Old MacDonald Had a Beach

Today I am going to share with you our trip to MacDonald Beach back in April. The beach is dog friendly and off leash. It is situated on the north side of Sea Island, above the airport. Despite being so close to the airport we weren’t affected by noise or the sight of planes which was very pleasant.

 

This is the view across the Frazer River from the beach, it’s a little further west than the park I wrote about in a previous blog so the shoreline is not the one I had such fun exploring but connected.  The shades of green and other colours in the trees are so very beautiful and the shapes so graceful as they line the banks of the busy river.

Here’s one of the busy things, the boast/ships weren’t constantly passing by so it’s not so busy but ooften enough to make me aware that business was being done upstream. The red of the boat was a wonderful counterpoint to the  logs and the colours in the foliage I thought. He was actually on escort duty.

This haggard old lady was following close behind, though at a more sedate pace. Maybe it is just me but I love to see the textures and colours and imagine stories for the things I see. I’d love to know what she was doing, where she had been, what cargoes she had carried on that flat deck. Where do old ships go to die? Are there vast graveyards of rotting hulks somewhere or do they get stripped down and scrapped? Is it just me or do those rocks on the left look like cabbages? 

Back to the walk. The beach was very pleasant, sandy for the most part with lots of driftwood to admire. There is apparently a sheltered walk above the beach but the day we were there was gloriously sunny. There were lots of dogs there including a professional dog walker. We knew this because it said it on the back of her jacket and she had about 10 dogs.

You can just see her in the top right. I cut out more of her because I am going to tell you a dreadful thing. She did not scoop the poop. We watched a couple of her charges discharge onto the sand and she was oblivious. This is an unpleasant thing to discuss but it needs saying. There is absolutely no excuse for leaving crap behind. The cities provide bins AND bags. Even worse for her, as a ‘professional’ she ought to know much better. /rant

Maybe you noticed the dog chasing Etta in the centre of that pic.

 

Here he is again and no you are not seeing some trick of the camera, he only has three legs, his rear left leg is completely missing. But he is an inspiration, there was nothing the other dogs could do that he couldn’t and boy was he fast. I met another dog with three legs in Barnet Marine Park, but that is for another day, I will just say he also was marvellous.

Etta was, of course, over the moon with so many dogs to play with. She gambolled and galloped, lolloped and splashed. Chasing and being chased is apparently the best game ever for dogs and she has boundless energy, makes me tired sometimes just to watch but it also makes me smile and brings such great joy.

If we got another dog I have decided I want one of the poodle crosses, goldendoodle, cockerpoodle etc. I might have said this already but they are the most gorgeous good natured dogs 

In this tangle of hounds is Etta and a goldendoodle called Luna. They loved each other from first sight. How much easier for dogs, they sniff, pant and are best friends for ever. Round and round and round and round they went til I was dizzy, then a spurt and off playing chase and back to the tangle. Awesome.

As we headed back to the car we met two, yes TWO St Bernard’s huge monsters of things that were as cute and friendly as puppies. Sadly they had no casks of brandy to share. Their owner had heard that one a lot of course, he was an Aussie and we had a great old chat about cricket and rugby until we hit the car park.

Things walking the dog has taught me:

• Dogs love everyone
• Never say die
• People love to talk – you just need a common topic of conversation.
• There is always something beautiful to see no matter the weather.

 

There’s food for thought. Tell me if you agree.

Thanks for reading,

Jules xx