What end to the cold spell? A dog day afternoon

  Seems like winter doesn't want to go home this year.
  In my last entry, I mentioned how the cold spell was supposedly coming to an end, according to the local meteorologists. 
  And for a couple of days, it seemed so...but it didn't last.
  What? The meteorologist dudes got their predictions wrong? no way...


  Yes, way. 


  I went out hiking yesterday, just to move a bit and get some fresh air, and fresh air I got.


  When I left, it was a grey, dull day, no sign of any precipitation or snow as far as I could make out. As I was heading to higher grounds, I had the usual foul weather clothing in my backpack, since the weather can change very rapidly in the mountains.


  And it did.


  At the beginning of my hike, It actually got too warm, I had to take off my pullover. 
  No sooner had I done that, it started to snow. 
  And it never stopped.
  So I put my foul weather clothing on (rain and windproof top and bottom)  and I kept  them on after that. 
  It even got quite cold. Camera froze up again.
  It snowed big time, it was beautiful, a little bonus for an otherwise unexceptionable hike. 

  Along the way, I encountered my best friend up there, a stray dog that has taken a liking to me.
 I took a liking to him too, naturally.
 I always find him in the same area, I don't know where he comes out from but for some unknown reason, when he senses my presence, he comes to greet me, albeit in a cautious way. 
  He then proceeds to follow me everywhere I go. 
  For every metre I walk, he does 10. He apparently seems quite happy around me and loves the snow.
   
  I do, however, appreciate his company.
  In the video below, it was the first time that I actually got to touch him. He doesn't seem too sure about all this, but he let me do it. And we both appreciated it.

  He has a great memory because he knows all the trails I take.  I could follow him if I ever got lost. 
  He usually accompanies me all the way home.
  Then he goes back to his mountain dwellings, wherever they may be.  
  I suppose he's just looking for company, and maybe something to put in his stomach...   
( aren't we all? )
  I shared some of my lunch with him.
  We are of course best of friends.
  Normal.
  

The dog keeping a watch out in the fog. I am not sure what he is looking, smelling or listening to, but it is more than I can do for sure...

  Around 3.30 pm, the snow ceased somewhat and was replaced by freezing fog. 
  Man, I couldn't see anything! Hardcore mountain stuff. The way I like it. Yeah.
  Visibility down to 30 metres at best.

  It was time to start my way back home and in some parts, I actually had to use my compass to confirm the direction I was heading in. 


  The dog didn't seem to mind the fog, nor the cold. He doesn't need a compass either, his nose and  memory are sufficient.


  That's a lot more then I can say about myself.

   

I eventually got home, accompanied by the dog of course, we then parted company as gentlemen and both went our separate ways.


No doubt I shall see him again.


And snow.


It is in the weather forecast for the next few days.                Believe it or not.


Welcome to winter in the Balkans.