Yesterday, after a lazy morning of reading and hanging around, Dave and I walked Olga into what passes for a town in Pevensey Bay. It's a pretty tiny place, almost just a crossroads, but there are some shops and a handful of restaurants, as well as a few picturesque old cottages (above). We went for a pub lunch at The Castle Inn, where I got ham and eggs with chips. For some reason I was starving.
Olga, still on her leash, lay near our feet beneath the table and charmed most of the pub guests. One woman, in a black pantsuit with a blonde coif and a conspicuous sparkly brooch, was not charmed. She not only didn't approach Olga, she went to great, theatrical lengths to avoid her, asking us to restrain her while she circled other nearby tables in order to stick close to the wall and keep furniture between her and the dog. I don't recall anyone ever going to such great lengths. Olga just watched from her prone position on the floor. If a dog can be bemused, she was.
Dave whispered, "I wish we'd taught Olga a command that would make her leap to her feet and growl."
But hey, you never know. Maybe that woman had a bad experience. As I said, everyone else seemed happy to have Olga there. (There were also other dogs too, as is common in many pubs.)
When we got back, I took a walk on the beach on my own. That's sea kale, above, a fleshy plant that grows in the shingle. It's pretty amazing anything can take root. When the tide is out, there's a firmer layer of fine sand for walking near the water -- a more conventional "beach" -- and I walked down there as much as I could. I've discovered that the sandals I brought aren't the best for walking on these shifting, clattery pebbles. Note to self: Next time, bring closed-toe shoes.
I tried not to pick up every interesting rock I found. I did pick this one up, though.
I walked down to the community of Normans Bay, which is just east of us. I found this bizarre, silo-shaped structure on the beach. It's called a Martello Tower, and it's one of many built for coastal defense back in the early 1800s. (There's also one in Pevensey Bay which we somehow missed while walking through town.) The one above appears to have been converted into a house.
Another architectural oddity that we can see from our cottage is an offshore platform known as the Royal Sovereign Lighthouse. It's waaaaaay out in the water, on the horizon, and we couldn't quite tell what it was. Dave thought maybe it was an oil drilling platform, but that seemed unlikely along this stretch of coastline. Finally I did some research and identified it. Apparently it's been decommissioned and is supposed to be dismantled sometime soon.
As I walked back to the cottage I passed this bulldog sitting serenely on a picnic table beside the beach path, watching the world go by. Do you suppose he climbed up there by himself?
29 comments:
Of course he climbed up there himself, everyone likes to feel taller now and again. I'd say that woman had a bad experience or she thinks all bulldogs are vicious pitbull terriers.
Beautiful views of the pebbly beaches. I prefer our sandy ones though, pebbles would hurt the feet.
Perhaps that lady had heard you and Dave talking in your loud American accents about making America great again and so automatically assumed that Olga was an American pit bull terrier.
To answer the poser at the end, I would say that the bulldog did climb up there himself though I cannot confirm this as I did not witness the miracle with my own eyes.
I think the bulldog did climb out, but then couldn't figure out how to get back down. That poor woman. There are some people who are terrified of dogs... and even cats. We had someone come to install window blinds. A burly hulk of a guy. One of the cats ran out of the room and the man squealed like a very little girl. I'd love to live in the Martello Tower... if I could add windows.
Pebbles are fascinating.
The appetite that comes with relaxing and a dose of sea air!
It sounds like you are having just the right break away
I think he climbed up there himself. LOVE that quaint Cottage, why don't they build Homes like that anymore?
I continue to be surprised at all the places you can take Olga. What a great life for a dog! On the downside, what a nightmare for people with good reason to fear dogs.
I imagine the woman has had an experience with a dog, but, c'mon, one look at Olga, lounging there, she should have known. Even failing that she could have asked if Olga was friendly.
Sheesh, people.
Other than that it looks like a lovely peaceful spot for a getaway.
