Tuesday

The Dog Rambler E-diary

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October 2011
Walk

Harbour Hill and Bells Hill, The Pentlands

Length

6.25 miles

Dogs on walk

Archie, Finlay, Gina, Jerry, Otis, Solo, Tim

With the antibiotics beginning to take effect, well at least I felt a little better at the start of the walk, we made for the hills for the first time on over a week. I did struggle on some of the climbs and had a snuffley nose at the end but the cough was beginning to abate. Perhaps know I can stop going on about being ill. Despite the heavy grey blanket of cloud the rain was holding off. Shame as I was all ready to try out my new waterproof jacket. It was mud repellents that me and the dogs needed. Before long we were all getting dirty. Some more than most. Archie and Finlay in particular. We climbed our way from Dreghorn. Leaving the constant disruptive noise of the city bypass behind us. Some wary sheep gazing at us as the dogs took their first dip in a clean flowing stream. The stream having been their barrier they looked on worried but the dogs were not interested in them. We were to have a much closer encounter with them at the end of the walk. As we left the good tracks and climbed on grassy paths the dogs began to change colour. The overnight rain had left the ground sodden and sticky. Even some good chases off into the heather and over the tangled thick grasses did little to clean them up. Ahead of us the

hills slumbered with their heads in the clouds like sleeping figures hiding under a duvet. We were not climbing these hills but skirted long the bottom heading westwards toward Harbour Hill. It steep climb rising from the ground throwing out its challenge to us. Not much of a challenge for the dogs as they raced up its side. Only stopping to wallow or paddle in the deep dirty bog cutting across the track. Otis as usual needed some encouragement to go ahead of me and mingle with the others. His natural tendency seems to be to fall in line behind me otherwise. Not so for Finlay who was once again relishing his chance to lead us all from the front. Only getting a little far ahead a few times and needing to be called back. The others were a jumble of bodies playing and darting about. Gina finding lots of fun with Jerry and Tim. Archie also getting some entertainment from Jerry but also keeping an eye on Finlay up front. Solo too, not so interested in me, was getting into the swing of things. But both him and Gina would come back to check on me, big tongues lolling grins on their faces. Coming down from Harbour Hill were a couple and their two rowdy and noisy dogs. Both on their leads one of the people took them off well into the heather to let us past Struggling a little with them. By contrast I was surrounded by a group of very well behaved dogs all keeping to heel and very close to me. The other person, still on the path, was extremely impressed with their behaviour. Of course as soon as I took my eye off the dogs to quickly chat to her they began to unravel. We made it to the top of Harbour Hill still quite close together. But the drop down the other side saw Finlay dashing off pursued by Archie. Archie kept on going and then lay in wait for the others to catch up. Ready to pounce on them. He had to wait awhile as Gina and Tim were caught up with each other and Jerry was bounding about in the long grass bent under the weight of the water still clinging to the stalks. Solo and Otis grubbily plodded along not far ahead of me, half an eye on Archies plans which were hatching down below. The lower top of Bells Hill, another rounded hill like Harbour Hill, rose from the cleugh at the bottom of Harbour Hill. We climbed its narrow muddy path to the top. Archie and Jerry managing to find some sticks to torment at first each other and then the rest. They all kept this up to a degree on the return journey.

Until we encountered the sheep again. This time four of them straddled the track just beyond the tress we were walking through. One looked at us, then ignored us. As if it had been whispered to the one next to it looked up and gazed upon us, unmoved and unflinching. By now we were all standing still hoping they would move off. They did not. We edged forward and at last they decided the best course of action was head toward the grass. Very slowly three of them set off. The fourth did not. We moved again. This time it began to move but only after a look around the corner of a hedged fence. A fifth then appeared behind it and they slowly made their way to join the rest. As last we could get back to the car. Nick

Photo slideshow from the walk

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Nick Fletcher The Dog Rambler 9 Links Street Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 6JL

www.thedogrambler.com nick@thedogrambler.com t. 0131 665 8843 or 0781 551 6765

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