More Dogs at Appledown Rescue Centre.

Today was a good day to walk the dogs at Appledown http://www.appledown.co.uk/ not too hot with a slight breeze. I only had time to walk three dogs before having to return to do the weekly shopping. People give dogs some funny names  and I think I had three of them today. First on the list was ...

Grogan.

For the first fifteen minutes he pulled ahead but after half an hour he had settled down and gave me a look at the end of his walk to say thanks.

Next for a walk was...

Roseaide.

I hope I spelt her name correctly.

This dog barked for Britain and would not stop for 20 minutes, after this she calmed down and enjoyed the rest of her walk. If a dog has not had a walk for two days they are bound to be mad once let out but in the end they all calm down and most are very nice dogs.

Last for their walk today was...

Damalsa.

A beautiful dog who pulled away and just wanted to play with the other dogs on the training field.

I could control him but I don't know how owners of larger dogs who's dog is not trained can be safe when faced with a difficult situation.

This brings me to next weeks four hour release from my caring duties. After talking to the trainer today I plan to take some action pictures of dogs on the training circuit, so depending on the weather I will be getting my larger camera out to take some action shots or if the weather dictates it will be down to the canal to see who's about.

Rushing to open the locks at Marsworth

Today was damp and overcast so I decided another foray at Marsworth was called for. Not a day for pictures but with only two hours to spare I have to make the most of the time, very much like this family who have hired NB Dabcheck from Grebe Canal Cruises at Pitstone rushing to get the lock open for their boat.

Following on you can see the whole family enjoying their day at the lock despite the weather.

At lock 44 NB Mustn't Grumble came slowly out .

At Marsworth top lock NB John Ruskin exited the lock with gongoozlers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gongoozler watching.

The other side of the lock the swans were glad the boat had passed.

I had time to dash up the Wendover Arm and see how it has changed over the years. It's still a quiet arm of the Grand Union canal but some great work has been done by the Wendover Trust http://wendoverarmtrust.co.uk/.

Here is a workboat moored to the piling the lads have added to the canal towpath which will be infilled to give a stable edge to the canal.

A narrowboat comes down the arm towards Bulbourne Junction.

I reached Gamnel Bridge No.2 before having to return after my little jaunt.

It is no wonder these small bridges suffer damage when large loads cross them.

The Canal & River Trust http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/ are putting these signs up to support the wildlife so if you can afford  to please feel free to donate.

Well that's it for this week, next week I must go to the dogs but then I feel I'm there already :)

Little Tring Bridge on the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal

Today on my wanderings I managed to get to another of my old fishing haunts of 45 years ago. I used to cycle to the pumping station at the end of the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal and enjoy the peace and quiet around this lovely part of Marsworth. Now I like brickwork, don't ask me why but I always admire old brick walls and the many colours you get so what a delight to find that the old bridge at the pumping station has been demolished and a magnificent bridge built as an replacement all thanks to the Wendover Arm Trust.http://wendoverarmtrust.co.uk/ Just look at the brickwork in this bridge.

Here are the commemorative plaques on the side of the bridge.

The canal has also been extended past the bridge by a volunteer workforce to which great credit is due.

Moored just before the bridge is NB Mithra enjoying the solitude that I found all those years ago.

On the way back I thought I would have a look to see what narrowboats were moored at Star Tops End,so I parked up in the car park and had a wander.

A shame to see the White Lion pub has closed down and has been for a while now which is happening far too frequently, this was another watering hole in my past.

Walking further up the cut it was nice to see a family enjoying a day out on the school holidays in a narrowboat hired from Grebe Canal Cruises at Pitstone, I wonder if the little girl caught anything, probably more than I used to.

This reminded me I was going to revisit the Waterside Cafe at Pitstone http://www.pitstonewharf.co.uk/ as they were not open the last time I went during February so on the way back to the car park I took a picture of the rear entrance to the Bluebell Tea Rooms.

Arriving at the Waterside cafe I had one and three quarters of an hour to have a bite to eat then get the weekly shop so I could not stay long, so a cup of tea and a slice of apple and almond cake went down well.

This is the view out of the window...

...and the front cover of the menu.

Now I had time to have a quick look outside at the cruise boat the Chiltern Countess.

In the water there were large mirror carp obviously used to being fed from the cafe.

Now I had to dash back to get the weekly shopping.

Well that was my time out from caring for this week next week who knows where.

Hot Dog Walking

This week on my four hours respite from caring I went over to Appledown rescue centre http://www.appledown.co.uk/ to walk the dogs. It was a bit warm at 20 Deg C but with a slight breeze it was a pleasant day to be outside.
I don't know why but the three dogs I took out this week were all a bit mad, probably a bit hyped up being in the kennels and it being warm. The first one was called...MUNGO

A lovely little dog with Jack Russell traits but after half an hour settled down. A nice dog for someone who likes company on walks.

Next dog was ...LAYLA

A hyperactive dog who would not keep still, jumping and barking at everything but again after half an hour she settled down and started to enjoy her walk.

Last dog out today was ... FERGUS

He was quite funny as he constantly pulled on the lead trying to power ahead with his legs going twenty to the dozen trying to get away. As you can see it was his tongue that ended up trying to cool such a hot dog.

Outside the office is a picture board showing potential owners some of the dogs in the kennels.

After that I went off to do the weekly shop and look forward to next week to either walk along the canal or walk the dogs again.