A Hike in the Woods

   Another short jaunt to distance ourselves from the summer heat of Texas and where do we end up but a trail in the woods near Taos, New Mexico. We are all getting a little slower and Kimo no longer wants to run up the trail in front of the group but he still enjoys sleeping in the cool forest grass. No matter what is going on in life, a walk on  a trail thru a cool forest always rejuvenates the soul.

A freshly fallen aspen leaf.

A view of the creek with cool mountain water.

Mule deer stare at the company. 

Kimo taking a cool nap.

A family picture Kimo Patty and Yoda in the woods.

Big Yawns

   Spending the day outside kind of tops whatever I am doing. For more than ten years I have drug my buddy Kimo along on adventures from the beaches in Baja to mountain peaks in Colorado. A few years ago Kimo got a new friend Yoda who is not as into the outdoor jaunts. Secretly I think Kimo is kind of glad because now as he gets older he gets to hang out and play guard dog for his little friend and send me off on my own. Regardless, at the end of a long day in the Santa Fe National Forest we all seem to be a little worn out and ready for a nap.

Just a little tired all the way around.

Snow Bombing

I am not sure what the really name for it is, but Kimo and I call it snow bombing. It comes out of nowhere, scares him to death and gives you an instant brain freeze. It turns out to be another one of those hidden winter time dangers after a really heavy snow fall. You walk along a path and as the sun warms the pine boughs, they drop their loads of snow on unsuspecting victims. After hearing a few go off and having some drop on his head, Kimo decided he did not want to venture away from the road where he could see the clearing.

Daily Discovery

Rather than just going on a dog walk this morning, I took Kimo on an exploration of the banks of the Trinity River near the Joint Reserve Base formerly known as Carswell. The folks at Stream and Valleys have actually made access to what is called the Falls on the Trinity really easy, so the dog did not even have to get his feet dirty. Operative words are "have to". Of course he loved it, even with the big snakes, snapping turtles and slimy algae he was skittering across the tops of what is a nice little drop creating a cascading fall on a tributary of the West Fork of the Trinity River.

A good little adventure and he came back mouthing to all his friends how he was in the country, even if we never got more than a stones throw from civilization.

Big Cheese

He hangs around most days on the living room couch, grumphs a little if he hears someone move. The only time he does anything strenuous is when the mail man comes. Then it gets a little crazy with all the barking and running from room to room.

Obviously he is just saving his energy for road trips and hikes in fields. Spent the day taking pictures in Cresson, Texas and Kimo got to go along. Judging by the smile on his face I guess he does not like bluebonnets. He was diligently romping around trying to step on as many as possible.

I think they got the last laugh though, he sprained his foot and spent the next couple of days limping.