A Very Long One Mile Hike

This afternoon, after Mommy ran some errands and stuff and when she got home I told her I wanted to take a hike.  She said it was very hot out, comparatively speaking, and she didn't think I really wanted to do that.  I told her I did, she said, "Maybe later." I then proceeded to follower her around the house demand barking non-stop until she gave in.  She says demand barking is a VERY bad habit I've picked up, but I see no downside to it.  So, into the car we went and off to a forest preserve for a hike.

I was very excited to be at the preserve and I had to first check out all the sniffs

 Mommy took a picture of this bob-o-link while she was waiting for me to finish my sniffing.

 The dandelions were really putting on a show

 

I was about 1/4 of a mile into the hike when I decided that it was too hot to be hiking.

So I took a nice break.

 Mommy took a picture of these Canada geese while she was waiting for me to get up and hike again.

Then she started grumbling about her having told me it was going to be too hot for me.

We got to the second boardwalk and I wanted to swim, but there is no swimming in the water at this preserve because of all the water fowl.  Mommy and I were glad to see the water levels were up though considering this pond had totally dried out by last fall.

 Anyway, since I wasn't allowed to swim and it was so hot I decided to take another sit down. Right in the middle of the boardwalk.  People had to bike very carefully past me, but there was no way I was moving.

 

Mommy didn't grumble much about this sit down because she got to watch this blue winged teal come swimming by.

 Then he turned around and came back with his wife so Mommy could see her too.

After the teal show we got up and continued our hike.  When we got to the next bench I announced I was too tired to go on and we needed to take another long break.

Mommy sitting on the bench pour me some water

I took a nap under the bench for about a half hour while Mommy watched the bob-o-links some more.  

This guy was picking dandelions.  We don't know if he was eating the seeds or gathering the fluff for his nest, but he spent a long time picking them.

 

 Doesn't this one look coy?

 

 This guy was singing and showing off his colors for everyone to admire.

A lady came by and asked Mommy if I was okay and if Mommy had brought any water for me.  Mommy explained that I was fine, but I was almost 13 and I was just hot and tired.  She told her that I could do two miles last summer, but one mile seemed to be too hard this year and she thought maybe my summer hiking days were over.  The lady gave Mommy a dirty look and tsk tsked her for forcing such an old dog to go out on a hike.  Mommy held her tongue and did not say, "HE forced ME to come out on the hike, lady."

Anyway, after my nap we continued our walk. You can see how dusty I was from sleeping on the crushed gravel trail.

 About 1/2 way done

 

One more break was needed before we got to the trail head.

 

Mommy spotted this Northern shoveler shoveling while I was taking my last break.

When we got to the trail head Mommy stopped at the drinking fountain and filled my bowl up four times for me.  I drank about 1/2 a bowl each time and then she poured the rest over me and soaked my paws and ears to help cool me down.

I was very happy to snuggle up on my pillow and drive home.

But we didn't go straight home! Mommy drove me to the lake by our house and parked a few doors down from the swimming spot and we walked to the water so I could swim and get nice and cool.  I thought Mommy was crazy wanting me to take a walk, but as reluctant as I was to walk to the lake, I sure was happy to take a nice long swim and after the swim I thought we should walk into town for a Pupcup, but Mommy said no.  So instead we came home and I got a giant dog milk bone and another nice nap.

So, I only hiked one mile, but it took us two hours to complete.