TheIsland@GreatBrakRiver
  • Welcome to The Island@GreatBrakRiver
  • Island Blog
  • Island Amenities & Activities
    • Island Amenities & Activities
    • For the Adrenaline Junky
    • Farm Stalls & Craft Markets
    • For the Gourmand - Restaurants & Dining
    • Golf in the Garden Route
    • Park & Playground
    • Tennis
    • Swimming, Splashing & Snorkeling
    • Canoeing & Kayaking
    • Yoga
    • Beach Walking
    • Hiking & Walking >
      • Great Brak River Village - The Art Route
      • Great Brak River Village - Short Walks
      • Great Brak River Village - The Historic Route
    • Running & Cycling >
      • Great Brak River Village - Cycling Routes
      • Great Brak River Village - The Fragrance Route
    • Fishing
    • Whale and Dolphin Watching
    • Birdwatching
  • Island Etiquette & Safety
  • Getting Here
    • Getting Here
    • Vacation Rentals and Properties for Sale >
      • Plot 1
      • Plot 8 - "Water's Edge"
      • Plot 10
      • Plot 11 - "It'll Do"
      • Plot 14 - "Sandiways"
      • Plot 21 - "Hokaai"
      • Plot 22 - "Craigleith"
      • Plot 24 - "linga longa"
      • Plot 28
      • Plot 30 - "Tasvika"
      • Plot 33 - "Island Lodge B&B"
      • Plot 51 - "Joan's Place"
      • Plot 52A
      • Plot 57A
      • Plot 62 - "Offside"
      • Plot 74 - "Reier"
  • Vacation Rentals and Properties for Sale
    • Plot 1
    • Plot 8 - "Water's Edge"
    • Plot 10
    • Plot 11 - "It'll Do"
    • Plot 14 - "Sandiways"
    • Plot 21 - "Hokaai"
    • Plot 22 - "Craigleith"
    • Plot 24 - "linga longa"
    • Plot 28
    • Plot 30 - "Tasvika"
    • Plot 33 - "Island Lodge B&B"
    • Plot 51 - "Joan's Place"
    • Plot 52A
    • Plot 57A
    • Plot 62 - "Offside"
    • Plot 74 - "Reier"
  • Photo Gallery
  • Links & Resources
    • Links & Resources
  • Tide Tables
  • About Me
  • Island Residents' Association

Eskom Announces Stage 2 Load Shedding - Expect No Power on The Island from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Tonight - July 23rd

23/7/2015

0 Comments

 
Eskom has announced they will implement Stage 2 load shedding today, from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. this evening.  Based on the new load shedding schedule for the Greater Mossel Bay area (which went into effect on July 1st), this means if you're on The Island, you can expect to be without power from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. tonight.

Have an Android phone or tablet?  Download News24’s GridWatch app and receive load shedding notifications for locations you choose (Groot Brak, George, etc. - and yes, George is on a different schedule...) direct to your device as they are announced.

Good news for Apple users, too - the iOS version of the GridWatch app has been released and is available for download (free) from iTunes. 

Not to be outdone, albeit, rather late to the game, Eskom has just launched their own MyEskom apps which also provide load shedding schedules and information.  You can download the Android version from the Google Play store or the iOS version from iTunes.  I've not used either of the Eskom apps - but the GridWatch apps, above, work like a charm.
0 Comments

GridWatch - Handy Load Shedding App for Android and Now iOS

14/6/2015

0 Comments

 
The folks at News24 have a couple of handy apps if you're looking to keep up-to-date on the latest load shedding status.  The Android GridWatch app has been out for a couple of months.  Download it from Google Play to receive load shedding notifications for locations you choose (Groot Brak, George, etc. - and yes, George is on a different schedule...) direct to your device as they are announced.

And this week the iOS version of the GridWatch app for Apple users was released - it's available for download (free) on iTunes.  


Both of these mobile apps are in addition to the GridWatch website.
0 Comments

GridWatch - Handy Load Shedding Website App

14/4/2015

0 Comments

 
There is a great website app which News24 have developed which allows you to put in your preferred location(s), such as Great Brak and Port Elizabeth, and it shows you the current load shedding status for that city, including any that has been announced for later in the day.  It's called GridWatch.  The only flaw, if you can call it that, is that the app strictly adheres to the load shedding schedules, whereas Eskom doesn't (i.e. Eskom seems to end load shedding at 10:00 p.m. every day, whereas the schedules go to 10:30 p.m.).  Check it out - it's free of course.  Thanks to Andre for pointing it out.

