The Old Tram Road and Avenham Park - Happy New Year!

It feels like years, and probably is, since I walked along the old tram road to Avenham.  Seemed like the right thing to do and leave the car on the drive this morning for obvious reasons.  Things have certainly changed.  The new estate on Wateringpool Lane, once a big field where I played ball with Finney, is now complete. A little further on, the new bridge which will link with our end of The Cawsey to create the so called cross borough link road, is almost complete.  Not looking forward to the extra traffic but assuming there is access from it to the footpath below it will be much easier for us to walk this way.  Headed down to Avenham not much has changed.  Lots of cyclists, walkers, joggers and a horse en route.  Marley pulled on the lead all the way. His heel work which was coming on so well has gone to pot in the past few weeks. More chicken needed I think, as bits of beef had no effect today!

Walking back, we stopped off at Middleforth Park for a quick run off lead, cut short by a rather annoying fellow dog walker who wouldn’t give us space despite us being tucked away in the far corner of the park.

2 hours later and Marley is still tired, as am I.  It’s hard work holding back a pulling puppy for 5 miles!

The last month has seen him calm down a little.  He is so excitable around kids, (and bikes, and joggers) but we made it through Christmas Day on the lead without incident. Also had a trip to Derbyshire, which was fine.  We have had a couple of trips to the lakes. Yesterday to Skelwith Bridge and the Talbot, lovely steak and ale pie and very dog friendly, followed by a short walk along the lake in Bowness.  A few weeks ago we went to Grasmere and Tweedies Bar. Again, very dog friendly and after a wander round Ambleside revisited the Giggling Goose Cafe, still as good as ever.

Whilst we’ve not yet been to the top of the moors we enjoyed a trip half way up Great Hill a few weeks ago, and a walk round Entwistle Reservoir.  I think now he needs more exercise so this week we will make it up to the top of something, weather permitting!