Early morning at Crossways

We went out to Crossways Country Kitchen for coffee with friends this morning but I probably spent more time walking around outside on a crisp winters morning than inside.  And when it looked like this outside, how couldn't I?

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Fynbos Ramble

The Fynbos Ramble is one of several trails through the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve.  They're all easy, manageable trails and well worth doing, specially this time of the year with all the proteas in flower. 

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King Protea outside PE

Living in Port Elizabeth and wanting to see South Africa's national flower, the King Protea, growing somewhere in the wild? Then head out to Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve.  These beauties are in full bloom and stunning.

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Celebrating Heritage Day at Van Stadens

Today is Heritage Day in South Africa and all South Africans celebrate the day differently.  Some like to dress up in their traditional clothing while others come together for a braai.  Political parties have gatherings, clubs use the day to organise events and some people just stay home and do a few chores or watch tv all day long.  I celebrated Heritage Day with my fellow Geocachers at the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve taking part in the second annual Geocaching…

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Flashback to the Apple Express

I received this breathtaking picture of the Apple Express crossing over the Van Stadens Railway Bridge, the highest narrow gauge railway bridge in the world, from fellow Geocacher Graham Chrich yesterday.  Graham was in the Van Stadens area for the Rhino Run last weekend and decided to do a couple of Geocaches located in the area.  Looking for info on the gorge he came across a post of mine about the railway bridge and it reminded him of a trip…

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Van Stadens Railway Bridge

The Port Elizabeth to Avontuur narrow gauge railway line was authorised in 1899 and construction commenced in 1902, reaching the town of Avontuur in the Langkloof late in 1906.  The line was built to connect the scenic Langkloof with its fruit growing industry to the port of Port Elizabeth.  The official opening of the line was in 1907, with a main line track length of 284km (177 miles) from Port Elizabeth to Avontuur.  The 30km branch line from Gamtoos Junction to Patensie was…

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Pincushion Protea at Van Stadens

The Pincushion Protea (Leucospermum) is a genus of about 50 species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae - part of the Cape Floral Kingdom also known as Fynbos.  They occupy a variety of habitats, including scrub, forest, and mountain slopes.  In the case of this one, I photographed it in the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve.  They are evergreen shrubs (rarely small trees) with tough and leathery leaves.  The flowers are produced in dense inflorescences, which have large numbers of prominent styles,…

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