UPDATE: Besides the website, mobile apps are now available for both Android and iOS.  Click here to see a subsequent post which provides full details.
0 Comments

New Loadshedding Schedule for Greater Mossel Bay (and The Island, Great Brak) - Feb 2, 2015

2/2/2015

6 Comments

 
IMPORTANT UPDATE:  Effective July 1, 2015 there is a new load shedding schedule for the Greater Mossel Bay area - see this post for the new schedule.  Until that time, the February, 2015 load shedding schedule (below) remains in effect.
UPDATE:  Check out the (free) GridWatch apps for either Android or iOS from News24 and receive load shedding notifications for locations you choose (Groot Brak, George, etc. - and yes, George is on a different schedule...) direct to your device as they are announced.

Mossel Bay Municipality's Technical Department has just forwarded a new load shedding schedule for the area (it comes from Eskom).  It is quite different from previous versions as not only are there 4 stages now (1, 2, 3A & 3B), but it is also day-of-month-dependent.
Picture
You may download it below or find it on the Municipality's own website which has also been updated.
02_feb_2014_new_loadshedding_schedule_-_beurtkrag-skedule.pdf
File Size: 95 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

UPDATE:  Check out the (free) GridWatch apps for either Android or iOS from News24 and receive load shedding notifications for locations you choose (Groot Brak, George, etc. - and yes, George is on a different schedule...) direct to your device as they are announced.
6 Comments

April 10, 2014: An Evening with the Stars

5/4/2014

0 Comments

 
Ever fancied yourself a modern-day Galileo Galilei or just curious about the stars, planets & constellations swirling around above us?  The Island is a great place for star-gazing - there's very little ambient light and the skies are usually clear at night.

But if you're like me, those little white dots in the sky can be a bit of a mystery - while I can see all kinds of shapes (a shopping cart and an open tin of "Lucky Star Pilchards" are just two of my discoveries which have yet to be officially recognized by NASA....), I struggle with recognizing the, umm, more conventional constellations.  

Planets are equally confounding.  Earlier in the week when I ran into the house, excited about spotting a new planet which NASA's Kepler mission had missed, my wife was a little too quick to point out that she didn't think planet Kulula and its 147 inhabitants counted.

That's why I've resorted to using Google's way-cool SkyMap app (see this earlier post on Stargazing for more details) - or other apps like Satellite AR or Space Junk Lite - to try to figure what's out there before announcing any more new discoveries.  But even with all that technological help, it's clear that in our household, I'm still not viewed as an authority on the subject.  Now I wonder if maybe I should plan to attend the next meeting of the newly-formed Brak River Astronomical Club (BRAC) and really build up some street cred.  The club was started by Andrew Gray who is new to the area (I was a bit disappointed to read he'd relocated from from Cape Town and not planet Zorgon, but as Past-President of the Southern Africa Astrological Society, I guess he's still pretty knowledgeable).

The club held their first meeting on March 13th and plan to hold meetings on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 19h00 at the Eden Country Inn in Little Brak.  The next meeting is scheduled for April 10th.  They have a distinguished guest lined up who will try to help solve the mystery of what's out there as well.  For just R20 you can join in the fun and have a bit of tea & coffee, too.

You can find out more details on the Great Brak River Community Network website  or contact Andrew Gray on 044-696-5913 or via e-mail at magray@xsinet.co.za
0 Comments

Does Some Strange Bird, Animal, Fish, Reptile, Insect, Plant or Other Living Have You Stumped?

19/2/2014

0 Comments

 
If you haven't heard of it already, there's a great site for nature-lovers (or just people who are curious) called iSpot.

They describe themselves as a "Facebook for Nature" - it's basically a place where you can post photos of any living organism, plot it on a google map, and if you happen to know what it is, identify it.  If you don't know what it is, you can ask the community for their input - apparently over 90% of new contributions are identified within the first 24 hours!  They've just passed the 100,000 observations mark a few days ago.
Picture
So, if that weird slimy thing in the tide pool has got you stumped, or perhaps you've spotted a plant in a neighbour's garden or on a footpath that you'd like to identify, or maybe you're unsure just what bird that is that's sitting on the feeder, or if you don't know your grunter from your harder (or your elbow), it's the perfect place to find out.  It's also a great way to get the kids involved in discovering and engaging in the natural world around them (what kid wouldn't like to combine creepy-crawlies with playing detective?).

