BEAGLE MEET UP

Point Isabel Dog Park in Richmond with San Francisco across the bay

Serious heat has returned to the delta, so Nellie and Amber and I headed for a beagle meet up that meets on the first Saturday of the month at Point Isabela.  The breeze off the bay cool enough to make a sweatshirt feel good; the misty skyline of the Bay Bridge, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge; rolling hills dotted with shade trees; and dogs, dogs, dogs everywhere...what a great place!  We arrived late and started looking for beagles.  Reports from people we passed on the many paths indicated that there were beagles ahead, and after reaching a fenced perimeter, crossing a bridge, and starting down the narrow peninsula on the other side, we finally encountered a group of about a dozen beaglers and beagles.

Amber does not seem to recognize any kinship ties to other beagles.  From what I have observed, this seems to be generally the case: dogs are interested in other dogs irrespective of  breeds.  Affinities and aversions are as inexplicable between dogs as they are with humans.  Who can explain why suddenly that person across a crowded room seems so attractive?  Or that curly haired, lop eared dog half way up the hill? Amber did find one of the beagles congenial.  Dolly, who was about the same size, also liked a good game of chase-and-be-chased, and also liked to sound the beagle chasing bay.  Otherwise Amber picked playing friends from a variety including pomeranians, bull dogs, poodles, and retrievers (and quite surprised the beaglers by plunging into the water with the retrievers--none of the other beagles cared for swimming).

Among the amenities at Point Isabel are restrooms at either end of the long park, a gift store featuring dog items, a bath house for any dogs needing a shampoo, and a snack bar that Nellie and I discovered had excellent sandwiches.  All in all it was a splendid outing before driving back into the heat of the delta.

Three beagle girls and a curious lab