Battery Creek

This is me running off into the distance. I’m chasing after a 

troop of baboons.

All I remember is high pitched yelling (tiny human), 
heavy panting (big human) and one massive hiding.

This is me an hour earlier; it was a happier time.

 

We went for a small hike to Battery Creek Falls, 
just outside misty Kaapschehoop in Mpumalanga.

It’s doggy-breath-takingly beautiful, but be warned. 
Besides the baboons, there are also wild horses roaming 
free.  

Just another reason to get into trouble. Silly humans. 

The Adventure

Place: Battery Creek, Kaapschehoop, Mpumalanga

Map: Link

Activities

Me: Running through plantations, peeing on pine trees, 

chewing pine-cones, swimming, chasing baboons 
(followed by a hiding), chasing wild horses (also possibly 
followed by a hiding).   

Humans: Hiking, swimming, avoiding baboons and 
horses.

Hillsview hikes

We live in Hillsview; a suburb on the outskirts of Gtown.

No houses to the right and nothing behind us but muddy swamps, smelly plants and a tough terrain. It’s heaven (with a view of town).

We have a back gate leading to trails frequently used by other dogs. This is where I take my humans for a run.

When they’re feeling fit, we’ll jog all the way to Grey Dam for a quick swim.   

On lazy days I have to settle for short strolls, flower picking and posing in pink grass.

What can I say; hippies with cameras.

The Adventure

Place: Hillsview and Mountain road, Grahamstown

Map: link

Activities:

• Me:  Playing in mud, drinking gross water, running, posing for a camera

• Humans: Walking, hiking, running, flower picking, conning dogs into modelling.

Grey Dam

Grey Dam; Grahamstown’s local watering hole.

On sunny afternoons (especially weekends and holidays) you will find drinking, braaiing and loud music oozing from “carbars”. 

This usually means there are yummy chicken bones lying around everywhere.  

I never actually get to eat them. The one human always sticks her hand in my mouth and flings them away. 

She’s gross. And a bit mean.

But, I do like it when she invites me along for walks and jogs to this dam. 

I don’t appreciate the photos of me looking like a wet towel though.

That’s why, when we get home, I like to jump on her clean bed and play dead.

The Adventure 

Place: Grey Dam, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.

Map: link

Activities: 

• Me:  Running, barking, swimming, playing fetch, scrounging for bones.
• Humans: Walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, braaiing, picnics, stealing my chicken bones.   

Hogsback part 1

Hogsback: quaint, quirky, slightly crazy.  

Apparently the humans named this village after a

nearby peak which resembles a hog’s back. 

I don’t see it (like I said; crazy).

It is beautiful here and there is so much to do. 

You can cycle, hike and splash under waterfalls.

My humans did none of these.

Instead of keeping me entertained, they sat around 

a fireplace at Starways Art Centre, went to Butterfly
Bistro for pizza and partied at Away with the Fairies 

(leaving me to guard the cabin and car).

They did however take me to a labyrinth at The Edge.  

It was the strangest sight: the humans would stick to a 

narrow cement path and stroll around quietly.

I, on the other hand, ignored the path and broke the 

silence with my glorious voice. 

The Adventure

Place: Hogsback, Eastern Cape.

Map: link

Activities:

- Me:  Running, barking at monkeys, swimming, 

  chilling by the fireplace.

- Humans: Hiking, cycling, swimming, 

  chatting to eccentric locals, looking at artsy stuff,

  making the fire.

The old George dam

I love hiking! 

There is an infinite amount of dirt, un-whiffed smells around every turn and tons of tiny critters to chase. 

My one human always freaks out if I dart off after other animals. I’m not quite sure why. Maybe it's because I’m fast and she’s slow and that makes her jealous. Who knows?

We decided to hike from George to an old dam close to the George Peak in the Outeniqua Mountains. 

This dam used to supply water to the town years ago. I guess the humans found some other way to fill up my drinking bowl. 

The hike is about 8km from residential areas like Heatherlands and Glen Barrie.

I like these suburbs. They are filled with my fellow dogkind; I can sing the song of my people.

The dam itself is fairly eerie and the water is dark brown like that Cola drink. Apparently this is due to its high tannin content filtered from the surrounding plants.

I like plants. 

The adventure

Place: George Dam, Outeniqua Mountains, Western Cape

Map: Link 

Activities:

• Me: Running, chasing guinea fowl, barking at monkeys, rolling in mud and swimming.

• Humans: Hiking, picnicking, swimming and washing mud off me.