Jen had to work today, so it was just me
and dogs on this mornings
hike
.
Since it was our pre training class hike
and we didn't have time for a half day adventure, we
hit local Springton Manor Farm .
This hike is really nice for many reasons.
We start out heading through lowlands on
our way to the Indian Run Creek. The trail is usually
pretty wet and muddy, but the dogs love it. Since it's the
beginning of the hike, this is where they have the most energy
and run the hardest. They get pretty filthy to say the least.
It's kind of odd, but the closer you get to
the creek, the dryer the trail becomes. You cross a few
tributaries leading to the creek, but otherwise the trail
hardens up. In the past these little tributaries have really
freaked out Gretchen. She'd whine and cry if we didn't help or
wait for her to cross the little trickles. I was beginning to
wonder if she'd hate water like CJ does. Today was
different.
She's been going into creeks to
drink like you see here, but that's usually about it. CJ does the
same, so I never thought much of
it.
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Today, while she was still wound up, she
started running back and forth and around the
bank.
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Before I knew it, she took off across the
creek. As you can see, this is way beyond a
trickle.
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She ran clear to the other side, around
the trees and back over to me.It was really kind
of exciting.
In general she's been showing
more initiative with things. She doesn't seem to be anywhere
near afraid of things as she has been. Maybe this is a turning
point?
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Though heights still kind of bother her.
CJ had no problem coming out onto this log with me over the
creek. Once she saw us both out there, Gretchen came too,
but she ran back to fast to get a decent
photo.
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After the muck and mire, we head to the
top of the park. It's a decent climb and usually has the dogs
pretty well behaved by the time we get to the top. At the top
is this old road called the Bartol Trail.
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Between the Bartol trail and
the creek, I'm not sure which is my favorite. The creek is
exciting, while the Bartol trail is peacful and quite. You're
above everything else. The forest is more mature then the
rest of the park. It's a really nice place for a stroll.
By this time the dogs have also dried out and cleaned
up a bit, so they're not all wet and swampy
smelling.
Near the end of the trail, Gretchen got all
excited and took off to the side of the trail. I really wasn't
sure what was going on, till a turkey took flight out of its
hiding place in a fallen tree. The bird was really
quite large. Gretchen trotted back to the trail rather
proud of
herself.
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At the end
of the Bartol trail, we turn back towards the center of the
park and where the car is parked. The park is an active
farm, and they do have some fields. Down in the trees
across all those fields is where the creek
is.
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Walking across the
fields the dogs found a gopher hole. CJ had to check it
out.
And that was about it. Just another successful hike
with the mutts.
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