360° Tour

Blues Blog

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to see what I've been doing and where I've been.

Happy New Year

Well I have been remiss not keeping the blog up to date.......to be fair I do state that it is an occasional blog.....however lets bring everything bang up to date.
My family and I went to CentreParcs at Longleat for the Christmas break, together with another family of four. I know the family enjoyed it because of the amount of discarded wrapping paper, empty champagne bottles and bags full of food packaging that went into recycling. I rather enjoyed it too. My presents included a new collar, various foodstuffs - always welcome - and a new bowl. Actually the bowl was 2nd hand as my owners forgot to take my bowl with them. Luckily however we stayed with some friends before going to CentreParcs and their dog, Maisie [Yellow Labrador, very sweet & nice], lent me one of her spare bowls. Even my owners came away with additional gifts 'cos on the day we were due to leave they got vey wet whilst walking with me & Maisie so Maisies' owners had to lend them some trousers!
My master got some very nice corduroy trousers that his 13yr old daughter, Fenella, really doesn't like - so naturally he wears them as often as he can!
At CentreParcs I was joined by my good friend Harrison [Black Labrador, very friendly, Massive head but - like Winnie the Pooh - a dog with very little brain] and we had lovely time together for the week. However it is nice to return to my old walks across the moor. Everything else seems to be fine so it only remains for me to wish all my readers a belated Merry Christmas and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR - see you in 2012.

October

A fantastic start to the month! 1st Sunday of the month and it's gloriously hot. Went down for a picnic at one of the most well known beauty spots in the area (Cadover Bridge). 100's of cars there, never seen that many before but you only have to walk less than a mile up river from even the most jam packed car park and you can easily found a nice quiet, private spot. I spent rather a long time bringing stones up from the river bed for my owner to inspect. He seemed genuinely interested until he fell asleep in the sunshine. Went for another quick dip and showed my appreciation by shaking right next to him. A cool refreshing shower to ensure he didn't get too hot. Lovely day.

September

Thank you to all those who took the trouble to enquire after my health and well being. I am very pleased to state that I am now fully recovered and functioning normally. September was a very busy month for my owners, hence the delay in updating my blog. I, of course, can't type that well - keyboards don't suit paws - but I do 'dogtate' my tales so that they can do it for me.

August

....Tragedy! I have a hole in my leg. It's all under control but I have a deep puncture wound in my left leg, about where humans have their knees. I have some funny tasting stuff which goes on my food plus large tablets that cannot be eaten - unless they are wrapped in cheese or ham - and some cream that gets put on the wound as well. I also get to wear a huge collar thing that gets in the way all the time and makes me look extremely stupid. Walks are very restricted and I am not allowed to run around. Hopefully it won't be for too long. Please don't be distraught - just send dog treats to aid recovery.

July

Loads of swimming, visits to some Tors that I have never been to before, lots of friends (dogs and humans) visiting. Some very nice children staying at the B&B insisted on saying "Hello" to me and giving me a stroke and pat. A number of guests over the years have asked about me each time they visit. It's always nice to see them again, year after year. Unless you specifically ask, you won't even know that I am here. My owners have very strict rules about me not being in the guests way. So if you are hoping to see me and say hello - just ask. I particularly like bacon if you're wondering.

June

June was a little quiet. Plenty of walking and running of course, weather was a little mixed but mostly very good. They say it's going to be a great summer. Lets hope so.

May

May was a little disappointing weather wise. However it does give everybody a chance to go on longer walks when the heat is less. Just recently I had my great friend Harrison - another Black Labrador - to visit and we started a long walk starting near Mary Tavy. First we went up to the top of the appropriately named Ger Tor (geddit) onto Hare Tor and down to Tavy Cleave. A beautiful spot with easy parking but still not many visitors. A few days later I had another of my great friends Buddy - yes, another Black Labrador - over for a couple of days. The first day was mainly spent messing about with the kids in a great swimming area down at Cadover Bridge, just a couple of miles from Yelverton. We both slept very well that night! The following day was a little quieter with some gentle local walks around the airfield which is a stones throw from my house. Also in May I have started Hashing again. Hashing involves a group of humans - plus a few fellow hounds - meeting on a Monday evening, doing a gentle, usually moorland run for about an hour and then off to one of the local Pubs for a few hours of socialising. Whilst the run is the part I look forward to most, I do seem to get a few chips while in the Pub, so all in all a good evening.

April

Early lambs have had a great start with the fine weather continuing giving them a chance to get healthy and strong. What a contrast to last year when we had snow in April. I do like the snow though, something about the cold on your paws to get the senses tingling. However the hot weather has brought many opportunities to explore the numerous rivers and streams around Dartmoor and surrounding areas. Saturday gave me the chance to swim in the river at the aptly named Clearbrook which is on a lovely walk starting/finishing in Yelverton that can also provide a human watering hole called 'The Skylark'. Sunday I was swimming in the sea at Mother Iveys bay on the north coast, where I had my first go at 'doggyboarding'. Easter Monday we took a lovely walk at Denham bridge woods where the bluebells are out in great numbers before I was able to practise my Tom Daley diving impressions, throwing myself into the water in pursuit of a stick. So that's a full day of walking, swimming, early dinner followed by post dinner snooze before a gentle stretch of the legs and then settling down for a good nights sleep.

March 2011

Spring has been fantastic so far with many beautiful days. Early lambs have started to appear on the lower fields and slopes of the Moor. I do not chase sheep - around here Farmers shoot first and ask questions later.....We did one very long run (about 18 miles) but didn't start untill 11am. My owner had already missed breakfast (I hadn't), so of course he completely ran - no pun intended - out of energy. Phoned home, using old fashioned telephone box and reversing the charges, only to find that Mrs Owner was in the middle of long conversation with old friend so couldn't get through. Had to trudge home rather wearily that day.....

February 1

Beautiful warm, spring day. Much too good to spend too much time indoors so took a long walk with the family and my friend Suzy - Border Collie, bit mad as all of them seem to be - up to Pew Tor. Fantastic.

Two long moorland runs. Sunday was 15 miles up to Shaugh Tor, Trowlesworthy, across the ford at Ditsworthy Warren, Brisworthy and Shadycombe. Thursday was a little shorter - lovely warm spring day - just 11 miles starting at Meavy village, up Sheeps tor and a long circular route that eventually crossed Legis mire where Charlie sank up to his thighs. Very funny. Then home to a deserved 2nd breakfast.

Jan 2011

Exploring sort of run today. Went to investigate the progress of the new cycletrack (Route 27 - Devon coast to coast) that is being built between Yelverton & Tavistock. There are plans for a new, high level bridge across the River Walkham - currently there is a foot bridge that cyclists have to dismount to cross - and through old railway tunnel at Grenofen. We went through old tunnel, very exciting but very overgrown at one end. Still quite some work to do. The cycle route uses some quiet lanes but it will be a dedicated cycle route. Must find out when it is due for completion.......

An 8 mile run with my friend Charlie. Lashing down with rain. Great.
[Charlie is a human who runs with my owner - he is a better runner than my owner and only pretends to be tired at the end of each run] We run together every Thursday for 75 - 90 minutes across the moor.

1st Jan - New Years Day

Today was a gentle day for some reason...