Saturday, October 26, 2013



The job having been done we left a warming Phalaborwa we headed back the way we had come now with the mighty blue Wolkberg in our sights. 
It wasn't long before watery mirages began to appear in the distance indicating the rising temperature.
The Selati River was a welcome sight after passing kilometers of dry dusty bush veld.
We stopped at this fruit stall, one of many along the way, and bought pawpaws, avocados and macadamia nuts to take home with us.  
One of the many curios shops before and after the J G Strijdom Tunnel aimed at the many tourists that pass this way to the Kruger Park.
As there are no fences to keep the cattle off the road traveling can be fairly hazardous experience! 
Now safely through the Abel Erasmus Pass which winds over the Wolkberg we decended to the fertile Olifants River Valley once again and the beauty of the lush green wheat fields.
To the East the rain clouds began their buildup, the clouds bursting when they could hold it no more.
Outside Lydenburg, then with the much needed rain quickly turning the streets into rivers, and a broken windscreen wiper needing a quick repair!
After leaving Lydenburg we decided to take a detour on our way back to Dullstroom taking us through two passes.  The scenery was quite spectacular with more wonderful much needed rain.
Over the last pass and leaving the rain behind in the distance we could see much smoke from the mountain fires scorching the grassy slopes in the Roossenekal area.

Once down the pass we realized that we had missed our turnoff back to Dullstroom and we were on a totally different road! Luckily for us the 'wrong' road ended up giving us the opportunity to shoot a stunning sunset enhanced by a silhouetted windmill. 
Merle.
Canon 5D Mk11.  Canon 28-80mm L  Canon 100-400mm L  iPhone 4s