Outta the Valley- Bird and Monkey Sanctuary

 

Outta the Valley- Elephant Sanctuary

Outta the Valley- Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve

Dawgies in the Valley

Parents' Dawgies- Sophie, Moby and Wally

Chilling in the Valley

Trekking to the Valley

Graaff Reinet

Grootrivier Pass

Die Antwoord in Grootrivier Pass

Coming out of Grootrivier Pass you stumble upon the most incredible little shop. It's like a slice of Eden there. 

Nature in the Valley

I've just arrived back from a flipping awesome holiday in Nature's Valley situated in the Garden Route. There was so much to do in the area and we managed to rent an awesome (pet-friendly) house from a family friend which was a mere two minutes walk from the beach. 

Nature's Valley is amazing. AMAZING. The area is secluded and thus, thankfully, it doesn't have tonnes of people in the town and on the beach (although we did go before high-season so this probably made a difference). It is also, however, situated close to areas such as Plettenberg Bay and Tsitsikamma National Park (my favourite place in the whole world) so there is a lot to do in the immediate surrounds without having to embark upon an epic trek.

It was wonderful catching up with family and friends from the area and spending quality time with Ric and two of our hairy children (Ric and I rotate our four dogs' holiday periods- so two will stay with family or at Keringa Kennels while the other two go on a break...thus we always have an excuse to go on a bi-annual holiday. This is likely to be the case until we have a car that can actually accommodate four very headstrong dogs who fart a lot). 

It was Albie's first time away and he was so well behaved, I was so proud of him. There is an epic lagoon in Nature's Valley and Albie took to it like a fish to water...from being chained to a pole in the backyard of a township to swimming like Michael Phelps in the lagoon in Nature's Valley, he has come a long long way. Lula is also such a beach dog so it was a perfect fit for everyone.

More than anything I want to move down to the coast- it has to be one of those big plans that I work towards. There is something about being close to such a big body of water that just calms me the hell down- when you get commended on the fact that you aren't swearing half as much as you usually do then something has to be right about the situation (and your mental state) right? Sometimes I feel strange for enjoying the simple life, like I should "want" more. The thing is, the simple life seems to work really well for me. 

We managed to do so much while we were there but, given that we went for almost two weeks, we also had a lot of time for R&R. Our days were spent walking the beach, swimming in the lagoon, visiting the near-by animals sanctuaries, taking Ric to Tsitsikamma National Park for the first time (I loved seeing the pure unadulterated joy on his face as we walked through the forest), driving to Plett for the most-amazing Apple, Pineapple and Cream Soda sorbets we've ever tasted, chilling with family and friends, reading copious amounts of Chuck Palahniuk (Lullaby, Pygmy and Invisible Monsters), oh and jumping off the highest bungee jump in the world (Ric called my bluff, which irritates the damned-shit out of me the moment he does it, but leaves me ever-thankful at the end when I've done something I would never do otherwise).

It was such a wonderful break. It's damn tough being back in Jozi. I know it has it's own rough concrete beauty but I'm not convinced that it's where I want to be for the long-haul. Man oh man what I would give to have a little wooden house nestled in the forest in Nature's Valley. 

I don't like you town.