Thursday

The Dog Rambler E-diary

top 08
December 2011
Walk Dogs on walk

To Winton House, Pencaitland

Length

6 miles

Darcy, Finlay, Gustave, Jerry, Lucas, Tim

Today is the day of the great storm. Schools closing at lunchtime. Stories of busses being pulled off the streets. Reports of wind gusts of 109 miles per hour in Donegal in the morning. How would we fare? Quite well with our choice of walk in the sheltered confines of Winton House estate. It was windy and it did rain hard. But we survived. Early sunshine fooling us in a bright blue sky. So quickly the wind blew at high altitude that the weather was prone to change rapidly and it did. As the wind began to gust lower down, the rain fell with the force of hail. It was rain but it was hard and fierce. So dense the trees on the other side of the field became no more than a blur. Gustave ran on ahead as though this would help to beat it. Tim contemplated whether some grass would provide sufficient shelter for him to hide. The rest of us kept our heads down and ploughed on. We had already travelled a little way along the old railway line from Ormiston and cut beside an open farm field. Scattered with birds poking about in the thick wet earth. The wind had blown us along and the dogs were quiet as though they could sense the changes in the weather. Many sections of the road we had driven out on had little floods at the side

after the heavy overnight rain and so too the paths were once again very muddy. As the rain pounded us we crossed the field with the dogs running from one gate to the next. Tim and Lucas squeezing under it and into the shelter of the trees. The others looking back as me imploring me to hurry and let them through. Tim sat under a tree and looked forlorn. The others were not so bothered with Jerry and Finlay running through the trees and Darcy and Lucas a little inseparable today trotting up the path, passing a slower Gustave. A cacophony of noise in the trees as the wind bent the treetops like a hand through blades of grass. The noise like an ocean crashing onto rocks, receding and hurling again as it tumbled about itself. Small branches and leaves flying by us like seaweed spat from the mouth of the ocean. At one point a buzzard on sturdy wings surfed the air. Then as if the tide were going out the noise began to abate and a calmness rested on the tree tops. Not for long as it blew again but not so fierce. We were now dropping into the sheltered dell of Winton House. Gentle slopes of trees and a muddy brown churning burn. While Jerry looked for rabbits Darcy and Lucas began to chase. Soon interrupted by a revived Tim. Finlay at the front but nowhere near as far ahead as usual, found himself constantly surrounded and met stride for stride by Gustave who was not easily giving up his early lead. We meandered along the burn until it flowed into the heavily burdened River Tyne. Finlay taking a quick dip. Darcy and Jerry hanging over the side but not chancing it. We turned and headed back under the glow of the sun and the washing of the wind through the trees. Gradually picking up its pace again, carrying some ominous clouds in our direction. A large pool of water cleaned up Finlay who swam for a stick. This time Darcy and Jerry paddled while the others looked on with faint amusement. Darcy made numerous more effort to get Lucas to play but by now Lucas was slipping into his tendency to nip behind me. Darcy joined him. Still Gustave made some attempts to lead the way and a very nonchalant Finlay did not care. With another storm quickly closing in we made it back to the railway line as the sky

turned slate grey and the metal panelling of the grain mill shook violently in the rising wind. Before the skies could open too much we got to the car and scrabbled our way into it. Nick

Photo slideshow from the walk

Follow The Dog Rambler on Facebook and access the e-diaries online

Ramblesnacks

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

Ramblesnacks healthy, homemade treats for your dog with no artificial flavours or preservatives. Order your 200g bags now - Heartbeets, Banana Boost (1.50 each) and Peanut Choc Chip Cookies (1.75).