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Post by han on Jul 4, 2016 21:16:49 GMT
Too gorgeous for words, I feel quite choked up but in a good way. Looks like uve landed on your paws there davey bones xx
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on Jul 5, 2016 11:56:45 GMT
Yesterday, we discovered the gem that is Gunpowder Mills Park in Waltham Abbey. It's on my doorstep and I have only ever driven in the car park to take custody of Tilly from Jenny en route to Hampshire to meet Simon and collect Margot. (In fact Jenny and I were planning to meet and walk there but it didnt happen due to our schedules.) Leonie and I took Margot and Dave for an early eve walk, offlead. They galloped off together but never more than 50' away and they would stop and look back and wait until we caught up then off they would go again. Considering I have had Dave for 6 days, his unfailing loyaly and recall is astonishing, especially if he sees the fluorescent yellow tenis ball we carry although he is disallowed tennis ball retrieval games until his sore nose has healed. This has occurred because he scuffs his nose on the ground when running for a ball. Margot is less bold and tends to hang back and walk alongside us then trots off to join Dave. Their close bond in just 6 days is wonderful to see, and their sociability when meeting other dogs is excellent. The area is vast with rolling grasslands, huge hummocks which provided protection from the shock waves caused by the explosives production and experimentation... which ended in 1945. The grasslands feature an assortment of wild flowers, invasive purple and white sedge and a soft carpet of yellow and white legume plants. Absolutely stunning vistas which reminded me of the pastels in art work of Monet, with the swaying grasses moving in waves in the breeze... There are several paths and a grassed bridleway. We took the longest route which provided an ever changing landscape, wood and metal bridges across water filled gravel pits and The River Lea which was a giving new stimulating experiences for us and the hounds. My favourite place was Osier Marsh which is an ancient and rare wet woodland accessed via a boardwalk which raises one above the wetlands and has close boarded sides so inquisitive hounds are prevented from, "exploring". It is a magical place. Dark, musty, still and a sense of forboding with osier willow and silver birch fighting for light which has both standing and fallen trees sprouting light seeking offshoots and trees arched, in surreal shapes, battling for life-giving sunlight. It could be a scene from Hades Underworld. The walk was a good 2 hours of relaxation, happiness at seeing Margot and Dave free to explore and have fun in this beautiful safe environment. There was however one 'incident' atop one of the sound wave protection hills which is a covered by a soft, springy carpet of yellow legumes an atmosphere reminicent of the coastal paths of North Cornwall. Dave and Margot were play fighting and performing zoomies when Dave stopped and screamed. He held up his left fore leg, jaws fully open wide and screaming. It is a sound I never want to hear again. This lasted for 30 seconds which felt a whole lot longer. I reassured him and gently, carefully examined his upheld paw expecting to find a foreign object lodged between his pad. I felt all down his leg for tenderness have concluded that he sprained a muscle as there was no visible injury or break. We calmed him down and he was able to put weight on it, limped for a minute or so then trotted off as if nothing had happened. Today, I have carefully examined that leg for swelling, heat or tenderness to touch and he appears to be none the worse for his antics. My FitBit told me that we had covered 14,000 steps! which is around 7 miles but it felt good and we were exhilarated when back in the car, the hounds grateful for the soft mattress and pillows and more water offered. Anyhow, here is a selection of action shots that we managed to grab.
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Post by Romi on Jul 5, 2016 12:23:40 GMT
This update could hardly be more brilliant! Apart from the hurty-leg-screamy bit of course....which is typical sighthound stuff. "I'll scream because I think this hurts. Oh, actually it doesn't - I must try harder next time!" I'm very pleased for you that you have found such a wonderful place to walk. Keep them pics of the Dynamic Duo coming.
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Post by alfie&tillysmum on Jul 5, 2016 12:28:26 GMT
Absolutely lovely, what a joy to see two such happy hounds x
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Post by rowlfsmum on Jul 5, 2016 12:33:10 GMT
What a fab picture you paint. It sounds a wonderful place to explore. Don't worry too much about Dave's screaming - they just have to tread on a sharp stone or get a thorn in their paw and they think they are dying!
