Some of last year's occurances

I was very busy over last year and neglected writing in my blogsite - probably because I was adding blogs for work, and then walking Patch in the evenings up until August when he unfortunately died in a stupid accident.

He really loved swimming and would go into any water he could. I had gone down to the river near the Brownie Linn waterfall at Muirshiel, one afternoon [after three and a half days of rain], and had told Patch-NO for swiming - then got distracted and was trying to photograph some Common Blue Butterflies. Each time I looked up Patch was waiting for me and then I looked up and he was not there!!! - I just knew he had gone into the river which was in spate. I found his body a mile downstream one and a half hours later. His body was caught on a rock but his head was bobbing under the water................As you may imagine I was devastated.......I managed to pull him out of the water but then broke down and 'howled my sorrow to the wilds' Luckily the other two rangers had returned from patrol, got my message and had come to help search for Patch. They carried him, and helped me, back to the centre, and into my car. I brought his body home and buried him in the garden the next day with the help of my brother. I still miss him terribly as he was just such an excellent character - good manner, loving, well behaved[trainable]. Everyone at work was shocked and saddened at the news, as he had made himself a part of the whole team at Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.

I eventually decided to go back to the Dog's Trust in October, to 'register my interest' in another Dog, and believe it or not later that evening I got a call through a friend in Lochwinnoch, about another dog which was needing a new home as its owners had both died [in April and October]. I met him at Castle Semple, with the neighbour who had been looking after him temprarily, and he found a new home with me.

Hamish - was a very skinny, Dingo like dog -smaller than Patch, and definately more skittish, but he has settled in over the past four months and [after 'THE SNIPS'] has also calmed down a lot, although he is not as responsive to training as Patch was , he is coming along slowly. He is however very loving and gets on well with my cat Suki!!

Patch had a lovely patrol on Tuesday morning up to the Windy Hill Gate, at Muirshiel. He had a bit of company too - a young springer spaniel called Buster, who had only been up to the park once before. Patch and he had a great time running around after balls, and then, when they got up on the trail proper - running around sniffing out all the exciting scents they could find, but always staying within sight of their owners!!
Eventually, when they were a bit puffed out and as their owners had stopped to take photos, they both sat down for a short rest too!!

Back down at the centre, they spent the afternoon, lying around whilst there was a bit of greenwoodworking going on - but always keeping their noses, eyes and ears open for anything else which might be of interest!
It was a beautiful autumn day and we did get some lovely photos.
Muirshiel centre - old picnic site.

Patch and windy weather at Ayr beach

Patch and windy weather at Ayr beach 12-March-2008 , originally uploaded by Kindurco.

Having fun on a stormy beach! Patch playing with his ball and ignoring the surf and the very strong winds.
I got a little bit of video of Patch standing head into the wind , and all his fur was being continuously ruffled up!

This is definately a stormy day today - much too windy and wet to go out and take photos - I shall copy my cat and dog and curl up indoors.

However back in December there were some beautiful -

but very cold days......and on one of these I travelled up to East Kilbride - where there was a freezing fog sitting for the whole day - which was strange anyway as East Kilbride is on top of hills!

It was very, very cold but the frost did make everything quite etherial!

This was taken near the Kingsgate retail park, in the middle of the afternoon!

West Coast Wander - Two

Well, on our second day in the area, after a late night at the very welcoming and intimate, Argyll Arms Hotel the evening before, I took the dogs for a morning walk around the Ardrishaig Basin on the Crinan Canal before having a relaxed breakfast with everyone when we got back. The Canal Basin

The Canal Basin

Ardrishaig Harbour from the house garden,

with a ship being loaded with forestry trees, to take by sea, to the pulp mill on the Clyde.

We decided to take a trip down the Kintyre peninsular to Machrahanish to check out the superb beach there. I have to admit it was not the warmest of days to visit, nor the calmest. The waves crashing on shore enroute down the coast road.

We stopped in Cambelltown, to get something to eat before heading across the peninsular to the beach.

There was a strong southerly wind whipping up the fines sand and blowing it along the beach at our feet.

We walked with the wind at our backs firstly and then turned to come back to the vehicle and had the wind in our faces as the sun was setting over the Mull of Kintyre! However the dogs really loved it and were totally exhausted for the rest of the evening! One of the interesting 'finds' on the tide line was an old shoe, which must have been in the water for quite some time as it was encrusted with Goose Barnicles. As they were still alive we threw the shoe back out into the water as far as we could.

Heading homewards at 3.30pm!!