We awoke to the normality of a Wednesday. Nothing unusual, awry or out of place. As we rubbed our eyes, we saw the opportunity for some early morning bitey face shenanigans so Lenny & I crept stealthily toward each other. At this point a low rumble and growl came from nearby and we looked around to see a dad shaped object glaring at us. We wandered around yawning and stretching noisily instead as this is a safer method of waking our parents from their slumber.
Off across the field in front of the house so we could sniff the creatures who had wandered through here overnight. There was plenty of scent for Lenny and I to bay at thankfully. Back home, clean paws, sit nicely (no chance) and breakfast is provided. Then we were back to our beds to let the food settle as, apparently, prolonged bitey face after eating is not good for the digestive systems of beagles. Suddenly we were being harnessed up and ushered out of the door. We walked past the car which always raises suspicion and off across the field. Over the bridge, turn left along the road and then right into the train station. There are many snacks which people have kindly dropped but which we are not allowed to consume whilst we are waiting for the train. As it pulls in, we are encouraged to board quickly and soon we are whizzing along to, who knows where. It turns out that at the next stop we are disembarked from the train and off we wander up to Ludlow for a stroll about. Along the road, turn right, straight on, turn left and down the hill toward the river Teme. Turn right at the bottom of the road and we find ourselves in the garden centre whilst our assistants decide what they need to make our garden bloom and blossom this year and beyond. Out of the shop and across the bridge we turn right up a set of steps and it was at this point that Lenny realised he was attached to an assistant who hadn’t quite appreciated how muddy the path was.
Sadly for Lenny he was reined in significantly and he was unable to show his assistant the muddiest, slippiest sections of the path. This path is called the Bread Walk and is an old path through the town. Along the path, down the steps, over the bridge and back up into town we went. Through the market which was quiet and then a stroll around the town looking in shop windows. Many of the places are dog friendly which is good but this requires that the dogs in question aren’t naughty and want to mess about all the time, speak with other dogs, meet every human and then not settle. I’m not sure which of me or Lenny this jibe was aimed at but the glances seemed to be in my direction. As it was we strolled down the hill and the assistants took a doleful look at the very inviting Ludlow Brewery building. Then they looked at me, rolled their eyes and made our way to the train station for the return journey. As we got back to our house we were released into the garden. At this point we demonstrated exactly why we don’t go to many places. Lenny and I whizzed around the garden chasing every scent, baying at the top of our lungs and digging holes or eating the currants that the rabbits had kindly left for us. After 30 minutes or so we were herded back indoors and flopped lazily on our beds for a well earned rest.
So we come to part two. Thursday morning broke cold and bright as Lenny and I attempted another round of bitey face shenanigans before 7am. We were rudely interrupted by what I can only describe as a big grizzly bear glaring at us, so we decided it was safest to retreat to our beds. However we were in for a surprise as our morning was commenced soon after with a stroll across the field in front of the house and then back for breakfast. Shortly after breakfast both Lenny and I realised that our harnesses had not been removed so we were to be easily shackled to our respective assistants. This time we did not avoid the car and we were duly loaded into our travel cells for a trip. It was to be a surprise for us apparently and, wow, what a surprise it turned out to be. For some clarity we have a pal who lives close by. We had seen that he had been on an adventure and it had been decided that we would do a “dry run” to see how long it took to get there, what it was like and then we could look at going again in the future. So it was that we turned right out of the lane, left along the main road, right at the food centre and then followed the road for what seemed to be miles and miles and miles (you get the picture). We went past a sign that proudly announced Croeso i Powys. Past the sign, along the road, turning left and right and deeper in Wales we ventured. As we arrived at our destination the boot of the car was opened and we breathed in the fresh country air. We had arrived at Elan Valley.
It was quiet which is apparently the best situation when you have two loud and excitable beagles to wrangle. As we hopped out we made sure everyone knew we had arrived and off we went on our patrol. Up some steep steps alongside a rather forbidding looking wall and we summited to find our view of the reservoir stretching away into the far distance. The wall turned out to be the dam holding back some 8 billion gallons of water! If we had known, we would have taken the path closer to the road instead of the one closest to the dam. Thankfully the path alongside the reservoir is flat and easy for all people to access.
The sun shone and reflected off the surface of the water, the hills towered all around us, the information boards told us facts about the place and, all in all, we were loving walking along having a great time.
As we followed the path to the right of the water we decided not to cross the bridge but to carry on along the waters edge. The path got muddier, the tree roots more slippery and the muttering from Lenny’s assistant grew louder. We walked through the wooded path, listening to the birds in the trees and I was looking out for Nessie in the water. Stopping for some water, Lenny and I were noticeably flagging in our efforts to pull and sniff on our leads to try and scent every aroma. As I am an elderly fellow, and yet incorrigible in my inability to act my age, it was decided for us that we would turn around and head back to the start.
After some further considerable pulling on our respective leads we found ourselves back at the car. We had some emergency biscuits which had, inexplicably, been left in the car and we were loaded in for the return journey. Apparently we feel asleep within a few minutes of starting on the way home. We have no idea as me and Lenny were looking at the insides of our eyelids. Having arrived home we strangely didn’t fancy a whizz around the garden preferring instead to wander quietly to our respective beds for a short snooze.
We are going again as, according to our assistants, the trip had the desired effect of quietening us down for the rest of the day and indeed I am still a little sluggish whilst I dictate this article. If you have the chance to go to Elan Valley and walk along the reservoir, do it. The people are very friendly as we found out when announcing ourselves in the visitors centre and then as we pulled eagerly along the path. The sun shone, the paths were easy, the scenery was spectacular and best of all we were tired (my assistant wrote that last bit).
Dexter 