Hiking in Maine with Kelley

Sunday, August 13, 2017

8/12/17 Beaver Pond at City Forest

Cloudy day and we hiked yesterday but as I had an errand in this area I decided to see if I could get Kelley walking for a bit.

Coming down the hill to the pond - it seems to be shrinking from lack of rain

Into the water

and doing her shaking in the water thing

There were a lot of bees out this morning and flowers.

we got a few sprinkles but no real rain

After her dip in the pond Kelley laid down and didn't want to walk. I went ahead, hoping she would follow. when i got to the intersection with west Trail I met a man and his dog. As we were talking Kelley came up - she either heard or smelled us. After our little chat Kelley was not interested in walking farther so we went back. So not really a hike but a little exercise and a pleasant morning.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

8/11/17 Caribou Bog

Overcast and breezy. This nearby trail also has water to tempt Kelley

There were lots of flowers and insects but the wind caused most to be out of focus

This bee appeared to be taking a nap

Last chance to get in the water

A pleasant hour and Kelley did well and I'm now thinking that an hour is about right for her.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

8/9/17 Stillwater River Trail

We had not done this trail in awhile and it has water so I thought it might interest Kelley. Some days she just does not want to get out of the car so I'm trying to tempt her with variety and water.

First chance to get in the water.

Don't know what this one is called

We met a couple of people also walking the trail and it was a pretty day. This is the point where we turned back.

But not before a swim

and a little lie down on the shore

Most of the Jewelweed was past it's prime but I found this nice one.

A pleasant hours walk along the river seemed to be about right

Monday, August 7, 2017

8/6/17 Harbor Brook

A beautiful sunny day in the lower 70's so we headed for Kelley's favorite

I didn't take a lot of pictures but did get my first damselfly - not the best pic but I was beginning to think I would not get one.

Kelley did very well today. We rarely meet anyone on this trail but today we
met a family and their Lab and that pleased Kelley.

Fungi on end of tree which had been cut

Nice hike on a pretty day - almost an hour and a half - best Kelley has done lately

Sunday, August 6, 2017

8/5/17 Kenduskeag Stream

Still working at getting Kelley moving. This is only a couple of miles from home.

The water continues to lower but Kelley could still get wet

Also fewer wildflowers

This guy found a pool, apparently, sufficiently deep to fish

Another spot and the water was even lower.

We didn't go far but did do a short hike. Later in the day some friends came by with their dogs and took them all for a walk around the neighborhood so Kelley got more exercise.

Saturday, August 5, 2017

8/4/17 Back to City Forest

The heat has continued so back to the beaver pond

Path along the pond

Lots of flowers and insects for me

and water for Kelley

Last chance before we head up the hill

We did a very short walk past the pond but Kelley was not interested in hiking.

Kelley

Kelley was purchased along with two cats to be companions in a nursing home my wife owned. It became evident that she had a problem with her back legs and had pain. The vet said she had arthritis and she needed to lose weight and get lots of exercise so she came home and we gradually began hiking and put her on a diet. She improved to the point that she had no more pain and had an almost normal gait. When Mary left us we dealt with it by doing even more hiking and immersing ourselves in nature. Kelley did all of the peaks at Acadia as well as most others within a couple of hours of home. And I lost about 20 pounds. She loves to hike and will go as long as I will.

Kelley Update

A bit about how Kelley has been doing. You may be wondering why we are doing shorter and less strenuous hikes. In the story about Kelley above I indicate that the problem with her legs had pretty much been resolved. At the end of August last year I broke my ankle coming down from Dorr Mtn. and was not able to hike for 3 months and then we had a hard winter. This spring Kelley had a return of the arthritis problem in her back legs. She had to go back on medication and we could do little serious hiking. I think she lost some of the strength the vet thought was compensating for her problem. We have been building up the length of our hikes and Kelley is doing better and her medications have been cut way back. I am optimistic at this point that we will get back to the level we had reached before I broke my ankle.

Kelley Update 12/31/11

Kelley is doing well, hardly ever exhibits lameness or needs pain medication. She has been very excited the few times we got snow as she really loves to run in it. She seems also to have no problem with cold and is eager to be out in the woods whatever the weather.

1/24/12

Kelley continues to do well with slightly increased mileage. She seems better the more we do.

8/8/15 Update

It's been quite awhile between updates. Kelley is now 8 years old and does not seem to have the limberness she had achieved or the endurance. Occassionaly she lets me know she doesn't want to hike and we have a day off. We have also cut down the time per hike and I have been trying different times and hikes to find the best hikes/time so that she gets her needed exercise but doesn't overdo it. I wish she could talk. We still get out most days and right now an hour and a half seems about right but it's a continuing process.