Vrystaat Confessions

Tag: Normandien Pass

  • Where Eagles Dared

    Where Eagles Dared

    We drove off the dirt road and onto a green hill, stopped the light blue Holden station wagon and walked up to the top of the low hill which ended in a steep cliff overlooking Natal down below. We were on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment and about 30m below us (I’d guess) was a nest, just as Robbie Sharratt had told Dad there would be, and on the nest was an eagle chick.

    – location Normandien Pass arrowed – detail in inset –

    The main reason the ole man had taken his dearly beloved son on a rare outing was his new Canon FT QL SLR camera with a 200mm telephoto lens. It needed a subject, and there was the Black Eagle chick right there in the hot sun. Aquila verreauxii, now called Verreaux’s Eagle.

    The way I recall it, we got pics of the nest and the chick, and a parent landed on or near the nest while we waited, but I could be imagining that part. Wonder where those Agfa slide pics are? I’d guess this was ca.1965 when I was ten years old.

    It looked something like this (this pic from the Western Cape Black Eagle Project):

    The top pic was taken at Giants Castle, also in the Drakensberg, by ‘Veronesi.’

    PS: Normandien Pass is worth a visit. It’s beautiful country.

    The Normandien Formation is a Triassic-age rock formation located around here, but about  251 million years before I was born. Lots of fossils! And Donald found one of them.

    ~~oo0oo~~

  • And Now Greg Seibert Has Died

    And Now Greg Seibert Has Died

    Greg came to Harrismith from Ohio in 1972. We lost touch, then thanks to Sheila, picked up as though no time had passed! Greg was helping Sheila research ancient family history and was also sending lovely pics of his schooldays in Harrismith. We were so looking forward to seeing more of them. And of him.

    – Greg later on, computer expert, husband and Dad – and genealogist! –

    He planned to visit once when his brother Jeff came to South Africa to do some work for General motors. He didn’t, so Jeff and I went to Hluhluwe without him!

    He was planning to visit, among other places, the de Witt’s game farm near Tshipise – near the Tropic of Capricorn – with Steph.

    Then Steph died. So he didn’t. But he was going to! He was going to come and visit us. We were going to see Greg again.

    Now he’s gone, suddenly, out of the blue.

    R.I.P Greg! Dammit!! What a blow! What a loss!

    ~~oo0oo~~

    Wonderful memories of walking down Normandien pass in the Drakensberg with Greg, just me and him along lonely dirt roads and railway tracks, through these tunnels and ending up near Van Reenen – at Moorddraai where we were fetched – I think by Father Sam van Muschenbroek? I had to keep asking Greg to slow down! He was a fast walker and I was in no hurry!

    Near van Reenen where Greg Seibert & I hiked thru tunnels
    – one of those tunnels, but not Greg’s pic –

    The top pic is one Greg took in our physics class back in 1972.

    ~~oo0oo~~

    Greg’s last message:

    On Apr 28, 2016, Sheila had written:

    Gregor! Where the hell have you been? Are you okay? You just dried up and went away! A bit like our money is doing right now! All’s well here – am having fun putting old pics on FB – am loving the responses. I hope you’re okay.

    Lots of love, Sheila

    ~~oo0oo~~

    Greg replied that same day:

    Sheila!
    I'm doing just fine. Been a bit of work finishing up the estates of mom and dad. Was quite ready for mom to go, but dad went kinda suddenly. 
    Such is life. What brought about this great burst of picture activity?  
    I'll have to get back to posting more of mine again.

    My brother is probably going back to Port Elizabeth later this year. 
    I might try to come with him this time since my last trip got all messed up. 
    Glad you are doing well!
    Grego

    Sent from my iPad

    So Greg’s poor kids lost their Grandma, their Granpa and their Dad in quick succession! Darn, that’s tough!

    Greg’s brother Jeff had come to SA in 2014 on a work trip for General Motors. I took him to Hluhluwe Game Reserve in Zululand. Greg did not accompanied him then. He should have; I wish he had. He never did make it back to SA to visit. Damn! R.I.P friend.

    ~~oo0oo~~