In January of this year we went to this area in search of indian sites and remnants of a WW-II observation post. We found both although the observation post was a mix of WW-II and later building material. When we left the area of this observation post Fred saw something like a concrete block on the upper plateau of the Seru Stèla. It was already late so we couldn't investigate then. This time we went back to find out what Fred had seen.
We gathered again at the entrance of the Koraal Tabak area. From there we went by car along the drag race strip to the foot of the Seru Stèla. After parking our cars we tried to find the easiast path uphill. We found a way but it was far from easy. Often we had to crawl under the thorny vegetation as you can see in the picture to the left (picture made by Fred).
After a while we reached the remnants of the observation post where we took a rest. From there we climbed to the upper plateau where we found the concrete block that Fred had seen. It appeared to be a nearly white tree trunk.
We split up to investigate the area but didn't find any artifacts. The plateau was very dry. Lots of dead tree trunks mixed with cacti and some green plants. Strangely enough the Brasia (Brasilwood of Dyewood) was blooming while at the same time almost all green leaves were shed. Apparently nature has strange ways of survival.
From the upper plateau we had a beautiful view over the entrance of the St. Joris Bay and the Northern shore on one side and the St. Joris bay itself on the other side. Also the well-known piramid could be seen. From this viewpoint the piramid shape was very recognisable.
Because some of us had other appointments we decided to make this a shorter trip than normal so we left the plateau after about three quarters of an hour and went back to the cars.
The track that we walked in blue
The Seru Stèla as seen from the parking place
A dead tree is blocking our way
François is the first to reach the middle plateau
Hetty also made it but Carel is still deciding how to climb
Also here the vegetation is dense and thorny
Hetty and Carel still have to find a way through the Prickly pear cacti
Large candle cactus
Wait for me!!
The remnants of the WW-II observation post
A look down from the upper plateau; Carel at the observation post
Fred next to the object he had seen the last time
No concrete block but a tree trunk
Close-up of the tree trunk
Carel clears a path through the dense vegetation
Another tree trunk
Markings in the trunk suggest that Christians were here (profile of a fish, used by early Christians as a secret Christian symbol)
A blooming Brasilwood while all leaves are shed
More dead tree trunks
A blooming Brasilwood next to a dead trunk
View over the St Joris bay with the Makwaku island (frigate bird island)
The piramid of Koraal Tabak
Several Melocacti
Contrast between dead trees and new life
"Jip and Janneke" on the cliff
Oh, not Jip and Janneke, but Hetty and François
A nice view from the top of the Seru Stèla
Downhill is not always as easy as it looks
Lichen on a rock