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Post by aijee on Jul 5, 2016 13:21:48 GMT
Each time I read an update on Margot and Davey Bones my screen, for some reason, goes blurry. Just brilliant! Glad you have found such a great place to walk where the hounds can have a good blast in safety. As for Dave's scream - Willow (my pre-Kalli girlie) was an expert at the bloodcurdling SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM! It is a truly chilling sound. The first time I heard it I thought Willow was mortally wounded and about to breathe her last but, as with Davey, after I'd nearly died of shock and broken my neck to race over to where she was, I cuddled her and gently examined her all over and she simply took off as though nothing had happened!
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Post by daisydip on Jul 5, 2016 13:42:42 GMT
I love, love, love this update. I am assuming this boy is staying for the foreseable future? Jethro is a screamer... you get used to it. It's horrible but they usually make a speedy recovery with some rubs and cuddle. ♡
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Post by Socksmum on Jul 5, 2016 17:27:19 GMT
Ah yes, there's nothing like a lurcher scream is there. What a lovely update (apart from you nearly wetting yourself with fright that is!) I loved the smiley face pic, he is a lovely boy. Enjoy many more walks in that magical place xx
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Post by han on Jul 5, 2016 20:39:58 GMT
Love love love his update ) Louie can scream, it goes right through I and its usually over nothing! Xx
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Post by echo on Jul 5, 2016 20:41:45 GMT
Fabulous
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Post by antoniaalfie55 on Jul 5, 2016 22:25:28 GMT
What a wonderful update and it looks like you have found a lovely place to walk. Like others I have experienced the scream of "I am dying" on many occasions only to have the mortally injured Hound run off and start playing again. They can be such Divas
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on Jul 5, 2016 22:42:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2016 6:47:57 GMT
It's a dogs life! And who needs a DNA test when you have the Saluki scream of death?!
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Post by aijee on Jul 6, 2016 7:02:13 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2016 7:25:25 GMT
I've spotted the slipper!!!
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Post by Socksmum on Jul 6, 2016 10:45:10 GMT
Me too! Xx
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Post by rowlfsmum on Jul 6, 2016 14:48:53 GMT
And me!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2016 17:08:32 GMT
Just so wonderful to see two beautiful hounds enjoying life just as it should be. I must take Deputy to the Gunpowder Park, it's only 15min from me and I have never been. My John is a volunteer at the Gunpowder Mills where the Gunpowder was made very interesting there but they don't let dogs in which is a great shame.
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Post by catsanddogs on Jul 7, 2016 10:38:48 GMT
I don't think Davey-Bones will be going anywhere else
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Post by Margot's Corps de Ballet on Jul 7, 2016 11:39:37 GMT
Yesterday, we, Parveen with Freya met up for a gallivant and a safe opportunity for the hounds use that explosive speed in the beauty of the ancient Epping Forest. We had used the walk to the station as a training walk, the reward being that chance to let rip, play racey-chasey, leap the watercourses, logs, snuffle, mooch and generally gad about having fun. They socialised well with a variety of dogs off-lead, greeting and playing for a short time whilst us humans nattered. We did come across a big old unit who looked to be a brute, a gruff looking Staff X English Bull Masstif. Rather then project my unsurprising reticence, I relaxed, safe in the knowledge that they could outrun the dog if the meet and greet went mammaries skywards. Never one to judge a book by its cover, he turned out to be the most welcoming softy who nuzzled and ran with my two for a while. Both Margot and Dave have morphed into springbok, most often associated with the savannah of The Serengeti. But at the moment the grasses on The Plains, (Chingford), are 4' plus in several areas and the hounds have become accomplished pronkers. And no, I didn't know that there was a name for a manoevre normally associated with quadropeds. Its wonderful to see. We wended our way throught the glades and somehow found our way to Lippitts Hill and the watering-hole that is The Owl where we all decided would be the place for a libation, (or 3), as the draught Aspall's was a callin' . A lie down in the shade on the cooling grass and more water. (For them, not us humans). Here's a few pictures of their loafing about, well deserved I might say as we covered just under 9.5 miles over the course of the afternoon, with the hounds at speed! Sphynx-like Freya and Margot with Dave on rabbit spotting duty.
Did someone mention the word, "Treats"?? Chillin'
....and snooze
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