Vaalnest Boutique Hotel - Newsletter | April 2010

Activity Packages for Friends, Groups and Families:

Quad Biking:

Exciting & adventurous trails.
Min 5 people.

Fishing Safaris:

For an exciting full day safari down the Vaal River, including all the hot spots.
Min 2 people.

River Rafting:

Inclusive of a briefing and gear.
Min 6 people

All specials and packages are subject to availability. Call now to book your adventure 016 372 1075

YES!! It’s that time of the year again… exciting days ahead as we prepare ahead for the Vaal Wed Wedding Expo, happening at the Emerald Casino on the 29th - 30th August 2010. What’s really got us all worked up and jumping around, is deciding on our many tasteful table decors and outside gazebo dressings for our much acclaimed, garden wedding settings. All this and so much more will be on show at the expo this year, from exotic wedding dresses to professional photographers, all showcasing their best work and designs. Towering cakes to breathtaking venues, every professional will be there exhibiting their very best to make that special event, unforgettably, your very own dream come true.

May 2011, marks the dream day of a special couple who will have the opportunity to have their moment in time, guided and all paid for, by Vaalwed’s professional team of associates.

Yes, we are giving a wedding away :). Entry forms will be available to everybody at the Vaal Mall from the 22 April until the 15th August 2010. So... tell someone you know, spread the word around, let’s make a day, from once a date an unforgettable time in someone’s life.

ANGLING 101

I am often approached at boat and tackle shows or fishing seminars by both adults and young people wanting to know how to get started in fishing. Where can you go to get the basic information on how to fish, not just the equipment and tackle needed, but how to get started from scratch? What kind of fish to fish for, what do they look like, how do you rig the bait or lures, how do you tie a knot, what kind of rod and reel?

To most of us in the fishing world, these are things we learned growing up. But many adults have missed the outdoors and now they don't know where to go to give their children the things they missed in the outdoor world. There are lots of different kinds of fish to fish for. Catfish and carp are plentiful and primarily prefer prepared or live bait. Crappie are fun and it's easy to learn to catch them, too.

Now we will talk about the fish I like to pursue, bass. Bass are part of the perch family also (bream and perch), just on the larger side. We will start with the striper, hybrids and sand bass. Hybrids are a cross between a striper and a sand bass and typically do not spawn, although there have been some documented cases. Stripers and hybrids prefer live shad, perch and at times cut up shad. Stripers are typically found in river dams. Sand bass like minnows, but are fun to catch on artificial lures like small jigs, spoons and lipless crankbait-type lures. When they are surfacing (chasing shad), they can wear you out.

Smallmouth and spotted bass are usually found in deep clear-water lakes, some rivers, they are tough to catch, picky eaters and typically stay in deeper water. Black bass (my favourites) on the other hand, are probably the most pursued freshwater fish. Although they will hit live shad and shiners, most anglers use artificial baits. Black bass can be found in shallow to deep water at all times of the year. Spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, diving crankbaits, grubs and centipede type baits all work well, some better at different times of the year than others. Colours can vary also, but the best rule of thumb is dark colours on dark days, light colours on bright days and sticking to the colours that most closely resemble the food source of the fish.

Lets look at the fishing equipment and tackle that you might need to get started. If you are just starting out and don't know or are not going to concentrate on a particular fish group, I would recommend getting a Zebco 33 rod and reel package. It comes with 10-pound line and will be good for most of the fish mentioned. The other basic tackle that I think you need include the following. Some size #6 or #8 live bait hooks, a couple of crappie rigs, a few 1/4- and 3/8-ounce bell weights, a small cork or float. This will cover any live bait fishing you may do. I would recommend that you use artificial, less trouble and not as messy. To get started with artificial you will need a package of 1/0 offset worm hooks, some 3/16-ounce bullet worm weights and a package of 4-inch watermelon and pumpkinseed Venom worms called Slammers. One or two, 1/8-ounce shad pattern spinnerbaits and a couple of 1/4-ounce chrome/blue back lipless crankbaits. For crappie, perch and sand bass, a few small white and chartreuse jig heads with the same colour small grubs. This should give you the basic tackle to entice a variety of species.

As your knowledge and skills improve, so will your choice of tackle change to adapt to the ability that comes with experience. If you're helping to get a new angler started, just keep it simple in the beginning and make it fun.

thanks to Bonita Staples at bassresource.com

APRIL BIRTH FLOWER

The April birth flower is the daisy. Daisies are associated with innocence. The gerbera daisy has large colourful blooms, which has made it a favourite with flower lovers. There is a legend that a nymph wanting to escape unwanted attention, transformed herself into the daisy. Ever after this the April birth flower has the flower meaning of implicitly and modesty. An alternate birth flower for April is the sweet pea.

