Monday

The Dog Rambler E-diary

To 21
May 2012
Walk Hartside Hill and Clints Hill by the Scottish Borders Dogs on walk Chloe, Dylan, Hannah, Finlay, Jolie, Lucas, Penny, Tim Length 6 miles

Out of the low lying coastal mist we climbed in the car. A hazy sun slowly penetrating the thinning cloud, giving a gauzy, shimmering look. A strange whitish light radiating on the trees and buildings. Then as the car climbed higher toward our starting point for Hartside Hill a blue sky began to break. Some low mist clung on around the side of hills and in their sheltered leas, but bold against the blue sky was the tall mast atop Hartside Hill. Further over the smaller mast on it sister hill, Clints Hill, was also visible. At last no need for any waterproofs and even my gloves could stay behind. An excited bunch of dogs moaned and whimpered in the back. Especially the three small girls, Chloe, Hannah and Penny who have not been out with the gang for ages. Although they did get a walk with us yesterday as they were staying the night. All three from the same home, they are always full of beans. The gentle Finlay who was also staying did well to put up with them. Tonight, his second night, he is looking a little relieved as the house is back to its usual calm. With Jolie in the boot with them the now four girls could not wait to get off. They piled out of the car and through the gate leading to the winding track up the hill. Jolie as usual

quick to hang onto Lucas neck. Tim checking out the other girls who he had not seen for a long time. Penny growling at him, warning him not to be too boisterous. He turned to Hannah but she was too engrossed with trying to ply a stone from Chloe. Chloe would not be without a stone for very much of the walk. I fed her desire by kicking one along the track whenever she dropped it by me. Dylan and Finlay were well out of it striking out their own path at their own pace, leaving the rabble in their wake. Tim turned his attention to Jolie as Lucas took a break to walk with me for a bit. Joined by Hannah. But where was Penny? Not far up the track with the deep curtain of pine trees on both sides and she had already sneaked off into them. After a minute of calling her she came burling down the track from further up. I was going to have to keep an eye on her. In the rising temperature the dogs took a drink from some quite brown puddles. A lovely taste for them. I gave it a miss though. Refuelled they were off again under the watchful eye of the tall mast glinting in the sun still some way above us but stretching high above the trees. Then we had to stop. A horse and rider coming down the track. We scrambled into the broad heather sides of the track. Penny on the lead. Taking no chances. The others sitting and standing patiently. A wave and hello and we were all on way again. The horse and rider downhill, us uphill for the final climb to the mast. And a play about in the heather near the trig point at the summit of Hartside Hill. There was more heather to play in as we crossed onto the board flat summit ridge of Clints Hill. Not trees to block our views and more open space for the dogs to race in. Even Dylan coming to life and racing around with Tim and the others. Leaving Finlay to plough a lonely furrow before he began to fall back to join the rest of us. Lucas too coming back to life and him and Hannah leaving me to wander at the back as they cut swathes through the heather and wire like grass. Around the smaller mast at the top of Clints Hill and it was back to finish following the track right around the other side of Hartside Hill. Eagle eyed I spotted a deer before they did. Making them all stop. None of them quite sure why until it jumped into the middle of the track and just stood there. It had not seen us but they had seen it now. I had to call hard on Dylan, Hannah and Penny. Finlay stood and stared but did not move. The deer

had heard me and with a leap it was into the heather and then lost in the trees. We were heading back down now and the dogs were taking it easy in the heat of the sun. But our encounter with animals was not over. A hare leapt from the heather fifteen to twenty feet in front of Penny. I thought this was it. She would be in the trees again and lost for an age. She wheeled round and set off in pursuit. I called her with a harsh edge to my voice. She stopped, turned and came back. A couple of stops for drinks in some fresh streams finishing the day off. Finlay trying to swim but not deep enough no such challenge for Chloe. So on a lovely dry day I still managed to end up with a number of wet dogs hauling themselves into the car.

Nick

Photo slideshow from the walk

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