Old place revisited

 

Above 👆

Photo of Rich on his beloved mule Fred.

21 years ago in the fall.

It has been a while since I visited the Wildcat Mountain State Park 'horse trails'. A person can hike those trails but I've never done that.

I've avoided taking hikes on the horse trails because of ... well, I thought the memories of us riding our mules there would be too painful.

Hannah and I set out on foot. It felt weird to navigate the trails on my own. Before I always had Rich as the navigator. He never seemed to need a map, he seemed to always know exactly where he was. 

I decided to explore the horse trails by foot since I have a trailer --but no truck to pull it. Nor do I have the skill to be confident in turning our large trailer around.

Even though I haven't been down these trails in a long time certain places just hit me with bittersweet memories. [Those are shown above]

We rarely had to chat when we rode. Rich was quiet, unless he was calling his chosen mule a name. Fred was sure his name was 'Goddamitfred'. We'd laugh about that all of the time. 

We packed a lunch of ring bologna, cheese, and Ritz crackers. We brought water along to wash it down. We often stopped at a spot called Johnny Cake to have our picnics.

Sunshine is the 'butt' on the right.

Today, it was just Hannah and I. 

We ran into a couple of lady riders that were trying to avoid Johnny Cake and get out to the Yellow Trail. I helped them navigate and gave them the second copy of the map I'd taken at the park entrance.

I spent a long time at Johnny Cake. 

I sat on that very same picnic table and let my mind wander into fond memories.

I thought that Memory Lane would make me sad. It didn't, it made me smile with remembering all the good times we had while mounted.

Life in the saddle was always so sweet. After all, that is how we met. 

Hannah and I enjoyed the trails and the deep forest trails we walked through. Everything was new to my 'feet' since I'd never walked any of these trails before. We just walked along and enjoyed everything we were seeing.

The memories were sweet and endearing.

Hannah and I got back to where I'd parked and sat down to have some water and snacks.

We will go back soon.

It is a place of fond memories and a place where we can create new ones.

Not only that...there are still 14 more miles of trails we can explore by foot.

Relaxing trip to Wyalusing

We decided to go on a hike to Wyalusing State Park. There was a fair breeze and I figured we could stick to the shaded trails up on the bluff to take advantage of the shade and the light breeze.

With all the bright greens, I thought it would be fun to limit myself to my Infrared camera and shoot IR black and white.

I did bring a filter that allowed the camera to shoot in regular light. The greens and the sunlight through the trees were stunning.

The contrasts in B&W IR are startling. The 850nm light spectrum
shows green as white which gives the whole world a different look.
This filter also shows water and skies as black, and highlights barely perceptible clouds in the sky.

These are shots from deep in the woods from the Sentinel Trail.

This trail is has some demanding areas to negotiate.

The best part of this hike was being able to sit on some rocks and just have some peace and quiet while listening to the forest around us. Charlie enjoyed the rests, Hannah wanted to keep going.

I had brought plenty of water and snacks for the dogs to keep them occupied while we just chilled out.

In these shots, one can see how Hannah compares to Charlie. She weighs the same as Charlie, but Charlie is a small compact dog that has the Dachshund build and muscular body.

Hannah is slender, long, and taller. She looks as though she was built for running.

Her terrier energy seems boundless.

When we got to the 'stairs' I had to be cautious. The dogs are supposed to stay on a leash and I used the double leash. Hannah wanted to rush down the stairs and Charlie had to take one at a time. I may have to figure out a different way to handle that next time.

The double leash worked great until Charlie got tired.

At that point, I pulled out a separate leash for Charlie so Hannah wasn't pulling him.

More stairs!  👇

Our 5 mile route took us down to the boat launch at the Mississippi River.

We spent more time relaxing at the launch and cooling off to take the hike back up to the ridge top.

Hannah was in heaven when I tossed sticks into the river. She does everything with a certain amount of pure exhilaration. 7 seconds of fun....

Charlie got warm and tired on our way back up the Long Road. I tried to stick to all the shady spots, but at one point, Charlie just sat down and looked up at me. I can't refuse my pal so we took more breaks and a few times I lifted him up and carried him.

This is the Long Road ~ 

Seriously, that is the name of this trail/road that leads to a boat launch on the river at Wyalusing State Park. I walked this last fall with Charlie and was struck by the beautiful gentle curves through the forest.

November 3, last year...
It is amazing how different times of year
and the light changes the look of places!

Our last stop was a picnic table overlooking the overlook.

We had a fun trip and were tired enough for short naps when we got home.

I was relaxed and ready for the workers to show up on Thursday and my meeting with the person who has been our Financial Consultant for 14 years. 

Quiet long hike with doggies

Thursday

It was a ... day...

Instead of going right away in the morning like I do on some days I hike, I waited until later in the day to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. 