Or maybe, get together with some friends and do your own "bioblitz" and catalogue an entire area (big or small).

And if you're a nature fundi, you can help others identify their mystery observations or simply contribute to plotting the biodiversity that exists within our very own backyard here in the Garden Route.

Click on the image above to check out their neat website!
0 Comments

Ships at Sea, Ships at Port...

8/1/2014

0 Comments

 
Ever been curious about the large ocean-going vessels offshore?  Well, www.marinetraffic.com is a neat website where you can find out more information - just zoom in on the map to the area you're interested in (Great Brak & Mossel Bay, for instance).
Picture

Or use the port search function on the left and type in Mossel Bay and you'll see some small coloured icons...
Picture
Picture

Click on one of them and you'll get a photo of the vessel - if you're curious about where it's come from, just click on the "Vessel Track" on that same photo and you'll see its path to its current position in the last hour. 
Picture
Picture

Use the zoom in/out unction and you can see what else is happening along the coast...
Picture
0 Comments

Perfect Timing for a Low Tide Beach Walk from The Island to Little Brak

2/1/2014

0 Comments

 
With the particularly low tide this morning it was a perfect day for a walk to the Reebok tide pools (and to Little Brak beyond).  If you only want to go as far as the tide pools, it's about a 45 minute walk.  Be sure to bring tekkies or old beach shoes so you can explore them without cutting your feet on the barnacles and mussels).

Oh, and if you're wondering what the helicopters are doing circling overhead - usually off Reebok - they are no doubt spotting Great White sharks (see the Ocearch shark tracker images below - but note these are just for the sharks that are tagged - and in order to "ping" the transmitting device must be at the surface & dry for 90 seconds - meaning this just scratches the surface of shark activity in the area).

Ocearch Shark Tracker - 1 Year
Picture
Ocearch Shark Tracker - 1 Month
Picture

Click on any of the images below for the full details of the beach walking route and for more photos on the sports-tracker.com website.
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Stargazing

13/12/2012

0 Comments

 
We've had some wonderfully clear skies the last few nights - and with such little ambient light, The Island is the perfect place for stargazing.  If you're a novice like me, but have a gps-enabled android smartphone, you'll find the Google Sky Map incredibly handy.  It is one of the most amazing free downloads I've come across. For iPhone and iPad users, the Star Walk app is similar and is available on iTunes for USD $2.99  Either way, just lay back on your blanket and point your phone skyward and voila! - the stars, planets, constellations, etc. are all be labelled for you.
0 Comments

    Author

    TheIsland@GreatBrak features the occasional blogpost in between braaiing and beach walks - stay tuned or drop me a line.

    Picture

    Archives

    December 2018
    December 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    Categories

    All
    2013/14 Holiday Season
    2014/15 Holiday Season
    2015/16 Holiday Season
    Adrenaline
    Anything That Floats - 2013
    Anything That Floats 2015
    Anything That Floats 2016
    Art Galleries & Exhibitions
    Auctions
    Beach
    Beach Walks
    Beer
    Birds
    Bootcamp
    Braai
    Bridge
    Coastal Cleanup
    Cycling
    Diaz Express
    Exercise
    Fishing
    Food
    George Agricultural Show
    Getting Here
    Golf
    Great Brak Muse Fest
    Great Brak River Community Network
    Great Brak River Tourism Initiative
    Hiking
    Island Life
    Kayaking
    Kite Surfing
    Klein Karoo
    Loadshedding
    Load Shedding
    Lost & Found
    Markets
    Meerkats
    Mountain Biking
    Mouth
    Music
    Neat Websites Apps
    Night Time Paddling
    Ocearch-shark-tracker
    Oudtshoorn
    Paddling
    Paragliding
    Photos
    Pilates
    Pinnacle Point Caves Points Of Human Origin
    Rheenendal Ramble
    Road Trips
    Roadworks
    Running
    Sedgefield
    Sharks
    Ships
    Stars
    Sunset
    Swimming
    Things To Do
    Tide Pools
    Trans Agulhas Challenge
    Vacation Rentals
    Village Marching Band
    Vistas
    Where To Eat
    Yoga


    Subscribe in a reader

    Get the latest Island blog updates delivered direct to your inbox:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner