Monday 4 February 2019

Safety moment with Bertie in Ballochbuie



As lots of my friends in the Northern Hemisphere have been dealing, to various degrees, with snow and ice this week, I feel a 'Cold Weather Safety Moment' is appropriate today.

Yesterday Gail and I ventured inland to Ballochbuie Forest (part of the Queen's Balmoral estate) where the snow was deep and powdery.

Too deep in fact for us to be able to complete our planned route, but we did manage a short walk along the River Dee.

You see in the picture below that the river looks much narrower than usual, as ice has formed along the banks. It's hard to make out exactly where the solid earth stops and the ice starts, as it's all covered in snow. 

Since I am (mostly) a Good Boy these days, I do not have wear a lead on country walks, unless we are near farm livestock or roads. However, you will notice that here beside the river I am attached to Gail by my 'walking string'. 

This is because, in addition to being a 'Good Boy' I am also, at the age of nearly nine, a 'Sensible Chap', and am comforted by the thought that Gail will will keep me safely away from venturing on to any treacherously thin ice and falling into the fast flowing water.   

It later occurred to me that I would have been even safer had I been wearing my harness (the one normally reserved for train journeys through Newcastle).

Away from the river bank, the main hazard is a chilly bum!

17 comments:

  1. that looks like a magic land... so beautiful... and soooooo cold...

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  2. Hari OM
    Bertie lad, it is good to read that all care and attention to safety out there in the whitened world is taken care of between yourself and Gail... all our white stuff melted overnight and it is quite mild today. But more cold on the way 'they say'. Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  3. What a beautiful snowy walk and I am so envious, Bertie! I bet it took awhile to thaw the snowballs on your hiney.

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  4. What a fun place for an adventure, in any season! And you look dashing in that coat!

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  5. Bertie - Bob and Sophie have been looking at the Braemar temperatures enviously.

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  6. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Bertie that WFT tail photo was worth a million bucks. I still giggle when the train episode is mentioned...and the visual I get of Gail running frantically 'gently' calling for you with your leash in her hand...OMDs. That and Hamish great scone caper are on the tippy top of my best laugh list
    Hugs Cecilia

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  7. It looks like you had a fun time on your snow walk. Our mom says she likes the last picture of your snow covered, cute, little tush.

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  8. Oh Bertie, you are soooo brave going out in all the SNOW!!! Didn't you get cold paws???? This PRINCESS does not like venturing out in the white stuffs....I try to eats it all up to make it go away
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  9. A very important safety tip Bertie...luckily for us boys, we aren't fond of the cold...or the snow...or the water. Now Rosy, she is a very different story!

    What beautiful blue skies you had for your hike!
    xoxo,
    Rosy, Jakey & Arty

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  10. We were thinking that river ice was an accident waiting to happen! (Hope your bum didn't get frostbite.)

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  11. You are a lucky dawg, Bertie!!! We would love to run in that snow, even with the leash Mom never lets us forego!!! We have no snow right now, but we are always hopeful!!!

    Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber

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  12. It is best to be safe isn't it Bertie.
    hugs
    Hazel & Mabel

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  13. That looks like a fun snowy day walk. It's good to be "harness safe" when walking around icy waters. Smart thinking Bertie!
    xoxo
    Wyatt and Tegan

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  14. Hi hi hi! Ojo here! The people make me wear a harness in lots of snow in case I fall into anything. Like a river or tree well. But this is silly. I am sure I could get myself out, right? And Cobi doesn't need to wear a harness. The people say she is less silly and less bouncy than me. But I say this is dog poop. Cobi could never get herself out of a tree well! But I am sure that I could!

    Also, your walk-place looks very beautiful. I would like to walk and sniff there too!

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