Tip toes

We had an exciting hack this morning, the same route as yesterday but this time with added fisherman, cars, picnic tables etc....
As we approached the lake I could see the gathering and Remy was a little bit wary, but we went on down to where they'd set up to find four fishermen, their cars, tables and chairs and one of the cars parked on the track with only a small space one one side to get past.
Jim went on ahead but Remy was snorting and backing off so we halted for a few moments to let him take it in and calm down. I don't know if the smell of the live bait in the tubs at the edge of the lake was adding to it, but he was more freaked than I've seen him. He moved forward towards the car and plucked up the courage to sniff it which then startled him a little and he backed into one of the chairs at the table,I was expecting a bit of an explosion, but he still didn't overreact. It was a bit overwhelming for him, but although he was worried, he kept his head and after another few moments he decided he could go, he seemed to grow a few hands and went past on his tip toes, but also with a calmness which  filled me with confidence.
The rest of the ride was fine although on the lane back we met the post van coming toward us at the same time as a tractor and bailer came up behind us. It was a tricky situation, but luckily the post van was going quite slowly and the tractor was prepared to wait until I could take Rem into a gateway. He tensed up a little as the (rather noisy) tractor went past, but no real problem, and by the time we got home he was pretty calm and relaxed. Lots to think about for the boy!
I'm off to the UK tomorrow for a week, and I'm really going to miss my guys.