Author Topic: WC - Reccie (Read 2541 times)

pantsula · « **Reply #20 on:** November 03, 2008, 08:14:39 am »

seems like you guys had fun

Nice one

N[]vA · « **Reply #21 on:** November 03, 2008, 10:37:58 am »

My pics

We eneded up some where "unexpected" with the friendly sound of baboons fighting and barking in the background

tiny lil dots are all baboons, I think my poor happy snapper camera was at its wits end trying to focus on them so far away

Some kewl rock formations

Other dogs

Thats all I got a chance to take, was a damn fun ride though

mountainboy · « **Reply #22 on:** November 03, 2008, 11:00:47 am »

Lucky baastids!!

what an awesome ride

sorry I missed this

MrBig · « **Reply #23 on:** November 03, 2008, 11:01:38 am »

fokkit I'm sooooo jealous right now.
If only I had a bike... mmm..

Camelman · « **Reply #24 on:** November 03, 2008, 11:03:57 am »

Cool one okes!

Smaak that old canon!

I was exploring the Eastern Cape, fighting rocks, sand and wild animals for 6 hours. LOL!

KAT-WP · « **Reply #25 on:** November 03, 2008, 11:43:47 am »

The Saron Canal looks like a cool section 2 ride

You guys always have gr8 fun out there on ur reccie rides, nice

Fidel · « **Reply #26 on:** November 03, 2008, 12:11:40 pm »

Very Nice guys. True adventure riding, finding new places and learning new things, all while in beautiful surrounds.

Eishhh.......dis lekker in die Kaap.

Howz that cannon!! thats now something interesting.

Andy....youre the man.

Pistonpete · « **Reply #27 on:** November 03, 2008, 12:14:05 pm »

The question is rather "how did the cannon get to stay there".......i thought it impossible to leave scrap around! Bronze is it

Andy660 · « **Reply #28 on:** November 03, 2008, 12:34:19 pm »

No , it is steel and its really not accesable to the public anyway

N[]vA · « **Reply #29 on:** November 03, 2008, 12:43:49 pm »

Quote from: XT660R on November 03, 2008, 12:34:19 pm

No , it is steel and its really not accesable to the public anyway

lol was boarder line not accessible to us either

I sruggled on that last rocky section after the road ended lekka fun though

Crossed-up · « **Reply #30 on:** November 03, 2008, 03:24:11 pm »

Gerry de Vries is the expert on cannon at the Cape. He mailed me this info.

John,

The gun which you saw on the farm "Vondeling" is a Dutch 8 pounder cast iron gun made at Finspang in Sweden. This is known by the "F" on the trunnon end. The length is 2112mm and the diameter of the base ring is 421mm. The date of manufacture is around 1750 and you may have noted the VOC marking on top of the first reinforce which has an "A" above that. This is the Amsterdam chapter of the Dutch East India Company. The 1996 on top of the base ring is followed by an "A" which denotes 1996 Amsterdam pounds ( 1 A = 0,494kg ) which is the weight of the gun.
This gun is one of the original 54 guns that made up a signal chain which began near the Castle and extended as far as Citrusdal in the North and beyond Swellendam in the East. It is registered as an Heritage item.
Regards,
Gerry de Vries

Crossed-up · « **Reply #31 on:** November 03, 2008, 03:30:03 pm »

Quote from: Crossed-up on November 03, 2008, 03:24:11 pm

The 1996 on top of the base ring is followed by an "A" which denotes 1996 Amsterdam pounds ( 1 A = 0,494kg ) which is the weight of the gun.

That translates to 986 kg. I'm glad I didn't have to lug it up there.

N[]vA · « **Reply #32 on:** November 03, 2008, 03:35:24 pm »

Quote from: Crossed-up on November 03, 2008, 03:24:11 pm

Gerry de Vries is the expert on cannon at the Cape. He mailed me this info.

This gun is one of the original 54 guns that made up a signal chain which began near the Castle and extended as far as Citrusdal in the North and beyond Swellendam in the East.

Lekka, lets go find the other 53

Pistonpete · « **Reply #33 on:** November 03, 2008, 03:41:38 pm »

Quote from: Crossed-up on November 03, 2008, 03:30:03 pm

Quote from: Crossed-up on November 03, 2008, 03:24:11 pm
The 1996 on top of the base ring is followed by an "A" which denotes 1996 Amsterdam pounds ( 1 A = 0,494kg ) which is the weight of the gun.

That translates to 986 kg. I'm glad I didn't have to lug it up there.

Thats why they had slaves mate! Imagine the lil bushman types checking out the cannon...HKGK....

PARAMED · « **Reply #34 on:** November 03, 2008, 04:49:21 pm »

Quote from: Crossed-up on November 03, 2008, 03:24:11 pm

Gerry de Vries is the expert on cannon at the Cape. He mailed me this info.

John,

The gun which you saw on the farm "Vondeling" is a Dutch 8 pounder cast iron gun made at Finspang in Sweden. This is known by the "F" on the trunnon end. The length is 2112mm and the diameter of the base ring is 421mm. The date of manufacture is around 1750 and you may have noted the VOC marking on top of the first reinforce which has an "A" above that. This is the Amsterdam chapter of the Dutch East India Company. The 1996 on top of the base ring is followed by an "A" which denotes 1996 Amsterdam pounds ( 1 A = 0,494kg ) which is the weight of the gun.
This gun is one of the original 54 guns that made up a signal chain which began near the Castle and extended as far as Citrusdal in the North and beyond Swellendam in the East. It is registered as an Heritage item.
Regards,
Gerry de Vries

Now that is flippen interesting.... I think we should find and photograph as many of the 54 over a 12 month period as possible.... Mabe even gps co-ord each one and then overlay them on a map which could be donated to the castle.... I think we are onto something important,all that history,out there waiting to be revisited!

Our tree felling business will sponsor some fuel in this regard!

WayneH and the boys,what say you??

Crossed-up · « **Reply #35 on:** November 03, 2008, 05:31:16 pm »

We all share the same thought ...

Pistonpete · « **Reply #36 on:** November 03, 2008, 05:35:05 pm »

...in the name of history...good excuse for access

Clever chaps

Name: XT660R's Cannonball Run
Wilddog Cannonball Run

Lito · « **Reply #37 on:** November 03, 2008, 05:43:26 pm »

That is AMAZING information lads - so frikking cool man

Unfortunately, that place isnt accessible for all, for obvious reasons chaps.

That 1996 now really makes sense. The sense of history is just mindboggling.

Love it - great pics guys - nice additions

Andy660 · « **Reply #38 on:** November 03, 2008, 06:30:08 pm »

Now guys , I was thinking along the same lines.Although , I thought we should joint the Cannon society , so we have permission to ride up and check that all the guns are still in place and safe.
We get the rides and they get the reports,
That way , we cant get shot at !.
However , I disagree with the GPS thing.
Just how long do you think it will take for some greedy man to use your GPS to find a 986 kg piece of scrap metal.
Nope ! I think that most of us Wilddogs are respossible enough to keep that info to ourselves , and enjoy the routes up the mountains.
I found another route to a connon , also not very well known , but that will be the next ride for the reccie team.

Watty · « **Reply #39 on:** November 03, 2008, 06:41:10 pm »

Very interesting bit of old Cape history. I would really like to know when that cannon fired its last round.

Author Topic: WC - Reccie (Read 2541 times)

Camelman