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Walk  Along the Union Canal from Ratho Length 7 miles

Dogs on walk Archie, Jerry, Lucas, Otis, Phoebe, Solo 

Hurricane Katia’s tail is still wagging. Maybe not as fierce but still capable of delivering a

battering. Gulls tumbling in the air battling the gusts and trees tops dancing a ferocious

dance. Such sights led to another lowland walk today. This time along the tow path beside

the Union Canal and through the West Lothian countryside.

Parking in the picturesque village of Ratho, straddling the canal by a humped stone bridge,

we went under the bridge to join the canal. Boats moored by the side knocked against each

other chattering to one another in the wind. Above them the inviting Bridge Inn was

empty at this time of day, the outside chairs and tables overlooking the canal unused.

Archie and Jerry hung over the bank but neither would dare to take the plunge into the

water, twinkling its invite in the broken sunlight. Phoebe and Lucas ploughing on with Solo

in tow had to be called back. A woman with her young daughter was playing in puddles.

Lifting her with both arms just skimming the top of them. They saw us approaching and

stopped to let us by. The dogs gathering around me were on their best behaviour. Just the

odd sniff from Otis and Archie, which the girl loved as she said in amazement to her 

The Dog Rambler 

E-diary

Tuesday

13September 2011

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mother “so many dogs”.

Once allowed to go again like excited children they all ran off along the path. Phoebe

grabbing at Jerry and almost picking him up while Archie, Solo and Lucas ran around her.But where was Otis? A look behind revealed that he was barely past the woman and child,

suddenly breaking into a run as he realised he was getting quite far behind.

A deep cutting gave us comfort from the wind rocking and twisting the trees which were

climbing the banks on either side. Up the bank and into them ran Archie and Jerry.

Picking up a scent and dashing off then turning on the appearance of another scent.

Phoebe watched them from the path but did not join them. Lucas, Otis and Solo trottedalong. At times in front of me at times behind.

The cutting levelled out and we entered the golden swathes of wheat and barley fields. All

harvested sporting a crew cut hairstyle. Some with rollers in where the straw had been

gathered into cylindrical bales. Others still scraggy with lines of windblown straw waiting

to be attended to. The sun broke through the high gloomy cloud racing across the sky on

Katia’s last breaths. And then the rain came, spitting hard against us making me drop myhead. It was along here that Archie finally braved the drop into the water finding a lower 

section of bank.

Under several quiet bridges we eventually reached the bridge carrying the M8. Thundering

with traffic, slicing through the air at speed. Here we turned and began to trace our way

back. Archie deciding it was high time that he and Phoebe had a chase. Off they went at 

pace and out of sight, Lucas pressing hard behind them and then Jerry taking off too. Iwas left with Otis and Solo until Lucas came back to check on us. Around the corner the

others were looking back just to make sure we were still coming.

Emerging from under one of the bridges and Phoebe leaned down. Lifting her head to

reveal a pigeon in her mouth. I shouted. She let go. It flapped. So taken aback was Jerry

that his snapping jaws missed it by a mile. Off it flew across the canal. At one point 

looking like it was going to ditch in it. Finally a little bedraggled and flustered it roseupward and made it to the safety of a tree.

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Three canal boats cruised toward us the dogs lifting their heads and watching them sail by.

Back at Balerno there were still a number of boats shifting about on their moorings as we

passed back under the bridge and around the corner to the car.

Nick

Photo slideshow from the walk 

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Nick Fletcher

The Dog Rambler

9 Links Street

Musselburgh www.thedogrambler.com

East Lothian nick@thedogrambler.com

EH21 6JL t. 0131 665 8843 or 0781 551 6765

Your dog walking service for active dogs