Having a video of Olga watching that woman would probably be hilarious! However, I do agree with the others who surmise she most likely had a very bad dog experience at some time!
A pair of Crocs would probably be perfect for walking on that pebbly beach!
It seems the weather is blessing your beach time! I think you have lucked out!
Those large, crimson, velvety roses put the charm in "charming cottage," don't they? Nice shot!
I wonder if that woman had been bitten by a dog or if she maybe just has a neurotic fear of them. It can happen.
Of course that handsome bulldog got up there on his own! Bulldogs love to sit up high. We had one that would sit in a chair like a human, every chance he got. He would sit up there and look out the window. And there used to be a yard we'd pass on our way to town where a bulldog lay on top of a car that never ran as far as we saw. He would sleep up there all day long, like a cat.
Theoretically I know there are pebble beaches but in reality, it sort of breaks my brain a little. I am so used to sand.
I think that woman probably had a bad experience with a dog and is crazy fearful of them now.
I'm glad you picked up that rock from the beach. Nice find.
It's so beautiful there. I'm looking forward to more photos of your adventures.
The view and the lovely sound of the waves would make up for walking on the stones. Glad you are relaxing and enjoying yourselves!
I'm a bit afraid of dogs, but only if they're by themselves & I'm by myself (bad experience meeting a dog on the road). And I certainly wouldn't say anything to anyone about it.
That really does look like a lovely vacation. Thanks for taking us along!
my daughter seemed oblivious to dogs but when she was two she tripped over our friend's doberman sleeping peacefully on the floor and when she looked at the dog getting up she freaked out. she was terrified of dogs from that point on, even if she saw one at the end of the block outside she would literally try to climb up me. as she got older it did not change and people with perfectly fine friendly dogs would try to convince her that there was no danger. she wasn't having it. nope nope nope.when she was 13 we got our 11 year old son a boxer puppy. the puppy was cute enough and by the time it was grown she was over her main fear but still wary of other dogs. then she hooked up with her husband who loves dogs and was constantly bringing home strays. now, you'd never know she spent the first 13 years of her life terrified of dogs.
rocky beaches are weird but it looks like a wonderful place to hang out and do nothing.
That poor woman must have had an awful experience with a dog.
I love walking on shingle; I find lots of heart shaped rocks. I looked at that lighthouse link, it sure wasn't in service very long. A good idea, poorly executed perhaps.
If that dog climbed up by himself, it would have been something to see. With those short little legs and the hefty body, I doubt he could do it on the first try. When I was a kid, our family dog was an English bulldog who looked very much like this one.
I can't imagine anyone but the squirrels being afraid of Olga.
I can't imagine hefting that dog to the table and then leaving him there to figure out how to get down by himself. My money on the dog. He got up there all by himself.
That 'tower' looks quite modernistic for it's age, doesn't it? It would be cool to see what sort of house they made of it.
You are finding some very cool rocks on this trip. I loved yesterday's geode, and today's yin and yang stone.
Best of all is the Dave and Olga yawn festival. Honestly, if that man ever lets you take a picture of him again, you'll be lucky!
What a quaint little cottage. Looking to the left in the photo, is that a satellite dish?
Yes, it is a dish!
I'm sure that delightful seaside air has increased your appetite!
Considering Olga is one of the "bully breeds", I can imagine some folks being scared of her. But that does sound a little extreme considering she was leashed right next to y'all. As much as I love dogs, I respect any animal I'm not familiar with. My earliest memory is being attacked (bitten in the neck) by my aunt's German Shepherd. I was leery of that breed for years.
Is good to travel and to meet and explore differents parts of the country. Have a nice summer. Greetings from Mallorca.
A grown assed woman acting like that around Olga is comical at best...what a weirdo. Attention seeking probably.
The stones on the beaches, the shingle, delights me, I love how it sounds sort of like chiming.
Interesting structure for a house. It takes people with creativity to come up with an idea for a house in this case.
