Shark in Breede River

I have taken this article from SEALINE.co.za 

Dear all,

I write to give you the details of our research expedition to the Breede River during the week January 19-25.

The purpose of the expedition was to determine whether reports of Zambezi (bull) sharks in the Breede River could be confirmed.  Scientifically, confirmed reports would be extremely relevant on a global scale as this would represent the most south-westerly distribution of bull sharks in Africa.

Joining us on the expedition was Dr. Steve Lamberth and his team from MCM, Hennie Papenfuss from Big Fish Safari and a team of four from SASC.  We fished for 3 days with no luck & were rewarded on the 4th day when Hennie caught a bull shark on his line.  After an hour and a half struggle with the fish (during which it towed him 2.5km further upstream), Hennie managed to tire her enough to bring her close to shore for landing.  Our team then brought her carefully to the shore, where we were able to collect all the required data.  

We measured her, tagged her with two acoustic continuous tags and one spaghetti tag, and gathered genetic samples in order to determine whether bull sharks in the Breede River represent a distinct population from those found elsewhere in South Africa.  

She is a world-record breaking shark measuring 4 metres total length, weighing in the vicinity of 550-600kg.  This is the largest bull shark known to science - the previous maximum size was thought to be 3.5 metres TL.  We also suspect she was heavily pregnant and may very well be using the Breede as a pupping ground.  Scientifically speaking, this discovery is huge and groundbreaking.

Following the tagging, we proceeded to track her for 43 continuous hours.  She spent the majority of the time in the estuary, with only a few hours in the surf zone just outside the river mouth.

To speak quite frankly, it was the most incredible experience of my life and I am so excited about the research we will continue to do.  One of the major problems is acquiring the funding to continue the research, as it is vitally important we return to the Breede within the next 2 weeks to continue tracking her.

PLEASE NOTE THERE IS WILL BE AN IMMEDIATE BAN ON SHARK FISHING IN THE BREEDE RIVER IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE CONSERVATION OF THIS MAGNIFICENT ANIMAL!!!  I BEG YOU TO ADHERE TO THIS BAN & BE PART OF AN AMAZING SCIENTIFIC AND CONSERVATION INITIATIVE.

My most sincere apologies: in my very exhausted and excited state I neglected to mention that Stiaan Conradie and Nick Scholtz from the Lower Breede River Conservancy (LBRC) were a crucial part of our sampling and tracking teams.  The LBRC donated all their time to us during the course of the expedition & were unwavering in their support.

Many thanks to all those who truly made the expedtition possible!
-- 

The Swee...test Thing !!!

Its been a hell of a long time, I have, along with alot of people and friends here have suffered bleary eyes and hangovers watching cricket in Australia at the ungodly hours it is shown. Its been pure pain for years and years. Our first tour was back in 1993-94. Fresh from finishing Std.8 we could'nt wait to have a chance. Realistically we should have lost that series 2-0 but thank god Vinnige Fanie bowled his ass off on the final day at Sydney and we won the final test by 18 runs or so. Very memorable times.

I dont know what it is about our Aussie mates but we f'ing hate them. Its basically cause they very good and usually beat us. Fair and square. But its not just the teams it's the place, who could forget losing the 1992 World Cup Semi final. Watching the team on the balcony in tears as they realised the dream was over, maybe it was also the dream was over for the whole country, remember the referendum just after that or was it during the World Cup. Who cares, this place was sitting on a knife edge and us usual sport was our escape from the realities of life. Thank heavens I was probably too young to appreciate the full pressures of life, mine were far worse. Teenage years were a living hell, dont tell me they were the best years ever. Crap.

Anyway back to my old friend sport and that B E A U...TIFUL tour of Australia. Lets put it down in history, put up a monument to Smithers, with the words " Drive Smithers , Drive ! "

Who cares lets celebrate it, its a massive achievement. Right alongside winning a series in New Zealand ( rugby you plonkers )

The Australian series started just before my holidays and now that the one dayers are finished too, I can finally go back and focus on work. For me and every over eager purist out there who will tell you in the members at Newlands ( I'll never call it what they call it now ) Test Cricket is the shit, the series was truly amazing. I have watched a few days of the old game in my life but this was different. Every time we seemed to wobble and look to hit the floor like an old boxer we somehow managed to find our legs again and come out fighting. The 1st Test, I can honestly say that I thought we were out of it, not a chance in hell. Dont even bother getting your hopes up ( I was'nt the only one ) but the 2nd with that deficit and the batting we had left. I was almost crying in my pillow saying how could they do this to us again. I never set my alarm the next morning and when Jamie phoned me screaming something along the lines of..." Duminy, that little mutha f@%&* is still batting, we cleaning them !!! " I was down the stairs and had the TV on in seconds my mind or my eyes could not comprehend what was happening. After years, again I'll say it, I mean years of them doing this stuff to us we finally were doing it to them. The Sweetest thing I ever did see, well until now that is. Watching the stress build on every Aussie player, fan and most definitely their beloved Commentators has been true bliss. I could go on and on but I wont.

For those of you out of the loop and not quite getting it here dont worry its just something has been bothering a few of us for a while. Its over for awhile now we can sit back relax enjoy it and look forward to the return tour in a months time.

First team to win a series in AUS for 16 years.

First SA team ever to win a Series.

2nd Highest run chase in 1st Test ever. 414 Highest 418 but who cares this was so sic.

I could go on, please send me stats if you have them.

Well talk about that another time.

Attakwaaskloof MTB

For anyone out there thinking about doing a tough race, pencil this one in. Its one of the hardest days I have had on the saddle. I like to compare myself to a cowboy riding over terrain on some mission, not sure why maybe its the kid thing or it just helps the mind whittle away them miles, but this way definitely some cowboy terrain. 126 km from Oudsthoorn to Groot Brak which took me 7 hrs and 21 minutes landing me in 62 posi overall. I wanted to get a silver under seven hours and was on track but sometimes we write cheques our body just cant cash. It's a very painful and harrowing reminder that we are all human and no matter how much you do we all have a point where the body says, no sir !

The last 50 kms are a massive ball ache of constant rolling hills as we wound our way to the coast. Down a valley then back up again was enough to send me very close to suicide. Seriously, when someone says save some energy for the last 40kms you should listen, but hey whats life without a lesson learnt. Overall I would say the first three quarters were rad but they could find some tracks to help ease the boredom of rolling hills. My mind by that stage was thinking of the Spur burger I had passed up at water point 3 or 4. 

But riding through the Attakwaaskloof was awesome, tough jeep track with some rocky descents and stunning scenery to make it a proper ride. The miles are now under the belt and its not far from Epic time for me and my partner Anton. Its serious now, you dont want to go through that day after day. 

Until next year and my quest for the Sub Seven Silver...

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN

Hello there,

Sorry for going AWOL for awhile there, no excuses needed so welcome to our first New year.

I heard this quote over the holidays and think it will fit very nicely into my life.

So get yourself out there ---CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN---

All the best for your New Years, I hope I can bring you some joy and perhaps add something to your day or life via my ramblings.

Take care out there