No llamas

All our llamas are now in the Allier!

The second moving trip started badly. We had prepared thoroughly, adding additional fencing outside the field to funnel the llamas down to where the trailer would be waiting. We had accustomed the llamas to this new area over a few days, and they were enthusiastic each morning to come and eat some new vegetation. With much slipping and sliding, we had backed the trailer into place on Sunday and added barriers and rope to make it simple to herd the llamas from the field on to the trailer. Should have been straightforward.

And it almost was. . . . . .

The three bigger llamas quite happily came down the hill, and one after another walked calmly into the trailer. But baby Lilas, normally the most curious and amenable of llamas, was having none of it. She came right down to the ramp, and absolutely refused even to place a foot on it. As soon as we tried to push her a bit, she called out to her mother. Then the trouble started. Elif came storming out of the trailer, with a “Who’s messing with my baby?” look on her face. And so began a couple of hours of frustrating non-progress. Each time we had three llamas in the trailer, Lilas got agitated and the others reacted. Elif was spitting (giving Val very fetching green highlights in her hair) and Capucine was charging up and down. Val and I were holding a fence post between us, but it proved an ineffective barrier, as it was either too high for Lilas or too low for Capucine.

Stand off, and time for a cup of tea and a rethink.

We had been offered help with the llama moving by Roy and Susan, a couple who live not far away and who are getting some alpacas in the summer. They had been over to see our llamas, and had enjoyed walking them. Although we had thought that additional people would potentially be more unsettling than helpful, it was clear that we needed some assistance! Susan’s response to a phone call was brilliant – “We’re on our way!”

Half an hour later, we were tackling the recalcitrant llamas with reinforcements. After some experimentation, Roy and I headed down the hill from the field with a newly removed gate suspended between us. With Val and Susan taking care of the sides, we could see that we had a much better chance of success. Some vigorous pushing of Lilas (Roy’s experience with his two sheep helped here I think!) and she was on the ramp. Within seconds we had all four in the trailer! Unfortunately, there was no way to hold the gate in place and close the trailer ramp, so I had to be shut in the trailer with the gate and the llamas. Passing the gate out over the top of the ramp, and then climbing out myself passed in a blur, all difficulty washed away by the euphoria of success.

The rest of the day – extracting the trailer over the ditch from the field using a hastily rearranged bridge of steel plates, and towing 550 kilometres through gales, fog and torrential rain – passed relatively easily. The llamas were delivered to Mike and Suzanne’s before dark, and settled in quickly to their new accommodation.

Today we’re packing again. Tomorrow morning, the removal men will be here at 7.30. After moving llamas, I think moving furniture will be a piece of cake.