24 March 2013
“We are going to do a Woefie Wandel today,” announced Reggie at breakfast this morning.
“Pardon? What’s a Woffie Wonder?” I asked, getting my tongue into knots.
“Woffie Wonder! Woffie Wonder!” chanted the Twins in unison, giggling hysterically at each other.
It took a few minutes before Reggie and I could continue our conversation. She explained that the local SPCA – Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – of Cape Town (website) has been arranging an annual Wiggle Waggle Walkathon in November each year for the last decade or more, in order to raise funds. Reggie and Richard have gone on several of these walks (have a look at her blog).
A couple of years ago, the Cape Town SPCA initiated an additional doggy walk in the Northern suburbs, where many residents are Afrikaans-speaking, so that is why they call it a “Woefie Wandel” in Afrikaans. A “woefie“, in case you’re wondering, is a doggy. 🙂
This year, the event took place at the D’Aria wine estate outside the pretty northern suburb of Durbanville. On Sunday morning, Reggie and Richard, Aunty Karin and Aunty Christa – and the Terrible Twins and I of course! – joined hundreds and hundreds of dog lovers and their pooches for a 4-km ramble around the beautiful vineyards. Little N was there too, with her parents, Dr Lizette and Dr Felix. Little N was feeling rather shy that morning; I think she may have been overwhelmed by all the barking dogs!
Unfortunately, Reggie had to pull out of the walk after the first loop because she developed terrible lower back pain and could hardly walk another step. Aunty Karin and I accompanied her back down to the tents that had been set up on the big lawns.
Shortly after reaching the tent and sitting down on a couple of chairs, we discovered that Bheki had gone missing! Oh No! I was so distraught! Thabo was wailing his lungs out, so Aunty Karin and I sang to him, and tried to calm him down, while Reggie hobbled off as fast as she could… A few minutes later, she came back, firmly holding onto Bheki’s hand – thank heavens, she was safe! It seems that she’d wanted to play with a couple of kids on the field.
Relieved that we were reunited, we sat in the shade, waiting for our friends to complete the walk, and passing the time by doggy-watching. Oh, and keeping a watchful eye on the mischievous twins! I was quite tempted to go over to one of the stalls that had been set up on the perimeter, to purchase a leash for the pair of them!
The Fantastical Voyages of Flat Kathy 
Thank goodness everyone was reunited! It sounds like it’s quite a little family you’ve adopted there. 🙂 Hope Reggie’s back is doing better. Back pain is not fun.
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Oh, I do really feel like I have found another family down here, Curvy Kathy! Everyone has been so welcoming to me.
P.S. I think Reggie’s back is better now. Thank heavens, I was a little worried about her.
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