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After a long day of hiking, our tongues are hanging.
And that results in serious napping time on the drive home.
And Kodiak's pillow does not seem to be moving on him.
As we were approaching the house, the humans looked out and saw this sunset. What a great ending to a perfect day.
The weather was beautiful Sunday. The rains from Saturday had passed and the temperatures were very pleasant. So we spent the day outdoors and hiking on trails. The Herd will attest that the black and blue berries are terrific at the moment.
Kodiak has a real eye (or nose) for exactly where the best berries are - a perfect example of a "drive-by" picking.
Black and White team has learned just to follow Kodiak.
Natasha even goes for the exact same spot and plucks the berries from up high.
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Qannik has never been accused of being the fastest car on the track, but he emulates his big brother, Kodiak, all he can. So further down the hike, Qannik kept reaching up into the brush lining the hiking trail to snag berries. We had to keep explaining that berries did not grow on cedar branches, pine branches, etc. Never stopped him from trying, though.
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As we exited the trail to get back into the Jeep, a couple was harvesting wild blueberries. The Herd focused in on the woman who had a giant hand full of berries just above Siberian nose level. Reacting to all of them staring at her, she exclaimed, “Oh, look, they really like me.” Avoiding a lesson about the nature of Siberian Huskies, we kept The Herd moving so that she was not mugged for the berries.
We are regular readers of the exploits of Wilf the PON discovering France – and in particular enjoying the exploits as the family works on restoring a large farmhouse in Southwest France. We enjoy hearing the tales of workers not quite doing what was expected, if they show up at all. Well, its funny until it is happening to you.
The hu-dad came into the house Thursday evening only to discover something missing – water. Yep, you could turn on any faucet and hear, well, nothing. We were able to quickly determine that the well and its pump were working fine, so then we started narrowing down the source. Ultimately, we determined that there was no water pressure in the pipes coming into the house. The meaning – somewhere between the well and the house is a pipe that has become clogged or crushed. All we have to do is locate it. Underground. In a pipe buried under the house, driveway, crossing a road, and through a field. A pipe about 500 feet (150 m) long.
Excavation equipment was called and we waited on its arrival. We are still waiting. Will anyone show up over the weekend or will this drag into next week? Who knows? In the meantime, we can get all of the water we need from the well, but we have to carry it (read that description again to see how close to the house it is).
So when the humans are stressed, what can we do to help? Take them for a walk. Exercise helps humans relax and, besides, it tires them out. Remember, a tired human is a good human.
Red Team setting the pace.
Black and White Team
Of course, we expect a big drink of fresh water when we get back to the house.
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Despite the water worries, we can still play one of our favorite Saturday games – the Blog Hop. Enter your own blog and visit others. A great way to meet other bloggers.
Hiking with The Herd often has its challenges, but this time of year is particularly difficult. Sure, the heat has been a little challenging the past couple of weeks. And we always have some creatures to deal with that appear in the woods. But right now, there is a distraction that no one can resist.
Smack. Smack. Smack. Can we wait right here for a second?
Lip smacking good.
Berry picker extraordinaire
That puts a smile on a pup's face.
Wild Blueberries
And where is the black and white team?
Wild Blackberries!
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LAST CHANCE! With only 10 days left until Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation Annual Downtown Dog Walk, you need to hurry if you want to enter the WALKING WITH THE HERD CONTEST. Just complete this form, write a check, and mail it in for a chance to win the grand prize – a t-shirt with a picture of YOU (courtesy of the magic of Photoshop – unless you want to come walk with us) and The Herd leading the parade.
Sunday was predicted to be the hottest day of the year and, pups, they were right. So we did our Sunday morning stroll up past the ski resort and across our field, had some brunch in Downtown Waynesville, picked up some dog food, and then crashed at home Sunday afternoon. High temps on Tuesday are supposed to be 10-15 degrees F lower – YES. So, today, we just share a few pics from our Sunday Stroll.
Walking past the piles of water pipe at Cataloochee Ski.
All of the water lines will help them make even more snow this winter.
Looking from the back of our property and seeing water lines to the top of their mountain.
Then we have to visit our favorite tree (by the way, you can see the ski trails - look just to the right of the top of the tree)
Qannik enjoying the shade from our tree (and you can see how big the trunk of the tree is).
By the way, about that field mowing.
Kiska thinks the hu-dad is getting really slack in his mowing duties.
And back to the house for nap time.
Followed by, well, more nap time.
We went hiking down through our field past our favorite tree.
Checked in on our neighbors at Cataloochee Ski to see how the new water lines and snow guns were coming. See the big water line being buried up the mountain (Click to enlarge if need be)? Lots of snow to come this winter.
Got to the bottom of the field and started walking back up. But do you notice what needs to be done?
Yep, the hu-dad needs to crank up the tractor and mow our field again. Some of the grasses are over our shoulders!
Need a little help with that snack?
Hiking a part of the Mountain to Sea Trail, we found this open area.
What a great view!
The hu-dad may finally have mowed our field, but all of the rain and sun have really caused an explosion of vegetation on our trails.
This trail might be clear, but the growth on either side of the trail is fairly thick. A challenge walking side by side by side.
Kiska! We think you missed the trail. Don't get lost.
We hiked one of our favorite trails on Sunday, the Richland Balsam Mountain Trail. We like it because we tend to have the trail to ourselves and because it has a point on the trail that comes out about 50 feet (15 meters) over the overlook for cars that is the highest point of the Blue Ridge Parkway – 6047 feet (1843 meters). Richland Balsam itself tops out at 6410 feet (1954 meters) and the trail does cross the pinnacle, but the view is much better where the trail comes out over the overlook.
The stunning view from our vantage point on the trail - and the car overlook below.
Always funny to come out on this point of the trail, because most people at the overlook have no idea how we suddenly appear high above them – and then disappear back into the woods. This being a late Sunday afternoon, we did not see many cars, but we did have one great set of visitors.
The Red Team saw them first.
Kiska saw them, too.
Wooo - new buddies below!
They look like they are enjoying their stretch time.
P.S. – Yes, they saw us and wagged hello. And the woman waved.
Natasha
Rusty
Kiska
Kodiak
Qannik
Cheoah
