New Year 2025 - January and February

 I hope everyone had a fun time at Christmas, I went to visit my doggy nephew Toby. That was great fun, he’s much younger than me but I was able to chase him around until he was worn out. 

As aways playtime around Christmas produces some interesting things, this was puzzling but seemed to excite the humans, I didn't quite understand why these things (little bikes) were wizzing around the track (or sometimes leaving the track on the bends).

I had a bit of an awkward fall off a hospital bed when visiting a human later on in January and that put me out of action for a couple of weeks as I hurt my leg. Getting back to fitness has taken a lot longer than usual, my human is only letting me do short walks and occasional gentle runs until I am fully fit. I’ve managed to get over to Hilbre Island and to Delamere Forest so far. Some days I feel really tired and when I am feeling like that my favourite pastime is sleeping. I had a short walk at Llandegla with one of my humans while the other one went biking, I was not happy that I couldn’t chase the bike.

There was a pleasant walk to the pub for treats and a drink (water for me),as you can see from the photo I really expected to be given some beer but, nope, I wasn’t allowed any.

That beer you are drinking 

looks really good 😊 

I had a great walk in Delamere Forest away from the crowds so I had lots of time off the lead. When I am off the lead it means I do a lot more exploring and running around without having to try and drag my human with me. The first part of the walk was to a hill called Old Pale Hill, from the hill there is a fantastic view over seven counties, five in England as well as Flintshire and Denbighshire in Wales.

An easy stroll from Old Pale Hill led back into the forest where I encountered Wallace and Gromit, sadly no cheese was available as I'm partial to a nice Wensleydale (or any sort of cheese!).

During the second week of February I had a decent run, with my human, it was mainly off-road and I feel that my injury is fully better now.  The day after my run I had a great walk in Llandegla Forest, the weather was very cold, overcast and there were some flurries of snow but a fantastic chance to be off the lead and do plenty of exploring.

Typical scampering and sniffing at LLandegla!

My walk in Delamere Forest and to Old Pale Hill involved walking on a long distance trail called the Sandstone Trail which is a 55 km trail from Whitchurch to Frodsham in Cheshire.  I have walked and run on most parts of the Sandstone Trail over the years including the area around Bickerton and Duckington in the south of Cheshire so it was nice to go back to the area a few days before my birthday. The hill provides great view over to the Pennines in one direction and over the Dee valley and the Clwydian Hills in Wales.  

Bickerton Hill 93 metres above sea level.

On the way up to the hill fort at Maiden Castle 
and waiting for slow humans!

After being in the countryside one day the next day proved to be a contrast with a visit to town, in this case Chester.  As often happens this involved a bus journey, something I am quite used to, one of the human passengers on the bus was eating a lovely looking sausage roll, I gave them my long stare in an effort to have some of the lovely smelling food.  Alas this did not work and they scoffed the whole lot.

 A very cold wait for the bus followed by a much warmer ride on the bus...but no sausage roll.

Happy Birthday to me, what an exciting day it was.  I got some birthday cards, one of which was edible, and some special birthday treats to celebrate my 11th birthday.

Here's me after my run, I had just had a shower to clear away the mud, I was really, really muddy after the run and my human was a bit mucky too!

My birthday run was in Delamere, I love running there and there's a picture of my route below. Not a bad pace for an 11 year old trail-hound!

           It was a very enjoyable run although the weather was overcast and quite cold, roundabout 3 degrees but quite a strong cold wind on the top of the hill so we didn't stay long on the hill.

The picture of me on the bench is me admiring the non-view and the wooden boar is one of Sandstone Trail markers directing to Frodsham one way (north) and Whitchurch the other way.  I've been photographed here lots of times and it was nice to be back. Although the view from the hill was not good the downhill scamper to the Sandstone Trail led to more interesting things as well as lovely muddy bits and lots of other dogs to meet and exchange sniffs. 

Apparently I am off on my holidays soon, a bit of a mystery as my humans are not coming with me, strange...

Wags and woofs,

Dexter