Hi,

SAKKS Gauteng Chapter Pond Safari Sunday 17th October 2010

11h00 start

We are visiting three lovely ponds -

1st Pond: Starting at Reggie and Jim Phillips pond – 39 Swartberg St, Glenvista. 011 432 1512 or 078 411 9400

2nd Pond: Collin & Margo Brown: 12 Karee Drive, Basonia Estate in Soetdoring St. Collin – 083 456 0439. A code to get into this secure estate will be given at Reggies home.

3rd Pond: Jan Aukamp, 082 604 5367- Eco Estate, Meyersdaal. Proceed down Comaro Avenue in a southern direction until you reach the retirement village. At that robot you turn left towards Meyersdal, Michelle Avenue (to the right is Bellairs Drive).

At the next robot you turn left into Hennie Alberts Road. The entrance to the estate is at the end of the road and the parking is inside the estate opposite the entrance
Members will be driven to Jan's home in kombi's.

Refreshments will be available at Jan’s home

TALK AND THEME – Koi Care and the Koi Hobby. This talk will be spread between venues and given by Reggie Phillips - SAKK'S water specialist at our shows. The talk will include water quality as well as the ponds we visit.

ALL WELCOME

Regards,
Chris

Well done all. I would love to experience such wonderful Koi / hobbyist day. In this instance the mountain is bit far away.

Hi Bobby,

Khulula, Gautrain and you are in the land of the living.

We also have nice flat top mountains here man not so big but.

If you call me you could even visit my pond.

Looking forward to this pond safari, with its water quality talks, a subject that I am enjoying more and more everyday. Sounds very interesting and can't wait to see some great ponds and nice people. See you there.

Well, yes a lovely day was had, some old and some new faces around, very nice ponds was seen. And the homes well they were in a different class, especially the estate and the home of Jan Aucamp.

Unfortunately the water clarity was not all that good, and it robbed the high quality fish of their looks.

Some foto's

Chris and Maria Anna in serious discussions






Reggie giving us the story


Jim and Reggie' pond


Jan Aucamp on the right talking to Reggie, Jim, Maria Anna, costa and James Norrie


The game viewing deck


The value of pond safari's to the keeper and owners was emphasized on this safari, both parties gained good knowledge from it.

My thanks to all involved and the hospitality received.

Sorry I missed, no 4 from the left is Rocky Michaels.

Hi,

This is the first Koi Society meeting I have attended for many years. It was interesting to have about 5 dealers arrive and be present.

As I said at the meeting it is great to have dealers AND Koi Society members meet and exchange information. It is also great to get members together and discuss all thing koi.

One of the main purposes of the Koi Society is to disseminate information and if members can meet various dealers and other members at one place in a friendly atmosphere then thats really great.

With regards the observations by Neville on water quality at these two ponds - another advantage of meetings is to exchange ideas and the koi keepers who opened their homes to the Koi Society received a lot of free advice. Some good - some a little - well not so good.

We will follow up on this and publish the developments and improvements - and importantly the reasons for the present water quality - in the KOISA magazine.

A personal observation - whilst the water was not very clear all the koi in both ponds were in top condition. Reggies Ogon that you can see in the right hand side of Neville's picture must be 95 cm now.

Chris

P.S. the person who commented that I must be a pirate as I have a sunken chest - all is forgiven

Thanks for posting Neville.