The hike begins at the top of my road, where we enter the woods on a narrow muddy trail which soon widens to an old access road - Crofton Lake used to be the water source for the village. It is a gradual uphill climb - enough that we have to stop to rest once or twice, but not so much to create discomfort.
Uphill climb
Drew stops for a dip and a drink
Hiking through filtered sunlight
Twenty minutes later we emerge from the trees and onto the dike that frames the lake.
At the lakeThe lake is encircled by trees, hills and distant mountains, and one can imagine oneself miles from civilization. It reminds me of the many backpacking trips I did in my pre-arthritis days, where nights were spent under the stars or in a teeny tent on the shores of a remote lake. Light reflects on water and mirror images of trees, reeds, and even dogs appear. My friend Mary (Tarben's mom) sent me these two amazing shots:
Reflections of reeds (Photo by Mary)
Reflections of dog
(Photo by Mary)
The dogs run around, chasing each other in the clearing by the dike or swimming in the chilly water.
Kabuki, Archie and Tess having fun
Let's play!
A favourite activity for the water dogs
Tess dives, Vimy watches
(Photo by Mary)
Splash down!
The dogs frequently run back to find their human, checking in and looking for treats:
VimyWe stay for an hour, chatting, taking photos, watching dogs having fun. Then back down the trail (there is a longer circular route, but it is a bit too much for my old dogs so we have only taken it once) to where the cars are parked. Happy, tired dogs head home where they will nap for the rest of the day.
I'm pooped!
Can we go home now?
The End
5 comments:
A lovely series of posts! Tarben and the log! Mary's flying dog (and parallel universe below)! The three stooges...er, wolfhounds... lined up to go home! (My dear friend used to say her deerhound was a 45-mile-per-hour couch potato--Even part-greyhound Sandy is only good for brief spurts of extreme energy, then she's done!)
It's great that the group of you, both human and canine, can have such pleasant times together.
I envy your shirt-sleeve weather, though it has wormed up enough here that I plan to try to ride at least once this weekend...
Great pictures, Jean. You captured the combination of tranquility and exhilaration beautifully! I loved the action shots, and the water droplet splashes and the reflections. The "Reflections of Dog" were amazing! Was the reflection of the sand?
Carol, in Reflections of Dog, Tess is mid-air, leaping into the water (from the dike) and that is her shadow on the surface of the water below. No sand there right now - the water is very high, right up to the grass part of the bank.
Evensong, I know what you mean about Sandy - my friend's whippet runs like the wind but is a total couch potato when he stops! Nothing is done in moderation.
Great photos -- particularly the "action" shots. I wonder what a car full of wet deerhounds smells like?
Deb S.
Jean that is a wonderful picture of Vimy.
Wet wolfhound smell is an unknown as they only get their legs wet.LOL
Else
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