The last training walk

Distance walked 20km - me and the dogs.

Today started early as I had to write the intercessions for church today. I finished up with things only half written but that was enough for me to be able to wing it. When I got to church I found out that Ian Jenkin's the mother of my dear friend Margaret Smith had died last night from pneumonia. I'm pleased that he had a peaceful death but Margaret of course is very sad to loss her Dad. I will visit Hawea Flat School where Ian taught for many years and Hook but I don't think Hook School still exists.

Ella, Rapid & I went to church in our hi-viz coats since we were being blessed for the walk. I put Ella on a lead getting out of the car rather than letting her walk into church free. This turned out to be a big mistake as she did not have a pee in the garden and just as I was getting ready to leave, about half an hour later that usual, she peed on the carpet.

I took a collecting bucket to church and the good folks at St Peters added $30 to it.

After lunch I took the dogs off on the last training walk. Marion Pope made me a belt for walking the dogs and while I had used it several times for 1 hour walks this was the first time I had used it on a long walk. It is really great. the dogs pulling against my body is nothing like the stress of them pulling on my arms. I was much less insistent on them keeping the lead slack as being gently tugged along is Ok when it isn't your arms getting stretched. I walked the dogs around the south coast to Lyall Bay, through Kilbirnie to Evans Bay, around the coast to Oriental Bay and then straight along Kent Tce and Adelaide Rd back home.

We met several children who wanted to pat Ella and Rapid. Ella tried to lean on a toddler and knocked him over but neither he nor mum were worried as he landed on his bottom. I took the bucket again and collect $19 more.

When I left home it was a lovely sunny day. As expected the southerly set in about half way and I put on an extra layer. Fortunately the showers were very light and not the possibly heavy from the weather forecast. The temperature has dropped about 6 degrees in the last 2 hours.