Along Long Beach

This morning we arranged to walk along Long Beach, Kommetjie, so that we could link up with the Alph after his cycle around the peninsula. We got there a bit early and did a short walk down the milkwood tree-lined road in Kommetjie,

and onto a boardwalk at Skilpadsvlei.

Even though the board next to the boardwalk said dogs were allowed, the Food Lady wouldn't let us off our leads to chase hadedas and other dogs.

She said I was getting deaf and couldn't be trusted to come back. Huh!

So she looked at all the restios and sedges like these Ficinia nodosa plants that Laddie thoughtfully enriched with urea.

On the way back we saw some surfer gels walking down the milkwood road. We thought we wouldn't mind living here. It seems like paradise.

We then met Sue and Honey, Claire from England, and Pauline, and set off on our long walk along Long Beach where there were surfers in the sea, and kids in the surf,

and dogs on the cold cold water's edge. Honey really is not into other dogs like us.

I didn't want to share my new friends' love (and possible treats) with this whippersnapper Yorkie pup.

We walked all the way to the lagoon, past some cormorants and gulls and tremendous views. 

Then it was a long debate as to where to have Sue's birthday tea.

While they were discussing matters, Laddie went for a swim in the lagoon and a roll on the deliciously green and frothy edge. It was a bit far for me as I am definitely feeling my 10 and a half years these days.

On the way to the perfect tea spot we ran into another Scottie called Maisie. Laddie was instantly smitten. I just said to her that if there were any treats going I had first dibs. She was quite understanding and said "Be my guest."

I think Maisie rather liked Honey, even though Honey had to snap her teeth at her a few times.

Maisie's mom made a fuss of us both, and Laddie was quite embarrassingly soppy. I maintained a suitable standoffishness.

Back through the wonderfully stinky kelp. Note that I am on the lead to stop me eating too much. Such indignity.

Suddenly Laddie picked up a scent. What could it be?

Why, it was the Alph, back from his ride and coming to join us for tea and bubbles. We were overjoyed to see him.

Tea on Long Beach, Pauline, Claire, the Alph, Sue and Honey. A slightly belated happy birthday for Sue, 

with bubbles at sea-level - the lowest we have sunk to!

Laddie sporting his lagoon-green mud beads in his face hair.

I don't think this Bulldog is liking what he smells. Yikes, better move on.

Talk to the tail Mr Bulldog!

A sashay to the right,

and I am in step with my silly Lad friend who is always there for me. Life is good.

The wig, wig, wiggle, wiggle, waggle o' the kilt

A Scottie Walk you say? Now?

Did I hear you say "Scottie Walk"? Better get up then.

We are all waiting ...

We walked through the Green Point Urban Park towards the lighthouse where we normally meet Gordon and David and Luna,

past some large footprints that smelled like Rock Monsters who had escaped from the mountain during the night and came down to the sea.

Then we came across Mac and Abigail in their special doggy pushchairs,

with Irene and Snippie and Pam,

and Estea with a toy Scottie called Fergus who is travelling the world.

Laddie found a friend who rather fancied him for a change. Yuk! Soppy dogs.

It was a lovely day and we wiggled and waggled our kilts along the promenade while para-gliders fell from the sky. 

Lots of peeps were in the sea but every beach we came to said "NO DOGS ALLOWED!" I was sad as I just love to dip my hot tummy into the cold cold sea.

There was lots happening as we walked past,

and lots of new puppies to meet. This is Scott the puppy, with Dougal and his Jack Russell brother called Luigi (I think).

Jock at the foot of the Pink Poodle/Piddle bench.

And is this another puppy? No, its just Fergus. (Read all about this Scotty toy with itchy feet here.)

We also met Tessa who is Haggis's new sister.

And Harvey found a friend too. They played and chased and ran crazily for a few minutes,

then Harvey came back to the Scotty Walk for more attention. What a crazy dog he is.

Can we have a piddle on the Pink Poodle/Piddle bench pleeeez. Harvey is asking.

But, like most fun things, the answer was NO!. But we had a lovely walk even though we were hot and tired when we went home to find the Alph had returned from his ride, also hot but not too tired.

Four black dogs on the trail - and a Black Sparrowhawk

Today there were four black dogs - Milly, Billy, Honey and me - and one wheaten freak on the Constantia Greenbelt trails. Pauline and Sue came too - and Ernest and Maria from Canada. The Alph was not with us as he was riding his bike in Bakoven. Here is freak-face leading the walk with Milly and Billy following. Honey was stuck to Sue's heels and I was WAY behind enjoying the smells and making the Food Lady shout for me to catch up every so often.

We walked the Klaasenbosch Trail, then part of the Alphen Trail, and almost the whole Diep River Trail  - in the heat and dust. Ernest and Maria kept asking what the plants were; and nine out of ten were not even indigenous. These lovely Red-hot Pokers (Kniphofia uvaria) in the Diep River wetlands are indigenous. 

But this Canna indica comes from the faraway Americas.

The path got smaller and smaller, and then the Food Lady relented and we turned round before we all got stuck in the mud.

Yay! Another dog to greet! We rush to say howdy.

Milly and Billy with Ernest and Maria. On and on went the path with me getting hotter and botherder.

Then we passed the bin near the car park that STILL hasn't been emptied, and were on our way home.

Spotted a cool Land Rover with a cool Maltese poodle going to the Constantia Village shops.

The Alph was at home in the pool when we got back and everyone stayed for brunch. "Any chance of some brunch for us?" asked Billy. Not a fat chance! They are extraordinarily mean about handing out food to black dogs in this establishment.

Honey was under the table - attached to Sue - and the Food Lady almost got under it too. They all seemed to have a really good time while we starved almost to death.

Even a large and snary raptor with fancy bangles popped in for a squizz at the possible menu. Sue spotted it and the Food Lady snapped it, thinking it was a large Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, but turns out it was a rufous-chested Black Sparrowhawk juvenile. 

Peacocks and other noises

Last Sunday we walked in the Contantia Greenbelt. While we waited for Pauline, Honey and Sue, the Food Lady and me and Lad watched the antics of these two hungry "Mystery Buzzard" chicks shouting at their parents for food high up in the tall trees.

Now I can identify with that as I do the same at supper time. 

In fact I did a bit of scrounging myself from the bin that hasn't been emptied for over a month. Such is life in the leafy lanes. There is even a delightfully stinky dead squirrel in there.

Anyway, when Pauline arrived we set off up our normal greenbelt path, then the Food Lady put our leads on and we crossed the road where we came across a signpost to Kirstenbosch. "Shall we try it?" said the Lad. I just kept my normal po-face.

For part of the way there was a big eclectic scary fence.  

But it soon opened up and we went up a fynbos and Silver Tree-lined road,

where we saw a ghost dog that disappeared down a green tunnel.

 Further down, we found a little door in the tree,

which Pauline opened to look inside but no-one was home.

We then crossed another road, and headed back up the mountain.

Everyone was feeling hot, even though it was mizzling a bit, so we found a good tea spot under a big oak tree: me, Pauline, Lad, Honey and Sue.

We watched some walkers pass,

and some Common Waxbills in the meadow.

Then we went back to the car, and had to run the gauntlet of a meeting of champagne-quaffing riders and their quick-hoofed mounts. Honey was not happy and I escaped a swift kick from a particularly annoying horse with a rather loud and shrieky rider!  

Then we nearly ran over a great blue bird that scuttled across the road in front of the car and into the greenbelt. It was making much the same noise as the riders we had just passed so maybe it was hurrying to join what it thought was its friends having fun without him.

 

For more about the Greenbelt walks, click here.