Pocahontas State Park is HUGE!

On Sunday we went for a hike at Pocahontas State Park with my buddies Hero, Willow, King Ozzy, Hannah, and their respective humans/chauffeurs. We wanted to hike to the dam because I've never seen the dam before and we wanted to hike on the trails less-traveled. We started at the boat ramp, which is a different place than where we normally start, and we hiked on trails that were totally new to me and my mom.  This was our route.

Hero arrived at the hike in style, in a Jaguar convertible! He is quite obviously accustomed to luxury!

Hero and his mom

Mom made me pose in the flowers while waiting for everyone to arrive.

Mandatory photo in a scenic location

It was a beautiful day - warmer than it has been in months - but luckily we passed several small streams and nice muddy places where we could cool off.

Willow and Ozzy

Wallowing in the mud with Ozzy

Willow

Cooling off

I look good in mud

I looked for trolls under the bridge.

Looking for trolls under the bridge

And found a stick.

Stick!

We walked for miles and miles and miles. This park is HUGE!  I don't think the humans knew where we were or where we were going. They said the trail markers were confusing.  Finally, we came to the dam.

Dam

Below the dam, the water was beautiful and felt great (well, it felt great to us dogs; the humans may disagree).

Romping in the water below the dam

Hero romping near the dam

Hannah wasn't as interested in romping in the water

We talked to some mountain bikers who were taking off their shoes to walk their bikes across. They said it wasn't very deep and the rocks were less slippery in the wintertime.

Watching to see if the mountain biker would make it
Willow says "Come on!"

When the mountain bikers made it across without incident, our humans decided to walk across rather than hike the 6 or so miles back. Mom said the water was kind of cold, but it was really no big deal compared to the January hike that required 8 river crossings of icy streams when the air temp was hovering around 31 degrees F.

Sharing a sniff with Hannah

We walked a couple more miles, then Hero's daddy picked us up in the Hero-mobile and took us back to our cars because it was getting late and we had already hiked almost 9 miles (and I'm not entirely sure we could have found our cars at that point.)

It was very exciting riding in the Hero-mobile -- mom and I had to share the front passenger seat, so I got to sit on the floor! Somehow we fit 6 humans and 5 dogs in the van. Mom said we looked like clowns at a circus when we started piling out.

Hannah rested on her mommy's legs during the car ride back

Ozzy enjoyed the ride in the Hero-mobile

I shared the front passenger seat with my mom

When it came time to go, Ozzy insisted that HE ride in the Jag, since it was more fitting for him as the King.

Where is my driver?

I'm ready to go now

All in all, it was a GREAT hike!!! River crossings, humans not sure where they are going, having to be rescued by Hero's dad, and getting to ride in the Hero-mobile all added an extra level of excitement. I'm ready to do it again!

Another GREAT hike!

Many thanks to Hero's mom for another GREAT hike and to Hero's dad for interrupting his Sunday afternoon activities to come rescue us. If it weren't for him, we might still be hiking!