Rocky the Otterhound: Camping weekend- Part 1 How many dogs can you get in a tent?

Apologies to all about last weeks missing blog. I'm afraid I was a little unwell and Rocky can't post his blog without my help.

This week however, we can share our weekend's camping. Starting with the things we all did together.

Next week in part two, thanks to the photography skills of our friends Charlotte and Mark, we will bring you the oodles of fun our dogs had while tethered on a running line! Oh yes, tethering is no bar to having a thoroughly good time with your friends!!

Anyway, we all packed up after work on Friday and headed for a pub with a camping ground, on our nearest canal. Not too far away, while we continue to battle with Rosie's traveling problem. Here we met up and pitched tents with our friends and their four dogs ....... Ludo, Daisy, Sparky and their foster dog Bertie!

Due to the fact that we have a large awning on our tent, our tent became the gathering point!

The dogs had a great time running about and getting reacquainted. Rocky, Rosie and Ludo are all roughly the same size now and seemed to be naturally drawn to each other ........

The three of them are rather mischievous when together as well! Bless!

Before too long it was time to settle down and think about sleep. Still too excited though, rather than go off to bed as they usually do at 10 p.m. (their own decisions) ..... Rocky and Rosie hung around and thought about it!

Sparky decided to sleep in our tent and as the temperature was a bit cool for the time of year we decided to help the old fella to keep warm. Sparky had no objections what so ever!

Our two decided to go to bed in the end and spent the night on their bed ...... I mean our bed ....... And their bed!

The next day saw the monsoon rain of the last three summers return. So, apart from popping out for necessities, we all decided to stay in the tent and have a leisurely breakfast! Yum!!

The grown ups amongst us had a few beers and chatted while all six dogs decided to see how much room they could take up!

When tired of that game they decided to see if they could fit down the centre of the awning in, more or less, a straight line! ........ Ta Da!!!!

Realising that the rain wasn't going to blow over we decided to go for a long walk along the canal anyway. After all that was one of the main reasons for going.

It takes a lot to put dogs off going for a walk but usually water works for Otterhounds. However, having their friends around seemed to take away the need to raise any objections ...... So Rocky and Rosie came too!

Exploring a different part of the canal seemed to enthuse our charges and the rain hadn't washed any of the scents away.

Rocky's dad, ever hopeful of sunshine declined to wear a coat in protest ...... The rest of us were a bit less optimistic, and cold!

The six pals just stopped noticing the weather and concentrated on having fun and tickling scenting bones!

I don't know whether it was the rain or not but Rocky and Rosie were not as keen to stay out in front this walk. Happiness was hanging around with their mates and having fun.

Our two hounds even kept running back to us for loves and fusses ........ Now I know that has to be because there was so much water about ....... And I'm not talking about the canal!

Being Otterhounds they are usually a bit shy of bicycles, despite our attempts to get them used to them. However, this part of the tow path is part of the national cycle way so rain or shine there will be plenty of bikes.

So, within a short space of time our two had decided that it was a waste of energy to worry about them and just smartly moved aside for them to pass. Clever Otterhounds!

A favourite game of the day seemed to be find a Moorhen and watch it run across the canal away from you. All the pals joined in this game.

But word passed down the canal and before long the birds were moving across the canal before the dogs even got to them.

So the game changed to "who can find where the moorhens had been"!

We carried on through the rain, hoping for a slight rise in temperature or a gap in the clouds, but it wasn't to be. Rocky didn't seem to mind.

Like the rest of them he was wet through by now, so they decided to pick up the pace to warm up.

Past lock and narrow boat we went, enjoying the peace and quiet despite the weather.

There were loads of sights and smells to keep the dogs happy.

Finally, a reminder that it was summer ..... A boat decked out with summer flowers ...... Quite a little garden they had going.

"Ok mum, we've had a great time but we are rather wet ...... Can we go home now"? So we headed back to the tent.

Although happily tired, all our dogs showed they were not just wet ..... but cold ....... Yes, it was the beginning of August...... Honest!!

So it was time for a thorough toweling and wrap up with warm dry blankets ......... Not spoilt much then!!!

Daisy almost disappeared under her blankets ..... she eventually succumbed to sleep and snored happily away for hours!

The weather dried by evening so the six friends enjoyed the outdoors again.

As it was a campsite with other campers we had to keep them on the lead ...... but a running rope proved to be the best of both worlds.

"Dad" finds a use for the barbecue after tea is finished ...... Yes it did get cold!

This night our two hounds took themselves off to bed bang on time ....... I think they had tired themselves out!!

The next morning was time to break camp. It was, of course a beautiful sunny day and very warm!

The five youngsters were on the running rope and the old man (Sparky) just stayed close to his "mum".

They lazed around in the sun and watched us dismantle our weekend retreat.

When we had finished our work the dogs had a truly terrific time together before our friends had to head for home.

As I mentioned at the beginning, our friends managed to get some terrific shots of their games ....... We will post them next week.

After our friends departed we took Rocky and Rosie along the canal in the sunshine to the next pub . This time they were warm and dry.

They still played track the moorhen.

And had a smashing walk to finish the weekend.

As soon as they got home mind ....... It was a case of hit the sofa's and assume the Otterhound position!

We could understand it though, even to us it seemed far longer than a weekend ..... we had all packed so much into it ...... Great!

They slept the evening away, and the night time too ..... They had had such a lot of fun with their friends!!

So night night Rocky .......

....... Dream of birds and water and friends and fun!!