Hiking from Ganga Talao to Baie du Cap (Bel Ombre Trail) - Part 2

...continues from part 1...

We had a short stop at Petrin / Visitor Centre. 
At this point we had not yet decided to do the Bel Ombre trail and wanted to confirm from the Visitor Centre IF permission from Bel Ombre Sugar Estate is required. The last part of the trail goes through their property (sugarcane fields). We were informed no permission is required, but there is one gate that has to be opened and closed.

While hubby inquired about the permission, I took a stroll behind the Visitor Centre to have a closer look at the endangered Pink Pigeon 

Beautiful, isn't it?!



Some meters after Petrin Visitor Centre is the trail sign to 'Les Mares Roundabout'. 

It was here we decided to skip the 'usual' Mare Longue hike for the more adventurous new (to us) trail. 



This trail does not have any signs. There are a couple of left forks on the way, that we believe ends up near Alexandra Falls/main road. We met 3 guys who told us the trail ends up at the main road, but didn't tell us where on the main road.



We kept to the right and after 1 hour's walk, we reached the top of a waterfall. No idea which waterfall this is...?



After walking on this trail for some time, we were sure it ends up at the main road near Plaine Champagne Police Post and landmark; the masts.



The trail narrowed, and we continued...



Lush vegetation, but dry....

  

Crossing an almost dry river



After about 2 hours hike (from Petrin) in the wilderness, we ended up at the main road near Plaine Champagne Police Post 



Cocotte mountain (771 metres / 2529.5 feet) in the distance.
We are close to Plaine Champagne Police Post 

....continues part 3....

In the garden today

I have been neglecting this blog for months...... 

It has been summer, it has been hot, it has been humid, it has been................ everything.......... I have barely existed! 

Finally 'winter' is here - I'm living again! 

The worst growth of summer is over and it's finally possible to do yard work in the middle of the day without being roasted in the sun. 

I brought my camera yesterday and captured a few things in the area of the garden where I was working. 

Out of Africa - almost - LOL. Yes, it's coffee beans. We have a few coffee plants in our garden and they have berries now.  Actually coffee beans are not beans at all, they are berries. The coffee 'bean' inside the berry is the seed of the coffee plant and is also the 'beans' we roast for coffee. These beans are soon ready to be harvested. 

Coffee plants in our garden.

This 'little' fellow is one of the inhabitants in our garden. They are 'outside-spiders', never seen them inside. I had definitely freaked out if I had seen one inside! As far as I know they are harmless. They spin their web and stay there. The web is big, strong and glue-ish. 

Passion fruit, or purple granadilla as it is called in South Africa. 

... and bananas of course! 

When I lived in Norway, I thought a banana was a banana.... I was wrong! There are several varieties and the tastes are different. We have two varieties in our garden; one that has a slight sour taste (which we both love) and one we just call 'normal' bananas (not sure which variety these are). 

Unwanted visitors

The night before Christmas Eve an unwanted visitor entered our kitchen / dining room. We are officially into the rainy- and cyclone season, which means full summer. We have not had much rain or any cyclones threatening the island so far, according to the statistics we are more exposed to cyclones the next three months, when the ocean gets warmer.

Well, summer means the days and nights are hotter, and all kind of bugs seem to find their way out - or in....  

This 'little' guy entered our kitchen the night before Christmas Eve.

According to me, it is HUGE! (The body is about 2.5 inch plus and thick as my little finger). I wish to say it is a monster, but looking more closely I must admit it is a BEAUTY! Look at the pattern and colors on the wings and body - it's art!  

 

 

In the early morning on Christmas Eve I tiptoed into the kitchen area and looked carefully where it could be.... I hate flying insects and most probably I had got a heart attack if this one had landed on me! Suddenly it came from nowhere and landed on the kitchen curtain... I opened the window with the hope it would fly out....

That is what I thought it had, because it didn't appear on Christmas Eve when we had visitors - thanks goodness!

On Christmas Day morning our cat heard a noise in the Christmas tree and had to check of course... There it was! More or less dead, poor thing. It fell on the floor and I let it stay there until it was dead. This morning I picked it up to take these photos...

I'm not sure the name of this one... anyone who knows?

 

 

A couple of months ago we had another visitor, which I believe is a 'Death's Head Hawkmoth' .... (very interesting info - don't miss it!)

 

 

Not so difficult to see the human skull on its head... Lots of superstitious fear connected to it, because of the sharp, mouse-like squeaking that intensify the effect. Just so amazing!

You can read more about the Death's Head Hawk Moth here.

 

 

Dear moths;

I do not mind you at all, but PLEASE STAY OUTSIDE MY HOUSE! :)