Bad day for Tanya & Rocamadour.

Rocamadour, France

I'd seen and marvelled at them soaring overhead along the ridge. According to Andy, My recent folk singing retired teacher friend, a couple of days ago, they were most likely to be Eagle Owls. He had also said there had been reports of them sometimes taking small dogs. "Yeah, yeah!" Thinks me. "I can just see that. Maybe one on a bit of the good stuff and who is a bit wobbly on the wing and can't tell a rabbit from a Miniature Shnauzer but hey, come on!"

So. When the sudden and unexpected  WHOOSH! Came, I instinctively and instantly jerked downwards uttering a sharp cry which thankfully Tanya must have heard as; "stop now, RIGHT NOW, cos there's a hulking great airborne maniac that thinks you're today's main course and he's just about on top of you!"

She was only about two or three metres in front of me but she too was surprised. Again more by the silent whooshing noise I think. So much so that she jumped up, whirled round a couple of times and gave a couple of vigorous barks which for Tanya is most unusual.

Now whether she was on the menu. Whether my shouting had slightly changed the odds and delinquent brown and very large bird had diverted at the last minute I do not know. Whether Tanya was actually 'liftable' by such a bird? again I will never know. It could just have been the case of two rather large and delinquent brown birds high aloft and one saying to the other. "watch this. I'm going to scare the shit out of those two below. That should git them off of our patch and let the rabbits come back out!"

Well it worked. We had wild parked Sadie right by the riverside, in the rain. Clouds had cleared and we had set off for a walk up a track into the woods. The track was steep and worked up through the forest. I had seen the pair of soaring and majestic Eagle owls (?) through the forest canopy. The close encounter came as we emerged onto an open meadow at the top of the hill.

I tell you. Our walk continued but we remained in the forest after that! One of the birds continued for a time to soar directly overhead, watching us and no doubt calling to his partner. "hey, hey Eddie. I got em. Buggers won't mess up our patch again!"

Unfortunately Tanya had another nasty scare later in the evening. Only about three hundred metres away from Sadie. A very quiet back road and we were just having a brief stroll before shutting up shop for the night.

"what the hell.....!!" Two vicious collies had suddenly come hurtling out of a driveway, bowled Tanya over and were just skidding sharply round, lips back and fangs showing, to have another go. Tanya, bless her, and before I could get to her, was back on her feet and defending herself. I  waded in and sharply booted the one slightly less agggressive collie out the way. I then hoiked Tanya out of it by the scruff of her neck and raised elbow to fend off bigger and more determined collie.

Thankfully the commotion had brought a female running from the nearby house whose shouting immediately turned large aggressive collie into slinking away, tail between legs, doggie who nevertheless was giving backward glances from an evil eye which was no doubt saying. "I'll get y next time runt!"

The only thing to do on such occasions, especially when you don't speak the language, is to shout a;  "Est OK, est OK," beat a hasty retreat while keeping a sickly but rigid smile in place, and keep waving bye bye while bringing under control adrenalin fuelled thoughts that in effect.... want to kill the bitch! (Owner of Collie, not Collie. Not a skooby whethet Collie was bitch or dog!)

Tanya was shaky for a while but careful examination confirmed no damage and within half an hour all was a distant and forgotten memory. She was snoring away on my lap after a couple of her special chews.

Today has been more peaceful. A very pleasant day in fact, spent at Rocamadour. Look it up on the web. A lovely meal in one of the many restaurants where Tanya was allowed inside. Again wettish and dull outside. And twice I came out of visiting the sanctuary chapels to find her the centre of attention where I left her secured to the railings. One with a family with two children and the second time with a group of Japanese tourists.

We are wildcamped nearby tonight. Rocamadour is, and I have to agree with all of you who have told me, a spectacular visual experience with it's Chateaux perched on the cliff top. We are going back for more tomorrow.

Oh!  And the only danger we faced all day was the temptation to buy from all the tat shops up and down the narrow alley ways. Yup! A much better day.