Tourists, dogs and weather
Tourist season seems to be officially upon us. Once again, lots of cars from "not around here" are popping up all over the place. You can also often spot the confused looks of people trying to figure out in which direction they should be going, or else you see the same car circling the village several times, "just to be sure."
Also, lots of new faces out walking around. I did have a negative tourist encounter earlier in the week while I was out walking the Horde. A group of tourists was coming towards us on the garden path. They had an Alsatian or German Shepherd bitch with them and she was not on a lead. She ran towards us not looking like she wanted to play and, of course, Shmoo and Maggie got a bit wild. She realized that she was outnumbered and swerved off the path, down towards the river.
Unfortunately, I had the dogs' leads clipped together and Shmoo started dragging Maggie down the embankment in hot pursuit. I lunged grabbed the lead as hard as I could and stopped him, but in the process twisted my ankle. By the evening I was unable to walk. Luckily, an ankle brace, arnica and ice seem to have gotten it under control. Too bad the Alsatian wasn't under control on the pathway!
That incident has made me realize that I can't take both dogs together when I'm out on my own. So, since then, for our afternoon walk when JM usually doesn't accompany us, I take Shmoo out first, then bring him home and take Maggie. It does take twice as long, but this way I'm less likely to fall and break something.
And, the weather is cooperating in making it pleasant to go out for prolonged walking. We've had sunshine and warm temperatures for 2 days in a row. I think we could almost call it a "streak."
Here's hoping that the weather where you are is just as nice, and that all of you U.K. Possumworld readers stay above water!
Ciao for now.
Randy
Also, lots of new faces out walking around. I did have a negative tourist encounter earlier in the week while I was out walking the Horde. A group of tourists was coming towards us on the garden path. They had an Alsatian or German Shepherd bitch with them and she was not on a lead. She ran towards us not looking like she wanted to play and, of course, Shmoo and Maggie got a bit wild. She realized that she was outnumbered and swerved off the path, down towards the river.
Unfortunately, I had the dogs' leads clipped together and Shmoo started dragging Maggie down the embankment in hot pursuit. I lunged grabbed the lead as hard as I could and stopped him, but in the process twisted my ankle. By the evening I was unable to walk. Luckily, an ankle brace, arnica and ice seem to have gotten it under control. Too bad the Alsatian wasn't under control on the pathway!
That incident has made me realize that I can't take both dogs together when I'm out on my own. So, since then, for our afternoon walk when JM usually doesn't accompany us, I take Shmoo out first, then bring him home and take Maggie. It does take twice as long, but this way I'm less likely to fall and break something.
And, the weather is cooperating in making it pleasant to go out for prolonged walking. We've had sunshine and warm temperatures for 2 days in a row. I think we could almost call it a "streak."
Here's hoping that the weather where you are is just as nice, and that all of you U.K. Possumworld readers stay above water!
Ciao for now.
Randy
