Friday

The Dog Rambler E-diary

To 20
July 2012
Walk The Gore Glen, near Gorebridge Brooklyn, Cyrano, Jolie, Teela, Tim Length 6.2 miles Dogs on walk

A quieter day for us today. Finlay, although still staying with us, was having a day off with Ian, Struan and Talaidh. Dylan was supposed to be with us but neither him nor Claire where at home. A search of Portobello beach did not reveal them and as time was getting on I had the leave without him. At least the others were all at home waiting excitedly to come out. Well Teela left it to the last second to drag herself out her basket and then almost pulled me out of the door. With Teelas recent nervousness in mind we headed for Gore Glen which I know she had enjoyed a couple of times. And so it was again today. I knew Cyrano would love the ample chances to dive into the river but he confounded this today. Instead his love was drawn to Jolie. At the end of her season poor Cyrano was hooked. So too was Brooklyn. It made the day a lot easier to control as they were almost always together. Jolies agility and speed coming into its own as she jinked away from them and dashed out of reach before coming back to tease them both. Tim a little less aware saw it as one big game. Which it pretty much was. Many of the advances from the other two turning into fun chases.

Only a few times did Cyrano leave the throng compelled by the power of the river and its lifting voice of water. Running fast and brown still filled with the memories of rains a plenty. But not today. It flashed brightly like cameras at a concert as the sun dappled through the trees into this darkened arena of a glen.

Teela strolled along very happy and very happy to stay out of the harem being set up by Jolie. Jolie more than able to hold her own with the boys. We carefully picked our way on the less muddy section of the path and travelled up to the top of the glen. Plants and bushes crowding in on the path almost obscuring it. But not at Teelas height she could easily see a way through it. Bursts of sun mingling with bursts of activity by the dogs. With one stop to chat to a woman and her elderly dog. The level of boisterousness rising until we had to press on. Down to the river again and a wide area of tall grass. Beginning to yellow slightly with seeds heads giving a hint of brown. All combining to give a golden glow, accented by yellow flowers struggling through the forest of grass. At last Cyrano took a proper dip and then once more as we meandered with the river. Jolie and Brooklyn raced side by side hurdling over Teela. A rustle in the grass revealed Tim who spat out of it in a losing pursuit. We turned at an old ford in the river and the dogs continued their chase until we began to climb back to the top of the glen. Things slowed down and even when we met another dog there was no commotion at all. They did manage one last run across the dandelion jewelled paying fields at the edge of Gorebridge before falling into the car having worn themselves out. Nick

Photo slideshow from the walk

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