Oranjemund Online

ORANJEMUND DISCUSSIONS! => Things I Remember About Oranjemund! => Topic started by: Michael Alexander on January 18, 2008, 08:15:05 AM

Title: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 18, 2008, 08:15:05 AM
How many of you from the 70's knew where the Gemsbok Graveyard was?

iknow
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on January 18, 2008, 08:32:22 AM
 idontknow  behind the abbatoir
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: georg ruf jr. on January 18, 2008, 08:48:01 AM
Duno? Where???
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Paula Gottsch (Willson) on January 18, 2008, 09:08:25 AM
Ummmm, I'm taking a wild guess here now, but was it were the dead Gemsboks are?


:emot19:
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: georg ruf jr. on January 18, 2008, 09:12:41 AM
Do you think that's funny????
Poor gemsbock. Shame on you.
yesno
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 18, 2008, 09:36:09 AM
Nope.... and I agree with Jnr, Paula, shame on you..... those boks had feelings also...

Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Paula Gottsch (Willson) on January 18, 2008, 10:10:29 AM
Pity you didn't think of that when you shot one and made biltong out of it hey Mike!!!

shooter faceinfood


Shame, shame!   :culo1:
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: georg ruf jr. on January 18, 2008, 10:15:27 AM
Hey Michael. How are feeling about Paula leaving OM? Be honest now? 
meanpuff bling1
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 18, 2008, 10:18:52 AM
..... mmmh! this might be a trick question....... damned if you do... damned if you don't....

:wow1:
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Paula Gottsch (Willson) on January 18, 2008, 10:19:32 AM
Quote from: georg ruf jr. on January 18, 2008, 10:15:27 AM
Hey Michael. How are feeling about Paula leaving OM? Be honest now? 
meanpuff bling1

He's going to miss me, like he misses having gout in his leg!

:emot19:

Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 18, 2008, 12:51:06 PM
To be safe on this one, I'll give my answer only once Paula has left the African Continent!

Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Paula Gottsch (Willson) on January 18, 2008, 01:14:35 PM
 :emot19:

Oh, come on Mike, be a brave boy for a change and tell Georg jr, I promise I won't come and slap you at the shop!

:emot19:

Georg jr, he's going to miss me!!!!

:emot19: :buffo9:
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: georg ruf jr. on January 18, 2008, 02:10:48 PM
As I said, some form of African love....   yesno laughpoint
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Richard Opperman on January 18, 2008, 04:07:45 PM
Quit the idle chatter and stick to the topic.  :36_2_35:

Near the salt pan - easy to make biltong?  e154

I remember our gang of friends in the 60s coming accross a pregnant gemsbok that had sunk to its belly in the mud.
It must of been dead for one or to days, we marked the spot and returned about two weeks later to collect the horns.
Sad but nature looks looks after itself.

Richard 

Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Barbara Eia (Brownless) on January 18, 2008, 04:13:46 PM
Hear Hear.......by the time i have gone through a topic, i forget what its about.
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Barbara Eia (Brownless) on January 18, 2008, 04:15:28 PM
 idontknow    I have never heard about gemsbok graveyard, will see if my dad remembers
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 18, 2008, 04:54:11 PM
This was in the mid 70's.... i'll give the answer on MOnday....

Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on January 18, 2008, 09:56:15 PM
So wasn't Richard right then?   :wow1:
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Clint Ebstein on January 19, 2008, 05:46:49 PM
Yo Mike I don`t remember the graveyard, where you drinking at that stage, it might explain alot
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 19, 2008, 07:46:36 PM
Nope.... tell you on Monday.....

Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Alfred Boehme on January 19, 2008, 07:53:48 PM
I know where it is and I'm not telling

Alfred
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: georg ruf jr. on January 19, 2008, 08:21:43 PM
Heyguys, common. I've been watching this topic for hours. To much suspence. I'm running out of cardio-pills!
TELL ME NOW!!

meanpuff thumper thumper
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 19, 2008, 09:02:17 PM
 :emot19:
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Alfred Boehme on January 20, 2008, 08:27:14 PM
Lets keep them waiting a little longer  :36_2_35:
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 27, 2008, 10:43:29 AM
As a kid growing up in Oranjemund in the 70's , this area surrounded by the red circle had a lot more tree's . like 1st avenue had, they were thick and there was only 2 ways into the middle of this circle of tree's. In the centre was a huge open area, no grass, just little mounds of gravel, but scattered all over the place was a lot of dried white bones belonging to dead Gemsbok. At the time there must have been easily 40 skeletons.... and off cours the signature gemsbok horns.... as the years went by the horns were taken home by various people to mount above their bars and braai's... we as kids in the 70's referred to this circled of area as the The Gemsbok Graveyard.... adapted form the Tarzan Movie on circuit at the time, that had an Elephant Graveyard...... If you go there today, the tree's are all gone and the boned no longer there.....

Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Rhona on January 27, 2008, 11:25:32 AM
Just had a look at the map...............the seven sisters, OMG!!! Only the other day the seven sisters popped into my head and I was just about to add a post to the site to see if I had an overactive imagination or if they truley existed, nice one Mike...........thanks. Guess I just have a good memory.
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: georg ruf jr. on January 27, 2008, 12:25:19 PM
Hey. We used to "camp" there as kids. At least in the trees. We never bothered going further, so we never saw the graveyard.
But why are so many trees gone. I've seen this on google earth to.
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on January 27, 2008, 02:01:10 PM
They don't plant tree's here anymore, no more Parks and Gardens. One reason for cutting the tree's back in the 80's was that the tree jungle gave the diamond runners a place to hide from the chasing helicopter.....when you drive into town these days you can see straight through the tree line now.......
I know down at Hohenfels, Nature Conservation people wanted to gut all those massive tall bluegums down, because they are not indigenous to the area....

The other day in Spar, I brought in small pine tree's , 20 of them, the people bought them all within a week, so at least we know that there are a few tree's being planted in the gardens....

Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: georg ruf jr. on January 27, 2008, 04:05:24 PM
 notfair :emot78:
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Adriaan Van Rooyen on January 27, 2008, 04:40:05 PM
Hey Mike thats not the gemsbok graveyard,more like tha Bluebulls grave yard laughpoint laughpoint :emot19:
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on August 19, 2008, 02:23:48 PM
I thought that this was a pretty good and interesting topic and am extremely sad to realise that nobody else seemed to know about this.... perhaps in my own small mind, perhaps Tarzan playing at the bioscope and the elephant graveyard had corrupted my innocent mind.... perhaps.....just perhaps!

cat1.gif
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 19, 2008, 03:23:41 PM
@ MIke - I remember the trees, but not the graveyard.  Strange, because I used to play there a lot.  Looking at the photograph you have, there were definitely more trees in the 70's, especially to the right next to the incoming road.  To the South of the practice range (not on the picture) there was a triple row of Port Jacksons, overgrown with Morning glories (purple flowered creeper) which formed mats between the branches you could actually walk on - just like in the Tarzan movies!  They weren't however strong enough to swing on like Tarzan did - I have the scars to prove that!
affe-red
Checked on GE quickly - it seems that the trees were really thinned out - this is from just south of your picture.
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: DUNJA WRBKA on August 19, 2008, 04:58:48 PM
Is it near where the trim park used to be ?  Think we had a horse show there one year if my memory serves me correctly.  Would never have guessed that it was a graveyard for Gemsbok ...  202
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 19, 2008, 05:25:00 PM
Sorry Dunja, I cant remember the trim park. idontknow
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: DUNJA WRBKA on August 19, 2008, 05:30:56 PM
Does that perhaps have something to do with the fact that you would rather work in your garden then excercise ?  arse   laughpoint  swink
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on August 19, 2008, 05:34:23 PM
The purple creeper flowers....were African Violets....

Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: DUNJA WRBKA on August 19, 2008, 05:39:23 PM
I know a little off the subject but how do you know your gardener is a racist ?

When he refuses to water your afrikanertjies....
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 19, 2008, 05:40:47 PM
No Mike, were you rolling in the grass?   weed
Violets grow on the ground.  Morning glories "rank" into the trees!
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Diana Rudd (Boehme) on August 19, 2008, 08:48:15 PM
Morning Glories ??????
Trim Parks??????
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: barb (Fry) on August 19, 2008, 09:09:00 PM
 laughpoint  African violets

Have you remembered yet
hairy fat leaves, grow in small pots on all window sills of certain ladies over certain age
easy to take cuttings,
just stick a leave into a new pot of soil.............
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Florrie van Zyl (Muir) on August 20, 2008, 01:52:51 PM
Bertie is right, morning glory, we had a creeper like that in our garden there too.
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Paula Gottsch (Willson) on August 20, 2008, 01:58:54 PM
I'm sure Bertie is right, he should know if he has a Morning glory or not.

msn emoticon (224) image04
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: DUNJA WRBKA on August 20, 2008, 02:06:29 PM
 :wow1:   image201
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 20, 2008, 02:08:25 PM
Thanx Barb, Florrie & Paula for backing me.  Mike, I can give you the Latin names, but then I'll be accused of swearing again! msn emoticon (9) ha ha
Carl, NO hidden filthy connections regarding the plant names, please.  I'll call Dunja to sort you out again!
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on August 20, 2008, 02:39:56 PM
At our house in 1st avenue in the 70's , the entire front of the house was just one big creeper, purple flowers...I'm sure that was an African Violet.... I will ask my father...... mystery time.....
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 20, 2008, 03:02:13 PM
Ok Mike, you asked for it!  Let this botanist give you some homework to do:

