Rainy Day Zen

I love rain, yes I am odd and...sure after more than a few hours it would be miserable, but to hike for a couple of hours in forests and trails it's relaxing, peaceful, and you feel like each breath you take is healthy and clean...if any of that makes sense!! Skipper, Kayla, Ever and her mum joined me today, and we moseyed round Parkhurst with varying amounts of rain falling on our heads! Not too many shots, rain and camera are not a good mix - but here is what I did get:

Noses down...tails up (unless you are Kayla then it's stick in mouth) and off we go!

Up we go - almost at the trail head...

...Must have been something small, furry and apparently tasty in there as Kayla and Skip did some forensic sniffing!

...mmmm what could it be Skip? Tail pluming, furry little jodhpur legs galloping about!

Into the forests we go!

Peakaboo Skip!

Over you go Ever...weeeeee!

Kayla takes a drink...look at her lovely shiny coat, I  love her flat paws too...they remind me in a way of bear feet, kinda splayed out. Dear doggy doo...I love her, such a sweetie pie!

We'll have to steer clear of this tree when the fall storms blow in...!

...none of us did!

Final shot...Skipper started a group gallop as he likes to do on a regular occasion...and round and round and round they went! Then the heavens really did open...so I put the camera deep in my pockets...and on we went! Three smelly wet tired and happy dogs will be asleep on their beds by now...and it's lunchtime for me, yipeeee! See ya next hike; ArOOOooOOOooOoooooOOOOOOO!

Woody and Maddy In Whistler!

Small dogs are the BEST!!! I had never thought that until I lived with Marley the Daschund, and spent time with other wee wonders in the dog hiking world...but small dogs have the funniest personalities, the best kick-ass attitudes, and make people smile everywhere they go. Woody and Maddy were no exception! Woody is a Chihuahua x Bulldog and Maddy is a Pom xYorkie x Shitzu, and they are not only the cutest dogs ever to look at, they are funny, fit, and very affectionate to hang out with! We went for an adventure around Lost Lake...at first on the main trails getting to know each other and having lots of sniffs and pets with other dogs, children, and the dog loving Whistler public...then we dipped out toes in the lake before heading off for some peace and some trail running around the Poler's Road trails and in the forests proper.

Maddy left, Woody right...sitting in the truck before our hike!

Off we go!

We sat on the grass for a while and got to know each other...Maddy is so affectionate, and really came out of her shell once she got to know me. Woody is a little firecracker too...and they wrestle like Gremlins together...it's so awesome to see! They both also love sticks, and although were on leash we had some good times playing about on and in the water...

They were keen to chase the duck that is just out of shot...

We made some great new friends and goofed off with a tennis ball...

And we had our pictures taken before deciding it was time to hit the forest trails..Good times, my friends...gooood times!!!

Maddy comes back to see what Woody is investigating...

Lord knows...but he was in there for a while until...

Playtime!! It was like lunging a couple of young colts...so fun!

Then on we ran...and these guys are in great shape! I feel they could just keep going and we were out for  just over 2 hours!

At certain points on the trail we would gallop up the berms made by bikers...Woody did this one solo so I could snap a shot of him! Atta boy Wood-man!

Quality time in the creeks...Maddy liked to play with rocks and they are both inquisitive little chaps - we poked about for a while in here, playing with sticks, rocks, and had some treats. As I type this Maddy is devouring a bone and Woody is attacking a stuffed animal...they are hanging out with me a little longer today, and they are squeaking and grrrrrr-ing at each other, then playing, then chilling out on the doggy bed...I am laughing as I type actually....dogs are awesome...what more can I say :) 

Heading for home...grr-ing at Squirrels and sniffing with a little Chihuahua called 'Gus Gus' that we met a the entrance to Lost Lake..these two seemed large in comparison! No photo of that as I was chin-wagging with the owner, but it was cool to chat to him all the other small dogs in town. I felt like a biker; you know when motorbikes pass each other on the road they nod...well small dog owners are the same - it's like us humans acknowledge we have 1 or 2 very cool little furry friends by our sides, and there is an unspoken smile and grin at times that says ..yeah...little dogs rock, and we all know it!

See ya next time Woody!! grrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Ramble On..!

My fave Zeppelin song as any regular readers will know, and once again the subject of a sweeeeet hike in our beautiful forests around Loggers. Bored somewhat with mooching the trails immediately around the lake, we galloped further afield to explore more riverside trails and sniffed about in some amazing old growth areas and played for a good while on a huge beach area beside the Cheakamus...it was goooood times, with three of my best dog buddies ever...Skipper, Kayla and Ever-bear. And we also bumped into a human friend of mine, with her two dogs right at the end of the hike, so a great dog party all round! Here are the shots:

Off we go! Ears flapping, tails swinging :)

Into the flowers...the Fireweed is dying off now, but still looks pretty

Ever and Skip say...Huh? We were running along and I stopped suddenly to 'capture' them galloping along trail, but had to fiddle to get the shot, so of course lost the 'mood' of it as they stopped to see what I was faffing about with! Ever's face cracks me up here...she's like, '...man that is going to look soooo lame now, this shot is not worth it really...' Skipper is saying 'Oh do come on , we're on a roll here!' and Kayla is just foraging for the perfect pine cone to throw at my feet!

