 |
| A farewell gift from Klipbokkop |
 |
| A close-up of our gift The Toyota Enviro Outreach is like a chameleon. Just look, we’ve got red bakkies, white bakkies, golden, silver and more. |
No seriously, like a chameleon’s eyes we are looking back today with one eye at the first two stages that have been completed with results way above expectations and at the same time we’re looking forward to this final stage with the other eye.
Mother Nature blessed us with a sunrise this morning that will make any jigsaw maker red with envy. Shortly afterwards Gerhard gave the call and the convoy started up.
 |
| Sooper Cooper snipping a sample |
We didn’t get very far – in fact just about two kilometres from Klipbokkop and still on the resort – when we had a farewell bonus. A big black mole snake was curled up in the middle of the road. Sooper Cooper was there first, but Snakeman Marius stopped him. Although a mole snake does not have poison, they can hurt quite badly. Especially one as big as this. Unlike other snakes, they have four rows of teeth which are not round and hollow to inject poison, but flat and sharp like knives. When they attack moles (and the males sometimes each other), they bite and turn their strong, rigid bodies, slicing flesh.
 |
| Snakeman catching the molesnake |
 |
| Bye-bye, we're off to the forest |
 |
| A farewell gift |
But Marius the cool cat whipped the snake out of the road and allowed Sooper Cooper to nip a piece of the tail to serve as a DNA sample. While everybody was watching this concert, I saw Masha quickly bouncing into the veld to also get a last bonus Klipbokkop flora sample.
What I didn’t mention yesterday is that Michelle, our first lady from UJ (University of Johannesburg) went back to UJ yesterday to do a presentation on what South Africa is doing for iBOL. The good news is that she couldn’t stay away from the action too long. She’s back with us tonight and she says:
“Yesterday I attended a meeting to develop a strategic plan for the barcode of life programme in South Africa. The workshop focussed on the development of a plan for the expansion, co-ordination and promotion of Barcoding in South Africa, and the identification of a mechanism and structures to take Barcoding into the future. Twenty participants attended the workshop. The Executive Director of IBOL, Dr Peter Freedman, and the Executive Secretary for CBOL, Dr David Schindel also attended. I presented the University of Johannesburg’s barcoding programme and also the Toyota Outreach Trip.
 |
| Camping at last at Diepwalle |
“The Good news given to me by David is that UJ has been shortlisted (only two on the list) to host the International Barcode of Life conference next year. This will bring at least 400 barcoders to SA. Exciting! The other country is Australia. Yet again, another SA vs. Australia contest that needs resolving. I am sure we’ll be top dog.”
 |
| Look trees Il Doctore |
Tomorrow the forest fun starts. Goodnight!
View the Track on http://gpsed.com/track/5061178322223674977
Posts
This is so exciting, my idea of fun and will be so useful. Next time you need to include the fungi...remember me!
ReplyDeleteThis is very wonderful and adventurous...I miss it!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures too!...the Alooideae will also be counted eventually!