the dog rambler e-diary 19 january 2012
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Walk Meandering along the River Almond Length 6 miles
Dogs on walk Dylan, Finlay, Gustave, Jerry, Lucas, Otis, Tim
A cold clear start to the day gave way to invading clouds scouring the sky their bruised
blue colour foretelling bad weather. It was our lucky day today and we got back to the car
before the worst of it. I felt sorry for two women just setting out with their dogs into what
was now a wet, white sleet. Beginning to cover the car windows and the track. On the
return journey the Pentlands were now clothed in white, something that at the start of
the day looked very unlikely.
We set out in clear skies and sunshine. Cold definitely but a little speed began to warm us
up. Quite exposed at the back of the airport where the sweet smell of aviation fuel drifted
across the railway from a plane which had just growled its way along the runway rising
like a swan, on glossy white wings. The gravel and mud track led us beside the railway
marking the end of the airport and down toward the River Almond.
Ahead a couple with their two children and four dogs strolled slowly. They had passed the
car while we were getting ready. A hello from him before his partner and kids appeared
round the corner. We let them get a little way ahead before setting off. It was not to let
The Dog Rambler
E-diary
Thursday
19 January 2012
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them get away. At their speed we were going to pass them very soon. It was more to give
the dogs a short chance to settle down a little before trying to barge past them. Hopefully
not taking one of the kids with them.
A jumble of dogs ensued as we came together. At one point I acquired two of theirs in
exchange for Tim and Dylan. A bit of calling by both parties saw parity restored.
We turned left under the railway bridge and onto a grassy track running near the airport
boundary fence. The river not far off to our right. Jerry and Finlay spent time trying to
push through the thick undergrowth to reach it. Not so thick at this time of year. In the
middle of summer this way is impassable. After harrying Gustave last week Lucas and Timall but ignored him today. This appeared to suit him and he hirpled about never too far
from me. Nor was Otis either, taking a bit of a break from hanging onto Phoebe all day
yesterday.
The track petered out into an indistinct path. We carried on until it reached a burn
feeding into the river. Heading back I found a ball which Tim quickly nabbed. Now he was
surrounded by Dylan, Lucas and Gustave. All four racing on ahead. Then I found another inthe receded undergrowth. As Tim and Gustave made for this one a deer leapt across the
path no more than twenty feet in front of us. Thankfully they were so focused on the ball
that they never saw it. But as I looked up to spot it in mid air I also noticed I had a lot less
dogs. Only two in fact. The rest had vanished along the track and round a curve fringed by
bushes. Quite possibly on the trail of this deer’s pal. I’ll never know.
Back together again we headed with the flow of the river making its way to Cramond tospill into the Firth of Forth. A good gap in the bank leading to a small stony shore let the
dogs really get in. The most avaricious being Finlay, Jerry and Tim. Although Lucas tiptoed
further in than usual. Otis and Gustave kept to the edges half interested in the stones I had
and then not at all. Finlay’s barking became a bit too much and we set off again to the
relief of Dylan who had waited at the top of the bank.
The more open countryside gave way to trees and the river sliced deep into the earthmaking quite a ravine with fast flowing rapids of dancing water. Like white hems of
dresses swaying across the dance floor. We crossed it on the old stone bridge which once
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facilitated access to the mills that had lined this narrow fast flowing part of the river. Near
the fast flowing road with vehicles hurtling on the high stretched road bridge, Elegantly
reposing on either side of the bank, the dogs were back in the water.
On the return Otis kept ahead but could not reach the front which as usual was occupied
by Finlay. Gustave kept twisting past my legs while Lucas and Tim rather nonchalantly
wandered on. Still Jerry had sufficient energy to crash and rip through the undergrowth
eschewing the path as much as possible. Dylan now casually wandering behind.
Once again waiting for us was the drop back into the river. This time Otis wading way out
again for the second day in a row. Finlay, Jerry and Tim tried to retrieve stones thrownby me. A ploy to try and clean them up. With one eye on the closing in sky we set off on
the last leg back to the car. A few raindrops beginning to spatter against us. But we got
there before it really crashed open and began to soak the poor women.
Nick
Photo slideshow from the walk
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