OK, so one of the deals with a dog is that you get to go out every day, rain or shine, for a walk. But when it's rain, voluntarily travelling to meet up with others to do it is, well, not normal; is it, really, when you think about it.

Welcome to the world of not normal people.

Yes, today, in the rain, people and their pooches braved the elements and travelled varying distances - some just a few miles, some about 50 miles (that's us), and some more than twice that - all so that they could get together with other pointy dog people and go for a walk.


Start of the White Lodge Walk

Today's venue was Beacon Hill. This is one of my favourites as it's through the woods and not flat (understatement of the year!!). Gill, me and the Beasts were uncharacteristically early, and only Tom and Alice and their humans had beaten us to the bottom car park. Unbelievably, by 2 o'clock about 30 others had joined us, and the walk was on.

One of the brilliant things about these walks is that someone is bound to know something about something. Case in point: we are off to Swallows Dance for BeastBreak 2006. Sarah went there last year, and so of course she got the third degree about the place, people and resident beasts. The report was glowing.


Sarah and Gill

One of the other nice things is that there is someone to share the not so good with. Wendy (from Wiltshire!!!!) and Sarah have both recently lost dogs, and having others to talk to hopefully helps a bit.

Beacon Hill is a fairly(?) steep walk, and so some, perhaps more sensible souls, prefer to start from the top car park.


Jack and Gill Going Up the Hill

Where ever you started from today, standing at the the top was just not a good idea. Beacon Hill is about the highest point in Leicestershire, and with nothing to stop it the wind and rain did make things - less than perfect shall we say.


The Top of Beacon Hill

Of course, some of the dogs thought it all good fun irrespective of the weather. Jack was one of those, and another was Sam, who is a very nicely slightly mad dog.


Sam

And most of the humans came dressed sensibly for the weather; others didn't.


Mel

Back down again to the bottom car park, and (godess) Claire had flasks of hot chocolate, and Wendy (that Wendy) handed round somewhat superb chocolate brownies.

So, to all the brave/stupid/totally mad (delete as appropriate) souls that turned up - I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did, 'coz that is the very strange thing - we really did enjoy it.