Valley of Gold: Twilight Between Lambert's Bay and Piketberg

Sheep, Sun, Silence

Seen on the drive between Lambert's Bay and Piketberg.

Coming through the Piekenierskloof Pass on the N7 tonight, at around 6:25pm, from Lambert's Bay, the sun was setting on the Piketberg valley below. Awash with golden light, the grasses and farms shone in shades of yellow, brown and gold, with touches of red. The warmth of the light created a glow. It seemed to suggest that the valley existed purely for its own pleasure and not for the farmers who had created the fields.

There was a kind of vibration of peacefulness and perfection. In that moment, it felt as if nothing painful could touch such beauty, unsurpassed in its tranquility. The rounded forms of sheep, grey and moving, walked with direction and pure purpose. They created eddies of dust, stirred by their feet, in the otherwise undisturbed and silent valley. Only the occasional windmill interrupted this serene tableau.

A moment of breathtaking beauty, so sweet, etched itself into memory. As we drove on, the golden light faded, but the warmth of that perfect instant lingered. It served as a reminder of the unexpected gifts that nature offers to those who pause to observe. In the midst of our journey, we had stumbled upon a masterpiece painted by the setting sun, a fleeting exhibition of light and life that would remain with us long after the road had taken us onwards.

Images created by Playgroundai.com. 2023.