The cloud's the limit

So it's April and, and spring is well and truly established, and I was promised a big hill walk this weekend. The weather forecast had indicated light clouds and sunshine.

Imagine my disappointment then, to wake up on Sunday morning to smudgy grey skies, and to hear Gail announcing a revised plan.

"There's no point climbing too high up today, is there Nobby? Looking at the cloud base, I think Scolty Hill is about the highest we can manage without disappearing into the mist.

It crossed my mind that there could be fun had in a low visibility scenario - perfect conditions for some terrier mischief. But I kept my thoughts to myself, remembering that Scolty is a nice enough walk, with plenty of scope for off lead adventures. 

The hill is topped by a tall tower, a prominent local landmark constructed in memory of local landowner General William Burnett, who fought alongside Wellington in the Napoleonic Wars. 

For some reason I was not allowed to ascend the spiral staircase up the tower, so had to content myself with surveying the surrounding hills, which were indeed cloud covered, and contemplating the possibilities (sadly unrealised) for stealing food off fellow hikers.

The land around here is owned by the Forestry Commission. They like to put up signs telling you not to climb on the stacks of timber, but I believe these signs are aimed at humans not dogs.

After we had descended through the woods to the River Dee I was given the opportunity to practice what Gail says is my improving grasp of the 'pose nicely' concept.

It was quite a long walk, despite only reaching an elevation of 299 m above sea level. At the end we stopped in a café in nearby Banchory. 'The Chatterbox' welcomes "well-behaved dogs" and I was kindly provided with a bowl of water and some tasty biscuits. 

Despite my initial disappointment, it was a totally satisfactory outing. 

Fox hunting fantasies

So yesterday while I was left at home, frustrated that the few remaining highlighter pens had been locked away safe from WFT jaws, Gail was out on her bicycle enjoying some (relatively) warm Spring weather. 

Really I wasn't that interested in the photo she showed me of her cycling friends posing outside Castle Fraser. 

Left to right: Anne, Muriel, Sonia, Linda, Imogen and Lindsey

I was, however, rather intrigued by the second photo, taken by fellow cyclist Muriel as the group were approaching a favourite coffee and scone stop in the village of Monymusk. 

Now, as you might already know, the traditional role of the fox terrier (not to be confused with the fox hounds pictured above) was to flush out any foxes that had gone to earth in the course of a hunt. Hunting for foxes with dogs has been banned in Scotland for over twenty years, and the regulations were recently tightened to close loopholes in the legislation. 

And I had happily accepted the situation, despite a lingering urge to be allowed follow my natural instincts. Happy that is, until I saw this photo clearly showing pack of fox hounds (although not terriers), trotting alongside mounted humans, one of whom was wearing traditional fox hunting garb. Had I been lied to about the ban?

Gail tells me that neither she nor any of her friends had ever before seen this sight on the country roads of Aberdeenshire (and believe me, these ladies get out and about a lot). They are not sure exactly what was going on but, disappointingly, Gail still seems convinced that my desire to take active part in a proper fox hunt is likely to remain unfulfilled, except in my dreams...

Er, does this qualify as a Nature Friday post? 

Guilty? Moi?

Cruden Bay melee

Wire-haired Fox Terrier Roll Call, Cruden Bay, 26th March 2023:

Nobby - just wants to be your friend

Rupert - known trouble maker, big brother to Nobby

Merin - pretty bandana belies feisty nature

Stan - elder statesman, gentlemanly behaviour

Agatha -  petite, likes to mix it up with the boys

Jinx - a lively and fun wee lass

Edmund - relative newcomer, still finding his paws

A couple of days before the monthly Aberdeen'n'shire Foxie Walk, Gail and I met a couple on horseback, riding along the River Dee. They spotted me and stopped to ask if we were members of the local wire-haired fox terrier group. Gail said yes. It turned out they knew about it from a relative and loved looking at the FaceBook page, and said what a fun group to be part of. 

It is a fun group! Sometimes one takes these things for granted and it's good to be reminded how lucky we are. On Sunday the roll call at Cruden Bay beach numbered seven fox terriers and we all had a blast. (Literally, given the strong wind blowing straight from the Arctic.) Gail says you should be grateful she managed to take the pictures and video below, as she'd left her gloves at home and her not so tiny hands were frozen.

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..."