Now, I know we’re going to be getting up very early on our Scottish
coast-to-coast trek......but do we really have to practise?
Would you believe it! My pal(?) Al had me out of bed at 5.30am this morning for
an early morning training bash. He was rushing round making tea – but not my
breakfast – issuing instructions to fellow walker Chris, BBC World Service on
full bore......bore, bore, bore. And I just wanted to snooze.
Anyway, just after six we were making paw prints in the dew across the back
field and heading for the hills. What a glorious day! Sun up, light breeze,
Canada geese honking and mallards quacking. It’s called an ‘alpine start’,
apparently. We were moving so fast we startled a great crested grebe as we
crossed the reservoir wall. It ducked under the water (if indeed grebes can
duck.....perhaps they just grebe).
Lots of fascinating smells everywhere but , as we hit the moors, Dad had a
little conversation with me about ground-nesting birds and sticking to the path.
It was a bit of a verbal paw smack. No matter. It was the warmest day so far
this year and we had a brilliant romp through the heather.
Highlight was brunch, of course. Had no real expectations as He had – eventually
– remembered to make my breakfast before we set out. But I had brunch too – two
Bonios, a chewy and, would you believe it, the remains of his fishy sandwich.
Mmm!
Bit of a panic to get back as Chris wanted to watch Man U v. Chelsea so we were
back in the garden by midday. But we’d covered 15 miles in some style so
everyone was pretty happy. And I’ve done about 35 miles this week. Had a good
snooze in the sun and a nice chew of my bone. A barking good day.
Woof, woof!