Black dog or not

Sometimes when you walk through the woods, along the Fisherman's Path,  on the way to the dunes, after crossing the golf course, it feels a little eerie. Early morning or at dusk, the light shining or fading through the trees, the stillness, the birds start to roost or just waking.  Sometimes, you get the feeling of not being alone, but not surprising as it's a popular place to walk.  Also there are many rabbits, squirrels and foxes about.

 It's a different type of feeling, a feeling that there is someone or something there, a shiver running down your spine.  There is a sound of a twig breaking underfoot, footsteps, and William dog gets a little spooked.  Rabbits and squirrels making the most of the peace before or after the usual times for the dog walkers, cyclists and families making their way to the beach.  No one else to be seen.  There are many tales of a large black dog.  Some recount the tale of a dog who was still waiting for his master who never returned from a fishing trip.  Others tell of a huge black dog with demonic red eyes., supposedly to bring misfortune if you see them.  Others relate this to the Viking History, Nordic Invaders who were called "black dogs" by the locals.

These tales weren't at the forefront of my mind when I was driving to work along Timms Lane.  I saw what looked like a strangely larger than usual, Black Labrador towards the top of the road. My first thought was that it was a lost dog and as I got closer, in the blink of an eye, it was gone.

Was it a trick of the early morning light?  I know there is a family with a couple of Newfoundlands nearby, had one escaped and then gone back home? They are not usually dogs that move so quickly or quietly, surely I would have noticed where such a large dog would have gone. The rational part of my brain kicked in, explaining the strange experience.

Or had I encountered the famous ghostly being..........................
(Glad I didn't see it's eyes if it was)!