When I arrived the whole countryside was ash-grey. The fires in January had devastated the whole area. Blackened branches poke out of the sand here and there, nothing green in site.
These pines didn’t burn right down and have since produced green pine leaves at the very tips of the branches.
In other places huge gaping holes testimony to Pine trees that used to stand tall there, now reduced to ashes and a bit of bark under the ground. I have never seen anything like this before. Aparently the heat was phenomenal and created such a suction that it broke a number of windows in the house and outbuildings. They were very lucky. Their neighbour’s house is but a mangle of zink and debris.
After the rains, the veld has transformed. Patches of ochre and blonde sand are interspersed with brilliant green growth after a few short weeks.
As you can see new growth is coming out and up as if by magic.
However, farmers are still burning lands, even in gale-force winds. It is amazing.
In Kommetjie we were protected from the wind by the Milkwoods, but here we are exposed to the elements.
We see the sun come up in the east and set in the west. Here are some pics.
I will add more pictures as time goes by.
Sonies Overberg Blog 