Hiking at Van Galen's Cheese Farm

Peter had left for work (shame) and I had to rouse the boys for our 8h00 departure to join the Johannesburg Hiking Club Wednesday hike which was due to start from the local cheese farm. I didn't realize it would only take 5 minutes to drive there from Magalies Park! They could have slept a bit longer.

33 hikers pitched up and we split into slow, medium and fast groups. Why do youngsters always want to go FAST?!!!

We drove our cars to another part of the farm up a track next to a Predators Park. Disgusted to see there were wild dogs and hyena in small cages alongside the track.

Thought the hike was going to be fairly flat for a change as the Magaliesburg were away to the north and south. Should have known better! Our leader, Mike, said it was a bit boring and that the view from the top was magnificent. George was first to the top and waiting for the rest of the group to catch up. I needed to stop frequently to admire the view.

Looking south

And North...

 In hiking terms this is a euphemism for catching ones breath! Once we reached the top we came across a British fort from the Boer war.

The "Fast Group"

At one stage the route took us into a ditch which was obviously man made and in places more than 5 feet deep. I suppose it was like the pictures of the trenches from World War 1.

Anyway we finished around 12h30 and met back at the cheese farm for "light refreshments". No I took my aunty driving duties very seriously and only had a coke.

We're back at the chalet now at Magalies Park but where is George? Seemingly he's gone for a lie down - these youngsters can't keep up with aunty. Don't know if he'll get any sleep because somebody has a chain saw operating next to the chalet!

Ed is trying to catch a tan  - yes Jen he has taken his shirt off because he says you keep pestering him about a tan .

At dusk George and I were walking across the golf course when he spotted something jumping from the ground up into a tree. It was a bushbaby - we watched it move from tree to tree and called Edward to come over and see it.

Spot the eyes - all the better to see you with.