The beautiful weather brings out the pilgrims. Masses of them. Some walking, some on horseback, most in cars. A couple in a motor home with Paris number plates stop and ask , as if it's the sort of thing they do every day, for directions to the Holy Well. They park by the church and head off down the hill holding large plastic water bottles. What do people do with water from a Holy Well ?
Sophie has got bored of pilgrims. She doesn't rush over and bark every time she hears one go by. Bob hasn't reached this stage yet. He takes guarding as a serious 24/7 job. The stump seat an excellent accessory.
In the evening we walk down to the stream. A local farmer has driven through with his tractor and churned up the river bank. It's gloriously muddy. Bob tries his hand at fishing. '' Perhaps if you tried to be stealthy "' I find myself saying. He sploshes contentedly, and noisily, in the water.
