I could have written this blog a while ago but its taken me until now to calm down! It all started out with an innocent evening stroll with... yes you've guessed it, our dog Sally.
Things were going so nicely. We had been working all day then decided to get back into holiday mode with a visit to a picture postcard pretty country pub for a meal polished off by a walk to melt away a few calories and give Sally some well deserved exercise. The back drop was the imposing and impressive Ingleborough fell and surrounding rural farming land.
After the meal we set off up the hill, not knowing where we would meander, but not too far, not too far. After a couple of minutes we saw a footpath sign heading towards the nearest little town, through a few fields, only 3/4 of a mile there then we could wind our way back to the cars, perfect - or so we thought.
We entered the farm drive then straight into the first field. No sheep just a few rabbits scurrying for cover. Sally was in her element, first time to stretch her legs all day. She bombed around after those bunnies, leaping like them right up into the air. She then circumnavigated the field looping us in big circles, instinct coming right to the fore. It seemed to us at this point wrong to tie her to the leash. She got to the next field before us - not good. It was crammed full of fluffy white moving objects! They took one look at Sally and for some reason bombed down to the next field. She noticed and decided to follow - see what all the fuss was about. We shouted, hollered but she had that concentrated look. She just sat away from them, looking at them in a way that said 'Go back into the field where you just escaped from - NOW.' Well when they saw that they bombed even faster back through the gate, one actually threw itself at the fence before bouncing back and running back through the gate! We carried on calling Sally. We know from experience that it is futile to chase her, she runs much faster than any of us. Our policy is to keep walking as we know she actually likes to be with us. Sure enough it worked. As soon as she noticed we were no longer in sight she raced over to us. By this time we were lost, off the beaten footpath, foxed by a wonky sign. Sally is so clever, she must have worked out where we were using her sense of hearing or something. She ran to greet us. Only one problem - another field of sheep between us! Yes the sheep fled when they saw Sally running up to us, and yes that got her attention. She rounded them up at the top of the field before coming back to us. We were so relieved to see a gate at the bottom of the field, I can tell you. Now we could get on with the walk and get home. That's when the adventure took off to another level altogether!
I saw it first, swooping over the horizon like a Star Wars battleship full of Storm Troopers! And it was heading at full speed right down to us! The very angry farmer jumped down from his Land Ranger and let us know in no uncertain terms that he would not tolerate people trespassing on his land, particularly when their dog was chasing his sheep! 'GET OFF MY LAND NOW!' 'I'm telling you I will shoot the dog!' I will not tolerate a dog chasing my sheep!' 'I don't know what you are finding so funny!' Were some of his words of greeting. Oh boy!!!! Were we in trouble!
The worst of it was we were in the wrong. We had been stupid. We did not find it funny! We could only apologise and get out as fast as we could. Only one problem there. We couldn't figure out how to get out. The gate was tight shut. We had to call to the farmer and ask how to get out. That didn't go down very well. 'Move the big stone, it was put there for a reason!' came his angry reply. 'Don't let me find you or that dog on my land again. I won't tolerate it!' No worries there.
Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.
I'm not writing this blog because I find it funny, honest. Its more of a confession. I actually feel really sorry and do see it from the farmer's angle. I know a few farmers, have farmers for friends, and have great respect for the hard work and long hours they put in to keep our country going; our landscape would be impoverished without their care and I don't think we realise the difference they make or the dedication they put in. I will be far more diligent from now on about where to let Sally off lead. Lesson learnt.
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