Rain, Cycling, Squirrels and the FIRE BRIGADE

Ok so Sunday brought with it the most rain we have probably had all year. So we decided we couldn't stay in all day (mistake 1) but would get kitted up and take Tarkka out for a bike ride (mistake 2). After getting a back pack sorted with bowl and water for Tarkka, Flask of tea for us, bike puncture repair kits just in case we where ready to set of.

With it being so wet I didn't take the camera of my phone with me as I knew we would be coming back soaked to the skin but George remembered to grab his phone as he was on call (thank dog).

So off we set in what was now very heavy rain. Tarkka always stays on lead while to go the 3 streets down to Plymbridge cycle path. When we get to the cycle track I let him off lead as it's narrow to start with and Tarkka sometimes tries to go around cyclists coming the other way the opposite side to me which is not funny. So with Tarkka off lead and the cycle path very quiet only a few cyclists and dog walkers out we make great progress along the track at a nice gentle pace.

The river below us was very high due to all the water coming down off Darmoor so I was very strict with Tarkka and didn't let him go anywhere near the river today. We also made the decision to take the higher cycle path again to keep him away from the river.

We cycled on to just after the peregrine watch point and sheltered under an old railway bridge (the track is on the old railway line that use to take the slate from the quarries along the plym down to the port). We stopped out of the rain and have a drink and decided to turn back as the weather was getting worse.

While we had stopped Tarkka realised that there was lots of squirrels around and kept shooting off and coming back which was nothing unusual for Tarkka after all we where deep into Plymbridge woods.

So as we headed back Tarkka continued this new game of shooting off chasing squirrels and reappearing further up the track. I wasn't worried as he was shooting off up the woods away from the river. George and I cycling along on what was now a very wide part of the track in the dense woods. However just as all seemed ok Tarkka shot off chasing a squirrel up a steep path then went high up onto a shelf that then ran parallel with the track. We tried to call him down (mistake number 3) as Tarkka not being the brightest of lappies decided to come down from the steep track down the rock face. The next few minutes are still all a blur but from what I remember Tarkka slipped and skidded on leaf litter and mud and ended up on a shelf half way down the rock face, still some 15 feet above us. Every time he tried to move mud and leaf litter would fall down the rock face.

Bikes and back pack abandoned I tried to climb up the rock face (yes I know you shouldn't but all I could focus on was getting Tarkka to go up the rock face not down). I had to go further down the track and the only way up the bank/rocks involved holding onto tree roots and holly (yes hands do hurt) I was digging in with everything I had knees, trainers and kept slipping back down but kept going I finally got to the top.
I ran along to where Tarkka was now below me. Tried calling him up what seemed the best path but Tarkka just couldn't get any grip the wet, mud and leaf litter making it impossible. Tarkka was going mad and I was now getting very scarred.

We had now been joined by a family out walking their dog and the boys tried climbing up to Tarkka but could just not get close enough and the gap between them and Tarkka was a sheer drop down the rock face. I had to give up but then I had the problem of getting down of a much higher ledge which involved climbing over barbed wire  (yes my cycling gear now has a few extra ventilation holes) and trying to scramble down by now Tarkka was barking, crying and screaming as he now seemed to be really scarred so I was paying no attention as to what I was doing I just needed to get down and be back where Tarkka could see me.

At this point we realised this was very serious and where Tarkka had made attempts to get down and up to me had caused the ledge to become smaller as most of it seemed to be made up of mud and sticks. It was also at a steep angle which was causing me massive concern. George had no mobile signal (who does in the depth of the woods) so I had to send George off down the cycle path until he could get signal and bring in help. The family also know left us as there was little they could do.

With everyone gone and me talking calmly but constantly to Tarkka he settled a bit and sort of lay on the edge with his paws dug in as best he could. I was then joined by a couple walking their dog and the guy was telling me his dog had done something similar on the lower rock faces nearer the river a few months before and offered to try to help. So off he went back down the track where it was easier to climb the cliff and his mad but lovely golden retriever went with him (yes at this point I'm now worried we could end up with a guy and 2 dogs stuck but he seemed to know what he was doing). However like me earlier he got to the top but was unable to get anywhere near Tarkka (Ambrose the dog sat at the top of the ledge barking down at Tarkka which in any other circumstances would have been very funny. They had to give in after a good 20mins trying and headed back down. They however did kindly stay with me just in case Tarkka slipped/fell so the 3 of us could do our best to catch him.

We didn't have to wait much longer until the Fire Brigade arrived with George ladders and ropes at the ready.
They didn't have an easy job they had to send 2 guys up on ladders with ropes. They also took Ambrose's lead as it was a thick lead with a clip at both ends (Paula and Adam have one of these for Inko and we now plan to find a supplier and get one) One fireman after a lot of scrabbling got up to the top of the rock face while the other tried to get near Tarkka. After finally getting to Tarkka they secured him onto the lead and also tied a rope around him. Tarkka was so pleased to see the fireman and didn't make this task easy due to barking and trying to lick the guys face but luckily the guy gave Tarkka some fuss to settle him before the next big task, getting him up to the top of the rock face. This involved the guy at the top pulling Tarkka up with the rope and the fireman with Tarkka pushing him up from underneath. By now my heart was in my mouth and when Tarkka got to the top I burst into tears with relief.

They then had to take Tarkka along the top until it met up with Cann Woods so George and I joined the other firemen and walked to meet them with Ambrose and his owners who I couldn't stop thanking.

Tarkka was not injured during all of this but it so could have been a different story, did it make him calmer when we headed home? No I had to keep him on his flex on a short lead as he was still in hunt Squirrel mode.

A big thank you to the families/Dogs owners who stopped to help and a massive thank you to the fire brigade for lugging your kit along the cycle track to rescue Tarkka.

I'm now sat drinking a pint of Bailey and Tarkka is fast asleep up on our bed..................................