Geological Route explored!

 It is with great excitement and delight that I am posting this blog!

Paul Rixom and two other geologists have explored Dr Chris Lee's geological route in die oervlakte book. They are raising funds for WESSA and did six different routes along the South Coast last year and are planning to add this route to their itinerary in the new year. 

This has made publishing the book absolutely worthwhile! Thank you to the geologists!

To order a book please contact 
Louise Heckl | 044 752 1143 | 083 861 8802 | exlibris@iburst.co.za

‘The Kammanassie Circuit’

A Possible Geological Tour for WESSA (Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa)

Inspired by the excellent publication ‘die oervlakte’ and particularly the geological route compiled by Dr. Chris Lee, myself and two friends set out on Monday 28 November from George to travel the route in order to see whether we could use it as a potential geological tour to raise funds for WESSA.

Last year we ran six geological tours for WESSA, three along the coast from Mossel Bay to Wilderness and three over the Swartberg going via Meiringspoort and returning via Prince Albert and the Swartberg Pass, all of which were a great success.

We stopped at the Village Trading Post in De Rust, where we were able to purchase a further copy of ‘die oervlakte’, and were able to chat to Niekie Eksteen who said he would be able to provide set cooked breakfasts and even packed lunches for reasonable prices for our potential WESSA group. This would make the Village Trading Post an excellent gathering and starting point for the tour.

We thought we could first take the group into Meiringspoort (geosite 14 in Chris Lee’s geological route) and talk about the folding and faulting of the Table Mountain Sandstone. We would then briefly retrace our steps and join the R341 going east. The Enon formations just north of the road could then be viewed (geosite 12 ). 

Further east along the road we could see die oervlakte on the flanks of the Kammanassie mountains to the south (geosite 11) and stop at the road cuttings in Bokkeveld shales (geosite 10).

die oervlakte

Bokkeveld shales

 

We then took the sand road north to the hot springs at Toorwater (geosite 8). It was at one time a caravan site and spa and although the site is now rather derelict we found it very interesting, particularly the large black and brown heaps of iron and manganese oxide-bearing tufa deposited from the hot springs (travertine may also describe the deposits). In some areas the tufa material was quite hard and an amazing dark blue colour, presumably related to the manganese oxide content. We immediately saw a pipe with fairly hot water gushing out into an apparent irrigation system but we were unable to trace the pipe to an ‘eye’ where we believe much hotter water comes out of the ground. We understand Chris Lee may be able to show this to us at a later date. The hot springs lie directly on a large east-west fault system that stretches from west of PE to Tulbagh. The geological map shows the Enon formation, “largely covered by alluvial slope deposits” directly faulted against the Table Mountain Sandstone to the north. We also thought that this may a reasonable picnic lunch spot for the group, although with no working toilet facilities.

Toorwater

Tufa material

We completed the sand road loop and saw Enon formations to the south (geosite 9) and the upper Olifants River valley carved out of the softer Bokkeveld shales (geosite 7). We then went east on the R341 for a short way to join the main N9 going south west. Even though we slowed down at each road cutting we were unable to see a Karoo age dolerite cutting through sandstone. Again Chris Lee might be able to help us here.

Just north of Uniondale we were impressed by the three oervlaktes (mesas) east of the road. We understand from Louise Heckl that she could arrange closer access to these features through Cobus van Rensburg of the farm Vleiplaas. It is these mesas which are illustrated in ‘die oervlakte’.

We stopped briefly in Uniondale to view the old restored watermill and had a snack at Crackling Rose’s. We understand from Louise Heckl that there are other establishments in Uniondale that could be used as a possible afternoon tea stop.

South of Uniondale we left the N9 and travelled west on the Rooikrans, Buffelsdrift, Daskop sand road. This delightful road runs south of the Kammanassie Mountains along the Kammanassie River and gives many photographic opportunities to view the many oervlaktes that are evident on the southern slopes of the main range (geosite 5). The road also follows the Bokkeveld shale, which is well exposed in several road cuttings. According to the geological map the road is in the lowest Gydo shale formation which in other parts of the Little Karoo can contain fossils such as trilobites and brachiopods. Due to time constraints we did not stop and examine the shales.

