Monday

The Dog Rambler E-diary

To 30
April 2012
Walk Dogs on walk Rambling to Winton House Length 6 miles

Chutney, Cyrano, Dylan, Jolie, Lucas, Maggie, Tim

It was great to see Chutney back out with us again after some time. Enough to lift our spirits against the miserable day. Low cloud and drizzling showers were the order of the day. Not much of a concern for the dogs though. Bursting with energy Jolie, Lucas and Tim hared off along the road toward some cottages at a fast and noisy pace. Each of them barging into the other. At a slightly more sedate pace the rest of us followed. The clouds appearing to touch the tops of the trees ahead of us. It was dark and dismal. We made our way toward them, several dogs running past me to catch up having stopped for a sniff in the sparkling rain drop covered edges to the road. Onto a muddy track beneath the trees. Water standing in puddles all over. No one quite up for the chase in these conditions we joined the old railway line beside the grain mill. Disturbing a flock of pigeons scrabbling around on the concrete floor for any leftover husks or even the gem of a full kernel. As we passed they flew up noisily, their wing beats echoing loud from the metal sides of the mill. In flight shimmering against the bright corrugated walls.

We turned and headed on a narrow path between two youthful cropped fields. The plough marks still visible between the slowly spreading rows of green. The path led us into some trees and then into a dip in the land sheltering some more fields between a rising barrier of trees. Cyrano, Chutney and Maggie leaping into the brown burn. Recently widened leaving scooped out mud to obscure our path. Cyrano used the burn rather than the path and Chutney and Tim wrestled over a stick. Chutney I think just wanting to walk with it but Tim had other ideas. Jolie and Lucas ran along the grass beside the fence separating us from the field. Passing Dylan who was minding his own business at the front, leading us all to the gate to cross one of the fields. Sheep in the field moving away from us but both of us getting closer to the gate. Were we to collide? This was no way for them to get away from us. But they were not. As we crossed the field they began to edge closer to us. Curiosity getting the better of them. We got through the other gate and they lost interest as we climbed away through the trees to a wider path along the top of the dip. The dogs rummaging about in the undergrowth beneath the tall bristles of the tree trunks. The white ghostly shape of Winton House coming into view between these trunks slicing the view vertically. Then more visible as we dropped to another burn. Flowing brown with mud etched from its sides as it rose with the rain. Cyrano and Maggie keen to stay for while. But no one else keen to linger in this dreich weather. We crossed the burn on a shaky bridge. Dylan and Lucas dropping lower as though this would stabilise them more. They did exactly the same as we came back across it to climb into the trees again and stay on the track above the dip. Chutney found another stick which she carried for some time unmolested by Tim. Cyrano taking a final dip in the deep pool at the edge of the Winton House Estate before we crossed the fields again to the railway walk. Finally seeing someone else out and about. A person with a few Labradors. Holding them back as we approached the crossroads of the paths. We went off one way and she the other. Me shouting thanks to her for making it

easy. Then two joggers came tripping toward us. With the dogs still close to heel from the other encounter they ran past with ease one commenting to the other on how well behaved the dogs were! They can be sometimes. We rejoined the muddy track back to the road and on to the car. All a little wet but not soaking and not as dirty as I had feared.

Nick

Photo slideshow from the walk

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Tuesday

The Dog Rambler E-diary

To 01
May 2012
Walk Dogs on walk Along the River Almond Length 6 miles

Cyrano, Finlay, Gina, Jerry, Otis, Solo, Tim

Some time since we were last along the river. Must come back more often. The dogs absolutely loved it. The magnetism of the river always pulling them in. I barely saw much of them for periods of time as they ran down the bank from the path and made their way along the river. Even Solo saw fit to run today as the excitement got to him. Both him and Finlay racing off ahead to find the next access to the river. Having to be called back sometimes as their excitement got the better of them. Having left the car on a track behind the airport, the occasional plane roaring overhead taking off into the northerly wind, the anticipation of the dogs was palpable. Except Otis and Tim who were lagging along the track sniffing at this and that. Our first jaunt along the river was beside the airport. Heading upstream against its flow lost behind the strengthening grasses and plants, fighting each other for the light and space. The dogs could not reach the river. Instead they trouped along the slim path until we reached the impassable burn. Then it was back down the river. Once under the railway bridge and away from the airport the river became accessible. Now it was no longer the plants fighting each other but Gina hanging off Jerrys neck as they ran through the water. Cyrano and Finlay swum out into the fast flowing current. Having to swim strongly to edge their way back to the shallower water. Solo, Jerry and Tim chased after stones and Otis paddled a little bit before making for the safety of the bank. We carried on along the bank. Open wide fields of half grown crops to our right. The meandering and tempting river on our left. The dogs finding small paths or precarious banks to scramble down just to get back in the water for a swift paddle. They just about coped as we left the river for five minutes on a wider track leading us by an old farmhouse and swinging back to the river. Their delight was obvious. So keen where they that they all walked to heel as we met up with three other dogs. They did not want to damage their chances of getting back in the water. Gina continued to tail Jerry trying to keep up with him as he washed through the

undergrowth in his well practiced fashion. As Cyrano, Solo and Finlay searched for a way back into the river Otis wandered behind me still with plenty to sniff at. The three up front were fully rewarded after we had crossed the old stone bridge over some rapids in the river. The water dancing and cavorting about itself. Now the banks opened up and they left the path with Jerry, Gina and Tim to roam about in the shallow water and along its wide bank. Otis joined them but only to sniff somewhere else. Having turned underneath the high road bridge, like a gymnast stretched across the gorge, Tim got himself into trouble. Having all behaved impeccably earlier, this time Tim ignored my request for him to walk to heel and ran headlong at three Labradors. He found himself on his lead for a while. Plenty of time to think about his actions. We meandered back through the shady trees drawing life from the river as hidden birds sang out from their cover. We had one last dip all together, back near the railway bridge before making our way back up the track through the green shooted field and to the car. Nick

Photo slideshow from the walk

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