Travels with Charlie

Today was one of those days when I didn't have to run someone to an appointment, mow, fix something, or go anywhere. I decided to ask Rich if I could just take Charlie and head out to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.

He said he didn't care, he'd sleep anyway.

Sunday would be a 'get hay' day and unload the truck too. That is if I can handle that job again.

So without a guilty conscience, I packed a lunch and Charlie's crate into the 'Ru. I laid a towel out on the front seat for on the way back.
I grabbed two bottles of water.
Charlie made an inspection before we left.

Charlie doesn't really 'like' riding in the car much. He still gets car sick. Unless I hold him so he feels comfortable and can look out the window, it seems he gets car sick.

Off we went. Charlie made some gruesome noises in his crate about half way there. I pulled over to check and he'd just been sick. He then laid on the other side of his crate and gave me a dirty look.

We parked and headed across the parking lot and didn't get perhaps 10 feet before a little girl asked her mom if she could see Charlie. Charlie whined and wagged and even peed a bit he was so happy.
I was stopped 3 more times before we got out of the parking lot and onto the trail.
By now Charlie just was wagging and greeting everyone who asked to pet him.

Charlie was over his car sickness and ready to hike.

It was hot in the valley. We both quickly felt a bit overwhelmed by the heat. On the ridge there had been a nice breeze.

So I took Charlie where I knew we could cool off. Bridge 18 in KVR is covered and makes for a nice spot to rest.

Our picnic spot. Charlie had some water and some treats. I ate a sandwich.

The Kickapoo flowed under us, the breezes flowed through the bridge. And we were happy campers.

We finally cooled off and then headed back towards the ponds where we decided to turn around. It was getting hot again and I am not sure how a Pekinese X mini doxxie would handle the heat. Charlie was panting. I knelt in a spot of shade and gave him water for about the 3rd time on our hike.
He lapped it up and then tried to drink out of my water bottle.

His attention was taken by two young ladies walking towards us. I waited in the shade for them to pass.
Charlie stole the show again.

Charlie is loved I guess. I just sat back and beamed. It is nice to have such a well behaved young dog. His temperament and size make him very approachable.

It happened that the girls were also going back the way we were going so I asked if they minded if Charlie and I walked with them.

An adorable dog is an ice breaker indeed. We chatted and walked back to the  parking lot. I gave the girls some other places to visit and hike while they were visiting our area. They thanked me and Charlie and I left for our next stop.
The trail above the little known ice caves.

I think that only local folks know about this parking spot. Most any vehicle can get in and out. Of course, I was driving the 'Ru so... no problem.

We set off for the deep woods.

Charlie was a trooper, he was tired and walked slowly, so I gave him a lift.

We looked down on the ice caves which of course don't have ice in them this time of year. If you didn't know they were below you ... you'd never see them.

[Ice cave from last February...there is a hollow behind the ice.]

We got to the bluff and I had to really keep an eye on Charlie. He isn't as nimble as Morris was and I was afraid he'd try and go over the side of the rock to explore.

He did get stuck in that crack in front of him.

The view is never disappointing from this bluff.

We then stopped for another water break and I set up the Teddy Bear for some photos.

And this happened...

Charlie is always willing to help make trying to photograph this particular Bear very difficult.
I had to catch the bear so he wouldn't roll off the steep bluff.

Of course I figured this would happen. The middle photo was actually what I was looking for!

We headed back to the car. Charlie was tired and I carried him most of the way. Those short little legs aren't made for hard hiking in the heat.
I set him in the passenger seat and took this photo after we got to LaFarge.

He looks miserable doesn't he?

By the next stop sign, he was sacked out enjoying the a/c on the Subraru.

It took him only a few minutes to get back to himself when we got home.
I'm going to have to ask the vet if there is something I can give him for these jaunts we go on. He is a pleasure to have along.

And I'm going to invest in a booster seat. I think that will help a lot.

Charlie was fawned over by everyone he met. I'll bet I could have been dressed in a clown suit and no one would have noticed.

