I was early getting to work this morning so I kept going past my normal turnoff and pulled into the parking at Hobie Beach to see if I can snap a nice sunrise picture at the pier…
Sunrise at Shark Rock Pier
Tag: skywatch
Three Karoo Heartland icons
Three Karoo Heartland icons, all in one picture.
Big open sky, Karoo koppies (in this case Koffiebus and Teebus outside Steynsburg) and the good ol’ reliable Windpomp.
Vrystaatse Vlaktes
I have come to love the wide open spaces of the Karoo Heartland in the Eastern Cape but just haven’t been able to get used to the, what we call in Afrikaans, Vrystaatse vlaktes. Vrystaat is the Afrikaans name for the Free State, South Africa’s central province while vlaktes is an very descriptive Afrikaans work for wide open spaces stretching for miles. The wide open spaces, or vlaktes, of the Free State is very different from that of the Karoo Heartland. Driving along the roads of the central and southern Free State you often feel like you are in the middle of nowhere where nothing grows about knee high. I’m not insulting the Free State, please don’t get me wrong. I’m just saying that, like with wine, I just haven’t been able to get used to it. I found the most beautiful Afrikaans poem called the Vrystaatse Vlaktes in die Somer just to make up for it in case somebody feels insulted.
The picture was taken just off the N1 in the southern Free State about 50 kilometers north of the Gariep Dam.
I haven’t participated in Skywatch Friday for a very long time and I think it’s time I start sharing our beautiful South African skies on a regular basis on it again.
Karoo storm moving in
The Karoo is known as blue sky country. That means when the thunder clouds start to pack together after a hot day there is lots of sky to watch the approaching storm in. Like this one I witnessed just after leaving Cradock on my way back to Port Elizabeth. I can just smell the drops splashing down on the hot tar road again. Its one of my five favorite smells along with the smell of cut grass, fresh bread, the ocean and a damp forest. What’s you favorite smell?
City sunset
2013 is on its last leg and nearly over so I thought a sunset over the city seen from the Port Elizabeth Harbour is the perfect last photo for the year. If you’re going out tonight please take it easy and be safe. See you all next year.
Angel weather vane
Usually you would see a chicken, and in particular one who doesn’t lay eggs, on top of a church spire. Every now and then you do encounter a different one and that was the case with this angel weather vane on top of the Dutch Reformed Church in Robertson in the Western Cape.
Visit Skywatch for some more neck cranking pictures of the sky from all over the world
Mackay Bridge silhouette
The Mackay Bridge in Colchester outside Port Elizabeth silhouetted against the afternoon sun, ideal for a Skywatch Friday post.
Slangkop
Looking up Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula
Visit Skywatch for some more neck cranking pictures of the sky from all over the world
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
I have seen stunning photos of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with some of the best interior ones being taken from the top tow of seats right in the very corner. So late last year during the IRB 7’s I decided to venture up into the nose bleed section and get my own photo. Mmmmm…. Quite clearly the stunning pics I’ve seen were taken with a SLR with wide angle lens. Both of which I don’t have. So for now I have to be happy with the pic I got. Maybe one day…
Walkway remains
Nature doesn’t take nonsense from us people. Sardinia Bay in Port Elizabeth has a problematic dune that just doesn’t want to stand still. A couple of years back a walkway was built across the dune to make it easier to get to the beach. But as soon as the walkway was completed the dune started swallowing it in until this short section was the only bit left. Vandals, probably looking for wood to braai with, did the rest after people were unable to use it anymore.