I used my 'hiking' vest to carry the essentials. Water and doggy snacks. I wasn't going to take Charlie, but the look he gave me was so pathetic, I did anyway. 

I ended up carrying Charlie for nearly half of our hike. I've done that before when it was too warm for him. Short legs put him close to the ground and the reflective heat coming off the ground makes him hot.

He was either too warm or just being a Dachshund who decided he wasn't going to work very hard. 

I should have left him at home. But in the end, they both enjoyed the adventures so much. After all, I wasn't trying to set a record, but just move along.

It was just one of those afternoons that were meant to enjoy the surrounding forest. I was so happy I did go. The Trillium were all over the place. 

I stopped a lot to just enjoy the sights and sounds. At other times, we marched right along. At one point, I dropped Charlie's light line and he simply ran ahead as if he were a pup. I had to trot with Hannah to keep up.

I found so many patches of  Dwarf Ginseng. I often forget what it looks like and have to use Google Lens to ID it.

There were patches of invasive Garlic mustard that I picked and put in a plastic bag to turn into the Reserve at the end of our hike. [I have used young garlic mustard as seasoning and it is good, maybe next year I'll dehydrate some and crush it for seasoning]

I have a hard time destroying Dame's Rocket. It is just too pretty. 

That tiny black blob on the trail is Charlie. I got tired of carrying him or trying to drag him along. He followed at his own pace through the pine forest. During the ground bird nesting season, I do keep him close and use his beeper collar to keep him from seeking out nests.

He sure does have the stubbornness his Dachshund and Pekinese parents. He does things *His Way*. I love it.

This beautiful trail is one of the most hiked ones on the Reserve ... well, hiked, equine riding, and bike riding that is.

Here is the Kickapoo River which has gone down in its water level since our last hike through here on April 27th.

When we finally reached that last leg of our hike on Old 131, Charlie perked up and set the pace. We stopped here at this pond to watch Canada Geese and Goslings swimming. We saw what I think was a Beaver peeking at us before it disappeared into a mound of sticks in the opposite pond.

If anyone is wondering why I have beeper collars on the dogs, it is in case I drop their leash and they decide to chase through the underbrush. I can beep them back to me. It is a safety measure for them. I lost Charlie in my forest for an hour when he was a pup. 

I trained him long time ago [and Hannah now] to come when beeped. It is never a punishment.

Oh and if you haven't guessed it by now. I think my life is ruled by my dogs and mules. Dogs and mules don't lie to you or BS you. They are honest as the day is long.

And ... they are without a doubt always thinking that their purpose in life is to be my friends.

--------

Miles hiked: 9.84
Time? Not an issue, but nearly 4 hrs with lots of breaks

Gear: Merrill running/hiking Janii shoes [not as good as my other ones, but no sore feet]

Temperatures averaged 75 F

Steps? Most steps in a day according to Garmin. Huh: 28,622

[that must include my chores, checking fences, sunrise walk, and whatever else I did during the day]

How did I feel? Uffdah. Well, my low back hurt from carrying Charlie a lot. Iced later.

Hannah: full of energy all of the way
Charlie: was himself, *don't rush me!*
 

Controlled Chaos

Some days I wonder why I thought 2 dogs were better than one. The extra demands, the extra attention, the extra training, and the extra effort along with considerations seem in some moments --- a stupid decision.

Then after a day of yard work, play, and walks, the 2 of them fall sound asleep next to me as I read a book on the couch.

And I know... 

 My blood pressure drops low, my heart rate slows, my heart fills with something warm. 

My longer hikes are slowed to an older dog pace while the pup races back and forth on her line that is tied to my belt.

The slow, quiet walk allows me more time to stop and look. There is no hurry. Charlie doesn't hurry when the weather is warm. He even asks for me to carry him so his short legs can take a rest [or he is tricking me into giving him a ride!].

Hannah bounds into quite a few photos that I try to take of the wild spring flowers. But she is learning that usually what I am looking at is nothing that is interesting enough to chew on, eat, or roll in.

Bellwort

Fern Curls

Jack in the Pulpit

Wild Ginger

The Crooked Kickapoo

Mayflowers

We take about 4 hours to explore the trails. I keep thinking I should hurry up and then I remember that I don't have to rush.

There is so much to look at on these out of the way trails.

The dogs get a drink and a dunk
in the foundation of an
old artesian well house.

We head back to the parking area and I think...

Maybe the chaos isn't so bad. 

It is keeping my mind busy and my body active.

Charlie goes to his side of the car and waits. I put him in his car seat and he settles down for a nap. Hannah tries to climb into the car too, she is ready to fall asleep in her crate.

When we get home the two dogs get up on the porch bench and watch me do yard work and hang out laundry.

I eventually join them on the bench and open my book on Hiking Wisconsin. I turn down pages of trails I am interested in and are labeled 'Dog Friendly'. 

Maybe this two dog thing is really worth it.