We think that ‘The Kammanassie Circuit’, which represents about a 300km round trip from George would be an excellent geological outing for WESSA sometime in the new year.

Paul Rixom

Uniondale Launch, Tuesday 22nd November 2011

We all waited in anticipation for the Uniondale launch of die oervlakte book. The event took place in the Jewish Synagogue which is run by The Lions, who kindly allowed us to use the venue.

This building was completed in 1906 and it was important to have the launch here as it is one of the historic buildings of the town that features in the book. We were all delighted when our guest list topped 75 people! We started the talk by Dr Chris Lee on Iconic Landscapes a bit later to accommodate the farmers who find it very difficult to get anywhere by 6 o’clock and are proud of the fact that we were the only town that had farmers attending the launch, not just one or two, but a good representation. A good evening was had by all and the last launch was truly a successful event.

Dr. Chris Lee talking on Iconic Landscapes

die oervlakte team had all worked hard and given generously of their time and expertise, travelling to three different venues on three different occasions to launch this book, with oervlakte stones, equipment and at times an overnight bag to sleep over to avoid kudus on the road on the way home in the dark.

Cheese and wine before the talk

I was pleased to speak to a geologist from the Wilderness area this morning who was testing out the geological route to take out tours and hopefully as more people explore the routes it will have a positive effect on die oervlakte, this magical ancient African Surface!

The Willowmore Launch 15 November 2011

Niekie from The Village Trading Post, de Rust in front of The Old Jail, Willowmore

The Willowmore launch of die oervlakte book took place on Tuesday, 15th November at the Old Jail in Willowmore. The hosts, Oleg and Karen von Loeper-Dyatschenko, have renovated this magnificent historical building beautifully and we were delighted to be able to use it as a venue as it is featured in the book. Twenty-eight people from the surrounding area and town attended the function and Dr. Chris Lee again enthused and inspired everybody with his talk on Iconic Landscapes.

Judy Jörgenson and Leon Nell, the co-author

The audience listening attentively to Dr. Chris Lee

Jane Zaayman from Baviaans Tourism, thanking the community for attending

de Rust Launch of die oervlakte book

die oervlakte team arrived early to get the venue ready for the launch. Niekie from The Village Trading Post confirmed that he had 75 people booked for the evening, which, in this part of the Karoo, where people drive long distances to get anywhere, was heart warming and very encouraging.

The media who attended also arrived early.
Elsabe Olivier from Suid-Kaap Radio interviewed the team first and the interview will be broadcast on Suid Kaap fm 104.1 on Wednesday, 16th November, at 16.10pm. Louise Olivier freelance journalist for Country and Life, Tisha Steyn from die Burger and Liesel le Roux from die Hoorn, Oudtshoorn also attended and interviewed the team. Die Hoorn published an informative article (http://www.diehoorn.co.za/2011/11/03/excitement-about-oervlakte/) prior to the launch.

The cheese, wine, bread and accompaniments of caramalized onions, figs and olives went down well with all!

die oervlakte team was introduced and thank you’s to the authors, Leon Nell and Dr Chris Lee was done  by Franzu Badenhorst, the presenter. A special thank you to Mr. Cobus van Rensburg from the farm Vleiplaas in Uniondale as he gave the team access to his farm over the two years this project has taken and allowed Louise Heckl, who did the branding, conceptualization and design, use of the photographs of the mesas on his farm for publication in die oervlakte book.

Dr Chris Lee talked on Iconic Landscapes which had the audience riveted in their seats and left them inspired and enthusiastic about the landscape of this region and enlightened about GeoParks.

We thank all for attending and the tremendous generosity from the people in de Rust and Oudtshoorn!

