After multiple times postponing our Aviemore holiday due to Covid and lockdowns we finally got to Aviemore! Before we set off we took part in a night race at one of our favourite venues at Moors Valley, which is just an hours drive from home. This would be Zinny's first race back after mama duties and the first. time she has run competitively with the flups and solid boy Mars joined them, was also an opportunity to get the puppies used to a race environment. We mix our training up with hardpacked trails in the forest and lovely grassy trails of the Plain but the trail at Moors Valley was a little rougher than we are used to, due to forestry work and the lack of rain we have had. It was clear that Magpie did not like the surface so we kept the brakes on all the way round, and broke the cudos race rig in the process as the dogs did not want to slow down, the brushbow was hanging off so that's a welding job for the off season! The team took a respectable second place from eleven times but we will definitely rethink racing that trail again. Our malamute friend John Binding took Kara Muffin and Pickle out in the two dog (booted) and came first place pure bred siberian husky team in the class. Zips first race experience too and they had a lovely time meeting new people and getting used to the noises and excitement of other dog teams. Good dogs all! We booked a lovely cottage (Ruby Cottage) near the town of Aviemore which was a cosy base to enjoy day trips amongst the beautiful scenery. The puppies became little pros chilling on the stake out lines and took a week sleeping in the van in their stride, they experienced all the weather too with snow, sleet, hailstones and drizzle! Humans had a kayak around Loch Morlich and the dogs had lots beach walks and duck chasing. We also visited an incredible secure free run field set amongst the Scottish mountains called Rabbit Rocks in Aberlour which was a scenic hours drive from Aviemore. Dogs had a blast and the zips channeled their inner mountain goat! On our way up and back down, we wild camped around the beautiful lake district enjoying walks with the dogs around lake windermere. Comments are closed.
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