Category: Dogging

Tuesday 2 May 2023

Attending Mike H, Nicolas, Rob, Peter T

A fine day for a change and four of us with 3 dogs, Onyx, Rocco and Kobie, set out along the river from Sauverny down the river path. Rob had left his cocker spaniels at home but it was good to have him along. Neither Nicolas nor Rob had been down the river path before but for Mike H and I it is a regular dog walk. Mike M and Nessie had sent apologies and were missed.

Although it was a fine day, the previous days had been grim and rainy, and the path was extremely muddy, albeit we seemed to make good progress with little to trouble us. That meant there were no other dogs met along this normally busy path and we had the river pretty much to ourselves. The fresh green leaves made the forest especially beautiful and the river was in some spate. Onyx seemed to spend a lot of time trying to swim upstream while not moving along the ground and he revelled in the water while the other two splashed and paddled about.

We stopped for coffee at Log Beach Bay and enjoyed watching the dogs cavorting about. We returned the same way and looking back it was indeed a fine morning out for us and our dogs.

A bright and sunny day for a dog hike up above Divonne. Nicolas and Onyx, Mike (Muller) and Nessie, Mike’s Canadian friend Peter, me and Kobie.

We met up in the car park by the old gare in Divonne. Peter introduced himself and Kobie plastered the front of his nice light-coloured jeans with French mud.

Introductions over we headed off up past the casino and golf course to the icy woodland trail of Mt Mussy. Onyx proceeded to disappear into the forest for something over 20 minutes and a search plan was made. We whistled and made loud noises. In the event he reappeared with a relieved Nicolas as we reassembled at the upper parking.

On up across to the sunny summit area with fabulous views out across the Lac and across to the Jura. Dogs seemed to be behaving, so were the GINs. A pleasant walk round the hill and back along the long level trail chatting all the while, and not only the dogs.

We descended the icy path above the old Vieux-Bois restaurant and I was impressed by the ice dancing exhibited by our members, with no sticks or raquettes. This time Kobie went AWOL for 10 minutes, so Nicolas was relieved that it wasn’t just Onyx who went straying. Nessie was on top form, but then she was on the long line Mike uses to trip people up with.

Back across the Grand Source and a dip for the thirsty dogs.

fine walk in tricky conditions enjoyed by men and dogs. 7km and 300m deniv.

2 Nov 21

A new activity started today. Dogging. Or walking with dogs. Four fellows with 5 dogs turned up for our inaugural outing. Rob, Mike, PeterT and Ed Giradet – potential new GINclub member. With dogs Syrah, Rocco, Kobie, Tess and Hope.

We set off in squally rain from the Genolier parking carrying flasks of coffee, croissants (thanks Rob), dog treats and with much barking from one of our members (happily scaring all fauna away). Once past the train-line we let slip the dogs and were off up Rob’s trail by the ruisseau in paw weather/heavy rain. We all seemed to get on well and the dogs did too, with much cavorting and with Rocco doing his usual thing.

It was good to hear of Ed’s activities, in particular in the Med with an old boat and young folk studying the changes there to the environment and culture over the years. (website link). There was time for some dog talk too. At times though we were at risk of being bowled over by rampant playing dogs, not something I am used to.

Much romping later, and after the long gully up, the rain stopped and the sun came out. We reached a clearing in the sun for our coffee stop with our canine chums making their presence felt in the treat-request department. There were some fine but limited views out over the Lac, and the fall colours were good but perhaps just past their best.

We wound our way doggedly back down on the wide tracks in the sun, solving the world’s problems (except Scotland’s), with our charges happily frolicking about and slightly older Tess remaining above the fray and deploying an overview position in the rear. Leashes were on well before the train-line. An enjoyable inaugural outing for all, with (some) good canine control (and no straying or lost animals). 270m and 5 or 6 km. 2 hours.

Dogs : Tess, Syrah and Rocco – Spaniels; Hope – Golden Retriever; Kobie – Australian Cobberdog.