We had a great afternoon.
I'm looking forward to more short jaunts with Charlie.

Upset Tummy

The road to Duck Egg Park is twisted and bumpy. We were only about a mile from there when I heard Charlie get sick in the crate.

I couldn't stop or pull over. When descending Irish Ridge Road into the valley, there are really no shoulders to pull off on nor any room for error. It is steep and twisted with drop offs on one side and rocks on the other.

There was a big rig in the parking lot along with another Subaru. This lower lot also has room for a horse rig or two. Duck Egg has some incredible equine trails. If you like water crossings and steep hillsides, this would be the place.

Above is a map of the trails in Duck Egg. Hiking is allowed on the horse trails. Some of the trails would be extremely tough for a hiker, I've done them on mule back and the trails even gave our mules reason to pause.

After I parked, I got out Charlie's blanket and shook out the upchucked kibbles onto the ground. I attached Charlie's cord and we walked over to the Springville branch of the Bad Axe River. I just love that name. Bad Axe. It conjures up all sorts of thoughts.

Charlie was curious and I kept hold of the cord. The Bad Axe here is deep and very swift.

My intention was to walk with Charlie on his cord up the trail to the ponds.

The lower trail however is so deep in the valley that it was covered in snow. You can see by the tracks left by others that this is a popular place to walk. Charlie started to shiver and quiver so I picked him up and stuck him in my jacket.

We made it to the first foot bridge rather quickly.

I was hoping to set up the tripod and take a few interesting shots of the Bad Axe, but Charlie was a bit of a complication. I was pretty sure that he wouldn't be too curious to get into the small river, but then again, I wasn't sure.

I took a snapshot of the foot bridge and the equine crossing and moved on.

We got to the second bridge.

The waters are so clear. Even without polarized sunglasses you can see the rocks in the water.

Up and over the bridge we went to the ponds.

Charlie seemed to be doing quite well at this point so I set him down and walked into the cold wind. Charlie sniffed here and there and I had to watch him. Twice I caught him trying to wolf down old horse manure. I was pretty sure that wasn't something he should be eating.

We took a deer trail back over to the Bad Axe and I considered setting up some long exposures. I tied Charlie to a sapling to keep him out of the water while I pulled out my Nikon.

I took a few shots upstream and then downstream.

In my mind's eye, I had to try and imagine what this area would look like in a few weeks. Definitely worth a trip back without any hiking dogs.

I looked down and Charlie was trying to eat some plants. I told him no and packed up my camera.

We got back to the pond area and Charlie started acting as if he were going to retch again. I set him down and he began to eat icy snow. I offered him a drink of water from my bottle and he took some. Then he went back to eating crunchy snow and he started to quake.

Crap. I picked him up and faced the north wind that was blowing off the ponds and stuck him into my coat. Our adventure was done.

We crossed the foot bridge and got back into some shelter from the wind. Charlie retched and out came dog food and something slimy green. I poked at it with a stick.
Motion sickness and horse manure are probably not a good combination.

Charlie's puppy tummy was tight. He was miserable and I was worried.

Off we went, Charlie tucked in and me hiking hard and fast to get him back to the car.

We made it home without any more incidents. I drove carefully as to 'not' upset his tummy any more. When we got home Charlie spent most of the evening on my lap. He ate some kibbles and seemed to be doing fairly well by bed time.

This morning he is back to his mischievous self. Happy go lucky Charlie.

And it leaves me wondering if he will grow out getting motion sickness in his crate or not. It sure ruins an outing. I do know that he seems perfectly fine in a lap while traveling in a vehicle.

Perhaps there is another way of transporting him that is better for him yet safe for me as the driver.

I sure don't want Charlie crawling into my lap as I drive.

Charlie's upset tummy gave me quite a bit of worry.
I had one other dog who used to get motion sickness but she eventually grew out of it.

Next trip to Duck Egg.
It will probably be solo.

I didn't think those bridges would bring back such wistful memories, but they did...