Viggo's Blog - Meet The White Goddess!

Hi fans, Viggo here.
Hardly recovered from my nightly banishment to our garden, I've had to adjust to my woman being actually upbeat and happy again...
My oh my, what a challenge!

The reason for all this silly sunshine in our lives is that she has finally found herself a 5 men proper band to sing with. (They're ancient and play ancient rock music from the Sixties and Seventies, with the occasional new cover thrown in - ieeeeeeeeeuw!) She says, and I quote: "It's SUCH FUN, Viggo!"

Fun?
Watching that gorgeous white hussy from around the corner, now that's what I call fun!

See that? Isn't she wonderful?
I tried my utmost to impress her yesterday afternoon, showing my best muscles and such.

Gina being present made it a bit of a non-event, as Gina smells to high heaven - dog breath, yuck! But the white goddess watched my workout from behind the bushes and didn't twitch a whisker, which I took as a very good sign.
Just as I ambled over to her, Gina decided to get up, and my shimmering white beauty made a dash and hid under the nearest car.
I have been keeping an eye out for her ever since, but so far she hasn't shown herself.

Someone who did show up was that black monster from the corner. He is huge, but very laid back. When I accompany Gina and my woman on the last walkies of the evening this black guy is usually outside as well, and we have touched noses a couple of times - no sweat. He sucks up to my woman though, rubbing his ugly head on her leg, and making purring noises, I must say that goes a bit too far. So I've warned him to keep his distance from her. I hope he remembers. He is quite large...Huge, in fact. Perhaps just a couple of rubs won't do any harm...hmmm....

The Hike - 4

Our national emblem should be the willow - not that silly lion...as if we have lions roaming our lands.
On my fourth hike towards The Hike in Northumberland, I passed many, many willows, by far the most common tree in my area. But this one, an ash, caught my eye, as it is symbolic for my wetlands delta, valiantly hanging on even when knee-deep in water.

Today was a perfect day for hiking: wind wsw 18 km/hr,2 degrees C, humidity 83%,the occasional hail shower, but mostly sunny. Well, not counting the dramatic clouds.

I set off from home and decided to get the polder stretch out of the way first, ending along the Haringvliet water with the wind at my back (see photo above).

Walking through the polder has a dynamic of its own. It's mostly battling with the wind and hoping you won't get crashed into from behind, as most polder dwellers drive like maniacs and expect you to jump into the verge.

This is typically wetlands scenery. A sloot, a straight stretch of narrow road and an endless sky.



From this distance you can really see how our local church tower and ship are divided.

Although it hailed occasionally, the bulbs along the road showed that Spring is definitely on its way! I'm a sucker for spring bulbs,  they give such a feeling of hope, that sure, sunshine will be part of our days again.

Whilst I am typing this it is hailing most fiercely, so I took my walk at the right time!
Along the way, on the Westdijk, I passed this vegetable plot, artistically draped along the dyke.

Due to the mild winter there were quite a few cabbages and sprouts still looking good.
After the Westdijk I passed from polder into dune landscape, as I was nearing the Haringvliet, the sea arm that divides my island of Voorne from the next island of Goeree-Overflakkee. The soil turns from heavy,greasy clay straight to sand and the trees change accordingly from willows and such to thorny shrub, ash and birch.

This path leads you from the last tarmac road through the dunes to the Haringvliet.

Look at that. You have your mangroves in Florida, we have our solitary ash in the wetlands. This sea arm, due to its being cut off from the sea since the Seventies and being fed by three huge rivers is sweet water, but no one has told the shells, so they are saltwater shells still, mixed with some fresh water ones.

I used to scoff at this stretch of water, being spoiled by holidays abroad and the cold green blue waters near my first home in Hampshire (GB). But I've made my peace with the Haringvliet and quite like it nowadays.

This was the best part of the hike: up the dune and down the dune, with the gently lapping water always close by on my righthand side, the occasional gull overhead and thankfully no more hail.
It took me 2 hours to get home, and 28.640 steps. 
I'm already planning the next hike, which will probably take me over to the next island by bus and back on foot.
Join me?