Don't know if he climbed up there by himself but he should have been in your pub. He would have given the blonde diva the night terrors!
I will acknowledge that your shingles produce some interesting finds.
I think the dog climbed up but is now trying to work out how to get down!
What a drama queen! I'm a little hesitant around strange dogs, especially large ones, but have also petted and made a fuss over them once I discovered their friendliness. It's hard to walk on a pebbly Washington beach with sandals too. Ankle twisting danger! Glad you're having a good time.
That Martello tower has a very fancy roof. Martello towers are dotted around the coast of Ireland and especially along Dublin Bay, when I lived there we used the one in Seapoint as a changing room before our Sunday swim. The main character of Joyce's Ulysses, Stephen Daedalus, lives in another Martello tower, it really exists and today is home to the James Joyce Museum.
Olga is a very patient dog.
The bulldog is fun! And I would have picked up that rock, too. I suspect you are right about the woman in the pub but especially odd since Olga was just hanging loose and not bothering anyone. Loved that cottage in the opening photo.
River: Yeah, they're not comfortable to walk on barefoot, it's true. I keep my shoes on!
YP: I wish I had a video of that!
Mitchell: While I want to be sympathetic to people who are afraid of animals -- because I'm sure they have their reasons -- part of me also wants to say, "Get a grip!"
GZ: Yeah, I think you're right! Relaxing helped me realize I was hungry!
Bohemian: Yeah, I wonder? I'm not surprised you like it, given your affinity for antiques. :)
Boud: Yes, England is a very good country to be a dog owner. They can go lots of places they couldn't in the states. But yeah, also a challenge for the dog-averse.
Bob: I guess that's part of what surprised me -- why she didn't just ask. We could have told her that Olga is 13 and disinclined to attack anyone or anything!
Marcia: I'm not sure Crocs would be much better, honestly. The problem with open shoes is the pebbles get inside them and they're hard to shake out!
Ms Moon: I didn't know sitting up high was a bulldog thing! (Or maybe it's just a dog thing, now that you mention it. Dogs DO like to keep an eye on everything.)
Robin: Yeah, I'm sure something happened in the past. Who knows what.
Ellen D: Oh, absolutely. Walking on stones is a small price to pay!
Bug: Actually, walking on a street and seeing one unchained in a yard IS a bit scary, because you don't know what kind of limits that dog puts on its "territory."
Ellen: Interesting. I do think many kids who are afraid of dogs had an early, scary experience that they can't quite get past. I'm glad your daughter did!
Pixie: I know! I wonder how much the government spent on it and do they think they got their money's worth?!
Sharon: It's amusing to think about, but I think it's almost certain his owner put him up on that table. (She was sitting on a nearby patio, out of the frame to the right.)
Debby: He doesn't like having his picture taken in general, but it's mostly because he doesn't see much value in pictures. He never takes any himself.
Allison: I think it's actually the back of a round street sign. The house is on a corner!
Marcia: Street sign, I think!
Kelly: German shepherds ARE very intimidating, and yeah, I guess some people feel the same about staffies.
JS: Hello! I hope to get to Mallorca one of these days!
Linda Sue: I tried to be forgiving but there was something a little accusatory about it. Like, "Why do you have that DANGEROUS DOG in here?!"
Red: It's a good use for the tower! I'd love to see what it looks like inside.
Catalyst: Ha! She would have run shrieking from the room!
Caro: That is possible! LOL! His human was nearby so hopefully she helped him when it was time.
Margaret: A drama queen -- exactly. That was the sense I got. High maintenance.
Sabine: Interesting! I guess it makes sense they'd have been erected in Ireland too. They were supposed to keep Napoleon at bay.
Jeanie: Hanging loose and ON A LEASH!
Thanks to our neighbors supply of small yapping dogs that never shut up, my daughters have been traumatized and no longer like being close to any dogs, any ones obviously as harmless as Olga. I grew up with pet dogs so this irritates me a bit that they can't realize the joy of being with dogs.
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