Lenny – Page 3

Then it rained.

Another update later than I would like. Early last week the area where we live was warned that there was prolonged rain on its way. This isn’t particularly unusual and the locals will tell you this is the reason it’s so green and fresh around these parts.

In any case we went out in the rain for our early morning walk on Wednesday. It had started raining on Tuesday night so we knew we were going to get a little damp on our stroll around town. Returning home, Lenny and I were duly towelled down and we took breakfast in the utility room. After this we retired to our favourite lazing around beds and awaited the break in the weather so we could be ushered outside for our calls of nature. Hours passed and the break was nowhere to be seen. We went out quickly in any case and were duly towelled down again upon our return. The rain continued. Each time we looked out of the windows we could see that the river flowing through the meadow to the front of our house was rising. This didn’t cause us too much concern as we know there is flood plain surrounding the river and this would keep us safe from the water of the rising river.

Then the river broke its banks and started to flood the field, gradually moving across toward the house. The sheep who were grazing the field in the morning had been moved to another field, higher up and out of harms way.

Then we had a break in the rain and went out into the garden to have a quick break. The water from the fields behind the house were washing the contents of the clouds down toward the house, through the retaining wall, onto the patio and into the central heating plant room of our house. Lenny and I were duly placed back inside whilst drains were opened and baling out of the plant room was taken care of. With the help of one of our friends, we managed to drain the water and it then started raining again. And boy did it rain, for a few hours constantly, all the while filling up the patio and re-flooding the plant room. The drain holes were barely coping so storm drains were opened to try and remove as much as the water as possible. The retaining wall became a water feature, a garden fountain spouting the rainy contents of the field onto the patio. It was of course a water feature that wasn’t wanted or needed. We could hear the water rushing over the front of our garden and into the small lane leading toward the river. Then, around 10 pm, it stopped raining. There was silence apart from the continuing streams of rain water rushing off the fields and onto the patio.

Thursday morning arrived and we feared the worst. Venturing outside the inspect the likely destruction we were greeted with weak sunshine and the plant room moist but not flooded. The flooding from the river had covered the field and turned it into a giant duck pond. The lane was passable so it was decided to have a road walk. We strolled across the bridge toward the town and the river had flooded the entire field, small picnic carpark and almost into surrounding streets.

Our walk was shortened as we heard that the local nature reserve had also suffered significant flooding. For the rest of the day we walked around the garden and thanked our lucky stars that we live a little way above the flood plain that caught all of the water.

We won’t get flooded from the river but we are taking steps to try and make sure we don’t get flooded from the fields.

A salutary tale. Stay safe everyone

Is that Ludlow I spy?

It started as a normal walk in the morning last Thursday. We had no idea what was ahead for us. Out of bed and we were dressed ready for the day ahead. Lenny looked at me, I looked at him and we wandered around the house watching the pesky rabbits cavorting in our garden, just out of our reach through the doors. Once we were allowed into the garden the rabbits had disappeared, along with the possibility of us having some fun chasing them around. Out the gate and we were loaded into the car? What was this sorcery? Along the lane, turn right, then left and follow the road until we make a sharp right and left and we are parked. As soon as the boot is opened we sing the song of the breed whilst impatiently waiting to be released for the inevitable shenanigans to commence.

As we leapt from the car we were both warned to behave ourselves and off we trotted along the estate road toward Ludlow. We’ve walked this route before so we knew roughly what to expect along the way. We were not disappointed.

Rounding the first bend there were cows to the right and squirrels running across the road ahead of us. I watched in disbelief as Lenny stood and stared, silently, at the squirrel which wandered across his path, no more than 10 metres away. No pulling, no shouting and no wild eyed intent to dentally lobotomise it. Just watched it trot across his path! As we strolled on, the road rose and fell through the contours of the wood. Through the gate and toward the piggery which is always a good source of snacks for prying noses and beagle teeth. Sadly our parents were wise to our intentions and our leads were shortened significantly. I went splashing through puddles and then looked in horror once more as Lenny avoided walking through the puddles. I was in shock. On we went, past the potato fields and around the corners to see Ludlow Castle and St Laurence church loom into view. We crossed the bridge at Dinham, in the shadow of the castle, and then wandered down to the river so I could have a drink. Apparently all the puffing, pulling and singing since we had left the car made me thirsty. Then we went up the hill into the town which was a bonus. The market had just started, people were arriving for work and the town was getting ready for a new day.

