Badger Goes to Strathy Beach

My dorky dog has been ill.  While our people were here, Thatch yakked almost every day.  After they left, he stopped, but then the weekend came and he was sick all over again.  So, I decided to stop worrying about and take him to the vet.

He hasn't been to the vet, only Maggie has gone when her head swelled up like a pumpkin.  So, I made an appointment for both of them - so it would seem 'normal.'  I worried about getting him into the car, but I put him on the leash, dragged him over and then humiliated him by picking him up and putting him in the back - no small task hefting 75 pounds of prime labrador.

He acted terrified and cowered in the corner.  This whole scene was repeated when we got to the vet because Maggie was going first, and he wanted to get out.  Maggie was a doll, even though the vet said she was 1 pound away from being fat. She got her jabs without a whimper.

Thatcher, still shaking and cowering, hops out of the car and trots into the vet.  He then proceeds to scamper and prance and act like a dork.  Sick you say - yes I say - he certainly doesn't look sick - I know - he certainly doesn't act sick - sideways prance, tongue hanging out of mouth.  Argh, just give him his jabs!!

She prepares his vaccine and the whole time Thatcher acts like she's going to give him a treat.  She tells him over and over it's not a treat, she finally looks at me and says, he's not very smart is he...he cries over his jab.  

She hands me their vaccination record, and I notice they have put his name down as Badger.  I cannot be bothered to ask them to change it - at this point, he deserves to be called Badger.

Since I know I can force Badger into the car and there are supposed to be 2 hours of sunshine on Sunday, I decide we are going to Strathy Beach.  10 am arrived and so does the sun - hoist dog into car - who cowers and shakes in the corner.  Drive to Strathy Beach.

Freedom is 2 dogs and a beach

There were some other people on the beach, but they were on the far end, and one was leaving so it was perfect.  We explored the rocks and found several caves and passageways.

Badger goes Spelunking

Soon enough, everyone was gone, and we had the place to ourselves.  We wandered down the beach toward the river so they could get a drink.  It was generally a really lovely day.

Glorious Strathy Beach

On our way back, we went through the beach grass.  I imagine this is not good for the beach grass, but I just love it and cannot help myself.  

We soon got accosted by a friendly male black lab and Maggie was not amused.  However, she took a new approach: bark-bark-bark-snap-snap-snap, normally she goes straight for the snapping, so I think her warning the dog makes everything that happens afterward his fault.  The dog was scared of her, but she was just too interesting to leave alone.  

Badger was no help at all.  

Finally the owner came along and put him on a leash.  Oh red fox labrador he says, she isn't happy I say, I see that he says - sorry about that...

Beach Grass

Back to the car, bit of a rodeo, have to do my dog lift twice because they'd moved the mat into the door clasp. 

Just as I climbed into the car, it started to rain.  Perfect.