Last week, water in its many forms provided a constant soundtrack to our days. There was the steady rhythm of pouring rain, the soft dripping of drizzle, and the deep thunder of water rushing along streams and spilling over weirs.
We began the week at Nostell, fully aware of what awaited us. The paths in winter are rarely dry, and recent rain had left them sodden and slick. Ruby was due for a shower before her trim the following day, so we decided we might as well brave the mud.
The Nostell Facebook page had been encouraging visitors to share photographs of the snowdrop display. Unfortunately, unlike other National Trust properties we’ve visited recently, we didn’t really have the opportunity, as dogs aren’t permitted in the gardens and we’re not prepared to leave Ruby at home or sitting in the car. We’ve long accepted that if Ruby can’t go, neither do we. I have, on several occasions, suggested the possibility of even one dog-friendly day each week or even each month, but for now at least, the policy remains unchanged.
We did manage to find a small clump of snowdrops in the parkland and took a few photographs there instead.
As expected, the paths were heavily flooded. In places, it was less walking and more ploughing through mud and paddling through mini lakes — especially around gateways where the ground was particularly churned up. Ruby did her best to avoid the puddles, but it was largely a losing battle.
In all the six years we’ve walked with Ruby at Nostell, I don’t think we’ve ever seen the winter lake so full.
The waterfall between the upper and lower lakes was as powerful as we’ve known it, and water from the lower lake thundered over the weir into the stream below.
After Ruby’s grooming appointment, despite the continuing rain, we ventured out again — this time to the local park. The paths there were just as wet.
Ruby loves racing across the grass, but most of it had turned to mud, so we reluctantly stuck to the tarmac paths outside the main park area.
Here too, snowdrops had been planted in clusters, far more accessible than those at Nostell.
The beck running through the park was remarkably full, a stark contrast to the dry spell we were commenting on not so long ago.
Later in the week, we visited Temple Newsam, hoping for drier ground. The higher paths were manageable, but the lower ones once again had water streaming across them and into the lake.
At one point, Ruby found herself separated from us by a sizeable puddle. As she headed towards us. We braced for the inevitable splash. Instead, she leapt across without a foot touching the water.
The lakes were high, and in places had overflowed onto paths. Much of the grass bore the scars of vehicle movement Having been churned into mud by a combination of tyres and rain.
Once again, water roared over the weirs between the lakes to finally flow into the stream.
The heron and egret, however, seemed entirely untroubled by the conditions — though the egret looked faintly unimpressed.
It’s hardly surprising that nearly everyone we met had a dog. We dog owners are, by necessity, a hardy breed.
That’s all for this week, so as always, stay safe, stay well, stay warm and try to stay dry
Dollor also hates to get his feet wet. We used to have a shorthaired pointer. he loved charging through every puddle full bore. Glad you are getting rain.
We are getting more han enough rain Bonnie
If I wasn’t wandering off into the world of bad puns I’d say it’s such a shame Nostell is so dogmatic about opening the area up for one day a week. The snowdrops are pretty, and although the water is now overboard {another bad pun} in volume, it does afford some good photo opportunities by way of reflections.
It is a shame Debbie. I’ve kept telling them that other places don’t have a problem. I also told yjem that if ot wasn’t local I would be unlikely to visit as we are not getting full vl=alue of being members. It’s one thing just goimg for anhours walk but I woildn’t travel from furyjer afield/ They advertise a dog friendly but that onlt applies to the atras that have free access,