We peeked down little alleys, wandered along medieval lanes, strolled past old shops and churches and then down along a broad street which was, aptly enough, called Broad Street.

Through the old gate we headed back down to the River Teme at Ludford Bridge. We (Lenny and I) were getting hungry as we realised we had missed our breakfast to come on this jaunt so we turned the parents around and strolled them back up through the old gate. At this point we were turned left and we explored some narrow winding lanes which we hoped would lead us back to the first bridge at Dinham and thereafter back to the car. Having navigated past some lovely houses and courtyard properties we found ourselves descending toward the bridge and back along the road. As we strolled along it was clear that we were getting more tired as our pulling and general lead shenanigans had decreased. Apparently this was good news for our parents shoulders. As we wandered back through the piggery the leads were shortened, puddles were again avoided by a certain brother and we found ourselves soon back at the car for the return journey.

We had to make a quick pit stop at the local produce farm food shop as the food is delicious.

Once home we ensured that our missing breakfast was adequately fulfilled and then we snoozed off the 10km walk that we had just performed. Ludlow is a nice place with plenty of history and places to explore. We will go again I am certain, maybe to explore some other parts of it. For the time being I will rest easy knowing I have explored some of it. I must admit though, I am rather worried about Lenny and his apparent lack of Beagle-ness.

Mists and mellow fruitfulness

Ok, Ok I may have borrowed the title from someone more famous.

It’s got chillier recently. As a beagle of an advancing age I can feel the chill more in my bones now. This doesn’t mean I don’t run around the garden in the rain and wind like a hound possessed, all the while singing the song of the breed so the locals all know I am out and about.

Lenny went for a walk earlier this week and saw the mists sitting across the field which fronts our house. We live behind the trees in the picture.

Then it rained. And rained. And rained. Just for one day and one night. The river rose around 2 metres and the field turned into a giant swimming pool for the ducks and geese, the sheep had to graze on the higher grounds and our walks were taken in slightly different directions.

It has receded now, to be replaced by some excellent muddy soggy patches where we can go splashing through, all the while give ourselves dirty bellies. Returning home to be towelled and dried, provided with food and being forced to sleep on/in our comfy warm beds makes us feel very fortunate to have a safe home.

This will be the norm for the next few months whilst winter spreads her icy fingers across our lives and pushes us to snooze more often in front of the log burner. I may be feeling the chill, but it won’t stop me going out and exploring. There is so much to see and appreciate where we live and to see the seasons give us new palettes of colour every day.

Llangollen Canal & Pontcysyllte Viaduct

Well, where do I start on this little adventure? We were rudely awoken yesterday and surprised to see that we were being hustled around for our normal morning, pre breakfast routine. Usually it’s a somewhat slower pace on a Sunday morning. Yesterday it was collars on, harnesses on and travel bags checked, before we wandered around the garden. We were then hooked up for a brief walk across the field in front of our house. We returned quickly and whilst we ate our breakfast we noticed that items were being loaded to the car. Soon after we had finished eating we were again hustled outside and found the car boot being opened and we were invited to jump into our travel crates. Never ones to turn down the chance of an adventure, we found ourselves duly locked away and we were off, who knows where. Down the lane, turn right, along the road, turn right, keep going around the windy wiggly road to a big roundabout and then left along another road. We had settled in as we sensed we were going somewhere we had not visited before so this could be exciting. We saw the sign that said “Welcome to Wales” as we sped past it. As long as it wasn’t the vets, we were sure it would be fun. An hour after being loaded into the car we parked and the boot was opened. We were in a car park, on our own, no other cars or people. This didn’t look like fun!

