Time is flying by...

...and today we recognized that the last days in Oudtshoorn are going by and it's still so much to see. I also want to finish the small video-clip I started, so this will be on tomorrow. Today we drove to the Red Stone Hills which are a kind of sand-stone formation (you can see 'em in the background) not that far from our base-camp. Actually we didn't really get what we wanted first, but in the end it turned out that this was the better solution. You can't get really close to those sand stone formations, which is acceptable due to nature conservation. The photos aren't the ones we initially wanted, but still quite good I suppose. (Don't wanna self-praise too much...)

Is that the first uphill-pic of the trip? I guess so. I quite like it because of the shadow-light situation. What I don't like, is the noise, especially in red-tones. I'll blame it on the D300s which I had chosen for that shot. Well, in the end it's to blame on me, then, ha? ;) ISO is 500.

I always love silhouette-shots. That one was a good reward for a work-day!  

Finally....

...we passed by at Knyznar one of the most amazing places I've ever seen. What a coast. What a trail.

Speechless. Even me. ;)

Someone who eats, drinks and sleeps so well...

... has to deliver some work as well. Ok, here we go!

(Note to myself: Meanwhile it's Sat, 040610)

And some "proper" work (as my Mum would say) as well ;)

In between those to pics? Well, nothing special. Just effed-up a Land Rover in a waterhole and tried for something like 4 hours to get it out. Got help by bike (remember, no cell phone?) and pulled him out late in the evening (actually it was eight. but it's getting dark at six...) Rest of the story? Secret...

Who travels a lot has much to tell!

 Well, first and almost sorry for the long-time no-post.  Let's start with Friday, 04rd of July.

The reason is, that we made a longer road-trip and found ourselves in a barely tapped area. Well, that's only true for cell phone reception and internet connection. "In real life" (as IT-freaks would say) this strip of country has everything you need to make you happy. Trails, water, beautiful views and from time to time (actually a lot of time) you run into some super-friendly people supplying you with food and hospitality. 'nough said - let the pictures talk.

Hey, you smartypants GPS-thingie, we already knew that...

Arriving at the Outeniqa Trout Lodge we suddenly found ourselves in a (at least) five-star open-air restaurant. Roasted nuts and trout paté - yummy! A perfect starter for the traditional South African barbeque, which is called braai...

After being totally stuffed we fell asleep in one of these...

One might say, this isn't exactly African culture and he might be right. But who cares, it's super-cozy and I slept like a baby!

And especially not in south-african outback! Well, it's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it! So today I finally managed to get a sensor cleaning kit from Kloppers in George. Great store, by the way, if you ever get there. Ok, I paid about 900,- SAR for 2 aircans, a vacuum kit and 4 swipes which is something like 90,- EUR. Because green-clean stuff is made in Austria I thought the price might be horrendous, but I was thoroughly surprised when i found that the difference is just a few Euros. 

This....

Made me do this...

I know, there are better before/after shots, but I'm really satisfied. Especially under those circumstances.

I'll sure pass my camera to NPS right when I come home. I promise!

...and now for something completely different!

An off-day! Yeah!

Well, I was still working, but different stuff. And actually not really working, but well, let's say... helping - kind of ;) Due to organizational issues we decided to take a break for today and tomorrow. Good for me, so I can take care of my photo equipment (will be considered in tomorrows post) and take a little rest. Due to the fact that I find x-treme couching really boring I decided to follow my host and customer Reinhold to his small, experimental vinery and watch him making wine. That sounded interesting and so it was. But honestly, in the end i know now why I'm a sports shooter ;)

I'll just let the pictures talk. Making vine is a too sophisticated process to explain. (I would do so if I understood it...) This actually is a barrel of a 2009 season white wine, which is not ready yet. (I'm somehow sure my explanations sound pathetic - can't we talk about bikes again?)

Flowers have been interesting as well...

A vine-maker's view. Some of you might recognize that the color of this red wine (don't even have a clue which one) is a bit unusual. That is because... it's new!!! ;) 

Hope the temperature is alright...

And the most important ingredient for a good wine is... patience!!!

 

I'm sure this one is going to be perfect...

First post - no pics, just plain text and a poor excuse...

...well, in the title pretty much everything is said. This should - and hopefully will be -  my travel-diary on my long awaited trip to South Africa. One might think: "What the heck is he doing there?" And the answer is quite as easy: two of the most loved things  i tend to do (well, actually out of those which are "blogable"):

Mountainbiking and Photography

and that is what this blog should deal with! In the next couple of weeks I gonna tell you about my preparation, the gear I'll (try to) take with me and the little barriers I'll need to pass (if there are any).

You might think "Why is this Lederhosen-Fella" writing in English? Well, If no one is going to follow this blog I at least hope that some of my relatives will...