The Gerbera Daisy is a perennial favourite. This daisy and April birth flower is a wonderful flower to design bouquets with as it can be the focal point or an accent. The Gerbera Daisy is actually a perennial herb native to South Africa. The Gerbera Daisy is also known as the African Daisy, Transvaal Daisy, Gerb, and Barberton Daisy. It is one of the most popular cut flowers. The fresh look of the daisy looks great in any location of your house.

These large bold April birth flower come in dozens of colours and work well in almost any arrangement. The Gerbera daisy has become the most prized daisy variety due to its bold and striking appearance. Although the Gerbera Daisy is native to South Africa, it has become a popular flower the world over. A Gerbera Daisy is perfect for any occasion as it is cheerful and playful. With it's bold colours and regal bearing, the Gerbera Daisy is the favourite among daisies.

A diamond is the birthstone for April. Diamonds are also well known as the hardest substance on earth. Composed of carbon which has been pressurized under the earth’s surface for thousands of years, a diamond is one of the most precious and desired stones since the dawn of time.

As is the case with any precious stone, a buyer has to check the 4 Cs, which are Cut, Clarity, Colour and Carat. The higher the carat and clarity of the diamond, the higher is the cost of the diamond.

Diamonds were also considered to be protection against evil, and they are supposed to bring the wearer happiness and wealth. The ancient Greeks also considered diamonds to be protection against evil and poison. A diamond is held to be the stone for the planet Venus. This is the planet of love, beauty and creativity. A diamond ring is usually worn in the ring finger, because it is said that the vein of love (which is a vein that flows directly to the heart) lies in this finger. This is probably the reason why diamonds are used for engagement rings the world over.

BIRTHSTONE

VAAL DAM LEVELS

Level:

Volume:

Percentage:

Flow:

Rainfall:

Last updates:

22.615

2632

101.1%

20

0

14 April 2010

VAALDAM, THE COUNTRY’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

In June 1937, Canopus the first S.23 Empire Class flying boat operated by Imperial Airlines landed on Vaaldam carrying 3,500 lbs. of mail. The S.23s were also known as "C-Class" flying boats, because each was given a name beginning with the letter "C", Canopus and Centurian, to name a few that flew this route.

The S.23 measured 88 feet in length, 31 feet 9.75 inches high, and had a wingspan of 114 feet, it weighed 40,500 pounds fully loaded and fuelled. It was powered by four Bristol Pegasus XC nine-cylinder radial engines each rated at 920 horsepower, which in turn provided a cruising speed of 164 mph. It had a service ceiling of 20,000 feet and its range was 760 miles. It carried a crew of 5 accommodating 24 passengers.

With the lack of landing facilities across Africa, British Imperial Airways used the S.23 Empire Class flying boat built by Short Brothers to fly passengers and mail to South Africa using waterways to land and refuel. They remained in service until 1947. The wartime Sunderland was developed from this plane. Later a further development the Solent was used on the South African route until 1950 when they were replaced with land planes.

They used to take off from Southampton flying to Augusta in Italy, on to Cairo, then Khartoum, Port Bell, Victoria Falls and Vaaldam. During flights, which were at a low enough altitude, for passengers to get a good view of the Nile and the wild African landscape, the purser would lay out a cold buffet on a bench. Dinner would be "ashore" in a good hotel while the great silver craft spent the night riding at anchor under the African moon. Johannesburg-bound passengers would disembark at Deneysville, near the Vaaldam wall, an hour's bus journey from town.

The Sunderland was then developed from the successful Empire class for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers for wartime service. Flights continued during World War II and many of the Empire boats remained in service until 1947. British Overseas Airways (BOAC) continued with the flying boat service to South Africa.

The Sandringham was a post war development from this plane as was the Short S.45 Solent Solent which was placed into service on the Springbok run to Vaaldam.

On March 10, 1948 Solent G-AHIV ‘Salcombe’ arrived at Vaaldam on the proving flight from Southampton and was followed by a special flight for the press on May 1, flown by G-AHIN ‘Southampton’ piloted by Capt. E ‘Teddy’ Rotheram. He was one of BOAC‘s more experienced captains having joined Imperial Airways in 1935 and given his command in 1938.

The first commercial service was introduced on May 4, 1948 flown by G-AHIT ‘Severn’. The route was Southampton - Augusta - Cairo - Luxor - Khartoum - Port Bell - Victoria Falls - Vaaldam in 4 1/2 days.

On November 17, 1950, the Handley Page Hermes 4 was introduced with G-ALDR Herodotus making the first service to Palmietfontein. The following year NOTAM 53 of 1951 announced the cancellation of the aerodrome license for Vaal Dam. It was the end of the Flying boat era.

PERSONNEL AT THIS TIME INCLUDED:

Mr. Balborough - BOAC   •   Graham Bradford - Station Commander   •   Dr. J. Hutchinson - Port   •   Health Officer & BOAC doctor   •   Captain Norman Cook - Harbour   •   Captain Woodhouse - Pilot   •   Cucj Lomax - Water Affairs   •   Dr. F. Gunn - Mayor