An Easter Hike

It got up into the high 70s today! Needless to say Mommy and I decided we needed to go for a hike.  Mommy chose the river hike because it is usually cooler there than on the other trails and we aren't used to the warmer weather yet. We were glad we chose it because even by the river it was quite warm since none of the leaves have come out yet.

 

 The turtles were awake

Mommy and I hiked for about a half mile and then I thought maybe I should ride in the stroller. I wasn't sure though so Mommy waited for a bit while I thought it over.

Debating about riding

I rode for about a mile and then we got to the park where we stop to have lunch. I barked to get out and we walked to the benches by the river to eat. They were packed with people, but we waited and eventually the people left and we got to sit down and have our lunch. After the lunch I walked for a bit more and then decided I wanted to ride again, so back in the stroller I went. We hiked for awhile and then Mommy spotted a small snapping turtle trying to cross the bike trail. Mommy was worried the turtle would get hit by a bike since the trail was so busy today so we sat by it for a while so Mommy could stop the bikes if it went onto the trail, but the turtle didn't want cross while we were there so we moved on.

 Hi turtle! Are you looking for somewhere to lay your eggs?

 Close up!

We kept on going until we got to the park where dogs aren't allowed and then Mommy decided to turn around. I told her I wanted to walk again when she turned around so I got out and walked about one mile.

 We noticed the beavers have been busy improving their lodge

I walked for about a mile and then wanted to ride again, so back in I got. I got mad when Mommy stopped pushing the stroller to take some pictures, but she wanted to get a shot of the blue-winged teal because they have come back for the summer.

 Blue-winged teal

When we were almost back to the trailhead a little brown bat flew overhead. Mommy was surprised to see him since it was about 2 hours before sunset, but he may have just migrated back in, or he might be a bit desperate for food since the bugs aren't out much yet and it is still getting very cold at night. Then we saw some big bunnies in the woods.

Can you spot the big bunny?

There he is!

When we were about a 1/4 mile from the trailhead I decided I wanted to hike so I got out and walked back to the car.

Total miles hiked by me: 2.1   Total miles riding in stroller: 4.2  Total miles hiked: 6.3

A Hike Between Storms

We had a thunderstorm last night, but it had stopped when we woke up this morning. Mommy woke up first and said, "Do you want to come get the paper with me?" I opened one eye and then quickly closed it. Mommy got up and got dressed and came back into the bedroom and said, "I'll drive. You can come for the car ride." I responded by getting up, walking over to her side of the bed and flopping back down with my head on her pillow. Mommy went and got the paper by herself then she made us breakfast and I got up for that, but then went back to bed.

After she finished reading the paper Mommy came to find me and said, "It is going to rain this afternoon. Do you want to go for a hike now?" I opened one eye, groaned and flopped over onto my side. Mommy said, "Well you have to at least take a walk and go potty, so get up." I reluctantly got up and took a one mile walk with Mommy and then curled up on my porch bed and went back to sleep.

Around 1:00 I woke up and started barking at Mommy because I had decided I DID want to take a hike. Mommy looked at the weather radar and said, "Well, we only have about 2 hours before the next storm hits so we'll have to go somewhere close. She picked a short hike that close to home and packed up the car and off we went.

This is the only patch of trees on this hike so Mommy thought a cool overcast soon-to-rain day was a good one for this trail

I hiked the first 3/4 mile and then decided I wanted to ride in the stroller. There were lots of chorus frogs peeping and red-winged blackbirds calling despite the weather being so overcast.

I got mad when Mommy stopped to take pictures of these birdhouses. 

We don't know who they are for, but nobody is going to be able to move in if they don't close them up.

Mommy pushed me in the stroller for a mile and we took a side trail off the main trail for a bit, but then the cold front came in and Mommy decided we had better head back to the car. When she turned the stroller around I barked that I wanted to get out and hike so she let me out and we continued on.

There was a nice little creek hidden by some trees on the side trail

Mommy thought for sure I would tire out after a half mile or so and want to get back in the stroller, but I didn't.

Me plugging along.

I walked the whole way back. It started to rain when we had about 1/2 mile to go and I glared at Mommy because it is always her fault when it rains on our hikes, but we made it back to the car and I got to get inside before the rain started to do more than drizzle. Mommy got a bit wetter because she had to take apart the stroller and pack it up. She should have thought of that before letting it start to rain on us.

Miles hiked by me: 2.25  Mile riding in the stroller: 1  Total miles hiked: 3.25