Hubby and I had lots of time off over the Christmas/New Year’s holidays.  (I hope you did as well.)  Because of all the time off I was able to coerce Hubby into exploring a number of hiking areas all within a five minute drive from our house.

One of these places was a local reservoir that I refer to as Risley Pond, apparently it has been renamed Risley Park but it’s still got some nice trails that meander around the reservoir and there is a trail that leads up the mountain to a tower.

During this particular visit we decided to stay on the lower trails and not attempt the tower paths.

Delilah of course had to be on leash, but Sampson was able to be a trail blazer.  A role he has relished from his very first hike.  He absolutely adores being outside running through the woods.

We encountered a small group of men and teenagers who were working on building some bridges over areas where little streams run down from the mountains and feed the reservoir.  Sampson had to greet them and practically dragged Hubby through the stream, but Delilah could have cared less.  Of course it was impossible to get a photo of both dogs looking at the camera.  The small bridges are a great improvement, the last time we hiked here there were only rocks that were used as stepping stones to cross the brooks.

The trails start off on one side of the reservoir and wind their way behind it, when you come out on the other side, you need to navigate a small stream with rocks.  Delilah proved she was up for the job.

Once we crossed the stream and climbed a small hill the reservoir was in plain view.  It had small bits of ice on the surface of the water, but Delilah didn’t care.  She wanted in!

She saw a stick out in the water and was determined to retrieve it, but sadly dogs are not allowed in the water.  I’m not sure I would have let her in anyway because it was really cold!

She had to be content with walking along the retaining wall which holds the reservoir back.

Many people use this park to walk, jog, snow shoe, cross country ski, fish, ice skate etc.  There are few benches scattered about the park for the fishermen, or the people who just want to sit and grab a bit of the wild beauty that exists there.

And some dogs like it too.

Do you have a favorite park that offers all these recreational activities?  Do you have a Daring Delilah who likes to rock the boat?