Sun-sational

Sunny Nelson has certainly lived up to its name this summer! When temperatures became too hot to walk the dogs during the day, the best thing to do was head to the river!

Fortunately, Lee Valley near Brightwater is only a 20-minute drive from home. As soon as I picked the campervan keys up, the dogs were off - they couldn't get in fast enough. When we arrived I was surprised to see we had the whole area to ourselves. Bliss 💚

The water looked inviting ... clean, deep, and a gorgeous emerald green.

Once the dogs had cooled down we went for a walk along the river trying to stay in the shade but also close to the water to cool down whenever they needed to.

Afterward, we relaxed in the camper, soaking up bush views and listening to the sound of summer; cicadas clicking, birds chirping, and the burbling river closeby. 

An ideal way to recharge the batteries.

Diving Dogs

It was a muggy, hot Saturday afternoon so we put the dogs in the truck and drove to the Lee Valley. For this time of the year it's usual for the swimming holes to be crowded with people. But then this summer hasn't been usual in anyway. The first hole we came to was empty. 

Paddy didn't need any encouraging to get in!

After awhile a guy turned up with two collie dogs and tennis balls. These dogs were divers. Their owner would throw each dog its ball - then each dog would dive off a log to get it.

Paddy was watching intensely. 

And decided that maybe he could do that as well. 

Mostly, he was all legs. No co-ordination. And all about the splashing!

With a little more practise it might be his new favourite thing to do!

Lee Valley

The Lee Valley in Brightwater has lots of clean, deep, swimming holes to choose from and the dogs love it. They know where they are going when we turn off at Brightwater, and they start whining with excitement.