Big Red Barn: A Walk in the Park - Less Hilly With Chili

jeeksparties8
Oct 22, 2024
3 min read

So, for the first time ever, I thought I was actually lost for blogging words—shocking, I know. I almost didn’t write about this hike, but then I thought... what would you lovely people do without a fabulous blog to read this week? And yes... you're welcome!

I had this trail on my list and was so sure there were hills and frills, so I didn't dare ask my friend "Oregano" (aka “No Hills Haley”) to join me.

I decided to rope in another friend... let's call her Chili, just to keep in theme. Now, Chili could crush hills and laugh in their face when she's done, but she’s still blissfully unaware of the joy that comes from scaling cliffs—or, well, scrambling over rocks... but which one sounds more gangster? Exactly.

I decided Chili was the perfect candidate for this hike. I asked, she accepted, and everyone was adequately satisfied.

Fast forward to where we found ourselves: the Big Red Barn in Olifantsfontein.

It wasn’t until we were about halfway through the hike that I realised I’d completely misjudged the type of trail we were on.

Chili, bless her, came ready to witness the scenic magic of my hikes that I’d been bragging about for months. And what did she get? A walk in the park. Well, more like a brisk walk (because it was Chili), and not exactly a park, but you get my drift.

That’s on me, though. The expectation of conquering epic hills was—how should I say this—shattered. Now that I’ve gotten my obligatory moan out of the way, let’s get to the raving.

The venue? Absolutely stunning. There’s so much going on that I could barely keep track. Everywhere you turn, there’s something else happening, especially for kids.

The walk itself is basically a shady Eucalyptus tree festival. The scent of the trees fills the air and is honestly amazing. Every now and then, something cute would pop up (like a sign or dog bowls with water), which piqued my interest. While Chili, on the other hand, was laser-focused on the trail ahead, blissfully oblivious to the charm around her. But that's my Chili as I know and love her.

Fair enough—I can’t expect her to suddenly become one with nature when it took me years......well months to evolve into the Mother of all Nature.

We briskly walked 10 km and felt like we had a solid stroll. So, despite my shattered expectations, I’ve got nothing to complain about... except, you know, for believing we were going on some hardcore hike.

It sort of has the Rietvlei Zoo Farm vibe, just a bit more updated. But where Rietvlei’s trail delivers that bang, this one feels more like a scenic stroll for parents while their kids are occupied—probably for all eternity.