My First Field Day

So on Monday we went to Kluitjieskraal (pronounced Clay-tees-kraal) which is plantation about 1.5 hours north east of Stellenbosch. Because we had to put our dataloggers on the machines at the plantation as close to shift start as possible (which is 7 am), we left at 5:45 am. So it was an early morning!

This is a photo as we drove down the ridge into the crater-like valley where the compartment (cut block) we were going to is. It's very beautiful and surreal with the rough mountains in a bowl like shape around us. Definitely a great view!

And here is the compartment the crew was working in for the day. We went out to test a data-logger (multidat) which has a GPS and vibration sensor built into it. As the machine moves, it records this information so we can tell when the machine was on, moving, idling, etc. We put it into the skidder (the machine that hauls logs out of the forest and to the road) and ask the skidder driver to press a button whenever he stops, drives, takes lunch break, fuels up, and has delays. This was also a testing period for us to learn the best way to instruct machine operators in using the multidat logger.

Anywho, once the skidder driver understood and he started working my job really started. I also got to record on my handheld palm the time the skidder driver took to do every activity. Basically it involved pushing a button for everytime he stopped and started and then recording how many logs he pulled out of the plantation at a time. It required a lot more focus than I expected but I started feeling more confident with it by the afternoon.

Also, for those who are interested, this plantation is entirely Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) and the trees are perfectly spaced in a neat grid pattern. There is also very little understory vegetation. Much nicer to walk through than brush over my head!

At lunch, we drove to the other end of the valley which has a stream running out and down a beautiful series of waterfalls. It was nice to have a chance to dip our feet. The compartment was really dusty and I was very glad to be clean, even for just a moment. I also got a great picture of this little lizard. He was the second one I saw that day. I'm not sure what type of lizard, but still very cool.

Here is a shot of the waterfall/valley. We sat high up on the rocks and had a great view down the mountain. The stream had a little flood gate on it, so the water was very slow moving at the top. There was also some comfy rocks to sit on and eat.

And finally the biggest surprise of the day! When we were driving back to the compartment after lunch, we failed to notice the strange, brownish-yellow, stick shape on the road...until we hit it and the cobra flared its neck ridges. We didn't kill it instantly and it started to slither back into the grass as you can see here. The sad part is it was very badly injured on its tail and it probably won't survive. But it is really not safe to go up to an agitated cobra and try and put it out of its misery. So very cool but very sad at the same time.

This is a Cape Cobra which are relatively common in the Western Cape. They are quite venomous but they also are very shy and not aggressive so people aren't often bit by them. Also, the cobra's distinctive neck ridges give it away quite fast and the Cape Cobra doesn't spit venom (although apparently when cornered they will try but can't). So it is quite sad to kill one because they really aren't a threat to people.

So all in all it was a very interesting day. Unfortunately I was a little bit sun burnt and the cobra was hurt, but it was a great experience to see South African logging up close and personal. And the scenery was spectacular as always!