Racing the rain

This Sunday we met Sue and Honey at Wolfkop Carpark for a short walk up to the Fat Lady Cave. Some box men had got here before us and were trundling off into the hills. Not sure whether we should have barked at them but no-one seemed worried so I didn't.

We set off through some spectacular Gladiolus liliaceus flowers. The Food Lady says they are so magnificent because of all the dog poo on this stretch.

Lots of brilliant yellow Ragwort - probably Rough Ragwort (Senecio rigidus) flowering,

but some daisies had not opened in the cold and rain-threatening weather.

Sue and the Alph were chatting about Land Rovers and the Richtersveld,

and Harvey and me were chatting about this and that - mainly about how Lad was being a bit overbearing this morning.

We got up to the Fat Lady Shelter but it was very windy. Lad was being blown around,

I was being blown around,

and so was the Alph. It was too cold for tea, but luckily Sue had some biscuits but sadly, we were not offered one, 

so we pushed off - Harvey and Lad thick as thieves again -

to explore further afield and get out of the wind.

Eventually they followed - across the bleak plains,

and through the towering crags, Laddie and Harvey trying to bounce me off the path. Such puppyish behaviour!

Honey was ignoring them too.

The intricate flower of a Granny's Bonnet (Disperis capensis) orchid,

some golden Satirium coriifolium orchids

and a dancing Gladious gracilis kept the Food Lady happy and occupied. It was starting to spit a bit,

but we love the chilly weather and I was sorry when we got back to the car.

We then got left behind while the Alph and the Food Lady took Phil and Kerryn out to lunch to celebrate Phil's 30th birthday.

Phil got a lovely Bostie mug from Alice and Omie Domes.

When they eventually returned, Harvey grabbed the opportunity to sleep in his own bed before he went home with his humans. (Note that Laddie had unilaterally annexed it earlier even though its a bit of a tight fit for him.)

But when they left, they forgot to take the bed, so when no-one was looking, I jumped in.