Tuesday, March 13, 2012

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!

10 comments:

  1. Wow! You are an intrepid hiker. We are jealous of the hikes. But tell us,,,,,do you have to have a bath EVERY time? We would have to weigh the cost/benefit if that is the case.

    gussie n teka

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    1. It depends upon how muddy I get. On some hikes I get really muddy. I got muddy on this hike but then we walked across the river and I romped in the clean water so the mud got washed off and I didn't need a bath when I got home. Mom usually just brings me in the shower with her, so it's not too bad -- I just don't like the feeling of being clean.

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  2. Wow, that looks like so much fun! I've got to come on one of your hikes with you. I never get to do anything cool like that.

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    1. Casey, you would be welcome to join us! One of my best friends is half boxer and we have lots of boxer-lovers that we hike with!

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  3. Whew! I 'zausted just READING abouts your big adventure! I bet you slept for days and days afterwards, huh? But it sure looks like you had oodles of fun!

    Oh, and yes...you DO look good in mud!

    Wiggles & Wags,
    Mayzie

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    Replies
    1. That's what I like about Mondays -- I get to rest after the weekend's activities! We had LOTS of fun but I was VERY tired afterwards!

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  4. Ummmm...okay...I wrote a comment but I don't know if you got it or not. It just disappeared. So I'm gonna try again. Here goes...

    Wow! I'm 'zausted just reading abouts your hike! I bet you slept for days and days afterwards, huh? But it sure looks like it was FUN!

    And yes...you DO looks good in mud!

    Wiggles & Wags,
    Mayzie

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  5. Oh Garth - that really looks like the most awesome adventure at a special park...and with such wonderful friends too! :-)

    Slobbers,
    Honey the Great Dane

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  6. What a fun adventure! Too bad you didn't find any trolls :)

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  7. I am so jealous of all your streams and mud. We don't have any fresh water or even dirt down here. Also momma says she is not sure she could hike 9 miles but she knows I couldn't. It takes us 45 min to walk a mile because I have to sniff every leaf and twig! She thinks we would not even make it out of the parking lot before you pups we're long gone! Looks super fun though!

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