Day 21: Betty’s Bay to Pringle Bay

Today we walked another section of my Walk 4 SOS Huskies fundraising journey starting from Betty’s Bay. And we didn’t have to walk from the Hut in Kleinmond to get there. ‘Cause Gamat Van Eeden (that’s him standing next to the Fossil with Anecia from Kleinmond Tourism on the other side) drove our Mahindra PIKUP and dropped us off there. Gamat is in charge of the Caravan Park here, and at Palmiet where we walked yesterday, and the the Frank Robb Hut where we’re being hosted, so he’s an important person!

The Fossil thought the distance would only be about 8 km, but that’s if we walked along the main road. Well, we didn’t. We started from Betty’s Bay Main Beach and walked along the beach and coastal pathway nooks and crannies until we got to Pringle Bay. And that turned out to be nearly double the distance – about 14 km, which took us 4,5 hours to walk.

The Fossil’s always happy when we’re walking and he sings these weird lyrics, like “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and walk, walk, walk…”. Well, I sometimes join in the chorus with my own version; “Take your human for a walkies on the beach, and walk, walk, walk…”.

Sometime later, we came around a bend along the coastline and I saw the weirdest thing – it’s a bit like a mini-human standing on two legs but with a bird-like beak! “That’s an African Penguin,” the Fossil informed me. “We’ve just walked into the Stony Point Nature Reserve Penguin Colony, and I doubt that dogs are allowed in here, so don’t try chasing them!”. Chase them? These mini-human-birds barely budged when they saw me!

We tried to walk to the far side of the colony to continue along a wooden plank walkway but we were stopped and told that “No Dogs are Allowed” along that pathway. So we walked out of the colony entrance gate and along a road until we saw a beach access sign. Oh yeah, I’ve gotta tell you – the Fossil was busy tying my leash to the colony sign post for a pic but I spotted a Penguin nesting right there and wanted to taste it but the Fossil pulled me away. Well, I didn’t get to sample a Penguin but he didn’t get the photo he wanted either :-).

The first beach access pathway we came across was flooded, and the Fossil didn’t want to remove his shoes, so we kept going until we found one that lead back onto the beach. Then we came to a river and the Fossil had to remove his shoes anyway to wade across it. I just plunged right in!

See that point land point that juts out into the sea on the left of the above pic? That’s where the Fossil took the pic below with a view of Betty’s Bay back the way we had come.

The part of the coastline that we walked along to get there, and around the point, has these ‘Sea Farm’ signboards all over the place stating ‘No Dogs Allowed’, ‘No Entry’, and ‘Trespassers Will Be Prostituted!’. Really? “I guess it means that we can carry on walking the pathway, as long as we stay this side of the high-water mark,” said the Fossil.

So I continued to lead him along the pathway. We passed some really nice houses built almost on the high-water mark with more of those ‘Sea Farm – Geen Toegang – Geen Honde’ signs all over the place. Great location, but who’d want to live in house where no dogs are allowed anyway?

Seeing as the pathway has to steer clear of the ‘Seafarmers’ land, I had to lead the Fossil over a few rock outcrops that were difficult for me to cross over. At least someone had made some places easier to cross with concrete steps and white painted slabs that show the way.

I had regular rest stops for the Fossil to catch his breath and have a drink of water in the shade.

Along the powdery beach sand stretches the Fossil pointed out some Cape Leopard paw prints – they sure were bigger than my paw prints! “Leopards normally walk with their claws retracted,” said the Fossil. “Unless they’re tracking something, and by the look of the other prints around here, it was probably a troop of Baboons.” That’s fine. As long as it’s not tracking us, I thought.

After some time, we saw a lighthouse ahead and when we reached that the Fossil said that we have to leave the seashore and head inland to meet up with Gamat who was coming to collect us in the Mahindra PIKUP. So, we ended up walking a long tarred road, which was OK ’cause there were water filled ditches along the roadside where I could cool my paws.

After four and half hours of walking, we came into Pringle Bay via the Hangklip Road and waited for Gamat to arrive. There’s a fish ‘n chips take-away shop there and the Fossil bought his supper, which he always shares with me. The ‘slap chips’ were delicious!

Tomorrow, I’ll walk the Fossil from Pringle Bay to Rooi Els. But that’s another story. Thanks for reading and sharing Husky loving folks!

Wanna talk to us? Wanna host us? WhatsApp the tall fossil hanging onto my leash. Here’s Des’s number: +27 (0)82 374 7260. We’d love to hear from you!

JAXX

PS. That extra X on the end of my name is supposed to be a kiss (yeah, I know it’s soppy).

BTW: if you happen to be anywhere along our walking route between Plettenberg Bay and Cape Town during late July to mid-August 2021, look out for us. We’ll be walking along the beach (or not), or on a hiking trail (unlikely), or along the side of a town road (most likely) – but definitely not along the N2 motorway! Come over to say “Howzit Husky Boy!” (and ” Hello Fossil Man” if you want).

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