The Camping Expedition - Part 2
…continued
Enough for anyone to pack up and leave you’d think. But no, with an optimistic forecast for the next few days the happy campers were here to stay!
And sure enough, the following morning we rose with the sun which continued to shine firmly over our little pack until the day of our departure.
Ellie established herself as site mascot, stretching herself as far as her tether would allow so that she could meet and greet any and everyone walking within 6 metres of our tent.
She would wag her tail and gaze adoringly at all, with the audacity of then barking whenever some of her “favourites” would walk past. This included a cry and howl whenever one of the pack would leave on a toilet run or similar. As we were positioned close to the water tap she would also happily lap from open bowls or lick the sides of bottles as they were filled.
When out on a wonderfully scenic but quite strenuous cliff top walk from Lulworth Cove to Tyneham Village (my map reading skills do need a little work, but that’s another story) Ellie caused uproar by racing up the cliffs and then sliding down on her belly, her legs stuck out in front and behind her as she slithered down the slopes bathing in the attention.
I glowed with pride when she responded to a call immediately and a group of walkers commented on what a well trained dog she was.
Luckily they didn’t see her half an hour later on the beach when she would not come. She looked up at me on my call, saw I was far enough away and then rampaged into picnics and people as she played chase with another dog!
One morning I awoke to hear a voice saying “hello, little doggy” and as I turned over to go back to sleep it suddenly struck me how quiet it was in our tent….too quiet. I leapt out of bed to find sure enough, no dog – she had escaped, and without unzipping the door!
Dragging everyone out of bed we set off in search of her, unable to call out her name - it was too early, we cycled in different directions with the instruction follow the scent of cooking breakfasts; and sure enough, there she was snuffling around in the bushes, making her way towards a sizzling frying pan which was accompanied by a hungry looking early riser.
Totally unaware of the panic she had caused Ellie bounded up to me, tail wagging, but ears pricked firmly back. She knew she had been a pickle!
On the final morning, she did have us in hysterics. She is not allowed into the bedroom compartments of the tent and had been happy to settle on her rug (then when all is quiet, sneak onto my coat, or bag or anything belonging to any of us that is lying on the floor and continue the night there). I heard the zip undo and felt a nudging against my head and then a total sloppy tongue attack as she covered my exposed face in licks. Her excited body smashing through the doorway as she stepped clumsily all over us. “What are you doing Nev?” I yelled thinking he had let her in (I did realise it was not him who had been licking my face). As he opened his eyes we realised that it was Ellie who had decided it was time to rise and shine and get us all up. Yuk dog slobber for breakfast!
Back at home, I really think she enjoyed her camping trip and whenever she sees a holiday bag appear wags her tail and sticks like glue to my leg.
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