Sunday 31 December 2017

No dogs on the trail? It's an outrage! Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

While Gail and I have been down in Nottingham our dear neighbours Yvonne and Neil have been touring New Zealand's South Island in a camper van.

I do believe that Gail has been a little envious. Me, not so much, at least not since I read the latest Antipodean dispatch from Yvonne's iPhone.
Yvonne hiking up to Fox Glacier, NZ.

I shall spare you the typo strewn text (no doubt it's hard to use a smartphone keyboard upside down). The gist of the message was that that Yvonne and Neil had hiked up to Fox Glacier but NO DOGS WERE ALLOWED ON THE TRAIL.

I'll be straight with you, Gail has related similarly shocking stories about trails in National Parks in the USA but I'd always assumed she was fibbing in order to make me feel better about having been left behind when she goes gallivanting off on vacation.

Now I am beginning to wonder if she has not in fact been telling the truth?

Back in the UK the weather was dull and wet yesterday when Gail took me for a walk around the Nottingham University campus (alma mater to both Yvonne and my late beloved Human Grandad).

The Southern Alps it is not. But at least I could roam free as I circumnavigated the University boating lake (while being regaled with alarming tales of Gail's misspent teenage years in her home city...)

PS We have now said goodbye to Nottingham and to Human Granny for a few weeks and are heading back to Scotland for Hogmanay.

PPS Wishing all readers of this blog, old and new, all the best for the New Year. Bertie will of course be celebrating at the Blogville New Year's Eve Bash...

19 comments:

  1. To our resident boffin and very safe and happy 2018. Thank you so much for all your insight this past year and educating us. Have a great time at the party at Blogville

    ReplyDelete
  2. OOPs I forgot to wish your Gail likewise. please pass on my best wishes

    ReplyDelete
  3. No dogs allowed is just wrong. Yappy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hari OM
    Sorry to say, Bertie lad, Gail is truthful indeed; it is also the case for most bush trails in Australia. However, there are plenty other places where dogs can go which are equally worth visiting. The boffin in you will appawciate that it is environmental and wildlife concerns which prompts these restrictions; a bit like the problems here with dogs and sheep...

    Meanwhile, on a brighter note, I hope you and Gail travel well today, for Storm Dylan is raging like there is no 2018 to come. Be safe dear ones. See you on the other side. Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ...did I say 'brighter'??? #}

      Delete
    2. We were more worried about the ambiguous meaning of "see you on the other side"!!

      Delete
  5. There are many trails in Canada dogs aren't allowed. We aren't allowed on trains and buses unless we are service dogs.
    We wish you and Gail the happiest of years!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bertie my peeps have told me similar tales about trails around here. Mom says she suspects it is not the dogs that are the problem.....BUTTTTT their humans who do not scoop their poop....She sees it in our neighborhood too. Shameful indeed. But alas the K9's are ban not due to their own fault.

    New Zealand....OMCS how many light years did Neil and Yvonne to travel to get there from Scotland?
    Hugs Madi and Mom and Happy NYE
    PS we must look up
    Hogmanay

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hogmanay...Scots last day of the year...very interesting. May it be fun and safe as it rings in the new year

    ReplyDelete
  8. Happy New Year to you and Gail!
    Glad you made it to the party with the beautiful Addi!
    hugs
    Hazel & Mabel

    ReplyDelete
  9. happy Hogmanay....celebrate big. May 2018 be kind to you both.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Bertie, I'm wishing both you and Gail lots of great walks and snacks and good health in the new year. It's been grand visiting you in 2017.

    ReplyDelete
  11. We are wishing you and Gailsafe travels and a very, very Happy New Year!!
    xoxo,
    Jakey, Arty & Rosy
    PeeEss..We aren't allowed on a bunch of trails around here either...silly humans and their rules!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Buon anno e tanti auguri! We can attest to the veracity of Gail's stories about US National Parks and DOGS. Here's to walkies in 2018! Xo Tootsie & Dachshund Daddy & Renee

    ReplyDelete
  13. That sounds just horrible! Who would make better use of a trail than a dog??

    ReplyDelete
  14. We are sad to report that the NO DOGS rule is fur real in our National Parks. We keep hoping one day we will elect a good president who loves dogs (as the current one is neither). Happy New Year! May 2018 be the best year yet!

    Stay Calm & Bark On!

    Murphy & Stanley

    ReplyDelete
  15. No dogs allowed, grrrrrr. Yes, national parks in the U.S. have the same silly rules - though most state parks do allow dogs and I have been fortunate to visit a few.

    Wishing you and Gail a very happy and healthy 2018!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes many of the parks in Australia have the same rules - I can't understand why they wouldn't want us?!
    But wow Nottingham looks beautiful - mum says she's always wanted to go there.
    Lots of licks, Morrie!

    ReplyDelete