Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes...

No this isn't about the David Bowie song (although that's not stopping Gail humming it).

About once a week, when she has time, Gail takes me on an extended morning walk and instead of our usual circuit round Duthie Park we exit the park at the far end, cross the bridge over the Dee and walk along the south side of the river, opposite the park. We then cross another bridge back to the north side and home again through the park.

One of the things Gail and I love is observing how the river environment is always changing.

It's less than a mile from the harbour entrance and so the river at this point is tidal. On Tuesday this week we caught it at low tide. 

If we had been there six hours earlier or later, the scene would have looked quite different, with the banks of sand and gravel submerged and the water lapping all the way up to the vegetation.

The water was quite still, and as I waded in and took a sip I started thinking about other changes I've noticed.

At low tide, the water is quite fresh and palatable, the river being fed by inland mountain streams, but the tidal flow brings in sea water and so at high tide it is salty and not at all nice to drink.

Now in summer, the water is an agreeable temperature if one fancies a refreshing dip. I think it might be a wee bit cooler at high tide as the sea water is generally colder than the river at this time of year. (Gail's kayaking friends tell her the opposite is the case in the winter.)

We had calm conditions on Tuesday, but when the wind whips up the waves I am not so fond of entering the water. And as you know, it is really windy most of the time in Scotland...

Likewise in periods of heavy rainfall the river swells and becomes turbulent and might even even burst its banks, and it's best to steer well clear. 

Sometimes during a flood the current can be so strong that it scours deep holes in the sandy earth, and when the waters recede one's human has to take care not to stumble into these holes.

Oh gosh, there are so many more interesting things I could tell you about the river - the wildlife, the fishing, the heritage - but I guess you'll be wanting to go and read all the other lovely Nature Friday blog posts, so I'll leave it at that for today! 

The best way to spend Sunday

First thing on Sunday, morning, Gail and I had a wee chat about how to spend the day.

I told her I wasn't too bothered about staying in for the Wimbledon Men's Singles Final, and I'd not noticed she was interested in tennis anyway.

I do know that Gail is interested in (some might say fanatical about) the Tour de France, but I pointed out she really didn't have to watch all 197.7 km of Stage 15 live as she could easily view the TV highlights of the Pyrenean mountain ascents later on. 

And as for the big football match, the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain did not start until 8 pm so shouldn't interfere with plans for earlier in the day.

 

I'm so pleased to report Gail came around to the idea that going for a lovely walk beside the River Dee with our friends M, J and K would be the best way to spend our Sunday. 

I'm wondering what my dear blogging pals did yesterday? 

River path realignment

Back in Aberdeen this week, Gail and I took a gentle stroll along the river bank, from Duthie Park to Cults. 

The stroll might have been gentle, but the forces of nature were much in evidence. And not only in the wind that is blowing my ears aloft in the picture above.

Since last walking here, winter storms have flooded the path, toppled several trees and deposited new layers of sand where mud used to be.

Part of the path has now disappeared in the river, and when I started to show a bit too much interest in peering over the overhanging bank to the fast flowing water below, Gail decided it was time to clamp on my lead. 

But soon I was released again, and was scoping out a route through the trees while Gail photographed the debris swept up by the floodwater.

Before heading back I enjoyed one last session of grubbing around in newly exposed tree roots - always an excellent place for locating interesting smells and delaying the return home, I find.

Happy Nature Friday friends! I wonder if Nature has been remodelling your local landscape lately?

PS Yesterday I celebrated living with Gail for one whole year. She says it's been "quite the experience..."

All things are relative

Since I am a young and energetic pup, and Gail does not have to rush off to work these days, quite often we extend the morning walk round Duthie Park to take in green spaces on either side of the River Dee, next to the park. 

It's always good news if, when we reach the SW corner of the park, Gail clamps on my lead so we can cross the main road and the bridge over the river and I can expect a fine gallop along the broad grassy paths though the trees and across the recreation ground.

On Friday morning it was raining heavily with 25-30 mph winds thrown in, and I'll admit I wasn't sorry when, after a very quick peek at the swollen river, we returned home (although not before the wind had turned her exceptionally robust 35 year old golf umbrella, survivor of many previous storms, inside out). 

The stormy weather continued all day and night. By Saturday morning I was starting to get restless so I persuaded Gail that we should try the park extension walk again, the rain having eased off, if not the wind. 

Well this was the 'green space' on the south side of the river.

And here's the low lying recreation ground where dogs are permitted to roam when the football players are absent. 

So (sigh) it was all a bit of a washout again.

In the afternoon Gail drove me inland a few miles and promised me a walk along what should be a "relatively dry" forest track.

Hmm. I guess she did say "relatively".....

Gone fishing...

We were walking along by the clear and sparkling waters of the Dee last week when I spotted some men in waders standing in the middle of the river.

When I asked Gail what they were doing she said they were fly fishing for salmon. Or at least attempting to. It appears that one man was giving the other a lesson, but the novice didn't seem to have mastered the technique. 

I thought maybe they needed some top tips from a terrier and set off to offer my assistance, but then thought better of it. Gail says in over twenty years of walking along the river bank she's never once seen a fishermen catch a single salmon, although there's apparently no shortage of folk happy to pay many £££s for the privilege of standing in the cold water all day, living in hope. 

So I returned to the river bank, trotted along a short distance and then posed nicely for my new header picture in lieu of going fishing. 

It is a more reliable way of ensuring delicious snacks come my way. 

And willows, willow-herb and grass ...

The river bank just downstream from the Bridge of Dee always looks appealing, but Gail hadn't taken me there before this week, deeming the path too boggy. 

"Too boggy"? Is that really a thing? 

Well what with all the recent warm dry weather here Aberdeen, she finally relented. 

So Gail happily photographed the flowers and trees, while murmuring to herself lines from the third verse of one of her favourite English poems*...

"And willows, willow-herb and grass,

And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry..."

....And yours truly got down to the serious business of the morning.

Happy Nature Friday friends! 

*'Adlestrop' by Edward Thomas 

Summer? Really?

According to the weather experts here in the UK, today, 1st June, marks the start of 'meteorological summer'.

I am still a puppy, 4 months old plus a few days, and Gail says I am "just skin and bone" at the moment*. When at home, I always seek out the warmest spot available. So I am looking forward to some lovely summer weather in the months to come, although Gail has pointed out that since we live in Northern Scotland, I might  might need to "manage my expectations"...

And it's true, it was only 10ºC and raining when Gail took me for a walk along the river Dee at Banchory on Monday afternoon. The walk was fun (all walks are fun, right?) but I was feeling a bit shivery by the end. 

I gather that Gail knitted several sweaters for my predecessor 'Bouncing Bertie'. Between you and me, I am hoping that in time for next winter she knits me one of my very own, tailor made for my slender frame, rather than trying to fob me off with ill-fitting hand-me-downs...

*Gail says: Nobby has proved an erratic eater, and our experience at puppy class made it clear he is not primarily 'food motivated'.  So he's a skinny little chap at the moment, although I'm pleased to say that in the past couple of weeks he's been much better about consuming and keeping down his meals and is now gaining weight more rapidly.