Out of the car and off we trotted, all the while hoping that this little trip would improve. Turning a corner into another car park we sensed that friends were nearby and, sure enough, there looming into view were three of our beagle buddies, Smudgey, Ted and Griff. We greeted each other in usual beagle fashion attracting many peoples attention whilst doing so. We still weren’t sure where we were, but the trip had got better just by seeing our friends, especially as Smudgey & Ted lived in France so this was a long way from home for them. As we wandered along our noses smelled another pal. We strolled along a path when the wonderful Sasha beagle came into view. She had brought her friend Luna, a Black Labrador, along for some company. We hadn’t noticed much of our surroundings until this point but there was a lot of water and some narrow boats very close by. We had arrived at the Llangollen Canal for a meet up.

Apparently there was a aqueduct built by Thomas Telford a very famous civil engineer who also oversaw the building of the Menai Straits Suspension Bridge, The Shrewsbury Canal, The Ellesemere Canal (both in Shropshire), The Caledonian Canal in Scotland and the original A5 road. He was a clever man. Anyway back to the adventures. Once we had all greeted each other we set off toward the aqueduct with Lenny in the lead.

As we got onto the aqueduct itself we saw that Lenny was trying to poke his head through the railings and at a few points actually had his shoulders through them. The drop to the river beneath is 126 feet (38 metres) and Lenny seemed to be quite spooked with trying to cross the aqueduct which is 1,008 feet in length (307 metres) and all with iron railings to one side. As Lenny wasn’t feeling safe or confident on the crossing we decided to just admire the structure from the safety of ground level. It is indeed a wonderful feat of engineering. Anyway the Llangollen Canal runs from the town of Llangollen up to and over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct so we thought we would take a stroll along the canal towpath toward Llangollen. We strolled and chatted, all the while watching the narrowboats glide past us.

People were canoeing in the canal too, somewhat oblivious to the light rain and drizzle that was falling intermittently. I was dragging my human along, huffing and puffing like the proverbial steam train, Sasha tried to get on board one of the moored narrowboats, Luna walked along enjoying the company, Smudgey & Ted drank some water from the canal and walked through the muddiest of the puddles, Griff wandered along sniffing the grass and then occasionally running to catch up with the rest of us whilst Lenny strolled along taking in all the sights and scents he could now he had his paws safely on terra firma.

After a few miles we turned round as people were getting hungry and thirsty so we returned to the canal basin to the south of the Aqueduct.

The local cafe which had been recommended to us was “rammed” so we wandered quickly along to The Telford Inn just as the heavens opened. Everyone sat for a while chattering, eating some snacks and chattering some more. I would point out at this juncture that the “cheesy chips” we saw in bowls on the table did not sadly make their way into us. In fact we were all quite tired and slept or looked out of the window waiting for the rain to stop. Smudgey and Ted said their goodbyes to us as they had to leave earlier than the rest of us. It was good to see them again and to catch up on their news.

We left and wandered back to the cars to say our farewells to one another after a great day of seeing a new place, meeting old buddies (and Luna of course) and having a good time. Hopefully we can all meet up again soon as it’s always good to make friends. I’m not sure we will be asking Lenny to try and cross aqueducts though, maybe he’s best with his feet well and truly grounded. For some reason Lenny & I slept for the whole return journey, before managing a slow wander around the garden. It is alleged that I slept like a puppy last night.

Lastly all the photographs are thanks to our wonderful friends who met up with us.

Croeso i Gmyru

There we were last Sunday morning, awakening to the sunlight streaming through the gap in the curtains where Lenny peeks out into the garden, hoping to see rabbits or squirrels cavorting across our grounds. Somewhat deflated on this occasion he returned to his bed and laid there nibbling a patch of fur on his leg which was giving him the itches.

