SIGNAGE ON TRUCKS

Instead of being irked by traffic build-up along the roads we travel, if I am a passenger I look out for signage on some of the vehicles – most often trucks – that we meet along the journey. Here are a few:

Apart from the safety signs on the left-hand side warning us not to light matches, smoke or even to use cell phones in the vicinity of the truck carrying flammable gas, is the interesting This vehicle is not allowed to stop. Please follow me to the nearest police station. This provides a degree of protection for the driver should someone try to stop the truck for nefarious purposes. It happens.

Time is Money – a clever play on the brand Time-Link Cargo, which provides a not too subtle suggestion that they will deliver your cargo as quickly as possible.

This ruck carries a similar warning as the one in the first picture, but I was attracted by the logo and the words Always Ahead – another way of telling potential customers how efficient this company is. The yellow triangle on a blue background is a requirement for vehicles crossing the border and towing a trailer.

It was rather amusing to find this Toilet Hire trailer stopped in a suburban street with the driver’s door open … did he need to go somewhere in a hurry?

This truck is included to give you an idea of some of the elaborate heraldry employed by our local municipalities.

Speaking of heraldry, there is no mistaking this vehicle for anything but one involved in the wildlife tourist industry!

RED IS THE COLOUR OF THE FESTIVE SEASON II

There are splashes of red in most decorations at this time of the year – a cheerful colour both in the chilly northern winter and the southern summer. I keep finding pictures featuring red and have gathered some different ones to wish all my readers a joyful festive season in whatever way you choose to celebrate this time of the year. It is a time of giving and what could be more pleasant than some interesting chocolates:

These flavours all look delicious to try. Note the Cinnamon and Chilli. These days we find chilli in all sorts of products, including the well-known Bovril spread, in soups, crisps and in these cupboard staples:

Corned meat and baked beans! The latter is also infused with a wors flavour. I have often wondered if this country occasionally grows a surfeit of chillies, for such products are not available throughout the year.  While on the topic of supermarkets, look at this fun sign:

Walking around our back garden during winter, we frequently come across lucky beans, the seeds of the Erythrina caffra:

Even a small number of homegrown tomatoes are better than none:

These amaryllis flowers are very popular at this time of the year:

WELCOME!

Norway: velkommen

A warm – or should that be cool – welcome on our arrival in Norway with a variety of yoghurts set aside ‘for Granny’.

At least they were easy to recognise then in a fridge filled with (initially) strangely named food items.

In a country where simple signposts need to be translated.

Where we make an educated guess about the Sailing and Diving Club.

Scotland: fàilte (fahl-cheh)

A large cup awaited me for delicious rounds of tea and coffee – and I could bring it home with me!

England: welcome

A delicious lunch – one of many.

South Africa: welkom

What better than these cheerful poinsettias to welcome us on arrival in Boksburg!

Family are so dear to my heart.

BOULDERS BEACH PENGUIN COLONY

Having travelled to Cape Town, we couldn’t resist visiting the Boulders Beach Penguin Colony between Simon’s Town and Cape Point which falls under the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area. This is home to a large colony of African Penguins – the only penguins that breed on the continent of Africa. I suppose that is ultimately what led to the change of their original name, Jackass Penguin, which referred to their distinctive braying calls.  Speaking of names, this area is apparently called Boulders Beach after the large granite boulders found there. Before we saw any penguins, however, we were entranced by the numerous dassies (hyraxes) sunning themselves along the paths.

Kelp beds are evident close to the shore as seen from the wooden boardwalks that link Boulders Beach and Foxy Beach, providing a wonderful opportunity for seeing these penguins from close quarters.

These African Penguins are under threat from the loss of habitat, declining fish and their ever-encroaching human neighbours – the gardens of homes in the area stretch right down to the colony. Protective fences separate the penguins from these and from visitors with clear warning signs not to try to touch the birds.

Even before reaching the main penguin viewing area along Foxy Beach, one can observe penguins in their nesting burrows.

Some penguins appear to prefer nesting within the shelter of the natural vegetation, while others made their stick-filled burrows on the beach.

You can see a mixture of immature and mature birds in the picture above. A number of the penguins were moulting during the period of our visit. This is when old, worn feathers are replaced. During this time the penguins lose their waterproofing qualities and are usually confined to land for about 21 days. They basically starve during this time as they cannot swim to catch food.

Here are some views of penguins you may enjoy.

Signs at the car park warn visitors to check under their vehicles before driving off.

SIGNS IN THE KAROO NATIONAL PARK

One of the first interesting signs you come across after entering the Karoo National Park warns visitors to be aware of the possibility that tortoises may have sought shelter from the sun under their vehicles in the parking area outside the reception centre:

Another informs visitors when they can enter the game viewing area and when to return. During our visit it was from 7a.m. until 6 p.m. – the times vary according to the season:

In places the speed limit is only 30 kmp:

This is understandable once you realise that you need to watch out for tortoises, chameleons and snakes that might be in the road:

One also has to be aware of the presence of larger animals, such as lions and rhinos, especially when getting out of one’s vehicle to enter one of several dedicated picnic areas:

Should you wish to make use of the ablution blocks in these areas, there are signs reminding you to watch out for baboons and monkeys. Visitors are cautioned to keep the doors to these buildings closed so that one of these creatures does not get trapped inside … imagine finding an irate baboon or monkey indoors when you wish to visit the toilet or wash your hands! Anyone notice the grammatical error?

In common with other national parks, the Karoo National Park does not allow the use of drones: