I know that a lot of people go away to relax and have a change to their routines. I’m no different, but the exception seems to be that whilst most are having a nice lie-in, (is it lie-in or lay-in? I never know) I am up and on the go! I suppose that part of it is habit, and a large part is Maggie wanting to go out to relieve herself. The joy of an early start to the day is that I get to really enjoy the tranquility of the morning before the site springs into action. Ablutions done and breakfast completed, we are off for our walk.

The track by the site was lovely and peaceful, and with the early morning calm there were beautiful reflections on the canal. The birds were singing and the odd red squirrel hopped along the path. A great to to reflect.

With just us on the track, Maggie was able to run free and explore every blade of grass….so many new smells and sensations.

I’m thinking that this would be just as lovely in any season, and I’m sure that I will be coming back to this site throughout the year. Nature is so healing, isn’t it?

As the day progressed it got warmer so we had a very lazy time just sitting around, reading, eating, drinking and burying myself in a good book – well, I read the book, Maggie just dozed in the sun! Late afternoon found us on another walk a few kms away.

This family look very sorted but they had a terrible job steering and they were having the time of their lives, with shrieks of laughter and much merriment echoing around the canal. It was lovely to see them having so much fun. The path was a circular track which was nice, because I much prefer not having to backtrack.

The thing that I didn’t know was that the loop took me over a weir and an open grid style bridge. There was NO WAY that Maggie was going to cross! She almost broke her neck trying to get away from the edge and in the end I had to carry her across. Thankfully it was only a short bridge, cos humping 26kg of wriggling dog isn’t much fun!

Right at the end of the walk was another ‘treat’ for us. We had to cross the river to the other bank, but no bridge this time. Either we walked all the way back the same way that we had come …. or….. use the chain boat. There is a small flat-bottomed boat with a chain running through it and you haul it from bank to bank. I had no idea how Maggie was going to cope with this little challenge, but thankfully she hopped aboard (but did lie very low and still in the bottom of the boat) as I pulled us across the river. Mission accomplished! Certainly a day to reflect and to enjoy the reflections of nature.

And that’s the end of this wee trip. Perfect weather, lovely scenery and an excellent campsite. And all so close to home. We’ll be back for sure, and hope that you’ll come back soon too.

A Bientot!