When the parents connected us to our leads and harnesses we had no idea what was about to occur. Out of the garden and Lenny was immediately onto a strong scent. He didn’t make it past the car. Suddenly we were being loaded into our prison crates for another adventure. We fairly leapt into the car and settled down for the trip ahead. Out of the road, turn right, right again, then left after a while. Follow the road was the comment from the front of the car. As the road snaked away we realised that we were somewhere new when we passed a sign that said “Powys Croeso i Gymru”. We turned right and slowly climbed the hill, along narrow lanes which needed some careful navigation. After a while we arrived in a carpark along a very narrow and bumpy lane. The boot was opened and scent filled our noses. Welcome to Roundton Hill Nature Reserve read the sign on the gate.

Roundton Hill was an Iron Age hill fort around 2,000 years ago. Since then it has been grazed and even used for mining precious metals. Nowadays it’s an excellent lookout point for the surrounding area. Out of the car and along the grass track, through the gate and up the hill, head right and through the next gate, across the field and still we were climbing. We could peek through the hedge at the landscape beyond and we were loving every moment.

Our noses were to the ground and I was puffing like a steam train uphill and down dale, through gates and across fields. As we passed through the last gate we realised we had gone slightly the wrong route but it didn’t matter as the views away into Wales were great.

We saw the top of Roundton Hill and vowed to come back soon so we could try to get to the summit. Retracing our steps we descended to the car and were returned to our travel crates for the journey home.

I am originally from Wales, so it was good to see where I came from. The views were great and it was really quiet, apart from the sheep bleating and the odd errant song of the beagle breed. We have been promised a return so we can actually summit Roundton Hill. For now we sleep and dream of a good day had by all.

Town Brook Traverse

As it was Lenny’s birthday yesterday we decided to take him on a little stroll to a place no one had been to before. So we were loaded into the car once I had run around the garden singing the song of the beagle for around ten minutes. It was 7 am and our assistants weren’t too pleased at my ability to awaken all the neighbours.

Along to the end of the lane and we turned right, right again, travelled for around eight miles, turned left, left again and then right. Up the winding road toward a small car park in a wooded area at Rectory Wood. As the boot was opened we thought it a good idea to sing our song again to a chap who’d been out for a run. He didn’t look as if he would be putting us forward for any competitions. Out of the boot, through the kissing gate and then up the first slope toward a path signposted as Pole Bank. We saw the gradient of the slope through the woods and our assistants considered it safer to have all their limbs intact and not to have something akin to a mad dash through the tangled tree roots and down a vertiginous hill or two, dragged along by a couple of excitable beagles.

We turned right, walked along the path and then descended back down through a gate to the town. We were having a great time, scenting everything and making sure we greeted everyone we came across. Through the town, left up the hill and then to a sign that proudly said “The Long Mynd” and the road snaked steeply up the hill past the sign.

We made the choice to turn left and follow a gravel path along the Town Brook on part of the Burway Loop. We strolled and pulled. I paddled in the stream at very regular intervals. Lenny scented everything and we got our leads tangled whenever we could, as it doesn’t seem to amuse our assistants.

The path started to ascend and I was puffing like a steam train so we were forced to stop our exploration on the basis that I get very overexcited and I am likely to do myself some harm. We returned along the path until we saw a small branch off which lead down to a pool and around the edge of the wood, close by to where we had parked. Back up the slope and left into the shaded carpark. We were reloaded to the car and returned home with grins like Cheshire Cats on our faces.

Once breakfast had been served we thought it only right to snooze and dream of the brilliant adventure we had this morning. I hope Lenny has plenty more birthdays as I want to go many more times to the Long Mynd and Town Brook.

Happy birthday Lenny

It’s been over five years since Lenny as an eight month old pup was dropped into my safe and secure little world. He arrived like a whirlwind, which then blew itself out after a couple of hours chasing each other around the garden. He proceeded to make himself very comfortable in his new life. He’s been involved in two house moves, holidays away to Cornwall and the Lake District as well as numerous weekends and day trips to see places and meet new friends.