Franzu Badenhorst presenting die oervlakte

Leon Nell and Dr. Chris Lee

 

An attentive audience inspired by Dr. Chris Lee's talk on Iconic Landscapes

die oervlakte book has arrived!

die oervlakte book has arrived from the printers in Johannesburg! The printing and binding is superb and we are ready for the de Rust launch on Thursday, 10th November.  It has taken a great effort from many people to get this little book to this stage of publication and we look forward to launching a new book about the magnificent area that we live in!

 We thank the following sponsors of the cheese from Prince Alfred and the bread from George.

Launching of die oervlakte book

die oervlakte book is about to be launched and will be available at the beginning of November.
The printing of this book has been generously sponsored by the printers, Ultra Litho, Johannesburg in memory of Wolfram Heckl (1949 - 20101) who was part of die oervlakte project team.

 

Ultra Litho (Pty) Limited | 4 Repens Street | Heriotdale

Johannesburg | 2094 | P O Box 40895 | Cleveland | 2022

Tel + 27 011 621 3300 | Fax +27 011 626 3578

www.ultra-litho.co.za







There will be three launches held. In de Rust on 10 November, Willowmore on 15 November and Uniondale on 22 November. The communities of these three towns have pulled out all the stops to make these launches memorable events and get this book to the public. Many individuals have given time and energy generously!

The Old Jail, Willowmore

The Jewish Synagogue, Uniondale

The cheeses for the launches have been sponsored by Gay’s Dairy in Prince Albert.

If any one is interested in ordering a copy, please just email your postal information. The book will retail at  R190.00 plus R25.00 for postage and will be  available at the beginning of November.
Ex Libris Design | Tel: 044 7521 143 | Cell: 083 861 8802 | exlibris@iburst.co.za

More to the local than meets the eye

Crassula expansa

Now here is a fairly common, local and widespread plant, that on first glance looks like a roadside weed, something related to a  Portulaca or Purslane, maybe...?
Definitely not. It is one of the members of the Stonecrop family or on a scientific level, would reveal it to belong to the Crassulaceae family. There are worldwide about 200 species of Crassula and of that, about 140 species occur in the warmer, drier, interior parts of Southern Africa. Another major group of plants, which this country is blessed with in abundance. The plants in this family range from small annuals to large bushes - from aquatic vlei plants to succulent desert dwellers, pushed to the extreme and forced to survive the harshest of conditions.
The photographs were taken whilst enjoying bundu bashing, with some friends from De Rust and Oudsthoorn on privately owned land and was amongst the first of the indigenous succulent plants we encountered. It is well known that this region has the highest concentration of succulent plants in the  whole world. About 81 out of 100 succulent plants found here are endemic and found no where else in this country, let alone the whole world .... Astounding!
The crassula family is very intersting in that there are records in England, dating back some 300 years, stating that two other related members of the crassula family have been used in the florist industry for their remarkable flowers. These are still popular today, they are namely crassula coccinea (for its intense red colour) and crassula falcata for its contrast red flowers against the scissor like grey leaves.
So our crassula expansa which is to be found widespread and locally common in the De Rust, Oudtshoorn and Calitszdorp district is more than  just a common weedy looking plant. It also has enormous potential to be used as a wonderful groundcover. It clump forms but is easily grown from pieces and shoots. If it grows on the side of the road in harsh conditions, it would be a wise choice to acquire it for gardens and nurseries. I think it also would do well in hanging baskets or for companion planting in containers, as it fills quickly and also has a tendency to creep and hang off the edge well. It is best suited to the environment where it occurs naturally, therefore this makes it a sensible choice.
The plant is described at being a dwarf, tufted perennial with jointed stem portions and a narrow, pointed cylindrical type of succulent leaf often with a dark stripe cutting the leaf in two. The afrikaans name of ‘Strepies’ comes to mind, due to this dark stripe. Flowers are very small and white, found on the tips and usually have a small stalk attached and are on their own, not really clustered. Flowering takes place mostly throughout the summer months. It also more likely to occur in sandy soils. The best feature of the plant is when the leaves turn an autumn red colour in the winter as opposed to the greenish tint it gets when one gives it water in summer.
However odd it may seem, I hope the truth of this wonderful plant has now shocked you into believing that your local pavement special is actually a gem waiting to be discovered and transported from a sidewalk junkie straight into your very own garden.

