MHP Geomatics Blog

Hang in there!

2012-02-14T10:21:00.000+02:00

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Making my own River crossing!

2012-01-17T12:28:00.000+02:00

Kind Regards

Craig SIlva
_______________________________
Professional Surveyor, PS104, MSAGI
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A low GPS setup in the howling wind - have to love the Transkei!

2012-01-17T11:49:00.000+02:00

Kind Regards

Craig SIlva
_______________________________
Professional Surveyor, PS104, MSAGI
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Tower and jacks on West side

2012-01-15T15:14:00.000+02:00

Kind Regards

Craig SIlva
_______________________________
Professional Surveyor, PS104, MSAGI
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After a long day of lifting - the tower is now set in position

2012-01-15T15:11:00.000+02:00

Kind Regards

Craig SIlva
_______________________________
Professional Surveyor, PS104, MSAGI
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Nemesis

2011-12-06T12:38:00.000+02:00

Scanner 0 - Unwanted Reflective Material 1

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Terrence

Mbombela: Laser Scanning Bridges

2011-12-06T11:44:00.000+02:00

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Terrence

Mo-Vember Progress

2011-11-17T12:02:00.000+02:00

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Terrence

GeoSpace limping after heavy blows

2011-10-18T07:05:00.000+02:00

MHP Geospace suffered a second successive inter company defeat on Friday at the hands of HSG at the Pinetown Go kart arena. And it was not Smyly and Hornby who did the damage - but rather the HSG ladies who hammered the pedal and burnt some rubber to demolish the Geospace outfit.

Tracy Williams proved the eventual winner lapping Geospace head Chris Carter on the 20 lap marathon finale. "I'm thinking of selling my Subaru (a rally based car).............. I just don't think I do the brand justice" said a tearful Carter after the duel.

Simon Williams - husband of Tracy - was not available for comment though sources say he spent most of the weekend looking for a smaller one-litre car to replace Tracy's current Audi after hearing of her flat-footed antics.

The Geospace defeat comes just weeks after they were humbled on the hallow greens of Durban Country Club by the MHP Survey golf team who themselves were some way off top form. The defeat means that the closest the Geospace team have come to the floating golf trophy was when Eric Maritz was asked to hold it whilst the Survey team had another massive High Five.

Will the wounded animal strike back at the next inter company battle or will they forever be written off as "that company on the other side of the parking lot"?

Time will tell.

Time out of Survey - at the live cold play concert in Cape Town

2011-10-07T23:04:00.000+02:00

Kind Regards

Craig SIlva
_______________________________
Professional Surveyor, PS104, MSAGI
Sent by my Blackberry mobile email

T is for Team Work

2011-10-04T10:18:00.000+02:00

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Terrence

Easy does it.

2011-10-03T17:31:00.000+02:00

Latest addition. Home made. Class.
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Terrence

Only surveyors.

2011-10-03T07:11:00.000+02:00

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Terrence

Mmmmooooooo

2011-09-29T09:17:00.000+02:00

What you got for me!
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Solo bean at Bushman Nek restaurant

2011-09-27T19:27:00.000+02:00

It seems that Tuesday nights are men's night in the berg. Men eating alone only pay full price.....
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Kaqti

2011-09-01T11:01:00.000+02:00

Trig BO OP with the gem of the metropolis of Bloem in the background

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Terrence

Hippo Valley

2011-08-16T15:51:00.000+02:00

Spot the hippo's down at Komatipoort

Andy

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TR157

2011-08-16T15:49:00.000+02:00

All the way to the top for a vane thats stuck.

Andy

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Free State Guest Houses

2011-07-22T06:51:00.000+02:00

Not everyday you see framed underwear up in the bar. These beauties apparently belong to Joosts secret (not anymore) lover.

Only in Senekal.

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Terrence

Traditional brekkie in Standerton

2011-07-21T07:52:00.000+02:00

Nothing like a Boerewors omlette to get you going in the morning........
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Terrence

Screenshot Rhino

2011-06-24T12:41:00.000+02:00

Check out the point cloud for the first bridge. All over this stuff like a rash.
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Terrence

MHP's next buy perhaps??

2011-06-24T11:09:00.000+02:00

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Terrence

Could this be the end for ND 466-988??!

2011-06-15T13:26:00.000+02:00

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Perspective View of the 110415 crash site

2011-06-15T13:24:00.000+02:00

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The P16 4 - Gauntlet of Doom

2011-06-15T13:23:00.000+02:00

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Ouch!!!

2011-06-15T13:22:00.000+02:00

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P16 4 - Bridge 3

2011-06-14T12:16:00.000+02:00

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P16 4 First Bridge

2011-06-14T12:15:00.001+02:00

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P16-4 Start

2011-06-14T12:15:00.000+02:00

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True commitment

2011-06-02T18:09:00.000+02:00

Andrew Crocker
MHP Geomatics

+27834183311

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True Commitment

2011-06-02T18:07:00.001+02:00

Andrew Crocker
MHP Geomatics

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Day 4 Block R

2011-05-26T18:49:00.000+02:00

We awoke to heavy rain and cold wind in Maclear. But social media reports led us to believe the lower Berg and mountains had been covered in snow. We headed out to site in Lionel and were greeted with an incredible site - the mountains we had climbed yesterday, particularly Richards peak, was covered in snow. And it still appeared to be snowing up there. There was just no way we could climb today since we had left our ice picks, ski goggles and general snow apparel back in Durbs. We drove round to the back of the Paardeberg to check out other possible routes. These mountains are high! Your hear rate generally goes up just looking at them - certainly not the chip & putt they appear on a Comp or Google Earth . Unfortunately today (and tommorow it appears) there will just be no way of any field work. Much fun was had on the slippery roads and snow fields anyhow though - Pics below (click on Pic for Full view):

Cecil Thomas the historical Eastern Cape Surveyor!

