9/16/16 DeMeritt Forest

Another nice day - upper 60's and mostly sunny - no bugs.

We hadn't been here in awhile and I was afraid the streams and pools would be low or dried up. But at the end of the woods part we had a sure thing with the Stillwater River across the road.

Leaves are turning

The little stream Kelley usually enjoys. Today the amount of water was smaller than her. What looks like water behind her is wet sand. Nevertheless she laid across this tiny pool  on the way in and again on our way back.

Electric mushroom

Some ferns are turning- others seem to stay green all winter

Kelley was very happy to see the river and spent some time swimming.

 To get to and from the river ( in the background) I walk around this cove. Kelley also sometimes walks but today she swam across to meet me before we went up to the road.

Kelley did well today, if a bit slow - there was a lot of sniffing to do. 1 3/4 hours 

9/14/16 Newman Hill-Hinds

Mix of sun and clouds so we went on a nearby hike to beat the rain. There is also water here for Kelley. We only got a few sprinkles.

And I was surprised at how many wildflowers are still in bloom.

First water is a small pond (not on the map).

Pine Pond - lower than I have seen it in the past

The beaver pond was also low and there was lots of logs and brush along the shore - some kind of project going on

But Kelley found a way in

Black Pond

Young pine

 Small pond next to Black ( also not on the map)

Kelley did well and I think she is being helped by the new meds- only 5 days so nothing dramatic but her gait seemed more normal and she seemed more ready to jump boulders. 2  hours 

9/13/16 Kenduskeag Stream (no hike)

This was to be a day off but it got up to 80 again so I took my girl over to the stream for the water.

The stream is even lower than the last time we were here but still enough for Kelley to get wet. She didn't want to walk so I took a couple of pictures and we went home. Kelley to rest and me to do a little in the garden and freeze some tomatoes.

9/12/16 Perch Pond

Beautiful morning - 60's and sunny. We were going to start from the N. Trail but Kirkland Rd. was closed and we started on the South trail instead. This was a horrible day for me photographically as all of the pictures of Kelley in the water and most other pictures were either out of focus or badly very badly exposed.

The small pond had very low water but enough for Kelley to get in. I screwed up the pictures

Unknown wildflower

Almost in focus but included because I liked the colors

Goldenrod

Almost back to the car she found some mud to lay down on.

A nice day in the woods. Kelley did well.

9/10/16 Little long Pond

Yesterday Kelley went to Essex woods with friends and their dog so no pictures or description. It was very hot yesterday ( got up to 88)  but they went early while it was still comfortable and brought her home very muddy. Luckily she decided to use her wading pool to clean up- she often seems not interested in it.

We still have not had rain so I went for sure water today. It's also a bit cooler, especially near the ocean.

First stop

 We parked at the SE corner of the pond and walked a short way  to the West Side Trail. I always take a picture of the pond from the end.

Lots of lily pads but the flowers are mostly gone.

More pictures of Kelley in the pond. Though we took the trails through the woods and back on the carriage road, I only got pictures of the pond.

This young dog was very energetic and wanted Kelley to play. He kept following her and trying to engage her but she just wanted to swim

Kelley did well today - lots of water and more people and dogs than usual  ( I thought tourist season was over) which Kelley enjoyed - especially the people. 2 hours including chat time. 

9/7/16 Trip to the Vet

We were on our way to the vet to get new meds for which she needed blood work first. On the way we stopped at the rail trail in Newport for a short hike. She couldn't get down to the lake so I thought we were OK but she found a muddy bit of water in a ditch.

Of course, she came out very muddy.

I did find a nice thistle

When we got to the vets I went in and borrowed a towel to try to clean her up a bit. That helped but she was still pretty muddy and spread it through the office. They like her and  were very tolerant in spite of the muddy floors. The blood work was very good and she got her new meds.

On the way back I stopped at a small park where Kelley could get into water and get clean.

9/6/16 City Forest

Cloudy with a light mist. Kelley had to be persuaded to get in the car and we started from the parking lot rather than across the meadow, as we usually do,  in an attempt to get in a longer walk. That didn't work very well but we walked for 45 minutes and she got the beaver pond.

Lagging behind at the start

Still some flowers

Happy when we reached the pond

The lodge is overgrown and it appears uninhabited

There was lots of Queen Anne's Lace

And more wildflowers

So not really a hike but a bit of the trails and the pond.