Judd Kirkel

Forest of Ferns - Prince Alfred Pass

On a recent visit to the Knysna forests from Uniondale down the Prince Alfred Pass, which is spectacular and awe-inspiring, we stopped to investigate the Forest of Ferns. 

One inevitably gets overwhelmed by the sheer scale of plant diversity in the forests. A case in point is the fern species found growing near streams, on rotting logs, in trees, along roadsides, in full sun, in dappled sun, part shade, full shade and deep shade. 

 They are difficult to identify, and some nurseries erroneously sell plants they will swear upon to be indigenous forest ferns. There are at least 65 different species of indigenous forest ferns identified by botanists and at least 125 different tree species. 

There are minature forests growing on fallen logs and undergrowth, a myriad ancient trees and many different shrubs and smaller trees. The elders were in bloom, their crowns adorned with clusters of white flowers allowing easy identification among the stinkwoods, keurboom, yellowoods, wild mulberry, Cape chestnut, lightning bush and many others.

These are primordial forests (untouched by man) with 800 year old yellowoods and gives one a sense of the geological time one experiences in die oervlakte.

Although there are only pockets of primordial forests left in this area, they are accessible to the public and are our heritage to experience, learn from and enjoy.

Dr Chris Lee gives feedback from International Geoscience Education Conference

With great excitement this post from Dr. Chris Lee

I went to a Geological Society South Africa meeting the last week, the GeoHeritage and Education meeting, as part of the International Geoscience Education Conference. 

"The importance of relating the story of South Africa's unique geological heritage has been recognised by the Geological Society of SA, the Council for Geoscience and others ... Various programmes are in place to document and showcase the geological superlatives of the country and a number of publications on this subject have been produced or are planned", this quote is from an introductory address to the meeting. 

Among the several topics was the proposal that national "Iconic Landscapes" be considered. "The landscapes proposed are based on their distinctive or unique geological character and then on important associated natural, cultural and historical features and tourism value". Several critiria are listed that would define an "Iconic Landscape". Some 20 landscapes have been listed, one of which is the "Great Karoo Landscape".

I introduced die oervlakte book to several of the more influential attendees at the meeting, and it was greeted with good interest. Clearly this book will go a long way towards defining the "Little Karoo Landscape", and meets the criteria for an Iconic Landscape. 

I have proposed to the Geological Society that the next GeoHeritage meeting be held in the area. 

To all the potential end-users in die oervlakte this space will be where they can get the latest news on the establishment of this new exciting route, post their comments, become followers, send their interesting news to be included in the blog and start networking.


Information to be placed on the blog to be sent to: exlibris@iburst.co.za


Presentations will be held in Uniondale, Willowmore and de Rust to invite the end-users to become part of die oervlakte. The association envisages the dates to be the beginning October, but it will be advertised on the blog once finalised.


A 76 page book on die oervlakte will be published. Co-authored by Leon Nell, author of four travel books published by Struik: The Garden Route and Little Karoo (2003), Knysna - a Visitor's Guide to South Africa's most popular Coastal Town (2005), Oudtshoorn - A Visitor's Guide to the Ostrich Capital of the World (2005) and The Great Karoo (2008). 
Geologist, Dr. Chris Lee who has published work in international geological journals, compiled geological guide books, worked the South African and international mining sector doing geological exploration and research and conducted many geological field excursions, has also co-authored this publication. 
This book has only been printed digitally to start with and can be viewed at different establishments in Uniondale (The Little Theatre Café, The Lodge and Bon Accord), de Rust (The Village Trading Post) and Willowmore (Sophie's Choice and The Baviaans Information Centre. Publication will take place once the end-users, to be included in the back of the book, have come on board and the route is established.