11Aug: a long walk - 3.5hrs, 14.5k

Today I set out for a mid-teens walk. After contemplating how I could drive the car around a looping set of roads to measure off disttances, I decided to just walk one way for two hours, then return.

Today's outfit was: small shoulder pack with water, poncho, phone & earphones. I was wearing Keens, thick woolen hiking socks,and hat with a cape  For company I had: Sam the placid, Cuddy the queer & Brandi the bouncy, very many cattle and the odd kangaroo. 

Setting off the dogs were typically ecstatic and bumped my legs, as heelers do, sniffed every cow pat and drank from puddles. 

Our first car came from behind, I could here and see it about 2k away. Getting the dogs in a huddle off to the side failed to contain B and as the vehicle approached she ran in front to it and jumped about, to be let in. I waved the driver to keep going and decided to put her on a lead with future traffic.  

After we passed our usual turn around points at 3 and 4k, the change in the dogs' moods was noted: S got appreciative, B was bouncy (dangerous now as the road wound through tree lined hills), and C got disinterested trying to attract a lift back by walking on front of cars. Thankfully, being early afternoon Monday, few of the locals didn't slow down to laugh at the fool dog. To avoid further attention and risk of injuries, I tethered B and C with a middle loop for me to hold. 

Soon after B started stalking cars and would try to chase every vehicle for the next two hours.S just got better, walking behind and taking himself off road as each vehicle approached. On one occasion he went 5m off the roadside in an extreme display of Good Dog-ness. He blotted his copy book by chasing a big 'roo right at the end. 

But back to the windy bush section;  cars and dog juggling were the features here. There were some partly curious horses, two yappy dogs whose owner screamed at them uselessly as they tracked us for 300m. until she finally yelled at me to stop. Of course, I paid her no mind as well. 

Some nearby neighbours were heartily entertained, with soft chatty smiles as they both checked the mail as we passed.

My two hour alarm tinkled as we hit the main road, a C road with no shoulder and no vegetation clearing. I was unwisely attracted to; walk a loop back to the car - slightly shorter and more exciting, and with the prospect of a coffee and Snickers at the shop. 

Well the traffic along the next 2k was feral; 80+kph, close and unswerving. Here S got really polite or scared, B got chasey and C more timid and withdrawn. As we neared the village, the roadside became friendly and traffic was forced to slow down. The shop was a washout as I recalled their locals and visitors two tiered pricing system. I thought $5.5 for Snickers and Zooper Dooper was not the locals price. The business is on the market, so its due to get worse. I gave the dogs a baked bone each: B inhaled hers and looked for more, C snuck off with his and savoured every morsel, S laid down with his leaving crumbs behind. 

Another <1k, across the bridge, then left to a moderately busy road back to the car. We got more than 6 cars at the bridge but being single lane, they all had to stop, and we had a pedestrian alley. But we were pleased to get off that road.   

  Our third road was undulating and a bit winding, but with an array of potholes, surface delamination and road gangs, the vehicle speeds were lower than usual. But with the lack of policing in these parts, anything could happen. 

   The hills tested me a little, no stopping or anything, just a little slower and I was feeling my feet. Its possible that thicker socks in the sandals is counterproductive; generating heat and losing free movement. But we got along fine, this 4k. stretch was where S hit his high point, moving clear of the roadside for a passing vehicle and then chasing a big 'roo. The dogs heard the 'too stirring then thumping until he stood a good 5' tall by the road just ahead. S got off that quick he was across 300m of paddock before I realised that calling him back was futile. I reckon he was about a k and a half until I just called for him to echolocate back to us. Then after a fast and furious minute, a pretty cool thing: the 'roo came back to us, and stood facing off with S. S was barking but buggered, and probably knew the 'too could smash him in a fist fight. So he happily backed off and came away thanking Mr Roo for the lark. I apologised and gave S a clip. All routine from there, car started, CV clattered as we turned R under load, and the rain continued to hold off..

   Distance was between 14 and 15k, time 3.5hrs, feeling good, though I would remove my shoes to cool off before doing much more.