at the edge of the camp site.



We decided to walk on to the dam, following the road north.



The vegetation is an interesting mix of fynbos and desert plants.




Thorn bushes, succulents and reeds.




Our route took us below the dam wall.



Here the bush was a bit thicker. Thick and scratchy.



At the end of the road we climbed up onto the dam wall.



The water level in the dam was very low indeed now. Winter rain needed!



As we walked along I enjoyed the sound of the wind in the reeds.



There are actually several dams in a row, all of them low.



But very scenic nevertheless, with the mountain backdrop.



And we saw more horses too. They were eating the pond weed.



There is a wooden jetty, a couple of meters above the current water level. One is meant to be able to kayak on these dams, but not now. Instead we sat on the jetty and had a little picnic.



And watched the amazing cloud. This one looked like an atomic explosion.



More pretty skies on the way back.



But the weather was definitely changing. Dorothy and I braved a swim - freezing cold but wonderfully refreshing - just in time before the wind strengthened and the rain clouds gathered.


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Swellendam Dams: After the Fire

Date: 11 February 2012

Location: outside Swellendam

Walkers: Helen and Ian, with the little dogs

Previous walk in this location here and here.

In Swellendam for a long weekend, visiting family. We went up to the dams for a short walk, around the top dam, to give the dogs some exercise and for me to get a closer look at the damage done by the fire that tore through here two weeks previously. I'm not sure how or where the fire started but the area that burnt is huge: from the top of the tallest peaks right down to the valleys and all around dams, through indigenous forest and plantation, and alarmingly close to my brother's home on the edge of the town.



Last time I was here the foresters were clearing some the pines, and it was interesting to see how the stumps and roots had burnt away entirely leaving 'burrows' in the earth. It looked very unstable. We stuck to the road for safely.



I know fires are meant to be part of the cycle of life and that these hillsides will recover in time, but I found this landscape made me feel so sad. It was deadly quiet and still, no birds or wildlife around, and the burnt smell lingering. It was all very depressingly grey, and it didn't help that it was a very gloomy day.




However there were already signs that the recovery process had begun. The palmiet along the edges of the dam was shooting.



Some grass was growing in the damper areas.



One or two trees had shoots.



Bracken was unfurling.



And reeds were emerging.



I was excited to see one spot of colour! A Haemanthus bud. Paintbrush lily.



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