The Aberdeen'n'shire Foxie walk, so often the highlight of my month, was scheduled to meet at Balmedie Country Park (a stretch of beach and sand dunes a few miles north of the city) on Sunday the 29th October.
Doubts crept in when Gail looked at the weather forecast on Saturday night. Would anyone really show up with 30 mph (gusting 50 mph) winds blasting straight off the North Sea and bringing heavy rain?
Come the morning, the rain at least had not arrived but the wind definitely had. While Gail strapped on my red jacket, she also prepared me for disappointment, saying she feared we might be the only ones mad enough to turn out in these ferocious conditions.
How very, very wrong, she was.
One by one, vehicles carrying foxies and their hardy humans arrived in the car park.
Look, here's Merin! And Rupert! And Jinx! And Dougie! And Edmund! And BEST OF ALL Agatha!
So we set off through the sand dunes to the sea. The tide was high, driven yet higher by the wind and waves.
The humans deemed the narrow strip of beach too dangerous given the strong possibility of rogue waves and summoned Rupert, Agatha and me back up to relative safety.
It was all tremendously good fun! For us dogs anyway.
While we rampaged around the dunes, the humans managed just snatches of conversation between pulling hats and hoods over ears to protect from the sea spray, foam and whistling wind.
"...you have to take them for a walk anyway..."
"...worst period of gales and rain I can remember..."
"...don't want any of them swept away by the waves..."
"...at least the sand's wet so it's not blowing in their eyes..."
"...sorry, I didn't quite catch that..."
"...all this racing up and down the sand dunes will tire them out..."
"...the dogs are having a great time anyway..."
"...should choose somewhere more sheltered for next month..."
Oddly enough, we didn't meet a single other human or dog during our hour long walk in this normally popular spot.
Me oh my, terrier dog owners are certainly a very hardy breed.
ReplyDeleteall of you pups looke beyond happy to be there, it is good everyone came, for the humans and the terriers. I was about to say I would not walk in that wind but then thought if i lived where you live it would be walk in wind or miss a lot of days walks. my favorite photo of today is the last one, it is not the clearest but it is so full of joy and you all look like your are laughing joyously! whichis the point of the jaunt... about Beau eating grass, he does that when the mule headed man daddy gives him something he should not have. this particular time though, he had scoffed a tiny avocado the night before when daddy took him out for last call.
ReplyDeleteit is a kind of honor to be a terrier owner... we totally agree... and you have to be a little like a knight... fearless and noble...like terriers and their people always are ;O)
ReplyDeleteWhat fun you all had Nobby, thank goodness your owners weren't put off by the high winds. I'm so glad that none of you got lost at sea! You look very smart in your red coat and it's easy to pick you out in a crowd.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Paca xx
It seems the terrier meet is the highlight of many people's lives and I can quite see why. There's something quite delightful about seeing many dogs of the same breed together, especially if they're playing. We used to enjoy seeing masses of Dalmatians together, not playing, but at dog shows. It was quite spectacular.
ReplyDeleteThe videos are wonderful - you can feel the joy and exuberance.
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteWell Nobby, the sole purpose of the walk was served, so lots to be cheerful about! Hugs and wags YAM-aunty xxx
All you pups sure looked like you were having a great time at the beach. It was probably a good idea to keep you away from the water though.
ReplyDeleteWhat a hardy bunch everyone was and you Terriers did have the bestest time!
ReplyDeleteWe don't know about your humans...but you terriers sure know how to have fun regardless of the weather!!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Sunny & Rosy
I don't think you terriers even thought about the gale force winds, though the pweeps likely felt they were going to be airborne at some point. When I lived in Nova Scotia, the coastal winds could be brutal...and bone chilling.
ReplyDeleteNobby, every time I read about your gal-doggy friend, Agatha, I have to LOL, because that is my sister's name!
You are a tough breed
ReplyDeleteDear Nobby I love that photo of you leading race of three dogs on the beach. What I can't get over is your speed is such that your ears are streaming back, and the force of wind is such that the back of your jacket has been lifted! There is clearly speed involved. xxx TM
ReplyDeleteNobby OMDs I somehow missed this on Wednesday (Bryan saw it last night and was quite impressed with Gail's videos) but BOY OH BOY did I enjoy it today.
ReplyDeleteGood thing you WFT are low to the ground that was so fierce wind and you walked an hours?! Well done
Nobby I think you are sweet on Agatha and I must say you both have excellent taste . Most handsome and gorgeous WFTs
Hugs Cecilia
Wow! We read about the storm you got so yes, you all are VERY hardy to head out in it. But we know, dogs have to be walked in any weather, so you had to do it....and got a great story about it in the process!
ReplyDeleteRosie and Redford