Walkies at Bushy Park.

Barnaby hasn't blogged for a while as winter walks have been a bit wet and dull. But days are getting a little bit longer and so walkies are getting more interesting. Today he walked from Hampton Hill Gate down to River Lodge and back.

It just so happened that while he was there the final flight of Lynx Helicopters went over. They were very noisy, accompanied by a Chinook.

There was quite an impressive blasted oak....

...and Barnaby met his doppelganger!

But one of the things he went to see was the Longford River, which also runs along the end of his garden!

It flows into the Water Gardens

But it also splits off to feed the water features at Hampton Court Palace

Barnaby wonders how much it costs to live there!

He will definitely be going back to Bushy Park.

Barnaby swims!!

This was Barnaby's second swimming lesson at Greyfriars.

His first lesson was last week and he was very panicky and splashed and thrashed is way round the pool. Laura was so focussed on encouraging him that she didn't get time to take pictures.

This time Barnaby relaxed a little bit, just enough to start looking more like a swimmer and less like a panicker. (And his friend James was there to take a couple of pictures.)

Afterwards Barnaby got shampooed and rinsed but he really didn't like the hairdryer so wore the towel to help him dry off.

Barnaby will be back next week for more lessons but hopefully next time Laura won't get almost as wet as him!

What an adventure!

Wakey wakey Barnaby

Off to Hounslow Heath for an afternoon walk.

 It's quite lovely there in places.

Barnaby made most of the decisions about where to walk.

Although sometimes he chose to double back a bit.

It was a really nice, mild October afternoon. About 14ºc according to the car.

"I smell fox!!!"

 A few flowers still out.

 Some really nice trees there too.

Maybe following Barnaby isn't the best idea.

 But he found more lovely trees.

"Which way now? Right!"

"What's the London loop?"

It's hard to believe this is just 2 miles from Heathrow Airport.

There are some managed areas that dogs are not allowed into.

 But still plenty of paths to follow.

 Keep going!!

 ....and going!!

 Oo gate or a stile or something.

"Now which way? Both ways go up hill. 

Better go right again or we may never get back to the car."

Another wide open space, right by the road but you would never know it was here.

Down there, that could be where Dick Turpin hid....

 ...and that could be where Cromwell marched his army.

 More beautiful trees.

What goes up hill must come down, and Barnaby couldn't get down that slope on the lead; not without pulling Laura over anyway.

But he's a very good boy and didn't go too far ahead while Laura struggled down the steep slope.

He waited at the other side of the gap, looking back to make sure Laura was ok.

Suddenly there was an old car park.

 What a shame this is derelict!

 Artificial colours.

But to get out of this place we need to go up and over!

And back down. Time to get Barnaby back on the lead.

Finally, back at the car park and the information signs.

See, Cromwell and the Highwaymen really were here once.

 Look how far we walked!! (2.6 miles)

Back to bed for Barnaby, what a big day!