The Sounds of Walking

Every evening when I come home from work, little Tia makes a fuss and then looks at her lead.  Not to go on a quick walk around the village, oh no that would be so easy for me, instead she loves to get in the car, look out of the back window and wait for the dodging of the pot holes just off a road that leads onto the Brown Fen.  Her lead comes off and she boldly walks down the track to say 'I'm here', 'I'm off lead', 'I'm safe and happy'.  She walks ahead and stops occasionally to smell the air and to see how high the wheat has grown in a day.

The track is long but straight.  Perfect for a deaf dog that will look back to make sure she is doing right.

As we walk, I think about what she is missing and how we take the sense of hearing for granted.  The track we use starts with a fine gravel, then a courser gravel which is a little uncomfortable, then an easier grass pathway.  The echoes of our footsteps change with each surface.  Sometimes sounding like a group of people marching then the softer sound of grass brushing against legs the higher it grows (and nettles... ouch!).  In the background a faint tinkle of a collar and tag telling us Tia is still with us.

Tia follows behind on the soles of our shoes, stopping occasionally to look over the bank or sniff at the ground.  We go on ahead, turning occasionally to make sure she is safe, then her head looks up and she runs to us like an old lost friend.

How we would love her to hear the wind hissing through the wheat like a snake warning us of its presence.

The distant traffic up on the bank with its distant engine noise passing the colourful cottages (love, love, love the pink bus!).

The tall maze with its dark sunless roots reaching up for the best light, beckoning us to get lost amongst its stalks and tapping against each other.  This can be a problem with a deaf dog so eyes are on her constantly here!  

At the end of the straight walk, little Tia waits for us as she knows she now knows she needs to go on her lead.  The reason?  This beautiful sight is our reward...

The River Welland flows beneath us with no barrier, meaning dogs love to run down the walk, up the bank and splash straight in the river!  Tia watches, but hasn't yet learned the habits of others, thank goodness as I don't fancy fishing her out of here!  The wind turbines turn in the distance, the water laps against the bank and the sheep baa their way through the stillness of the day.

The river is still today and so calming.  The silence of the water is comforting and we sit by the bank watching the wildlife, and Tia as she explores in her silent world.

As we sit in the grass planning a picnic in the future on this spot, we appreciate the little things around us such as the wildflowers looking as though they are shedding their fur, just like Tia!

And of course, I do love old wood, and seeing this piece against the bright blue of the river made me smile.  What its purpose is, I have no idea, but it is beautiful in its own right.

This walk is a little further on from our sadly missed Coco's favourite walk and Tia has claimed this in her own right and where she feels safe and secure.  She has even got used to the other dogs she sees each evening and meets them as a regular friend.

We pass the musical gate to go back down the walk.  This gate looks so innocent but with the wind blowing, it performs its lonely forlorn little tune through the metal bars.  So eerie but comforting.

In the distance the faint hum of harvest can be heard.  Tia carries on walking, sniffing and watching things that catch her eye.  We just smile at the hum knowing that the thunder flies (or as I have been saying 'thunder thighs' and getting some weird looks!) will soon be gone.

This sound on our walk gave me the most pleasure as this means that it will be safe to open our windows again without the horrid flies from the corn coming in through the windows and doors and then behind screens and picture frames.  Awful things!

Of course, Mr Badger came with us too as our guest from Pom Pom's Ponderings.  Bringing him down to earth after his trip to Downton Abbey!

A simple walk, with simple sounds.  And when home, the sound of Tia's sweet snores as she cozies up to Mr Teen for cuddles and dreams of her adventures on her walks.

All together now... AWWWWW.

For those who haven't seen Tia before she is a rescue dog and we have been blessed with her for about two months now.  If you would like to follow along with Tia's walks and little misadventures as she gets used to her new life, just go along and 'like' on her Facebook page which is in my sidebar or here for more 'awwww' photos!

Thank you so much for your comments on Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) and on my post on the Walnut Cake.  You are all so kind.  I've noticed that there were quite a few 'No Reply Bloggers' which is a shame as I can't get back to you, so I will say thank you so much here.

Have a fantastic weekend.