Go google the following names or look it up in any gardening book

1. Ipomoea indica (or Ipomoea purpurea)                 - this is Morning Glory
2. Saintpaulia magungensis (or Saintpaulia ionantha)  - this is African Violet

Now don't let the girls do all the work, I'll ask them! msn emoticon (9)
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on August 20, 2008, 03:12:50 PM
When I look at both of these pics, they both are not the same ones we had..... I have a photograph of the front of our house with those blerrie flowers... I will seek, scan and submit for your exper approval........  msn emoticon (9)   grab
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 20, 2008, 03:29:13 PM
That was quick, Mike! 10% bonus for dedication!
Ok, I'll check in early tomorrow morning again.  Now I'm curious about what you had in the garden!
Early night for me - a little bushed tonight.
allgood
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Cherry (Alcock) on August 20, 2008, 04:11:29 PM
Not a Wisteria Mike?  There were some really green fingered peeps in Ormd who managed to grow this creeper but a photo would be nice!
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: SandyB on August 20, 2008, 07:09:21 PM
I got huge Wisteria in my garden  just looks  after itself .. ..  Morning glory can also get onto wall if it get a foothold on a rafter ..  I recall qhite a few homes had morning glory  growing as well ..
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 21, 2008, 03:37:39 AM
Cherry might be right.  I remember some Wisteria's in Oranjemund.  Bunches of aromatic purple flowers hung over the fence in the "gangetjie" in 11th avenue (must've been the eastern fence of E6/11, or the house behind them).  Let's wait for Mike's picture, then we'll know!
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: SandyB on August 21, 2008, 04:25:23 AM
If its wisteria then its in winter phase ... mine dead  and bare at the moment .. trivia .. apparently wisteria from china and japan differ in the direction of  the twist of the branches ??
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 21, 2008, 05:43:17 AM
You're right, Sandy.  Should flower soon, usually surprises you and when it decides to flower it really moves.  Regarding the twisting of creepers ...  Just like water swirls in different directions when bath is emptied in Southern and Northern hemispheres!  All to do with the spinning of this big marble we're staying on.
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Jean on August 21, 2008, 05:56:01 AM
Mike, was it a beaugonvilla (sp??) - we had one growing up a trellis in the front of our house in 9the avenue and it grows fairly aggressively. If you don't cut it back, it will go wild!  I also have a pic of it in our garden - will see if I can find it and scan it in.
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 21, 2008, 06:04:06 AM
@ Jean - Aah, another purple possibility!  The plot thickens!  We'll have to wait for Mike's pic to know what the mystery plant is.  Let's see? msn emoticon (9)
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Jean on August 21, 2008, 03:51:27 PM
Here's the pic of our beaugonvilla in our garden in 9th avenue.  First pic when we'd just planted it (with Uncle Paul - Pepe -pulling a funny face) and the second pic a few years on (with me and my tennis trophies  numberone).  Is it the beaugonvilla Mike?  Very thorny too, those plants!!
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Jean on August 21, 2008, 04:00:13 PM
Oops - here are the pics!!
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on August 21, 2008, 04:32:06 PM
In sheer amazement I dug through my old pics last night, and found the photo, much to my embarrasment( Yeah! Like i get shy!) ...... there was a creeper, but it was not the flowering type, I will post a pic 2morrow.... then we can discuss what type of creeper.... it was...

Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 21, 2008, 05:20:03 PM
Oh, so we saw flowers where there was none? Uh-hum. Explain, please..... msn emoticon (224)
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Rhona on August 21, 2008, 05:30:56 PM
I just knew there wasn't purple flowers creeping along the wall at your house Mike....  :nono1:
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 21, 2008, 05:34:56 PM
Maybe the flowers had hands and feet .... and lots of teeth .....  and big angry eyes ...... and they scared Mike at nite!
8_1_220(55)
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Rhona on August 21, 2008, 05:37:47 PM
I do remember a green ivy type creeper at his place......one time we all trecked out to the desert and caught a cameleon, we brought it back to first avenue and were made let it lose in the creeper...............at least I think that happened - maybe it was all a dream  164
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Bertie Horak on August 21, 2008, 05:39:45 PM
Probably Ivy - lo of that around.  We'll wait for the promised picture!  164
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on August 21, 2008, 06:55:13 PM
I might have a photo of the cameleon.....  arse
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: SandyB on August 21, 2008, 09:30:17 PM
Beaganvilla .. have that too .. prolific grower ...  its our  "barbed wire on the back wall "  will post a pic ...
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Grainne on August 22, 2008, 01:18:30 PM
 iknow there was a cameleon Rhona it wasn't a dream we let it go into the ivy and whatch it change colour
Title: Re: The Gemsbok Graveyard!
Post by: Michael Alexander on August 22, 2008, 02:25:45 PM
@Grainne, there were a lot of colour changing things in that ivy!

msn emoticon (8)