Okee dokee, shall we say 1030am tomorrow at Beacon View? OK for you @Hollysdad ? Others? @Naya I'm assuming that this won't work for you because you're working....? But might see you Saturday...
I don't blame you! OK, so here is my understanding. There are two proposed walks: (1) tomorrow (Wednesday) arranged by Rosie. She's told me this will be at Beacon View over the Severn Bridge and near Chepstow at 10:30ish? I'm to meet her at 10:00 further down the road, but she mentioned that would mean walk underway at 10:30. then... (2) the one that you were arranging as the SW walkies guru . We'd talked about Friday, several people said they could, several said they couldn't, then I said I could make Saturday if that was better for everyone.
Oops, sorry! I didn't see the last couple exchanges between @Hollysdad and @Rosie - I made a big explanation of things that I guess didn't need explaining!
Hi all Have been checking in on messages all day during meetings but didn't think I could get away in replying until I got home @Rosie thanks for the invite tomorrow, unfortunately I work full time so can't make it. Some days are flexible so I can take short or half days but this week is proving particularly inflexible I might be able to do Saturday, (might try to talk OH into making a day of it with nice lunch somewhere ) if you let me know venue and start time and also, I suppose the length of walk as monty is a bit limited in what he can manage. However I wouldn't at all want you to cut short a good walk so I would just be honest and say it was too much for him. Thanks xx
So Kate was kind enough to let me have a @Beanwood pack morning and Mr. Bear the Irish foster dog afternoon and evening. The morning was pretty much just me working with various dogs draped over the couch next to me, but then Bear and I hit the road for a very small adventure. 'Very small' because I'm not too keen on rain and mud and Bear was happy to be allowed to sniff every three feet along the village high street. But considering all the changes he's gone through in the last few weeks, plus still being a bit in recovery mode, it was just fine. Bear was very interesting to walk as he's the first large dark-colored dog I've walked that NO ONE was afraid of. In fact, people are completely smitten with this dog. Not sure if it's just being in a dog-friendly area, his choccy color or his rather amazing eyes, but people were just charmed. For Bear's part, he welcomed a nice pat, but really was more interested in weeing on everything. It's hard for a lowly human to compete with a well-trafficked street corner. He found the drive in the Tardis a bit boring after I had to gently explain to him that no, you can't sit in the front seat and no, you can't drive. This is REALLY going to date me, but the look on his face when I explained these two facts reminded me of René in the old TV show 'Allo 'Allo: "You stupid woman!" After we got back to the village where I'm staying, we had yet another high street walk, more weeing, a bit of an adventure near a stream and then finally back to my temporary home. There was a bit of whining (Bear misses Mama Kate), but he ate his dinner with gusto. Then another walk on the high street, some crazy bed zoomies and a play with his special ball from home. THEN he decided that I looked perfect to hump on (which was half terrifying and half funny), but now he's all curled up and having a snooze. All these new adventures (no matter how small) are exhausting! Thanks again to Kate and the @Beanwood crew for letting me borrow Bear for a sleepover! Looking rakish in the Tardis (I'm assuming the wink is because he's practicing for National Pirate Day)... Co-piloting is hard work... ...really hard work. "Wee! In bed with my ball!" (Don't worry, that's my own bedcover from the Tardis, not the nice Airbnb host's) "Hey, is that thing edible? Let me just put my nose into it and see!" Aww...cuddles!
I'm having a lovely time enjoying him...not sure the feeling is mutual. He'd rather be with Mama Kate and best friend Benson, I think. It's a little B-O-R-I-N-G here.
The walk on SATURDAY is about three miles on good tracks with only a little occasional mud. I suggest that we meet at 10:30. The two car parks either side of the Arboretum are quite small and can fill up quickly, but there is a bigger one nearby (where we met last time). I'll draw a sketch map of the car parks and a meeting place. If you want to make a day of it in this spectacularly beautiful part of the country (not that I'm biased) you might get some ideas from here http://www.wyedeantourism.co.uk/. There are quite a few dog-friendly pubs around the area.
A sketch map for Saturday, extracted from the new book. Just in case we all end up in different car parks I suggest we meet by the giant redwoods in the middle of the Arboretum. That's the big red dot on the map. The closest car park in the unnamed one on Speech House Road, but it fills quickly with Aroretum visitors. The Arboretum car park fills with walkers and dog walkers on nice days. The Speech House Woodlands car park (where we met last time) seldom fills, and is only a few minutes walk away. All parking is free.
Thanks for all the organizing and great directions, @Hollysdad - really looking forward to meeting you!
Holly and I had a lovely walk with Rosie, Emily and Pongo this morning. I didn't take any pictures because Emily's pictures are always better than mine! Rosie reminded me that its not always a good idea to follow your satnav around this area because of all the small lanes. Looking ahead to Saturday, I suggest that anyone coming from the English side of the Severn takes the following route. 1. Cross the Severn by the M48 bridge 2. Turn onto the A466 to Chepstow. 3. After a mile, turn right at the roundabout onto the A48 through Chepstow. 4. Follow the A48 around Lydney towards Blakeney (13 miles) 5. Just before Blakeney, and afther the Cock Inn pub, turn left onto New Road towards Parkend. 6. Follow this road for 3.5 miles, passing Mallards Pike, then turn right following the signs for Speech House. After 2 miles you'll be at the road junction on the sketch map above.
Oh goodness. I am SO enjoying reading all this 'Tour' stuff. Far, far more fun than any book I have ever read, long may it continue. Though, a little pup for you at the end would just be the icing on the cake
