I hike because I am too dumb to know any better. I don't know enough to stay inside when it is raining and obviously neither do any of you. Raingear? Hah! I haven't even been given a pack to carry a bone, so I have something to do when we get to camp or stop for lunch. Well it only rains when Myron and Dorcas come, but since they bring Izaak, I will forgive them.

We are at the Conley Cove trailhead and it is almost time to leave. I see people coming out of the woods. Smart people, I like them - they pet me and tell me I am cute. Secretly I am hoping they will put me in their car and take me somewhere dry with them.

As we leave the parking lot of what I hear somebody mention as Conley Cove, I am off - down the trail eager to get in as many miles as possible (I have to make up for the rest of the week when I just lay on mommy's bed). At the first fork I continue down, because that is where we went to the river before. Surely we are going swimming since we are already wet (or at least I am - do they make Gortex for doggies?)

I am informed that Izaak and I are going the wrong way and we turn around. We are hiking the Rock Jock trail today, funny I don't see any rocks or jocks. Soon we are at a large mud puddle. Odd, the way it is up here on top of the mountain. Oh well, I take a drink, and it is good. We stop for lunch and I chew on a stick. Since they are all making fun of me, I decide to check out what they are eating. Before I know it, I am tied to a tree. To make it worse, Izaak starts taunting me.

Lunch is over quickly and we are off again. We come to a fallen tree on the path and Izaak and I hope over it and continue on, until we are called back. They take a different trail which leads us back to the same spot. Was that intentional? They take our path this time, along with all the credit. Oh well, were only dogs, we don't need any gold stars for navigation. We know where we're going.

Along the way there are many beautiful views of the places we have been before. I think to myself "been there, done that, lets keep moving!" But Andy is busy pointing out all of this, and I am starting to think it is just mommy that is slow. She gets it all and we move on. Up, down, up down. Whoops, WATCH OUT! got to make sure one of those big people doesn't land on me. Before long, mommy is on the ground for a long time. What a klutz, I think she is going to make me carry her pack. Luckily others offer, but she is her stubborn old self and she carries her own pack like she should.

More up, down, up down - are we there yet? Pretty soon I am slipping and falling, wondering why I ever made fun of the people. Now I see where they get the "rock" part of the name from. There are many beautiful views on the way, and this white stuff in the air that I would like to walk on from the cliffs - but they yell at me to come back when I start to get close to it.

I get lots of water from several small streams and I finally hear someone say this is the last climb. I am off, up the hill leaving them in the dust. They sure are hiking slow. I meet them at the top and can't wait to climb into my box onto the old sleeping pad. I know I will be home soon, after a stop when the people all leave me. But at least I will be out of the rain - until next week. woof.

people miles: 4?

doggie miles: 14




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