GPS

The other day, Daddy bought a keyring GPS to measure how far I 'walk' compared with him. He bought it on eBay.

I wore it for the first time on our recent walk up Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man and the results show that I walked 3 times as much as Daddy on Walna Scar (open ground). Funnily enough, Evan Davis was on yesterday's Saturday PM programme on radio 4 saying the same thing. Overall I did 2 times as much from the start to Goat's Water. Daddy had to take it off then because of my love of swimming! It doesn't look as though you can download my route, which is a shame, but here is Daddy's. Notice the Brocken spectre at the top of the Old Man. Daddy got really excited when he saw this.
Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man at EveryTrail

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Reunions in the Lakes

I love reunions.  It means I can make a fuss of my friends and they can make a fuss of me.  And in the Lake District, it is even more special.  Here are some of my favourite piccies.

I have just enjoyed a fortnight in the Lakes and done some more bagging.  Here are my (longer) walks.

Black Combe at EveryTrail

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Little Man and Skiddaw at EveryTrail

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A walk up Coniston Old Man at EveryTrail

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Beacon Tarn & Beacon Fell at EveryTrail

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Place Fell at EveryTrail

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Above Wastwater at EveryTrail

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A Wainwright round from Sadgill at EveryTrail

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Sour Howes and Sallows from the river Kent at EveryTrail

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Dow Crag and Coniston Old Man at EveryTrail

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Ah, bliss!

I've now got the house to myself, but it's a bit quiet without Amey & Tigger.

Tug of war

Here is a videoclip of me playing tug of war with Amey.  She's a good sport and puts up with a lot of amorous attention from me!  Too bad Tigger & Amey have to go back home tonight.

Supervising the builders

I have had a busy few days entertaining the builders who have been repairing my leaking conservatory. So I am now resting until they come back again next week.

Strange

My hair is now quite brown and fluffy, and I don't know why. Has anyone any suggestions? Could it be salt or sun or both, from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path fortnight?

A rainy fortnight in the Lakes

As promised, here are the walks we did on our latest trip to the Lakes. We were limited to 3 big ones. I blame Daddy who is getting lazy now he is 60. He says he had other things to do and that the weather was bad. There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. Here are the walks:

A Hartsop round at EveryTrail

Easedale tarn bagging at EveryTrail

Ashness Bridge and Watendlath round at EveryTrail

I enjoyed Easedale the best because there were loads of tarns to be bagged, but I had lots of swims every other day.

In the Lakes again!

Yippee! I'm in the Lakes again. As a taster, here are some photos of me on a Hartsop round. More to follow.

Pembrokeshire Coast Path

I am now recovering from one mega-walk: 14 days, 190 miles, 33,000ft climbing.  Impressed or what?

Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 1/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 2/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 3/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 4/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 5/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 6/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 7/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 8/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 9/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 10/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 11/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 12/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 13/14 at EveryTrail
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Pembrokeshire Coast Path Day 14/14 at EveryTrail
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I'm a fan of Harvey

 

Click on the picture

Almondsbury Gymkhana

I collected two rosettes yesterday at Almondsbury Gymkhana. There was a companion dog show there which Daddy entered me in for a bit of fun. The two rosettes were for 5th place in the Hound, Gundog & Working Pedigree Class and 3rd place for the Novelty Titbit Catching Class. I was surprised about that because I dropped the first one!

It would have been more fun if it was not so hot and if I could have played with all the other dogs. Golly, was it hot!

Wye Valley Walk completion

We finished the Wye Valley Walk in the last two days and had a great time. We found the sources of the river Wye and the river Severn and I was the only one that paddled in them, so I think I deserve a certificate!
Wye Valley Walk leg 13 at EveryTrail
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Wye Valley Walk leg 12 at EveryTrail
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How do we drink?

Here's how. Cool video, don't you think?
http://dogblog.dogster.com/2011/05/25/high-speed-x-ray-video-reveals-secret-to-how-dogs-drink/

Some more favourite photos (3)

Some more favourite photos (2)

Some more favourite photos (1)

My favourite photos

Here are my favourite photos of me this year.

