by John New
What a terrific walk! It was fabulous to see so many people (27) and beagles (21), including a small contingent from the ACT. The weather was perfect and the walk had everything you could ask for - for humans and beagles alike. After a brief welcome and a few photographs we began our walk, capably led by Kim Moore who had checked the walk out last year.
We set off along a bicycle track, next to southwest Sydney railway line, and the first thing we noticed was the number of people. The cycleway is obviously a very popular route for walkers, joggers, and cyclists. Of course, it was as hard for people to get around a group of wandering beagles as it was for us to try and avoid running into them. Even trying to keep to the left was hard, because beagles just follow their noses. It was a little easier as we crossed over Como Bridge because the path was marked by a clear dividing line.
The walk across the bridge was challenging for one beagle - Daisy New - who, as many people know, does not like bridges and often has to be carried across. Fortunately, this bridge was relatively wide. It was also solid, with no gaps exposing the scary water below. Daisy managed almost all the walk herself, although she mostly slithered with her tail down and walked very slowly, keeping to the middle of the path. Very scary for a little beagle!
On the Como side of the bridge, we weaved around Como Pleasure Ground and Scylla Bay Reserve, past a few rugby matches and lots of spectators, to the dog training area at Carina Bay Reserve. We stayed there for about 1/2 an hour to let the dogs run around off-lead and enjoy themselves.
For our return trip, we split into two groups. One group walked back to the Como Pleasure Ground and lingered for a cup of coffee and a short break. The other group headed straight back to Oatley without stopping off - this included the contingent from the ACT who had a long drive ahead of them.
Once again, I've got to say this was a terrific walk. One thing that may not come across in these short reports of our walks is how much fun they are. The dogs love them of course, but they also give beagle people the opportunity to chat about their furry friends. Coming on a walk is a great way to talk about both the good and (sometimes) the naughty things your beagle has done. It's a great way to exchange ideas with other people who also love socialising with their beagle.
