Taking the train

It's Leelu's first ever trip on a train!

We have had a lovely time boating from Chester around varous parts of the country but this weekend we are heading back to my folks, picking up our hiking gear and then heading to North Wales to the climbing club hut in Llanberis for a weekend of walking up mountains and having a go at SUP (stand up paddleboarding) whilst celebrating our friend Ellen's birthday.

So here we are on a train heading up north.  Getting to London Euston station was fine and we got there in plenty of time to give Leelu a wander around the small park outside the station. Waiting inside before the platform was called was a little harder for him as the many legs and wheeled suitcases may have hidden OTHER DOG'S. .. I'm sure you now know how terrified he is by other dogs on account of his previous life before he came to live with us.  Fortunately we didn't have to wait long and now we are on the train.

We booked a table seat in the hope of more space for him so of course he sat with his paws out in the aisle for a bit which meant much fuss from any passers-by!  He has now retreated further under the table for more fuss and is happily laid out on top of all our feet with his favourite tennis ball.

I think it's going to be fine and of course there are big fields to run around to look forward too.

The most exciting thing happened yesterday...

... no really it did!!  We were boating through the outskirts of Milton Keynes and had stopped to do a supermarket shop and a load of laundry at the wonderful Bubbles Laundromat which was straight out of the 1950's.3  Whilst the washing was on, Leelu and I went to find the shade of a tree as it was another very hot day.  I posted an update on our  Days Away Adventures Facebook page and someone who I have never met but do know (because of Leelu) contact me - she lives in Milton Keynes!

under a shady tree near the launderette

It was through Karen that we got to know about Leelu (although then he was called Umlilo - see our first blog post about our second hand dog!).  Karen used to work for the people who owned him and it was her post that was shared by her friend Maria and subsequently our friend Paul and then suddenly, we had our very own, slightly neurotic collie dog!!

Our first picture of our new dog in 2015

Karen and her husband Steve came over to the boat.  We had moored up by Campbell Park which is an amazing big green area of space which includes a cricket ground, a peace pagoda and a Japanese Buddhist temple.

Karen & Steve getting a conducted tour around our boat

It was so lovely to learn a little bit more about our dogs past and his days as a farm dog and to fill in some of the missing pieces of the jigsaw.  They were so pleased to see what a happy and healthy dog he now is and how he loves tennis balls and being the only dog in our family.

Steve, Karen, Viv & Leelu

What an absolutely lovely meeting / reunion.  Thank you so much for coming over.

xx