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I just love this sign at the entrance to a farm on the gravel road between Aus and Helmeringhausen in Southern Namibia, a road I travel often.
The area here is very desolate but ideal for sheep farming. The short tree in the images is a Quiver Tree - Aloe dichotoma or, 'Kokerboom' in Afrikaans.
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I've only travelled that road a couple of times, but was glad of your pictures that reminded me of it.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere along it was a farm called Lisbon, with an artesian well, and instead of measuring the depth (height) of the well, there was just a pressure gauge -- I wonder if it's still there.
Is that a manmade hill in the background of lower photo?
ReplyDeleteI love the weathered wood which they've used to hang the sign on - the Quiver tree is lovely and the landscape - hauntingly beautiful. Thanks for sharing that, Crow ;)
ReplyDeleteHowzit and thanks for the visit and comment Steve ... yeah, it's quite a stunning area and I still haven't explored all of it ...
ReplyDeleteI don't recall seeing the farm Lisbon you mention but I'll be sure to look out for it now and get a pic ...
Did you do a lot of traveling in Namibia?
No, that's natural Dave, though it looks like a mine-dump of sorts ... in the future I plan to do features on many of these roads and the scenery, then you'll see more of these strange flat-topped hills.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lynda ... what I think about most when I travel these roads is, in an age where there was no motorized transport, what on earth possessed people to explore and settle in this desolation?
ReplyDeleteWish I had enough space to put up a sign like this, but it would either be out of site or in the road! It truly is a great sign but I am surprised it has not been stolen for fire wood:-) Even in the middle of nowhere! I love quiver trees and that landscape....... Diane
ReplyDeleteHaha Diane - I didn't think of that ... yes, it is surprising that it hasn't been swiped for firewood ... but on the other hand, farmers usually have dogs and big guns ...
ReplyDelete... when I still had the old copper-wire telephone line on the plot I had two telephone poles stolen one rainy season - they burn well when the other wood is wet because of the tar used to termite-proof them ... I've also had many wooden fence-posts stolen for the same purpose ...
It's a wonderful scene for a photo but I'm like you...wondering what people would have gone to the area for in the days of no cars, etc. What does the sign say?
ReplyDeleteHi Penny - the sign states the names of the two brothers who own the farm: 'Boeta and Kiewiet de Klerk' and, the name of the farm: 'Kosos'
ReplyDeleteI was sure it was a mineslag tip!!!
ReplyDeleteTTFN
Looks like they recycled a tree for a very good use.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the translation! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Do you plan on doing more housebuilding? I will try to finish packing mom's things then make my way home at the end of the weekend for a rest.
ReplyDeleteIndeed lisleman ... i need to put up a distinctive sign at my property and this has got me thinking ...
ReplyDeleteYes Penny, I'm going north next week where I'll be doing some building ... I hope
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting sign, Crow. I'm enjoying your blog immensely. The next one of the "bucks" is brilliant. At night, whistling gemsbok used to run through the streets of the mining town where we lived in Namibia. Thanks for stirring my memories and heart with these beautiful images.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo ... I'm chuffed when I receive feedback that people enjoy my posts ... sadly I'll be silent for the next two months because at my home in the north I've got a lousy internet connection which makes it very expensive to blog ...
ReplyDeleteThe last time I was in Oranjemund I saw a few Gemsbokke grazing on the lawns in town.
I checked my diary - the artesian well on Lisbon was between Aus and Helmeringhausen. That was in the course of my (brief) career with Water Affairs. Checked boreholes in the Kochab Pan, where the nearest water was 90 metres away - straight down. Gemsbok seemed to thrive on it, though.
ReplyDeleteBut my last visit to Namibia was nearly 20 years ago now.
And I just love it too. Has it changed in one year Graham?
ReplyDeletemmm I haven't travelled that particular stretch of road for awhile now Fazlisa - maybe soon ...
ReplyDeleteThe sign state the names of my parents, Kiewiet is my mother's nickname, her real name is Marïette, we've been on the farm for 25 years now, I planted the sign and quiver tree one holiday, the black rocks come from a nearby riverbed.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Kosos-Farms/199440253425612
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Kobus - my daughter has visited the farm, she took photos of two Karacul kittens, I'm not sure whether she knows you or your parents ... how did you find this post? ... small world hey ...
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