12/15/17 Christmas Storm

Storm started early this morning and Kelley couldn't wait to get out in it - I was not as eager as it was 10 degrees with strong winds.

But no denying the girl and we headed down the drive

 And then down the road

There is a lane that runs between our road and the next but the snow was too deep for Kelley

so we headed back. Kelley did not want to come in and stayed in the drive for quite awhile

12/22/17 Snowmobile trail along the Kenduskeag

Nine degrees and cloudy but no wind, We were going to have an off day after yesterday's hike but Mary came by with Ollie and Cooper to invite us to go along with them to the Kenduskeag.

Ollie is very young and boisterous and wants to play with Kelley who is not interested but we decided to try the hike anyway.

The trail was pretty in spite of the cold.

Kelley was still wary of Ollie but here she took the lead and was OK.

Mary with Cooper - Ollie is up ahead.

Because Ollie would not leave Kelley alone he ended up on a leash

Bad framing- but Ollie pulling Mary and cooper following behind

The stream was not inviting

A small puddle

Kelley waiting for us near the end of the hike.

Turned out to be a nice little hike but was glad to get back to the car.

12/21/17 Harbor Brook

Nineteen degrees and windy, though the woods provided some protection from the wind.

There was not a lot of snow but there was lots of ice in the stream and the first place Kelley usually gets in was not available -- she doesn't like walking on ice.

The stream seems to have gained a lot of fallen trees

Most Kelley  could get was wet feet and a drink

Some of the ice

A pretty good outing in spite of the cold. Kelley did pretty well in spite of her disappointment .

12/18/17 Trail Along the Kenduskeag

Another cold one - 7 degrees when we got up but we waited 'till it got to 14 . We are dog sitting Cooper so there were three of us. Didn't take many pictures because I didn't want to take my gloves off.


Looking gray and wintry

Tried to get a picture of Cooper and Kelley together but they did not cooperate so here  is Cooper

The Kenduskeag was frozen along the shore but there was a little stream - only enough for a drink

The stream as we started to get a little snow.

Both dogs did well but I think we were all glad to get back to the car.

12/16/17 DeMeritt Forest

Nineteen degrees but sunny and no wind , so not bad. It's been several days since we have tried anything other than walking around the neighborhood.

There had been a little traffic so the footing was not too bad.

All on the ground now

The little stream Kelley makes use of was frozen - she looked but didn't bother going down to check it out.

The Green Trail did not live up to it's name.

More frozen stuff

The other half of the Green Trail loop had not been used (  bad footing for Kelley) but there is an extension we had not hiked before that was well packed. We followed it until we came to someones back yard and turned back.

As you can see, Kelley has taken the lead, as she had much of the way today. This is the best she has done in a long while and we are hoping to repeat.

12/8/17 Caribou Bog

We had a nice hour hike on a cold sunny morning. There was thin ice on the pond which I was able to break for Kelley to get wet. We did a section of trail that I thought we had only done once before but it turned out to be a different trail. We came to a road we had not seen before and rather than wander around we retraced our steps back the way we had come. Kelley did well but I have a new camera and screwed up all of the pictures. I know whereI went wrong and will do better next time.

12/6/17 Snowmobile Trail Along the Kenduskeag

Overcast but a bit warmer so we went for a short walk on the snowmobile trail - no snow yet - we have had rain.

Small stream at the start that runs into the Kenduskeag

Looking wintry even without snow.

Lots of this lichen around

No ice in the stream

and Kelley went out farther than she has been going. Recently we haven't been near water deep enough for her to swim.

More lichens

A short outing but Kelley did well and seemed happy with the water.

12/5/17 City Forest

Cold gray day but I tried for a little exercise. And also first test of new camera. Turned out to be a short walk.

Checking who has been here since our last visit

Not a very inviting scene

and there was ice on the pond. I managed to break a little near the shore so Kelley could at least get wet but she was disappointed.

People had thrown rocks and they remained on the ice. Trying to break it?

We walked a short distance but neither of us was into it and we soon headed back. Kelley is lagging behind.

12/3/17 Partridge Pond

Low thirties, sun and clouds but little wind so not bad once we got moving.

Start of the trail - bare trees but still pretty in the sun.

A small stream and first chance for water

Reindeer Lichen

Partridge Pond

A granite ledge we sit on to have our apple break

Small pool in the trail

Don't know what created this anomaly

Last water before we got to the car

Kelley did well today on a 1 and 3/4 hour hike.