WALKING WITH NIGEL

It is a wild morning. Began with sun and wind and now is overcast, going to rain, but the temp is a balmy 61 degrees at the moment despite the wind, which is at a steady 10-12 mph with gusts up to 20  and up. I thought since he had not been out yesterday it would be good to get Nigel out and moving not that it would hurt me, either.
So we saddled up and headed out, leaving the rest of the dogs screaming in dismay.
We have been going around the block. It's really about a block and a half long.
This time I took him on our old route, when he had 4 working legs, through Winnebago Park.
It has nice, asphalt paths and a couple of little wooden bridges and I want him to get used to different surfaces.
We saw not one single other person and no birds.
I am sure the birds were there, but clinging to their branches.

On the turn for the homestretch there are 5 or 6 very fragrant pines all clustered along the houses. It smelled so good. It made me want to plant a pine tree and then I remembered what we paid to have the sewer pipe replaced where Roger's and Sara's trees-- on either side of us-- had shoved roots through the old clay tiles and torn the pipe to shards. Maybe not. Maybe I will stick with annuals--petunias and a few marigold.

Anyway we were maybe a full block from home with the wind right in our faces when Nigel's head snapped up and he stopped and I could see he was air scenting. I looked ahead and saw John working in our yard trying to level off the huge piles of dirt left behind when they relaid the pipe.

Nigel broke into what for him is a full gallop. It is a rapid and rather awkward trot but his tail began going full speed, to propel him along. I took the leash off-- I was only a few steps behind him-- and let him go. He adores John. I will do in a pinch.

Later I took the dogpoop to the garbage can which meant opening the gate. John was right there and despite both of us being there, Conley shot between us and out the gate. He came right back, thinking he was going to get a treat because I shamelessly lied and offered him one. That he did not, in fact, get a treat for returning is probably something he will remember next time. And there will be a next time because he is unbelieavably quick when he wants to be.

Bassets are so strange.

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