Day 3 Block 10R

2011-05-26T07:28:00.001+02:00

What a day.

After a slow start we really got stuck in yesterday. The weather had begun to turn cold but the morning was still and sunny and it was decided we would go the full hog up on the mountains.

The day nearly never got going as Lionel the Ford Ranger struggled to get up to the Tower positions on a wet, slippery and steep road. Eventually I grew some balls and just flat out flawed it through the mud - just squeezing between fallen boulders and the drop below. It was one of the occasions where momentum more than 4x4 driving skill got me through. Ok - and a bit of luck.

After placing my second beacon Richard informed me that he had reached the plateau (a 300m climb) and was making a push for the top. He told me that should he not return I could keep his bakkie but should split his remaining tequila's amongst all MHP surveyors. My walk had just begun up the heavy slope between Pig and PieBald and this entailed much huffing and puffing - though every now and again I would stare up at the Paardeberg mountain - picturing Richard on all fours hanging onto the cliff - and this would normally get me through.

Richard summited mid-morning and when asked about his climb the response was simple - "It was Death".

It was great day up in these untouched mountains - we found the odd beacon - scrambled up rock faces - and got the heart rate up (!).

Richard aka "Edmund Hillary" with his mountain in the background (far back left). On the drive home last night the clouds which had covered the Berg all afternoon cleared themselves for a bit revealing a blanket of snow across the Drakensberg. A cold but awesome sight.

TR124 - Paardeberg (2139.50 m > MSL)

2011-05-10T12:53:00.000+02:00

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Rule no. 1. Never hesitate... Ever!!!

2011-05-09T14:36:00.000+02:00

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A survey vehicle?? Perhaps not...

2011-05-09T14:35:00.000+02:00

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TR111 Gxaku

2011-04-20T19:12:00.000+02:00

This Trig's vane was stuck, though it was no matter for Titus Mvubu engineering.
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Tina Meander

2011-04-20T19:06:00.000+02:00

The welcoming sight of the Tina river, marking the end of a heavily disputed boundary.
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Write off

2011-04-07T20:30:00.001+02:00

Telkom? Eskom? Either way the van reminds me of both companies service delivery.

Living on the edge

2011-04-07T10:18:00.000+02:00

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Day Two

2011-04-06T22:20:00.000+02:00

Negotiations turned sour today - as did the weather. Polar winds prevailed. Two bottles of vino at supper wiped clear the bad memories though. Tommorow we conquer Q.
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Terrence

Bad day out the office

2011-04-06T15:06:00.000+02:00

Pouring rain and mist have been the order of the day. Traction has been bad and we've battled getting around...have also seen a polar bear to two. Luckily I brought that thin jersey along. Two hour drive to get back to tar so will be a while before a hot cup of coffee!
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These are the pics you see in getaway magazine

2011-04-06T09:38:00.000+02:00

Unspoilt transkei at its best!
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Breakfast

2011-04-05T18:14:00.000+02:00

We hunt our own food!
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The Workhorse

2011-04-05T18:12:00.000+02:00

No mountain is too big, no driver is too bad... Well at least the former is true!
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What's that smell?

2011-04-05T14:32:00.000+02:00

Terrence's clutch perhaps...had to winch him out. Bad day for Elliott
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On top

2011-04-05T14:09:00.000+02:00

We made it
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To infinite and beyond

2011-04-05T13:20:00.000+02:00

We one our way to the top of that hill. Will there be a road on the other side....or not!
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United we rise..separated we fail

2011-04-05T10:58:00.000+02:00

You got to love these slogans!
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Climb high...climb far

2011-04-05T10:42:00.000+02:00

They ain't joking about that in the trankei
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Make your own road

2011-04-05T10:06:00.000+02:00

MHP 4x4's being put to the test
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They said we wouldn't make it

2011-04-05T08:59:00.000+02:00

Simple!
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Hoffy has traded in his tent for a Luxury Caravan (Jeremy Clarkson wouldn't approve)

2011-04-05T07:09:00.000+02:00

CEO of MHP (Peter Hoffmann) enjoying a weekend away in the Drakensberg - even the Hoff has to take a break sometimes!
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MHP HQ Matatiele

2011-04-04T22:10:00.000+02:00

Another day in the Transkei beckons.
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TRIG 129 Thieves Hill WG29

2011-04-04T14:05:00.000+02:00

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Transkei Admin Area's

2011-03-30T17:16:00.001+02:00

Welcome to our MHP Survey Blog. Hopefully we provide you with hours of time-wasting entertainment. As a starter check out some of the pics taken on our recent Transkei Tribal Land Survey Trips. More content, pictures and stories to come.

Hilltop negotiations - Slow business this

Richard catching his breath after a mammoth hike

Free, clean, pumping rivers.

Nice Rainbow caught near Kokstad - we gotta take a weekend sometime too!