Sometimes when Sampson chooses our morning walk he heads up the hill. When he does this he usually has only one destination in mind, the woods. Weekday mornings I sadly have to tell him, “Another time buddy” or “That’s our afternoon walk”. Our morning walks really have to be timed so I can be ready for work, so sadly that leaves us little time for the woods at that time of day.
It’s been so hot and humid lately, not to mention all the neighborhood dogs we’ve had to dodge, that I thought Sunday morning would be a good time for a morning walk in the woods.
Typically we stay on the easy to moderate trails, but the dogs love going deep into the woods. We hadn’t been on the harder trails since before Sampson tore his ACL (which was over 18 months ago), I’m not really sure what possessed me, but the dogs headed that way and I followed them.
I’m not saying it was a mistake, but I will say it wasn’t my most enjoyable walk either. Here’s why.
The bugs swarm me like the drunks swarm the all night diner at 2:00 am. I swatted at the bugs so damn many times I looked like a windmill in the middle of a hurricane. If a plane flying overhead could have seen me through the tree cover, they would have staged a rescue.
Delilah has a tendency to ‘cover’ her business when she goes. She does this by using those lethal back feet of hers and kicking whatever she can find over her ‘stuff.’ Apparently Delilah has no depth perception because she will walk twenty feet away and then without warning, let loose with the dirt. No matter how carefully I watch her, she usually catches me at least once. Sunday was no exception. It had rained Saturday night so the leaves and dirt were wet. She got me twice. I’m pretty sure at least once, my cursing at her was heard on the rail trail.
Typically I wear socks when I hike, but it was hot. And humid. So I just threw on my sandals and out we went. Remember how I said the leaves and dirt were wet? Yeah. She got my feet.
I love hobbits, but that doesn’t mean I want my feet to look like they belong to one.
These trails have some steep hills. Heading down I’m constantly saying easy, take it easy because I don’t want to lose my footing and pull a Jill on the hill. God only knows how long I’d lie there if I broke my ‘crown.’
And how pray tell, would I swat those bugs away? And what are the odds the rescue plane would seeing my lying down?
There is still a covering of leaves on the trails as well as pebbles, small rocks and sticks, monitoring your down hill speed is imperative.
Delilah hikes like she’s the lead dog running the Iditarod, it’s worse if Sampson is on leash, because they are competing to see who gets to the smells first.
Did I mention it was hot and humid? Even at 9:30 am, in the shelter of the woods, it was hot and humid. After about 10 minutes of hiking Sampson was lagging.
The trails are narrow and don’t provide the room that walking on the road does. Delilah had my arm as stretched out as it could be and Sampson was between Delilah and me, straggling along. Trying to keep up with Delilah while not kicking or taking out Sampson became an entirely new challenge.
Notice how he’s slightly behind her? It got worse.
Eventually I was so concerned I’d kick him, I had to let him off leash.
Of course, once he was off-leash he had the energy to run ahead.
Come on peeps, keep up.
By the time we hit the field, I was pretty well done. I’d swatted at about 500 bugs, been covered in dirt twice, was dripping sweat in places I didn’t even know COULD sweat, and I’m pretty sure my left arm is longer than my right one from being pulled hither and yon.
Maybe playing neighborhood dodge dog isn’t as bad as I originally thought.
Oh no that does sound sort of miserable! Bugs and humidity! I’d probably buy my dogs a treadmill. LOL!
I actually did pretty much what you were talking about (pulling a jill on the hill) on Sunday and I’m so sore! It sucked! It wasn’t the dogs fault or anything it was just stupid slippery but so not fun. So I totally relate to you being cautious and you went!
I trip over my own feet, so I don’t need any help from wet leaves and dirt. But I feel your pain.
I think you’d better use your right arm next time, to keep up with lefty! Otherwise we’ll have to start calling you “Stretch!”
Bugs are the worst and dogs that kick up dirt are a close second. Luckily, none of us do that, but other dogs we sometimes walk do and it makes Mom crazy! We do our long walks in the morning and some days it means Bailie runs, then Mom walks Katie and I. Let’s say, these days she is late for work pretty much all three days she has to go to the office because she runs out of time, but she doesn’t want to walk later because it is so dang hot out. Humans need to quit working in the morning and walk dogs. That would be my solution.
Bwa ha ha!
But you made so many, so happy–Sampson, Delilah, the bugs, us.
Surely that makes it all worth it.
Er! Not nice! 🙁
I can usually get 99% of the bugs to not bother me with Deep Woods Off – but I usually forget to apply it to my scalp and those gnats and mosquitoes go to town. I still have red bumps on my head from where they got me almost 2 weeks ago. You know, I really want a yellow lab some day, but you have me rethinking that dream…
Oh, an early Sunday morning walk in the woods sounded so nice! I guess it will be much nicer in the fall. I like to walk early when I can too, but the bugs are definitely at their worst that time of day. They definitely take the fun out of everything.
There was a time when I really envied your having a woods to walk your dog.
I forget why…
The things we go through because we love our dogs – LOL! I don’t understand why they like to be ahead of each other. When Lila and I walk with my daughter and her dog, it’s like they’re racing. It must be to see which one can get to the best smells first, just like you said!
Hi Jodi, all three of you appear to be or did enjoy your walk. 🙂
I remember those kind of walks with our dogs, and have to admit, I kind of miss them. With the two houses built on the adjoining lots, we no longer do adventures off our property. Which does have its advantages–However, I’m still swatting bugs even if I just step off the porch.
Sure does not sound fun. Hopefully cooler weather is headed your way.
Oh no, that didn’t sound like a lot of fun. Haley loves when the bugs are really bad in a section of woods, because that’s the only time I’ll jog, haha!
I know I’m behind in reading, sorry. But after being resuscitated for laughing till I was blue in the face and barely able to breath (not laughing at you mind you, well ok, maybe just a little), I know what you mean about dirt and bugs-blech. Hopefully the windmill has calmed down and those nasty little buggers gone off to feast on some other poor soul. You crack me up, girl! 🙂
what a great walk, and funny, love your feet you should see my feet after I feed the ducks, yuck!
OK so you’re right that doesn’t sound like the funnest walk ever. What is it about dogs covering up their stuff from 20 feet away? Laika does that occasionally and I just want to tell her “not even close, buddy.”
It’s been miraculously bug free this week around here, I can only hope it’s headed your way soon.