Wednesday
The Dog Rambler E-diary
21 top22 &
December 2011
Walk
Ducking below the tops to Castlelaw Hill Fort
Length
6 miles
Dogs on walk
21st - Cyrano, Dylan, Jolie, Phoebe, Otis, Solo 22nd - Lucas, Ozzy, Tim, Struan, Talaidh
A first attempt to combine two e-diaries into one. It may be the last. I am trying it because we did the same walk over the two days. The similarities may not go much further than that. Although despite the different number of dogs we kept up a pretty similar pace on both days. There was a similarity in the conditions too with today being fairer but windier. Which surprised me because yesterdays wind was enough to stop us from climbing Castlelaw Hill. That and the low cloud smothering the tops oh and the rain briefly sheeting across the hillsides like the folds in a curtain. I think it is fair to say that today we had the better of the weather despite the stronger wind which may account for less clouds around the tops. Unable to get a grip of the scraggy grass and clasp onto the hillside instead blown away
breaking up into dissipating fragments. There was plenty of high cloud however, enough to bruise the sky and keep the sun from lighting our day. Muddy both days but a little drier today if the finishing condition of the dogs is anything to go by. A good bell weather could be to compare Otis and Ozzy. Despite Ozzy being black it was still obvious that he was much cleaner than Otis was at the end of yesterdays outing. That is not because he was still uncontrollably drawn to Jolie. At last the invisible chord that attached them was broken and he was free like Solo was on Monday. My only worry now is that Phoebe may be going the same way as Jolie as she attracted unusual interest from Cyrano. No such worries with today although Ozzy did take quite a liking to Talaidh, giving her a nose around the neck which was good to see. Overall I would say he likes Dalmatians as when not lazily strolling along with Talaidh he was vigorously chasing with Struan. Leaving Tim a little left out some of the time. Lucas entered into the fray a few times but today was one of his days for being my shadow. At times it felt like there were only four of us out until a brief look over my shoulder revealed his skulking shape. The more I tried to encourage him forward the more he sneaked behind me each time looking a little more meek and accusing as though I was being an ogre making him join the rest. No such trouble yesterday with Phoebe and Jolie up to their usual and Solo finding himself caught occasionally. Perhaps he was getting that irresistible draw toward Phoebe. Phoebe and Cyrano we definitely hitting it off today running ahead a lot leaving Otis, probably quite relieved, to troupe along at his own pace. Dylan alternating between doing his own thing and then finding a burst of energy to try and run down Phoebe. The thaw continues as yesterday Otis found himself slipping up some of the climb away from Dreghorn and up the deep cleugh between Allermuir Hill and Capelaw Hill. Today it was just wet and greasy. We soon hit the low cloud yesterday making for a muggy climb that was interrupted by one and then another deer bouncing away from us through the heather. It was only the bright white bobbing rumps that gave then away to me and Dylan stopping and staring after them. Phoebe the great deer hunter had missed them altogether.
No deer today instead we had to come together as a flock of sheep had really spread themselves widely over the drop from below Castlelaw Hill to the ancient fort. Not keen to move a few shuffled across the track out of our way and few more edged a little sideways on the grass as we passed by. They looked at us keenly and one or two even took a few steps toward us. We did not hang around and quickly continued down to reach the hill fort. Yesterday it was below the cloud and beyond it views along Glencorse Reservoir and deeper into The Pentlands were framed by the clouds cutting the tops of the hills. Today the view was more open but a little less compelling. Not something the dogs cared about as Ozzy bounced around Struan who had found a stick. Tim looked on in amazement as Struan almost allowed Ozzy to get a grip of it. Somewhere on the climb back up Ozzy did manage to dispossess Struan of it. Until we had to weave back between the sheep again. The climb back over on both days opened up slim views between the walls of the hills down toward Edinburgh. The dogs stringing out down the steep slope. Cyrano running ahead yesterday toward the stream at the bottom. Ozzy slipping into step next to Talaidh today a bit like Phoebe and Jolie the day before. It was Struan and Dylan that lead each day downhill and back to the car. It was Lucas and Otis who brought up the rear with Solo easing himself along.
Nick
Photo slideshow from the 21st walk Photo slideshow from the 22nd walk
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