Hoerikwaggo Trailing

We were so happy to see the humans when they arrived home again on Sunday evening that I relented about putting photos on the blog. But I am sorry we missed out - this looks fun! You can just make out the advance guard on the far side of Blackburn Ravine. Tea stop on the first day - with Christopher, the "mandatory guide" and alpha male for the hike.

Braaing in the Orange Kloof tented camp with giant rain spider nest lights. At the top of Disa Gorge, having just emerged from the restricted area of Orange Kloof where no dogs are allowed unless they live there with the ranger.

The dam that I have had a dip in once or twice.

While they were waiting at the top for the Cable Car to come they saw a Wheaten dassie. Ooooh we would have just CHASED it all the way down to the lower cable station! And, tired but happy, they piled into the Land Rover and hurried home to us.

Easter Sunday Sundowers

There was no walk this morning - so we tried to help with the housework ...

Then late in the afternoon Sue came and they decided on a walk in Silvermine.

We bumped straight into a pack of rather unruly dogs, and then didnt see another living thing until we got up to the dam. It was rather windy, and at first a bit heavy-going on stones and gravelly paths, but it got easier ...

Looking back towards Fish Hoek.

At about half way they stopped for a wee dram of champagne and an Easter egg in the fading sun.

(All we got was water and some dog biscuits.)

Its a dogs life!

Black and White

John Hughes, who visited us from Scotland - our ancenstral home - last month with Julie gave the humans and us a gift of a book that he had written. It was all about whisky and he made sure that there was a scottie on the cover! 

According to John, the original "black and white" advert with a scottie dates back to 1912. It is a painting of a Scottie and a Highland Terrier called "Still Watchers". Now I know why all the workers in the Groot Constantia vineyards say "Black and White Scotch Whiskeee" when Dougal and I go past.

They also tried other "black and whites", like this husky who was the sole survivor of the pack that went to the South Pole with Shackleton, which was used in 1910,  

  

... and this newfoundland and a Jack Russell in 1911.

But the scottie and West Highlander won the day....

Cool Chappies

A lovely cool Sunday morning for walking above Chapman's Peak Drive. We had a good turn-out although I was sorry to see that Alice wasn't there. Colin-from-Germany came, and Sue came with Richard, Josie and Barbara-from-England who is here to study penguins with Richard. Thea and Pauline were also there, and Dougal was happy that the Alpha Male was back. (Our AM still managed to set a cracking pace even with a compromised Achilles tendon!)

There was a cool mist that swirled around,

and the path was quite steep in places so we scooted ahead with the Alpha Male so that the Foodlady couldn't catch us to put leads on. You can see Richard and Josie in front, then Sue, and Colin and Barbara just coming round the corner.

I thought they were never going to stop for tea but eventually we found a perch and out came some tasty treats. The water in Josie's bright blue fold-out bowl was much nicer than in our bowl - and at least Richard doesn't throw it over us when we are done!

The Foodlady saw lots of these pretty bulbs that are probably Drimia media. Apparently some drimias are poisonous and the name is from the Greek drimys which means acrid or pungent.

There were also lots of red ericas - the Rock Heath, Erica nevillei, which is endemic to the Cape Peninsula

and likes to grow high up on the cliffs...

...and the Fire Heath, Erica cerinthoides.

Watching Colin bundu-bashing.

All good things come to an end, and this is us coming down at the East Fort ruins. They were built in 1796. How cool is that! (For more info click here.)

Biycles and baboons

Hope you had a good Cycle Tour Lucy and Richard! Sorry I was unable to join Rusty a local Noordhoek dog cheering you and all the other 35 thousand odd riders going past on Chapman's Peak. (Photo by Brenton Geach, Cape Argus .) The humans took us for a short walk in the vineyards, which was great, but we had to go on leads because there was a big baboon stealing the hanepoot grapes (like the humans were too!) and they didn't want us to sort him out! Luckily a waiter from the restaurant chased him away with a catapult (the baboons that is, not the humans). But we were very happy to get a walk in as we haven't had one for ages and ages. Look forward to next week.

Arti and Gabe walking at Wynberg Boys

Still kissing Arti and Gabe....

Hout Bay in the heat

I was really excited to be on the beach as it seemed ages since our last walk! This is me telling Dougal to show some enthusiasm too. We were joined by Noensie (the Alpha Girl), Poeksie, Goose and Maverick who came with their human, Nola (who is also a vet like Lucy). Sue was there too, and the Alpha Male managed the short stroll along Hout Bay beach too with his Achilles tendon still not quite right. (I think we may have met Nola's dogs a while ago, but meeting dogs is always like seeing them for the first time even if we bump into the same pack on the way back from a walk!) They are very strict about picking up after us on this beach but I suppose they have to be with this volume of dogs!

It was lovely walking through the dogs, with the cool sea to dip into, but the humans were muttering a bit about crowds, so the next beach walk is likely to be on Noensie's territory out near Melkbosstrand.