Badger takes one for the team

A crisp and gorgeous Sunday.  I decided to take myself and the dogs to St. Mary's Chapel, which is a 12th century ruin just beyond Forss on the sea.

I have hiked part of the way there when I way staying at Forss, but it started to get dark and rain, and I didn't make it all of the way.  

After hoisting Badger into the car, we set off.  We parked in the parking area. There was a big sign that pointed the way and asked you to keep your dogs on lead - this would seem to indicate that dogs were welcome - right?

We went up the hill and down the hill and then crossed the river and went back up the hill.  It was here that we encountered a small problem. 

You see there was this fence walkover.  Usually, these gates have an alternative for dogs or the bottom rail is missing so they can walk under, but this was not the case.  We stood and pondered this fence for a while and then I stepped over on the steps.  

Maggie stepped onto the bottom step and was confused and upset to be separated, so I lifted her over.  I tried to get Badger to help out - but he really wouldn't.

At this point, a normal person would have lifted their smaller dog back over the fence and gone home.  I am not a normal person, so I proceeded to hoist Badger over the fence.  

I got tired part way through and had to rest him on the top bar.  This upset him, and he kicked me in the groin and scrapped over the fence, landing in heap.  I felt sort of sick, but then he hopped up and started acting crazy, so I figured everything was normal.

St. Mary's Chapel

We continued onto the chapel. It was unique.  I would say the entire thing had been enclosed with a fence - no gate, just stones to walk over, and the chapel itself had two chambers connected by little munchkin doors - Badger loved the doors.  

Love this

We read the tombstones and just relaxed.  One was for a 9 year old girl that died in 1872, but it also commemorated 4 other relations.  Two who drowned in 1896 at 30 and 11 years old. And two who drowned in 1907 at 66 and 40 years old - a father and son.  There more room on the stone.

We watched the waves a while and then we headed back, all the while dreading The Fence.  As I approached the fence, I noticed this big white fluff on it - go ahead, go back and look at the picture, you'll be able to see it.  

I got a closer look and realized this was Badger's fur.  So, I looked down at him and realized he was missing a huge strip of fur and some skin from his knee to his ankle.  Now I did feel sick.

I lifted Mag's over and then Badger.  My back was starting to tighten up.  We went down the hill, across the river and up the hill.  Dogs wanted to play in the river, but I didn't let them because Badger has a big gash in his leg. I felt horrible!

We get to the car, and I open the back and guess what happens...Badger leaps into the back.