予報では今日も雨とのことでしたが、朝の７時過ぎから止んでいました。ほんの少しの青空がのぞくだけでも嬉しいです。早速タイガの朝散歩。今朝は川沿いに公園とは逆方向の、旧としま園の方角へ歩きました。桜はほぼ満開状態です。私はいつでも花見ができるけど、通勤の人たちにとって、今日の日曜日にこの状態はラッキーだったと思います。
The weather forecast proved wrong and the rain stopped after 7:00 this morning. Although the sky was only partially blue, it made me happy and we left home for Taiga's morning walk. The cherry trees were almost in full bloom. For me, it does not matter much since I can look at them any time I want to, but people who have to go to work can enjoy the cherry blossoms only at weekends. So, they must be happy, too.
Yellow-flower oxalis was also in season and provided a nice contrast with the cherry blossoms.
As I was taking Taiga's photos, a passer-by recognised Taiga's breed and wanted to stroke her. Taiga loves getting praises from strangers.
橋を渡ってさらに歩いていると、いつものお地蔵さんのコーナーに到着。
We crossed the river and walked to the spot where jizo statue was.
今日も新鮮な花とお水が供えられています。
As always, he was provided with fresh water and flowers.
折り返し地点の橋のうえでパチリ。右岸はイチョウ並木の道です。春は桜、秋はイチョウの黄葉を見ながら散歩できます。
桜並木の狭い歩道を先へ進むと、
We went further along and met
初対面の子に会えました。３歳の黒柴の女の子で、名前は「ちゃ」。「ちゃ」という名前はこの子で３代目だそうです。最初の「ちゃ」は茶色の柴、２代目は茶色のコーギー、そしてこの３代目は、伝統だから「ちゃ」だそうです。
a new face: 3-year old black Shiba girl named "Cha" (meaning 'brown'). She is the 3rd Cha in the family. The first one was a brown Shiba Inu, the second one was a brown Corgi, and this third one was called Cha because the name had become a family tradition.
最初はタイガを警戒していたのですが、タイガのお尻の臭い嗅ぎをさせたら急にリラックスしました。
Cha was very nervous of Taiga at first but, after I allowed her to sniff taiga's rear end, she calmed down.
ころころの体形でとてもカワイイです。
With her chubby figure, she is very cute.
The turning point: we head home after crossing the river at this point. On the left, we have cherry trees and, on the right, we have ginkgo trees. So, we can enjoy the walk in spring and autumn.
イチョウ並木の横は某大学の広大な運動場ですが、今日は小学生の野球大会があるようで、数十チームの子供たちと、コーチ、保護者、大会の運営係、ブラスバンドなど、大勢の人で賑わっていました。近くに駅がない場所なので、自転車の係留地のスペースも半端ないです。
Behind the gingko trees lies a vast sports ground belonging to a university. Today, it was used for a big baseball event for elementary school boys. There were so many teams, coaches, parents, event organisers, as well as the brass band. Since there is no train station nearby, the ground next door was filled with bicycles.
いかにも幸せそうな顔。
帰り道で、以前、城北公園で会ったことのある黒柴のペコちゃんに会えました。保護された子なので、年齢は推定で10歳だそうです。タイガを警戒しているので、飼い主さんがだっこを始めました。これが逆効果であることは、ドッグトレーナーでない私は黙っておきました。人それぞれ飼い方はあるし、うちの隣に住んでいるワンコではないので。。。
On our way home, we met a black Shiba girl whom we had met once at Johoku Park. She was adopted by the current owners and is estimated to be around 10 years old - close to Taiga who will be 11 next month. As she was ready to bark at Taiga, her mom picked her up - wrong thing to do in such a situation, but I held my peace since I was not a dog trainer.
At any rate, she looks very happy in her mom's arms.
うちまでの道のりはまだあるというのに、タイガが勝手に休憩所を選んだようです。以前、散歩中にここで休んでオヤツをもらったことを思い出したのかも。
We still had some way to go before reaching home, but Taiga discovered a spot where she would be happy to rest. She must have remembered that we stopped here before and she got a treat.
黄花のだけでなく、ピンクのオキザリスも咲いています。
Pink oxalis flowering along the yellow variety.
