2nd June 2012
A late walk round 3 Castle Valley, which the dogs all really enjoyed.
As we walked home it was getting quite cool
1st June 2012
Today we walked upstream along the river, and back home by the aqueduct.
The dogs all stayed pretty close to me - I reckon they were still tired after last nights shennanigans (out all night running up and down the hills after pigs)… though we hadn’t been long home before I spotted Snitch and Queenie running along the road on the other side of the valley.
Must remember to take my camera out next time…
31st May 2012
It was lovely and cool all day yesterday - even looked as if it might rain!! but it didn’t.
We set out thinking “cool day = long walk” and I thought I would head into 3 Castle Valley taking the red track to the Saddle and following the path that crosses the side of the hill to find out where it starts…. but best laid plans and all that. As soon as we got near to the opening of the valley I could hear goatherds and goats so, deciding not to risk any more chasing I turned on my heel and took the track along the side of the Lookout Hill and then walked up round the back of Wolf Peak coming back down the front of Red Kasbah Hill and home via the river.
The dogs were delighted to be out on the hillside, covering a huge amount of ground and not bothering with me at all… though they did all keep coming in the right direction when called.
30th May 2012
Had a nice walk in 3 Castle Valley today, Snitch came with us and the 5 of them disappeared up onto the hillsides… at one point some excited whimpering told me that they had found something real to chase - possibly a hare.
On the way home they found some donkeys to bark at but they didn’t keep it up too long thank goodness.
29th May 2012
We walked down the road and crossed the ford, climbing the track on the other side of the river. The dogs all disappeared really quickly and I had to call them back and put them on the lead when we met a herd of goats on the hillside.
The little fox terrier from the other day was there and the goat herd came over and asked me if I was going hunting. I guess they couldn’t think of another reason why I would be out on the hills with 4 dogs.
We walked up Stollie Glen, the dogs running ahead. No sign of the termites I saw last time I was up that way.
On the way back down to the river the dogs got scent of something very exciting and took off up the front of Wolf Peak. Didn’t catch it though and we all walked home along the riverbed and up through the woods.
27th May 2012
Had a nice cool walk in the evening light. We walked along the track past Hedgehog House and round the back of Pig Hill onto the B road down to the river and then home downstream.
We stopped for a while under the Shelter Tree while the dogs all sniffed and dug around and then walked on home.
No goats today though Barkitoo’s doppelganger came for a visit after barking at us all the way down the hill.
26th May 2012
Well a much calmer walk today.
We walked down the road from the house, all dogs (except Ruby) on the lead as far as the river. At the river there was a large herd of goats coming across with a very fox terrier like dog looking after them (and two men). We waited till they had all disappeared up the hill and then I let the dogs off the lead.
We walked round River Island, crossed the aqueduct and river and headed home up the track.
I cheated and took biscuits so when I called them to me at the end of the walk they all came and had their leads on… as it turned out we didn’t meet any goats at the end of the walk.
25th May 2012
What started as a nice walk ended in near disaster….
We walked upstream along the river and then back home by the aqueduct. Just as we got to the top of the allotments, the water started running in the aqueduct so we raced it along… we won.
The dogs were all fine and enjoying sniffing around until we were nearly home. We met up with Snitch, Snatch and Laddie and a herd of goats… and goat chasing took place. In the end Prince, Queenie and Laddie were chasing a tiny month old kid up and down the hill. I managed to grab the goat eventually - it was mostly very wet and stressed… though the goatherd found some cuts. I think they were probably from thorns as I don’t think the dogs teeth are sharp enough and I don’t think they were nipping. It looked to me as if they were trying to play dog wrestling with -the kid who of course didn’t know how to play.
worried about how this is going to develop.
24th May 2012
We did our favourite middling walk into 3 Castle Valley this evening. The light was lovely… the argan trees almost glowing.
The dogs all had their usual gallop up hill and down dale, disappearing almost as soon as we got into the valley and just reappearing occasionally as they crossed my path.
For all the sniffing and foraging I don’t think they caught anything… though Prince did find something worth chewing - don’t want to think what it was.
As we got back down to the aqueduct Queenie and Trot went after something on the hillside and it delayed them till we had crossed the river - but we all went home up the hill together.
23rd May 2012
We had a short walk this evening, everyone (except Ruby and Snitch) on the lead for the walk down the road to the ford and then freedom while we walked upstream.
Ruby stayed pretty close all of the way - I think she is missing her friend.
We walked home via Marmela’s variation. Sounds of people cutting wood in the argan but otherwise all was quiet.
Prince had to stay behind to eat something he found (don’t know what) but the rest of us walked home just in time to meet 3 herds of goats coming up the hill…. Trot showed remarkable restraint and I had Queenie on the lead so not too much fuss and barking.
We haven’t seen Barkitoo for many many days. I hope he is alright.
Ruby and I try to get out every day for a walk and we like to keep a note of where we go and what we see, as well as the weather and who comes with us.
