Merry Christmas

A year in 20 photographs 15/20 – at home with my dog

Scot Tares of Skinny Tyres Cycling Holidays in Scotland relaxes in front of a wood-burning stove with his arms around his lurcher dog. — Merry Christmas everyone

I love my job. I get to travel around Europe, meet amazing people, and make new friends along the way.

A black and grey lurcher dogs walks through a forest. The trees are white with frost and the sun is rising in the distance

However, without sounding like the Grinch, there is a downside. I spend a lot of time away from home. It averages about 120 nights in hotels each year, which accumulated over the last fifteen years of guiding adds up to approximately five years working away from home. I often comment now that a holiday for me is spending time at home. It is a time when I get to recharge my batteries and prepare for a forthcoming season of guiding.

A black and grey lurcher dog stands looking towards the rising sun

I have always loved winter and Christmas, but now even more so. It means I get time to spend with my family and, importantly, be at home with my dog.

A lurcher dog stands on the summit of Ben Ledi, a mountain in the Scottish Highlands. A cross marks the summit of the mountain.

People often laugh when I tell them I miss my dog when I am away working. It seems inferred that I don’t miss my family. Fortunately, I can keep in touch with my family daily, so the absence is felt less keenly. When my dog lies in her bed watching me pack a suitcase she looks morose. I can only imagine that she is thinking “That human that takes me for all the walks is away again – for how long? I don’t know.”

Scot from Skinny Tyres cycling holidays looks out at a snowy forest as his dog, a lurcher stands beside him.

So, for me, winter is a time of catching up with all those missed walks with my dog in the woods and mountains local to us. I couldn’t pick just one photo to choose for today, so I have shared several from hikes and walks with my dog over the last few weeks.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Have a great and peaceful day.

Scot