Old Mill Hiking Trail Revisited - Boris, Obviously

I have a system when it comes to blogging - It’s not sophisticated, but it’s mine.

Draft immediately after the trail while everything is still fresh.

Review photos and videos to fill in the gaps that I undoubtedly have.

Refine, tweak, obsess.

Repeat until something resembling coherence appears.

By the end of the day of this trail, I had a draft - and it just wasn't doing it for me.

No amount of tweaking could fix it - a full creative collapse.

BASIL - BORIS - NICK - TOBY

But somewhere between re-watching videos when others...let's say....sleep, and driving to work the next morning, the penny dropped - this was never meant to be a trail post.

It was supposed to be about the bond between a dog and his person.

But first - fine.

The Trail.

Briefly. (shocking I know)

Just so that I can hopefully tempt you to do this one.

You should go - genuinely.

When my son Pepper and I hiked this a while back, what stayed with me was the wide paths, rolling hills, soft air, and long stretches of uninterrupted quiet.

The peace.

It starts with a gentle climb - deceptively pleasant, and manageable......until you turn around and realize why you are out of breath.

There’s some light trekking, followed by a short, sharp incline.

Then it drops into a shaded, forested section which brings loose rocks where your full attention is required.

It’s cooler, quieter, more focused...still peaceful.

Trail Logistics

Logistics are… not strong. But push through - it’s worth it.

You phone ahead. Fine.

You arrive, turn onto a sand road, and immediately enter a mild state of confusion.

There is no signage.

Eventually this devolves into yelling, hooting, and eventually phoning for help.

Nick appears, guides you through a tunnel, unlocks a gate, and releases you into the wilderness like this is all part of a controlled experiment.

Leaving is… worse.

Locked gates.

No code.

No Nick.

There is a possible chance you simply remain there. Forever.

Possibly under Toby’s supervision.

Meet Toby

Toby, by the way, is the four-legged, deeply competent trail guide.

Last time, he walked approximately two and a half steps with Pepper and me, reassessed our combined intensity, and chose not to be involved.

Understandable.

This time? He committed.

Loved that for us.

You cross railway lines, everything slows down, and locals greet you along the trail like you belong there.

It’s easy.

Rhythmic.

Then came a section I either forgot or, more likely, “creatively navigated” - as Pepper and I tend to do.

But this time, we had Toby leading.

How This Became a Different Story

We reached a narrow, ledge-like bridge over water and Toby crossed - Boris did not.

He stopped - evaluated, and decided this was a terrible idea.

Basil tried to coax him - both were stressed.

She even called Toby back, hoping Boris would follow him over.

Boris stayed.

So Basil made a decision - she crossed first.

Which, if you think about it, is both the worst possible emotional move for Boris… and the only one that was ever going to work.

Because the moment she stepped away, the bridge stopped being the problem.

Now it was distance between them.

Boris hesitated - terrified.

The situation escalated emotionally for everyone involved (including me, who had no actual role here but was fully invested).

And then he darted – not gracefully - not confidently.

But completely.

For a second, he looked like he was suspended in the air between fear and faith.

But he made it - not because he thought it was safe - but because she was on the other side.

The Part That Stayed With Me

Re-watching that clip, I realised this day was not about the trail, and the next video just reinforced that for me.

Another crossing and Boris, confidence, fully restored. walked across with no hesitation.

Basil paused - trying to work out the safest way across, her confidence wavering.

Boris immediately concerned for her safety, turned back, and urged her forward in his own quiet way.

And she followed.

Without hesitation.

Where she couldn’t quite find trust in herself, she found it in him.

That’s when it lands.

This bond.

It isn’t negotiated. It isn’t explained - it just exists.

Boris moved solely because she mattered - that was the whole decision.

Honestly? Every dog deserves that kind of relationship. And if you’re not willing to meet them there - don’t get the dog.

Because they will meet you there.

Every time.

I think about my sons - who do love their mom (most days).

And yes, they’d show up when it mattered.

Probably.

Hopefully.

But there’d be a pause.

A small, almost invisible hesitation.

That human instinct to think first, feel second.

A brief internal meeting where logic pulls up a chair and risk gets a vote.

Dogs don’t do that.

They just choose you.

RATINGS

Trail Information

AREA

Magaliesburg

COST

R 60

Trail Details

TRAIL DIFFICULTY

Not for beginners, but manageable.

TRAIL LENGTH

5 or 8 km

TRAIL MARKERS

Good....even without Toby.

WEATHER CONDITIONS TO CONSIDER

Mostly open

ABLUTIONS

SAFE FREE PARKING

AMENITIES

None

WILDLIFE & BIRD LIFE

Cows. Boris and Toby.

FAMILY & PET FRIENDLY

(TO)SOLO OR (NO)SOLO

NOSOLO for me, but doable (especially if Toby adopts you)