Play time!!! Just noticed the huge rock in Ever's maw...we should keep an eye on her teeth!

Kayla looks so cute here! She was in Kayla heaven...swimming and having sticks thrown for her!

Skipper had some bizarre project of his own going on here...!

And Ever gives me a sideways look to suggest that I put the camera away and keep playing already!

So we dug some holes together and barked a lot...ha ha I am laughing as I type...it was so fun, I  LOVE this!

Skipper looks SOOOOOOO cute here!!

...As does Kayla...pretty girl! Ha ha - just noticed all the sand on her tongue...ew bet that tastes gross!

Got a pretty cool shor of Ever too...she finally sat still on a rock after playing her fizz out, and yes, I actually staged this one...she would never normally pose for long enough (unlike our male model Skip!) as she grumbles and gets bored! She was stoked here though, cookies are always a good way to bribe her - or me for that matter!!

Then it was time to stop buggering about and climb on...there were a bunch of trees down on this trail, so we skittered about on the bouncy forest litter, was so fun, and good for all our knees I should imagine!

Back on the road again...trotting for home...

Then we bumped into Chilli and Bean-Dog with their person!! They played about with the others and sat nicely at the truck for a photo with Ever, while Skip and Kayla loaded up and sat waiting for a treat before home and licking our faces as us humans chatted! Was a cooool hike as ever, with big goofy grins on all our faces..ArOOOOooooOOOoooOO!

Summer days...but can we smell fall already?!

Cassius, Skip and I had a lovely rage round Green Lake Loop today, and with a sprinkling of leaf litter on the trails I detected the slightest hint of fall...and a slightly chilly morning made me excited about skiing already! I love the changes of the seasons - keeps it all interesting! Anyway, back to the subject in hand...DOGS! Cassius was full of beans, leaping about and dancing at my side, Skipper was trotting along, raging with Cassius or barking at squirrels...loving life as he does the little darling! They were both a pleasure to hang out with as always. Here are the shots:

Ready for the off..some sitting in the truck practice...10 out of 10 to them both, especially with added distractions all around them in the squirrel form! Good boys!

Into the sunshine we go - check out Cassius bowing to Skip before they gallop, and Skip's tail plumed up ready to roll!

Dogs on logs...a little refreshment en route

Up we go...noses stuck to the ground, tails waving erratically as each sniff gets more interesting!

I LOVE this! We pretty much ran all the way to the lookout point (My glutes are stiff already, yikes!) and as we stopped on the rock for a breather, a plane landed, Skip struck a manly smouldering eye pose and Cassius gave us a striking profile shot - awesome!! 

...then  we got dirty! Raging about we went looking to see how the new trail was coming on further North...there was actually a bunch of workers on site so we kept going on the original trail before I realised the time and we had to gallop back up! I was kinda wishing I could stay all day with them and join up with our Wedge trails...but alas, more sensible jobs had to be done, sigh....one day, we will rock it all the way! Any takers from owners ? - all welcome!

Skip doing his 'special eyes' as I throw sticks for them to encourage a swim to clean up and re hydrate after our mad gallop down...was so fun! See you all tomorrow, AROOOooooOOOOOoo!

Galloping About

Middy, Kayla, and I sprung out of the truck and off we went today...! Just the three of us, good times, lovely sunshine...her are the shots!

Dogs on logs ha ha! They knew treats would follow this little stunt!

Galloping on...!

Slowing down a bit...must be time for a swim!

LOVE this shot of Middy..she skitters about before having her dip...

...whereas Kayla gets right in there!

Stick time! Stubby cigar type sticks suit Middy, Kayla loves any kind!

The start of our big climb...we bypassed the lake to wrap around the first section of Crater Rim, I figured that would get some of the fizz out!

Up we go...SUCH a beautiful day!

Teetering a little close to the edge there Kayla? Only if you are human I guess...four legs are way more stable, and she just had to check out the lovely view of the lake!

Break Time - enjoying the view of the valley...glorius!

Ha! A Stoked Middy in the sunshine :)

...and a stoked Kayla, a beloved stick in her jaws, ears flying in the breeze!

Back in for a swim...splashing for kayla and skittering from Middy-moo!

Ahhh lovely!

Middy gets a biccy...love this shot too!

Then tongues lolling we head back downhill...

Enjoy a final dip in the Cheakamus...

Then cuddles, a treat and home! Middy was so funny, up and down like a yo yo...she's so food oriented! Atta girl :) - see you all next hike, ArooOOOOoooooOOooo!