Her relations with Lamar have not improved, so rather than risk a blowout in the confined space of the van we left Lamar at home to relax. We didn't feel too bad about it, as we'd taken Lamar with us for a fun day at Aunt Nancy's the day before.
Genghis was there too, and he's not Lamar's favorite person, but those two have figured out how to coexist.
So while Lamar rested, we drove up past Baltimore to one of the parcels of Gunpowder Falls State Park.
I have fond memories of that park, as we went there for my birthday in 2008. I'm pretty sure that was the birthday when we spent the night before in the van in a Wal-Mart parking lot, as it was the only place we could find to park after being awakened at 2 am by a couple of park police and their flashlights and realizing we had parked right in front of a NO CAMPING - DANGER sign by some sort of power plant.
That night, for the first and last time, I felt that Wal-Mart really DOES have some redeeming value.
In any case, we went to Gunpowder Falls on my birthday and had a delightful hike over huge boulders with Tashi and Lamar and our foster dog at the time, whose name was Foster.
We waded in the river and then sat by it and had sandwiches and champagne.
This time, we drove to a section that is closer in but no less beautiful.
We learned that Blue is good in the car, and always ready for a smooch.
Once we were on the vast network of trails in the park, Blue was excited to get on the trail but still pretty good on the leash.
She had no particular reaction to the cows we went by at one point on the trail (unlike her friend Fozzie).
We must have hiked for miles in the sweltering, positively Amazonian heat and humidity, and were looking forward to cooling off in the tantalizing Gunpowder River we could glimpse through the trees way at the bottom of the ridge we were hiking.
Bafflingly though, once we got to it we discovered the water was absolutely frigid! Blue wasn't the only one reluctant to go in.
Our legs tingling, we hiked back out and somehow found our way through the network of trails back to the van.Blue slept the whole way home and Fozzie smashed himself against the windows at parked cars a little less energetically than usual.
What a beautiful place!
looks like a beautiful and relaxing trip. Probably best to leave Lamar home
ReplyDeleteBenny & Lily
Very beautiful! What a wonderful outing!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful day. You have quite a few funny lines and observations in this post. Found myself chuckling throughout. You have a good attitude.
ReplyDeleteHi Y'all!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun and good time was had by all this weekend!
Have a great week!
Y'all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
What a beautiful place, it sounds like Blue and Lamar have some work to do though. :-)
ReplyDeleteWow - amazing pictures! What a great hike!
ReplyDeleteThat's really funny - sleeping next to a power plant! Glad the police moved you along though - wouldn't want to wake up with an extra appendage now, would you? ;)
I'm still laughing at your Wal-Mart line and imagining Fozzie smashing himself against parked car windows. HUH? What a nutty dog! ;) X
ReplyDeleteWell, he actually smashes against the windows of our van, as we are driving, every time we pass a parked car. Or a lamp post, or a mailbox, or a moving car. They must look like really fast-moving prey species to his fevered brain.
DeleteI know, it makes me laugh too:)
Hi Kirsten, very nice trip. Thanks for taking us along :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like Blue loved her first hike! Tell Fozzie it's okay he didn't do well seeing the cows, my dogs would have gone ballistic. I'll never forget the first time we saw horses up close. I was actually holding Madden at the time and I even fell on my butt!
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed your pictures. I used to go swimming and tubing there when I was a kid.
ReplyDelete