Throughout the time he has been here, we have bonded and now we are like brothers. Sometimes we fight and squabble, with a subsequent telling off given to us (usually me 🙄). More often though we will just get along and play nicely, stroll around the garden or pull our respective parent around the garden, field or country lane.

When he first arrived I wondered what was happening to me. Now I see that he’s the best thing that happened to me, aside from me being adopted in 2013.

Happy sixth birthday Lenny, I hope you have fun and enjoy your day running around being silly. I might even let you win at bitey face.

Nearly in Wales

As we awoke yesterday Lenny and I had little idea of what was being planned for us. All seemed normal as we were released into the garden for some serious pigeon and rabbit bothering, accompanied with the song of the breed wafting on the slight breeze across the fields. When we were hastily harnessed we thought nothing was awry but we stopped at the car on the way out of the garden. Adventures! 😀

Duly loaded into our prison cells we went along the lane, right, left, right, under the bridge and then followed the road. Around thirty minutes later we pulled up to a parking spot under the shade of a tree and were safely discharged to begin our shenanigans. Away from the car we went over a wooden footbridge which Lenny took carefully as he could see the river flowing beneath his paws. Along the path, up the slope, circle right, left and then crest the first hillock and there is was, the ruins of Clun Castle sitting atop the hill. Lenny scented a rabbit in the long grass whilst I was off toward the ruins for an explore. My exuberance was short lived however as I was stopped so we could read the sign that told us some history about the location. 🙄

We pressed on to the great tower and looked out over the countryside which was into Wales into a westerly direction.

The town lay below us so Lenny and I were anxious to stroll around the town. Our assistants had other ideas and we forgot momentarily that we were still attached to them so we had to “behave” ourselves on the downward slopes and paths. Left past the bowling green, right up the lane, right again at the end of the road and right again along the high street. Then it was into the Square, left down the hill into the river Clun for a drink.

Then we retraced our steps slightly as we realised we hadn’t walked too far and there was more to explore.

We were enjoying this. Strolling past small shops selling some lovely things, we wandered right up along another footpath and then wondered why there were so many people all in the playing field. There was a running race taking place which looked like it could be fun, however we were told in no uncertain terms that Lenny and I were not doing any running. So we decided to try and pull as much as possible to as many scents as possible along the lane, which led down to a ford in the river where I waded in to get a drink and Lenny stood on the fringes as he’s not really a water hound. Once our thirsts were quenched it was up the hill toward St Georges Church. Some parts of the church date back to the 12th century but much of it was rebuilt in the 1800’s. We saw a sign that said there were Commonwealth War Graves within the churchyard so we paid our respects to the fallen by being really quiet whilst our parents read the roll of honour on the plaque. Then we were off down the hill and back toward the car. Thankfully it was parked under a tree so it wasn’t too warm. Lenny fair leapt into the boot, albeit into my travel crate but I didn’t mind. It is good to see him getting more at ease with travelling in the car.

Back home and our breakfasts were taken, after which, it was time for a snooze and then watch as the parents tried to make our garden into something less of a scrub patch.

And before anyone says anything I did not mess about, eat garden stuff, try to wind up Lenny or wander around bored looking for trouble. All in all a fun walk with plenty of scents and sights. I think I might go back. After all we were nearly in Wales. Only a few more miles and we can say we’ve crossed the border.

I never realised

Until I blogged yesterday I hadn’t realised what we had done between our adventures on the train to Ludlow in late March and our sojourn to Wart Hill last Sunday. Here is a precis of our shenanigans, sorry I meant to say our adventures. 😀

Firstly Lenny discovered Sallow Coppice, a small wood close by Stokesay Wood. He said it was so quiet and pretty that he needed to explore every leaf, twig and fallen branch. Our dad however had different ideas.

We welcomed another beagle parent to our house, this time one from Houston Texas who was visiting the UK. We got chew toys which we played with quite nicely.

The field in front of our house dried out significantly and I could stroll down by the river, taking in all the sights and scents that accompany a meadow.

