We hiked several times in this neighborhood; last time we went to the top of the Seru Kabayé where we found a triangulation point of Kadaster. This mountain appears to have a second top which is only marginably lower than the top that we reached last time. The name Seru Kabayé suggests that it has something to do with a horseman; although Kabayé is not an existing word in the local language Papiamentu, it sounds like someone who rides or owns a horse (Kabai). So maybe we could find a watch post of this horseman on this second top. We don't need much to start an investigation, so on Valentine's Day we, the sleuths, gathered once again at the kunuku (farm land) of Ronnie Christina, where we are allowed to park our cars when we are in this neighborhood.
From there we walked for the first part over a dirt road. Along this road we saw an area that was freshly cleared from almost all vegetation and where now a container has been parked. Apparently someone claims his land and wants to start using it. Not far from there we left the dirt road and started our way uphill. The vegetation was rather dense and consisted of Palu di Lele, Wabi and a lot of Prickly Pears. All these plants have thorns so it was not always easy to find our way. Fred walked in front and cleared a path with his stick; that is the best way to deal with the Prickly pear when you need to go through them. Palu di Lele and Wabi are best tackled with our "Dirk schaar", a special kind of garden shears that Dirk introduced us to, or by just crawling underneath these trees.
After a while we reached a dry stone wall where we took a rest. This wall is the border between the plantations of Pannekoek and Dokterstuin. From there we tried to follow the wall but the dense vegetation made that impossible. To the right of the wall we found a better pathway and after a short while we reached the top. From there we had a very nice view of the surroundings. In the distance we could see the country house of Dokterstuin and also the church of Barber.
When we climbed the highest top of the Seru Kabayé a few weeks ago we found an easy path from that top to the dirt road so we crossed the valley between the two tops and went up to the other top. On that side of the mountain there are large and very nice specimens of the White Gum tree and the Brasilwood.
We took a rest next to the triangulation point and then we went downhill along the path that we found the last time. When we reached the dirt road it was only another 15 minutes till we reached the cars.
After this hike we celebrated the birthday of François with a nice meal at Dokterstuin.
Our hiking trail (blue) on the topographical map of 1993
François explains to Ronnie what our plan of action is for today
Chicken in the basket?
A nice yellow flower against a blue sky
Recently cleared area
A rectangular block; looks like a measuring point but isn't
The top of a dam
View on the Seru Gabilan, the Seru Bandera and an unnamed mountain
Hetty appears from the bushes
A Melocactus with a head
Three Melocacti together
A very prickly Candle Cactus
The top of the Seru Kabayé that we reached last time
Fred and Dirk take a rest
A small snail on a tree
Yellow-green moss on the dry stone wall
View on the plantation Dokterstuin
Carel has found something and wants to show it to Hetty
I have no idea what they are looking at
Moss on a stone (this is not what they were looking at)
Our stylite Fred couldn't find a pillar, so a tree has to do
Fred still in the tree; eating cooked young peanuts
Hetty and Dirk underneath the same tree
A natural braid
Moss growing on a tree
Also nature celebrates Valentine's day
View on Barber with the church
Fred is almost on the top
Once again the dry stone wall
Orange colored moss on stones
Hetty and Carel also almost on the top
In the distance the dry stone wall continues
Beautiful flower of the Prickly Pear
Flower of the Watakeli (Bourreria succulenta)
Fruit of the Watakeli
A nice and old Brasilwood
Dirk is looking at a Brasilwood with a very thick trunk
A large White Gum tree
Typical moss that we find often when we are in the mountains
This side of the mountain is covered with impressive trees
Another piece of moss
These trees are shaped by the wind
Resting next to the triangulation point
View on the other top of the Seru Kabayé
Just a nice leaf
The plant and fruit of the Okra
