Anything in White will Do!

Here's the next Arran instalment.

About the middle of our holiday and we were deciding what we would do for the afternoon. The last time we came we went on a beautiful walk known as 'The King's Cave Walk', aptly named as it is a circular walk down to King's Cave and back to the car park near Blackwaterfoot. The scenery all the way around is absolutely stunning. It starts in woodland, opens up to fields then drops down cliffs with open ocean views to the craggy caves before taking you back up through woodland to the car park and safely returned to your vehicle. Once this option was offered it was quickly snaffled up. It was reasoned that it would be a new experience to sample it in Spring rather than in Autumn and that as the sun was shining it was as good a day as any for a bracing walk along the coast.

It wasn't long before adults, children and dog were all positioned in the car, raring to go. Coats? check. Walking boots? check. Sally's lead? check. Drinks and snacks? check. Cash for coffee and cakes? check. Been to the loo? oh Joseph - go back and hurry up! Everybody ready now? Check. Finally we were off.

One of the great things about this walk is that there are no sheep in sight. That should mean that its an ideal walk to let Sally off her lead, which we did. Maybe we should have thought a little more carefully. You see, this is a very popular walk on Arran and attracts lots of holiday makers. People choose which way round to do this walk so although we didn't see anyone going in the same direction as us we did meet quite a few groups and couples heading towards us. Sally was still very young and bouncy and hadn't quite got it in her not to jump up at people. What we discovered on this walk is that she has a particular penchant for anybody in white. If she can't have a white fluffy sheep, anything in white is fair game. Although it seems to me to be an alien concept to want to dress from head to foot in white while on a muddy path we did meet a few holiday makers who did just that. These ladies took a particular pride in their appearance. The last thing they wanted was a big muddy dog jumping up at them!

I noticed one such white clad lady coming towards us, about half way around the walk, and tried my best to collar Sally but it was in vein. As soon as she clocked the whiteness approaching she headed off at a speed of knots. All I could do was hand Tony the lead and tell him to get Sally off the lady. Way too embarrassing for me! I hid behind the boys (My nephew Sam had joined us). The lady in question was very good about the muddy paw marks but I could tell it had not made her day!

We had a fab walk. We walked it anti clock wise this time so got different views which were equally stunning. The sky put on a spectacular light show as it displayed a magical rainbow over the fields. The boys laughed and played together the whole way and Sally bounded on ahead then bounded back to us looking the perfect picture amongst the heather and long grass. All had gone well. As we neared the car park I almost froze. Guess who had got back there about the same time as us?? Yes, you guessed it, the lady in white! The trouble was that Sally saw her first. She ran up much more excitedly than the first time and jumped up at the lady taking all 4 paws off the ground time and time again. The lady's smile disappeared. Tony, again, was shoved forward with the lead. Eventually he got Sally away. As the lady passed me she said in a menacing tone: 'You have a very bouncy dog!' With that we were away. Back in the car and driving away from Blackwaterfoot like highwaymen on the run. Naughty, naughty Sally!