Sometimes Lenny and I are walked separately as avid readers will remember. We tend to drag our respective parent around after the same scent so they think its calming for us to walk separately to discover new things. In this regard Lenny found the back road to the next little hamlet of Lower Dinchope which he eagerly explored.

In the meantime I was discovering Stokesay Castle and all its interesting features. We swapped stories and then adventures at a later date.

In early May we accepted the offer of a guided tour from our good friend Griff to go and explore the bluebells at Hope Bowlder. Griff is a rescue like Lenny and me, so we always try to look out for his wisdom.

Lenny and I then swapped routes and he discovered Stokesay Castle, whilst I strolled up to Dinchope to see what all the fuss was about.

The route toward a place called Sibdon Cawood was next to be crossed off our list of places to explore. This walk involved traversing fields of wheat or barley as well as strolls down very quiet lanes. I must admit that there is a welcome dearth of traffic here.

At the end of May we had a visitor from Yorkshire, another beagle called Hector. We couldn’t play as he had a poorly paw and I was very overexcitable so we were banned from exploring the garden without supervision. Actually we were banned from the garden, full stop.

Then we took on the challenge of a 10 km circuit around Wart Hill via Cheney Longville which is a village named in the Domesday Book. Our exertions caused us to feel rather tired for a few days after our walk, which cheered our parents up for some reason. 🙄

Lenny decided to take dad to a place called Flounders Folly as a precursor to all four of us making the trip some weeks later.

The road past Stokesay Castle and the path through the lower part of the wood was the next assault on Lenny’s visual and nasal senses, with him doing the precursory legwork for a future visit.

In early July we made sure that everyone who went to vote was behaving themselves.

This was followed by our combined trip to Flounders Folly for a lovely view over the surrounding countryside.

Finally we welcomed another beagle visitor to our area. River was visiting Griff and we were so happy to show her around the meadow.

In between all these excursions we have been making sure that the fields and side roads, especially those leading to the Discovery Centre have been regularly pounded.

Phew, I never knew we packed so much into our first 4.5 months. I think I need to go and lie down.

Wart Hill Wanderings

Some may have noticed that I haven’t been prolific on here since our move to the countryside back in March. Some may have not. We’ve just been very busy exploring and making sure that the house is getting toward what we want it to be like. Then of course that stuffy work thing rears its ugly head for our assistants.

In any case we have been exploring and the miles under our paws seem to be increasing. We are starting to go to different places and expand our horizons, both metaphorically and physical (I suspect they weren’t words you thought you’d hear from a beagle). Last weekend was no exception when Lenny and I were bundled into the car and we set off along the narrow lanes to, well, who knew where. In this case our parents knew but didn’t bother telling us beagles in our travel crates.

Once parked the boot was opened and the vista was far ranging.

Unloaded from our comfy travel beds we proceeded into the field via the kissing gate and set our sights up hill along the path.

Within 50 paces we were swiftly halted as there was livestock in the field we were supposed to be crossing and let’s just say that livestock and me don’t mix. Chalk and cheese, oil and water etc. Not wanting to recreate any battle we were abruptly turned round and marched down the hill, across the narrow lane and through another gate toward a wooded hill. Now we’re talking! Lenny looked at me, I reciprocated and off we charged, baying and shouting until we reached the extent of our leads and realised we were attached to a parent. They always spoil our intended off lead shenanigans. Through the path close to the bracken, up the hill, turn right and left, back track to a viewpoint and then down the path.

The Long Mynd (one day we will get there)

Turn right then left, traverse the boggy patches on the path, avoid the bracken with its resident ticks (revolting things) and then out into the day light with a small pond nearby. Around the pond, up the hill and then to the road where we turned left and followed the curve of the road back to where the car was parked. We had walked this road before and typically our parents had not taken any pictures. When we got back to the car we were unceremoniously returned to our prison cells for the journey home.

We are trapped. Look at our forlorn faces.

Arriving home we assumed the customary position of snoozing whilst the day went on around us giving us time to dream of our next adventure as well as think about blogging more often.