Wednesday

The Dog Rambler E-diary

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October 2011
Walk

Deep into Gore Glen

Length

6.4 miles

Dogs on walk

Cyrano, Dylan, Jerry, Jolie, Phoebe, Solo, Tim

Bright sunshine, yahoo. Never mind the nipping chill of the wind a jumper put paid to that. With my chesty cough I was not up for the hills despite the invite from the sun to climb toward it. Instead we dug deep into the bowels of the earth heading into the gorge cut hard and sheer by the Gore Water and the River Esk. Two forks coming together, a high precipitous knife edge of trees separating the two parts of the glen. First we followed the Gore Water until it swept into the River Esk. The Gore Waters vibrant, tumbling flow diluted and lost in the roaring, churning water of the River Esk. A stone bridge connected us to the River Esks section of the Gore Glen as we almost doubled back now on the other side of the knife. Still heavy with trees. Tall and cathedral like along the glen floor. Their brown ornately patterned bark pillars rising toward the bright broken ethereal sunlight sweeping over the sides of the glen. In places slanting through the branches to make sharp bright spotlights on the ground. Dust floating in these shafts which lit up sections of path and flashed back off the water. It was the water as usual which drew in the dogs. Their favourite tight curve with a pebble shore line. Deep enough to swim but with a gentle flow, the water backed up by the corner

losing its energy against the steep bank opposite with trees overhanging. Cyrano, Jerry, Solo and Tim vying for my attention and leaping after every thrown stone. Only Cyrano and Tim braved the cold water swimming against the current and slowly back to the shore. Phoebe lay in wait on the bank and as we moved off she hurled herself after them and Jolie weaving between the trees. In contrast Dylan did not deign us with his presence much. He strode ahead often out of sight. I did not call him back. Pleased for once to see him appearing to enjoy the glen. The last few visits here have seen him looking rather spooked and hanging back and even waiting to be called on. He led us up and out of the glen to its high path perched on the edge of a drop to the left tumbling beyond precariously grasping trees to the half caught sound of the river. We were soon back down at its level. Out onto an open plain basking in the sun we burst, our eyes taking time to adjust from the gloom of the deep wooded section of tightly packed pine trees we were leaving. A chance to get a good run and chase. The dogs took it. Cutting back and forth across the rapidly growing grass, like an early Spring day. A dog coming the other way put paid to the fun. Shame for the dogs and most unusual to meet anyone else here. As it got near I recognised the owner as someone I do meet here occasionally. The dogs ran off to meet her rather timid one, hunkering low in the grass. This was too soon as I was trying to hold them back. It was Jerry who broke ranks first but came back. His actions set Tim and Cyrano off. Cyrano too came back a little unwillingly but Tim ignored me. Once I had said hello and called everyone back, to the relief of her dog, Cyrano ad Jerry got a talking too and Tim ended up in the sin bin. Stuck on the lead he missed the best chasing grounds and looked suitably chastened. It was his second offence today having dashed off after another dog not long after entering the glen. Again it was Jerry who had false started it. We stopped again a couple of times by the river before turning back. Tim freed as we entered the trees again for the climb back to the top of the glen. Dylan had joined in some of the chasing and even Solo had broken into run to follow one at a little distance. Back on the climb they all slowed down and did not break out of a trot for the remainder of the walk. Tired enough to sit down for a group photo before climbing back into 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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