Mud & Mad Dogs

Today Total: 15k
Week Total: 54k
Month Total: 46k
Year Total: 573

True to my promise to myself I had a nice easy 15k on fairly flatish trails this morning. I used the opportunity to explore a couple of turn-offs I have noticed off the main fire trails.

There has obviously been quite a bit more rain up here at Gwandalan because in places the track was fairly muddy and there were some mighty puddles too - I swear I saw a cow walk into one and disappear - ok I made that bit up.

One exploration took me to the abandoned YMCA camp on the Southern shore - well almost abandoned - some motor cross guys were camped there with 2 nasty Blue (red) Cattle Dogs.

They did the pack thing and came at me at angles one trying to distract the other trying to slip around me - I generally take a very calm approach to dogs but these guys meant business and I went after them - not to hurt them (yet) just to let em know they didn't have a victim. Eventually the owner emerged from his tent and called them off.

Amazingly after he called them off he ducked back into his tent again and back they came - right then no more mister nice guy - but then the errant owner emerged again and called them off - distracted and thinking it was over I let my gaurd down (figuratively & literally) and the bitch (in more ways than one) made a final lunge and nipped me right on the keister - no blood but a couple of sealed blood blisters emerged instantly.

I had a bit of a chat to their owner and let him know I was taking his number plate details - he was ok with that - unlike a lot of dog owners he was genuinely apologetic stating he normally had them tied up yada yada.

I must confess to being in two minds on reporting the incident - being the crocodile I am I kind of enjoyed the encounter - I haven't had a good donnybrook with a dog for years :-) And there was no real damage done - but I can't help thinking what if it had of been a kid that wandered in there?

The owners contrition, the fact he showed me where he kept them tied (and clipped them on while we were talking) and the relative isolation of the spot makes me think the episode had taught him a lesson - so - unless there is a puncture that I can't see, I won't report it, but any sign of infection..........

With that behind me I just kept on keeping on exploring nooks that I'd never been to before often stopping to mooch around - with the heavy overcast conditions and having enty of water being out and about was no chore.

Eventually Mr Garmin told me it was time to head for home and I made my way back by a slightly longer and I hoped drier route - LOL wrong again 2P - the way back was wetter and muddier than the way I came - no matter - I was just happy to be there.

Having run at a very pedestrian 6.30 per k average I decided I needed to blow out a few cob webs and pushed the last k (all on wet spongy grass) out in 4.48.

I'm thinking some 500's on Tuesday and that will just about do me :-)