I parked by the entrance onto the bridal path in Carmel, leaving Orin and Siska in the van, I set off on the first circuit with Beti and Ross. The sun was low and bright, and it was bloody difficult to see ahead, but hell I trust them both so they were off the lead as soon as we went over the bridge. The stream was wild and the track flooded, who cares when you have the right clothes and footwear eh? We have a lovely walk .. the old knee struggling just a little on the down hill stretch, anyway, back to the van to swap dogs.
I had decided to start off on the same track but go left with Orin and Siska and come out by Capel Y Bryn. Both routes are about the same distance with plenty of freedom and some road walking. After crossing the bridge and going onto the first left turn I saw an over grown track that I'd wanted to attempt had been cut back, it took no more than a minute to get to the gate, and about the same amount of time to open it! There was a lot of noise from the cattle, Oh hell I was safe here, they must be in fields somewhere. Then I saw the Alpaca starting to look very spooked, Orin and Siska stopped walking and looked behind them ... the cattle were getting louder, and momentarily I wondered if there were horses galloping up the track. Then all of a sudden I saw a black and white cow tearing up the track, the very track I'd been walking minutes ago. Shit, there was a lot of noise, but being uncomfortable as I am in their company, I stayed hidden behind the gate. Ok so now there was no choice, we had to stay on this path and see where we'd come out!
I followed the freshly cut path until I got here .. Hmm nope they were not coming over and there was no way I could lift a 42kg Orin over it! They both tried taking their front feet up as high as they could but forgot about their back feet .. Blaniks need to learn how to go over stiles! To be honest, it was such a mess over the other side that maybe it was best we didn't try, but how sad another cottage left to rack and ruin in another lovely location!
The problem now was that if I went back, where were the cattle? But there was no choice, I had to go back. After getting through the new gate I sneaked quietly along the edges of the track ... I couldn't see any cattle anywhere, but hell, I was scared. I managed to get to the next gate and through it, relief, no cattle but there had been plenty of fresh shit! After going through that gate I knew I was safe, but I couldn't help but wonder what had spooked them that they came running up a footpath like that, even crossing that narrow wooden bridge? I always felt safe from them on this footpath ... now I'll be more wary!
