Christmas Gathering and Beach Walk

In previous years our Christmas get togethers consisted of a Training Session followed by a buffet and dog games in a village hall.

After the success of the summer dog walks it was decided to have a beach walk for the dogs at Oxwich on the Gower. 

A group of about 18 humans and 18 dogs gathered in the car park of the Oxwich Bay Hotel. It was a beautiful sunny morning but a little on the cold side so we decided to warm ourselves with coffee and cake in the Hotel's restaurant before setting off.

Suitably prepared we set off onto the beach, high tide was to be at midday but it was already a good way out when we started out. Most of us let the dogs off their leads at high tide mark and they all raced off towards the water.

At the water's edge some started throwing balls for the dogs  and they all willingly bounded into the surf to retrieve them - even the young dogs, that the owners said wouldn't go near the water, bounded in and out chasing every ball.

We waded through the shallows for half a mile or so while the dogs continued tirelessly with their games - and we stopped a few times for group photos - a couple of attempts to get the dogs to run en-mass directly at the photographer failed miserably - with the photographer muttering something about "...never work with animals or children ..."

We then walked back up the beach to the sand dunes where the dogs were more interested in hunting through the undergrowth - as we walked to the stream that enters the bay along this beach. The dogs were able to wash out the salt water from their coats in the river.

Our stomachs reminded us that time was getting on and that Mary was expecting us back at her place at 1.30ish so it was back to the cars, dry off the dogs and then form a convoy back to Mary's house.

Mary and some of our Swansea based members had prepared some smashing Cawl for us which was extremely welcome after our vigorous winter walk - lots of cake and tea followed before we tried to tempt the dogs into choosing a gift from the bran tub. Not many seemed very interested as thety were flaked out in the back of the cars - but they all got a present to take home with them anyway.

We had a final group photo outside Mary and Glyn's house whom I would like to offer our thanks for their great hospitality.

It was a great day out and I for one hope to repeat the exercise again next year.

Make sure to have a look at the photos of the day under the gallery section - or click here - if you have any photos of the day please send them to me and I will add them to the gallery.