Walking on a hot day

Tollers tend to approach tasks with less gusto when it is hot. Their usual work ethic slowly slips to indifference.

Today we walked for 3 hrs starting at 8am in the cool of the morning, along the Diamond Creek Trail to Edendale Farm at Eltham and back.

Smudge is unsually frightened of bike bells. Apparently shot guns, lightening and fireworks are fantastic exciting things that one must get as close to as dogerly possible. But bike bells...terrifying!

Hence walking any trail like this one that is shared by cyclists and walkers is reason to stick one's tail between one's leg and look about as if a full onslaught might be forthcoming from any direction. One must be vigilant.

We also came across a running club doing interval training along the trail. Very impressive long distance runners clearly preparing for an upcoming race.

We did not break any land speed records and by the time we reached the farm a rest under a Peppercorn tree was in order.

Then once home a swim and retrieving a few sticks was
acceptable. The river's banks have been eroded by the severe flooding in Feb 2011 and Christmas Day 2011 so it is quite a muddy swim, but no less satisying for the Toller two.