Agility training

I went to Celestine Dog Training yesterday afternoon to try out agility classes and had a brilliant afternoon. I got to do jumps (I think I can jump a lot higher, though!), tunnels, weaves, and a high walkway. I can't wait to go again. Who knows, I might even get to enter competitions if I am good enough!

Lake District May 2011

This is a record of the fabulous fortnight I've just had in the Lakes.  I climbed 28 new Wainwrights and have now got half way with my quest to climb all of them (107/214).

Beacon Fell 28 April 2011 at EveryTrail


Brock Barrow and High Nibthwaite at EveryTrail


Ullscarf from Dunmail Raise at EveryTrail


Lank Rigg, Crag Fell & Grike at EveryTrail


Kentmere Horseshoe at EveryTrail


Red Screes and Dove Crag from Brotherswater at EveryTrail


Raven Crag at EveryTrail


High Rigg at EveryTrail


Great Mell Fell at EveryTrail


Little Mell Fell at EveryTrail


Wainwright Memorial Walk May 2011 at EveryTrail


Beacon Fell 11 May 2011 at EveryTrail

Cooling off period

This cattle trough is very handy for cooling off on my way back from my walks on these hot days!

A family reunion

I had a great time with my mummy (Poppy) & sister (Evie) on Monday on
Snelsmore Common. Isn't the weather glorious at the moment?

Training Daddy

I am still trying to train Daddy.  He is hopeless at fetching balls.  I put them in obvious places for him to pick up and throw, but he doesn't seem to have the skill that I've got.  It's not as though I am expecting him to chase after them.  He thinks I am the retriever, but I have other plans.

The Credit Crunch

I agree with a fellow dog who said on the radio the other day that, if it was left to us, he would have put all his money into biscuits and not derivatives and then the credit crunch wouldn't have happened.

Tick treatment

Here's a useful tip.  I picked up a tick on my eyelid the other day.  In the absence of vaseline, I tried Savlon antiseptic cream on it.  Daddy had to be very careful.  It worked very quickly.  I don't like the smell of tea tree oil and I hate anyone approaching me with tweezers, so this is a good solution.

Joie de vivre

I hosted a great birthday dinner party last night with some friends.  I was told I was the epitome of "joie de vivre", so I had to look it up.  It is used to express a cheerful enjoyment of life; an exultation of spirit.  Yep, that's me!

Crufts 2011

Congratulations to Jet for winning Best Dog in Show. Flat-Coated Retrivers rule! When I get home, I'm going to check if I'm related!

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Do I look good in this?

I've just had the 'snip' and I'm wearing this lampshade to stop me licking the wound.  My doctor wasn't happy that I hadn't been wearing this.  I'm also restricted to walking on a lead as well, so I can't wait to get better.  I'm looking forward to going to the Lakes next week - that will be a nice reward.

Daddy had to think about this a lot, but he thinks it is for the best as I've given him some embarrassing moments recently.  (See earler blogs labelled 'castration'.)

3 weeks with my friends

Here is a piccie of me and my friends.

3 foxes

We heard an excrutiating howl on our walk yesterday morning and we had to investigate.  We saw what looked like a dog limping towards us and we thought that it had been bitten by something.  It turned out to be a fox, probably after a fight with another one.  There were three in the field altogether, so maybe two males were fighting over a female.  Anyway, I ran over and gave chase.  They all three saw me and ran the other way and jumped over a wall to continue their fight.  They were faster than me but it was a good sprint.  Daddy says he is pleased they didn't gang up on me because I would have come off worse!

I'm as good as GOLD!

Last night, I obtained my Kennel Club Good Citizen gold award!  It was not easy, but my 6 friends and I all managed it.  I nearly messed up with the 2 minute down-stay, as I was distracted.  I was OK on my second attempt, which turned out to be the longest 3 minutes of my life!  Daddy tried to mess it up as well with the questions, but he scraped through.  In my opinion, he was trying to be too clever.

It was a happy occasion because we all passed, but it was also sad because that was the last night of training for me.  I have made a lot of friends there and the trainers (Jeanette, Celine, et al at Castle Court Dog Training Club) said they will miss me as well.  I was always so excited every Wednesday night.  Anyway, let's hope an agility class can be set up locally later this year so I can stretch myself even further.