Sunshine in Dunoon!

First things first. Readers of my previous post can rest assured that, after Wednesday's Ilkley Moor peat bog adventure, I was dunked in the relatively clean water of a model boat pond before being allowed back in the car, and I later submitted - though not without a struggle - to a second rinse and shampoo in the hotel bathroom. Gail then finally pronounced me clean enough to accompany her for a bite to eat in the pub next door.

When we checked out of the hotel on Thursday morning I did wonder if the ablutions had really been necessary...

It was a bright morning for the drive from Ilkley to Dunoon, and as we drove though the beautiful landscape of the Yorkshire Dales with the radio on in the background, Gail was warning me not to get my hopes too high regarding summer weather on the final stop of our Tour of Northern Britain. 

But then, at around 9:00 am, she suddenly interrupted her lecture and, most uncharacteristically, she punched the air and cried out "Yes! He's finally resigned!"  

That little excitement over, my owner calmed down and continued on her earlier theme, telling me how it's almost always raining in Dunoon, and scarcely ever sunny. But she also said it didn't matter because we were going to stay with blog pal YAM-aunty and we were guaranteed the warmest of welcomes inside the 'Hutch', and would have a fine time whatever the conditions outdoors.

Well I'm pleased to report that Gail was absolutely spot on about the hospitality and totally wrong about the weather.  

Gosh it was fun getting to know YAM-aunty. 

I soon felt right at home in the 'Hutch'.

At night I settled down comfortably in my 'Hutch within a Hutch'.

I was delighted to provide moral support when our lovely blogpal needed to sort out a wee hiccup with her Chromebook.

I even found a convenient sunpuddle.

And talking of sun....

Can this really be the Dunoon area?

Where are the grey skies and the incessant rain?

Perhaps we should be grateful that Gail did not take up a career in meteorology.

All in favour of peatland restoration

Taking a leaf out of my distinguished predecessor Bouncing Bertie's book, today I am going to use my Nature Friday slot to give you a wee science lesson. 

Our topic today was inspired by a visit this week to the Yorkshire town of Ilkley where, in between visits to a couple of Gail's friends, we went for a walk up on the moor made famous by the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8MWb1FlODQ

It's a lovely place to explore, and I was so excited when I ran into (literally) a deep, dark and squelchy peat bog.

Did you know that the upland areas of Britain hold vast amounts of carbon in their peat covered hills? On a global scale, peat bogs are as important a store of carbon as the Amazon Rain Forest. But in some areas of the UK, human intervention has caused the peat bogs to dry out, and not only is this bad for all the diverse and precious species who live there, but it means carbon previously held in the soil is released to the atmosphere thus contributing to global warming.

So I'm delighted to report that on Ilkley Moor, peatland restoration work is in progress. A key component of this work involves raising the water table to keep the ground saturated, thus retaining the carbon in the soil. A good thing, I think we can all agree?

You'll scarcely believe what I heard Gail saying on Wednesday afternoon...

"I don't care about the climate crisis Nobby, I've decided I really would prefer that the peaty soils round here all stayed dry. And please Nobby, next time we see a black swampy patch of ground, JUST DON'T DIVE IN NOSE FIRST! The path across the bog, constructed of carefully laid stone slabs, is there for a purpose."

 

And then:

"And how on earth am I supposed to clean you up before we get back to tonight's hotel....?"

Wishing all my friends a Happy Nature Friday! 

In a precarious position...

...with Gail and her cousin Sue on Beacon Hill, Leicestershire.

I don't know what they were smiling about...

Who knew Nottingham could be this much fun!

 

Oh my gosh! Since I arrived in Nottingham on Thursday, I've been having such an wonderful time I just don't know where to begin...

It was thrilling enough to be staying with Gail's friend Janet and exploring her wee garden...

But then we met Sue and her cockerpoo Koda for a walk along the river by Trent Bridge and the excitement levels ratcheted up a notch. 

While Gail reminisced about a misspent youth watching her football team Nottingham Forest (you can see the stadium on the opposite bank of the river)...

....Koda and I got down to serious business,

Can you believe I was actually tired by the time we we were invited in to Sue's lovely Lace Market flat?

But of course the tiredness didn't last for long. Especially when I learned what the next day had in store... 

A National Fox Terrier Meet? BEYOND AWESOME!!!

On arrival at Chatsworth Park I paused briefly in front of the car parked next to ours, secretly hoping that my terrier brethren might think it was MY vehicle...

But not for long. Fox terrier mayhem beckoned! 

The event ended with a picnic and then for some reason Gail decided I needed a further 'calming down' walk before we headed off to see her brother and sister-in-law and I met my poodle cousin Coco for the first time - an encounter which went unrecorded on camera but involved contact between my brand new big boy terrier teeth and Coco's luxuriantly fluffy poodle ears....

  What a weekend!!!

A leisurely journey down to Nottingham

Gail says I was Nice Nobby for most of the journey down South.

When we stopped for a break in Dunblane, the café owner brought me a bowl of water and told me I was better behaved than her husband. (I think it was a bit mean of Gail later to observe: "Of course, that might not be setting the bar too high Nobby".)

Overnight in Moffat I was introduced to the pleasures of hotel accommodation and only once during the night attempted to have a conversation with the Cavalier King Charles spaniel residing in the room next door. I had the impression he was a bit deaf, so I raised my voice...

We enjoyed an early morning stroll through the back streets of this delightful little town Scottish town, 

I took one last look at our hotel before we continued south and across the border (no passport needed, yet,  although Gail says that might change if a certain buffoon remains UK Prime Minister for much longer).

This is my first time in England, and the Yorkshire wildlife rather took me by surprise.

Last stop before finally reaching Nottingham was an agreeable romp in Sherwood Forest. (Gail and I have been watching the excellent recent BBC series 'Sherwood' . I'm pleased to report we didn't meet any sociopaths equipped with high tech bows and arrows on this particular walk...)

So we finally reached Gail's friend Janet's house in Nottingham. Gosh isn't it fun staying in someone else's house! So many new objects to deploy as teething aids... I can't imagine why both Gail and her lovely friend were looking a little ragged by bedtime.

Naughty Nobby? Surely not!