Sunday 10 June 2012

Maybe some woods are not worth visiting..?

Hey Gail! Now that I have been officially promoted to Associate VisitWoods Web Guide, I think I should take some responsibility for deciding which woods we inspect.

OK then Bertie, that's fine with me. We have some free time this afternoon. Where would you like to go?


Well Gail, I checked on the VisitWoods website, and was surprised to find that there is no information yet about the wood nearest to our home, St Fitticks Community Woodland. Look, see, there on the map, it's listed as being only 1.4 miles away, so perhaps we could walk from here?

Oh Bertie, I fear there may be good reasons for the lack of information. I see that it's very small, and is right next to that smelly waste treatment plant....


A smelly waste treatment plant! Whoopee! Oh that sounds right up my street. Come on, where's my lead?

(Gail sighs, and fetches the lead). 

Bertie, if we absolutely must visit this wood, can we at least go via the harbour and round by the coast? It's a longer walk, but more varied and we won't then have to go through the really ugly housing estate.


A longer walk? Super! Off we jolly well go!

First we take a shortcut round the back of our Aberdeen neighbours' houses.


They do look a bit smarter from the front.


The shortcut takes us down to the River Dee. See how patiently I wait at the road crossing (despite there being no cars).

On the other side of the river I race the Aberdeen Rowing Club.

We're at the harbour in no time at all.


Sadly, dogs aren't allowed in the oil field supply base so we have to walk round behind it.


Soon enough we come to a little beach at the mouth of the harbour.

The harbour mouth is where the local bottlenose dolphins hang out, but we can't spot any today. I think the sea is too rough.

Further round the headland, we go past the lighthouse.

And a half a mile later, we've arrived at our destination!

Er, yes. Those sticks are part of the St Fitticks Community Woodland, apparently. And that's the landfill and waste treatment site behind. Disappointingly odour free today...

I guess Gail does have a point about the ugly housing...

But the 'wood' has one or two pretty corners with bigger trees, if you look hard enough.


We take a different route back, and after a short stretch through the housing scheme and across a busy road, we end up in more green space, south of the Dee.


Then it's back across the river and into Duthie Park. Lots of 'my' park is still fenced off due to the ongoing restoration project.

But at least the kiddies' playground is still open and busy.

Finally we're home. That's my house on the right, behind my Mini.

Well I thought it was a great wee expedition, but Gail is saying she's going to retain rights of veto on my future woodland choices.

Can that be fair?

29 comments:

  1. So what was wrong with that choice? Bertie, looks like there were some great places to sniff out. We hope you christened some of those 'sticks' to help them grow into a lush woodland.

    We love seeing the neighbourhood. It's the only way we'll see Scotland (AND we think your face is very expressive in the last photo.)

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  2. Well it's a shame the treatment site didn't have a nice whiff to it, but otherwise not a bad outing eh mate?!

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  3. Maybe you can go back tomorrow when the landfill site is more challengingly odiferous !

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  4. Bertie, look at it as a wood in the making, your park would of looked just like that once all those years ago. One day you won't see that factory.
    Love the elf and safety sign, over kill at its best lol.
    Have a good week
    See yea George xxx

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  5. I think you made an excellent choice Bertie!! What a fun walk and nice trees and field and smells. Doesnt get much better than that!!!

    wags
    JAzzi

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  6. Surely you can schedule another visit for when the wind is more favorable.

    Slobbers,
    Mango

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  7. Hi Bertie and congratulations to Gail. Have a happy Sunday!
    Best wishes Molly

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  8. I think you did a great job scouting these woods!!! A few more scouting expeditions and I am sure you will get another promotion!

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  9. Too bad the wind wasn't in your favor this time Bertie. Next time check the weather stats to see if the wind will blow from the dump towards the woods before you go.

    Cindy

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  10. The light house is lovely. Mom is wondering if you have ticks in the UK that is our problem in th USA EVERY single time we go in the woods Norbert comes back with tons of ticks, and by woods I mean even just tall grass and woody areas in our local park. He is on tick preventetive but still they love him and he gets more then the other dogs. Its making mom so nuts she almost doesnt want to take us in the woods or grassy areas any more and we have been waling in the city, but we all miss the woods

    Urban Hounds

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    Replies
    1. We do have ticks, especially in the hills, and Bertie has picked up a few in his time, despite treatment with 'Frontline'. But Lyme disease is thankfully relatively rare here, and other tick-borne diseases generally not a problem, so I don't panic if I see a tick on Bertie, although I do remove it asap!
      Cheers, Gail.

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    2. Thanks for the info, Norbert had Lyme once so I am extra paranoid and the ticks are everywhere! Today I pulled one off Norbert and we were walking in some grass in a fairly urban park!

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  11. Certainly not fair, Bertie, especially now you have this little promotion to Associate. I am fairly certain, though, that your uber strong powers of persuasion will get you almost anywhere you want to go.

    Cheers,

    Stella

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  12. We feel, Bertie, that since your promotion it behooves you to explore ALL woods in order to fully evaluate them. Now you can check this one off the list. Actually, it's pretty awesome that you can just walk to a wood from your home!

    -Bart and Ruby

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  13. I thought it was a fabulous adventure, so many sites to see. I am sorry that there wasn't much perfume in the air for you, but all in all a good time.

    Loveys Sasha

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  14. thank goodness Gail decided to go along with you since you are in charge these days. Did those signs make you nutty?
    Benny & Lily

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  15. Bertie, we loved your guided tour. We're just glad you take your job so seriously. Sorry you didn't have a smelly visit. There's always next time. No worries, and love, Stella and Rory

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  16. Bertie,
    Your a good walker, and you are so lucky that you got to walk on the beach. Your Mini cooper is neat. Do you drive it while Gail rides in the passanger seat?
    Sally Ann

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  17. Bertie my furend, Please email me... RE: Bouncing... Event...

    frankiefurter(AT)Wildblue(dot)NET

    THANKS buddy.

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  18. Mazel tov on your well deserved promotion, Bertie! You're going to be Director before we know it.

    Glad to see your little local woodland is planting more trees. Someday it will be a BIG local woodland :)

    Ever wonder why they have those ugly 'no dog' signs and you never see a 'no cats' sign? We think it's because cats can't read :)

    Jed & Abby

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  19. Wow, you have such a great area to walk in! I'm so jealous of the dogs that have such pawsome parks around them.

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  20. That sure was a wonderful walk, Bertie. Wish we had a nice spot like that to enjoy too.

    Thanks for stopping by our blog today. Lightning was all afluster with your sweet compliment.

    Woos - Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning

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  21. Hi Bertie du bist ein Hund und die Süßer Photos von dir sind sehr schon. Ich dich besuche recht bald wieder. Grüße Germany von Liebe aus und Sylvia Beagle-Tibi
    ----
    Hi Bertie du bist ein süßer Hund und die Fotos von dir sind sehr schön.
    Ich besuche dich recht bald wieder .
    Liebe Grüße aus Germany von Beagle-Tibi und Sylvia

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  22. thanks to Google Chrome is translated for me the same page ...
    and on my blog I mentioned right translator ...
    I am pleased with me if you like it. maybe you'll even readers with me?
    I have learned some English in school, that's talking a long time ago ... there is more than writing. But I'm trying hard.
    see you soon Sylvia and Tibi
    ---
    dank Google Chrome wird bei mir die Seite gleich übersetzt...
    und auf meinem Blog habe ich oben rechts ein übersetzer...
    ich freue mich, wenn es dir bei mir gefällt. vielleicht wirst du auch Leser bei mir?
    Ich habe in der Schule etwas Englisch gelernt, das ist lange her...reden geht da besser, als schreiben. aber ich gebe mir Mühe.
    bis bald Sylvia und Tibi

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  23. Bertie that was a decent walk, nice and long and a good variety of sniffing places. Think our favourite place had to be the beach.

    Molly, Taffy, Monty and Winnie

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  24. No, Bertie, that's unfair, especially because it seems like it was a very interesting walk. I do see Gail's point regarding the ultimate destination.

    I don't get these ASCO people...how can you 'think safety' with 'no dogs'? Dogs always make things safer. At least I do, because I always start barking when I detect a clear and present danger :)

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  25. Bertie we love the lighthouse ~ maybe you can show me the dolphins sometime. You have everything from the harbor to the housing project. Quite the integrated neighborhood.
    Sweet William The Scot

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  26. Dear Bertie, humans look for completely different things from us dogs on a walk. Pretty woodlands and houses are highly over rated. I pooh on them. The creepy back road and smelly waste plant make this A Most Worthwhile Walk! Did you find any dead fish to eat on the beach? Well chosen I say!

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  27. Darling Listen We TOTALLY understnad They really don't get it We have the same waste treatment area here right on the the most beautiful stretch of walk and ocean We BEGGED to go there and they agreed. OH WE SQUEELED with delight just thinking of all that was there( if you know what I mean) but PL2 said no matter how pretty she wasn't going back hmmmppph Listen we are a bit more intrigued about YOUR mini. How many miles to the gallon do you get? Do you have to put in a little seat to reach the steering wheel? DO you realize how LUCKY you are? Do you give tours to the other kids ? Really this is FABULOUS Love A+A( who sadly will never get their own mini as Archie is a bit reckless I am afraid)Love A+A

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