17th September: Mestia, Georgia

Today was our final full day in Mestia. We’d planned to have an extra day here, given how unlikely it was that we’d get three good days of weather, assuming we’d have a rest day on the day with the worst conditions. As it was, today started sunny again and the rain only started in the late afternoon. Again, thunder echoed around the valleys. This time, the air was colder and precipitation on the hills and mountains around town was visibly settling as snow. By evening, the temperature in town was into single figures. The first time I’ve needed a mid layer and a waterproof together on this trip!

We had a little wander around town. My highlight was having a latte for the first time since we left, as we found a place using almond milk. We did contemplate ascending in the cable car or going to watch a local film but Kaja was still feeling under the weather and a chilled day was needed. In the end, dogs were the defining feature, for better or for worse.

Whilst drinking coffee in the square, the little street puppy who had gone to sleep on my feet during lunch yesterday, came bouncing over to us. Today, she had a lot more energy and wanted to play. Every strap, trousers leg, shoelace or finger was a target for her little needle teeth! We eventually calmed her down a bit but then a boy wound her back up as we were leaving and she chased after us, actually drawing blood from Kaja’s hand in the end. Cute but a little bit too feisty! We finally snuck away for lunch.

I went for a walk along the river, towards the museum and the cable car, as we’d not explored that side of town. I had a hell of a fright, as a German Shepherd suddenly ran at me in full attack mode only to stop at a tiny wall a couple of metres short. Safe to say I went a different way back! That walk back was much more interesting as the river split into two deep, narrow and gushing gorges, crossed by high bridges.

The final dog episode was watching two other puppies from the balcony through the evening. Over the course of the afternoon, a little girl made friends with them, protected them from other dogs and cars, fed them, and built them a little dog house from random pieces of discarded wood. Just as the rain began, they went and curled up in the little hut. It was beyond cute! At least it was until her mum came home and realised they might have two new dogs!!