We collected the walking llamas on Friday, and had to put them temporarily into the big field (see Return of the llamas). On Saturday morning, the incredibly hard-working Jean-Pierre completed the fencing of the second field, so we could move the walkers to their ‘proper’ home.
We had been calling this second field “top field”, as the far side of it is the highest bit of our land. However, this has seemed increasingly odd, as the route to it involves a steep descent to the stream. We found ourselves saying things like “I’m just going down to the top field”. Or “I was on my way back up from the top field”. A new name is therefore needed – and we are currently debating the merits of “far field” and “willow field”. I guess something will make us go with one or the other (or perhaps something completely different). You just have to wait for these things. The true names of all things become apparent in due course!
We gathered the three llamas at the small gate out of the bottom of the big field. From there, it’s just a short walk across the stream and under the willow trees to the entrance to “far/willow field”. Moving such a cooperative group of llamas should be a piece of cake.
And so it was. For two of them.
Ana and Valentine accepted their leads readily, and – there being only two of us – we set off with them. Valentine, ever amenable, calmly walked to the gate and through into the new field. Ana, ever frisky, baulked at the stream, and only crossed when she could make a giant leap, landing several metres on the other side.
In the meantime, Duc had realised he was left on his own, and started to panic. When we returned to collect him, he was too agitated to stand still and have a lead put on. Never mind, we thought, he’s so keen to get back with the others that all we need to do is open the gate. Surely, he’ll just go straight into the other field to rejoin them?
Well, almost.
He went quickly across to the gate of the other field, veered left and down the outside of the fence, between the field and the stream. As he set off through deeper and deeper vegetation, Ana and Valentine followed on the inside of the fence, keeping pace, and encouraging Duc with high pitched calls. I followed on the outside of the fence, and managed to steer him away from the wide open spaces on the other side of the stream. However, at this rate, he would go all the way round the outside of the field and meet up with the herd of cows at the top end. Not a scenario to be contemplated at this stage!
Val bravely set off round the outside of the field in the opposite direction to Duc. Spurred on by the need to avoid a bovine-camelid confrontation, she sped round to the top of the field, wading through nettles, pushing aside brambles. In no time she had turned Duc round, and after a few hesitations he came back to the gate. As he walked through, I could swear he muttered something like “That was fun!”
