Hiking in Maine with Kelley

Sunday, July 19, 2020

It is with great sadness we share the news that John passed away unexpectedly on July 12th after suffering a heart attack and not recovering.  

Over the years, John has made many friends while posting photos of his hikes with his beloved companion, Kelley.  John  was not only a skilled photographer, but he also penned a blog called Hiking in Maine with Kelley. 

John loved his hikes and there was a time he could easily cover 20 miles.  He was at his happiest in nature.  Just  last week he was at Essex Woods and Caribou Bog- two favorite spots for taking photos and posting them for others to enjoy.  

John was a one-of-a kind soul, generous with his photos, as well as sharing his seeds, plants, vegetables, gardening tools, and anything gardening related-you name it.

Before retiring to Maine John was a social worker and a counselor.

John leaves behind his brother, Tom Fiedler; his ex-wife and dear friend, Mary Ford; and a host of friends both here and abroad.  The world will not be the same without John's gentle spirit.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

9/17/18 Along the Kenduskeag

Warm weather continues. Decided to try for two in a row, this time along the Kenduskeag. Again, Kelley decided to joiin in

The stream was quite low with lots of vegetation growing in it

My first fall leaf

There were a surprising number of wildflowers still blooming.

Cooper watching

Back in the water

Watching again. She does not go in the water

Monday, September 17, 2018

9/16/18 Beaver Pond at City Forest

We are dog sitting this weekend with Cooper . I think her getting out of the car encouraged Kelley to do likewise. It was a slow walk to the pond with two dogs sniffing.

Just a hint of the colors to come.

Still some wildflowers - lots of chicory

Into the pond

Cooper does not get in the water

More wildflowers

Cooper is waiting on Kelley

There was a nice dog that had lost one of it's front legs but moved as though it had not. Kelley declined to play with this frisky dog.

Heading back the car.

Once again Kelley did not want to hike beyond the pond but we had a nice walk anyway.

Monday, September 3, 2018

9/3/18 Along the Kenduskeag

Hot weather is back and thought maybe Kelley would get out of the car for the stream, and she did.

Wildflowers on the way

The stream was very low

but enough water for Kelley

She even consented to a short walk along the stream where I found some more wildflowers

More of those first wildflowres but with a tiny insect

Some spots she really stirred up the muddy bottom

A tangle

Back at the start she stayed in for quite awhile

A pleasant little outing

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

8/27/18 Beaver Pond City Forest

We have been over here several times since our last visit but Kelley always refused to get out of the car. Today she did, maybe because she senses it's going to hot today.

She wasn't interested in going beyond the pond so while she enjoyed the water I looked for pictures.

Queen Anne's Lace curling up

There were lots of bees today - this one on chicory

Purple Loosestrife

On Birdsfoot Trefoil

Don't know this flower

Coming back up the hill.

Not really a hike but kelley got to enjoy the water and we did get a short walk

Thursday, August 23, 2018

8/22/18 Beaver Pond Cty Forest

A gray morning with rain forecast. Last few times I drove here Kelley declined to get out of the car but today she decided the pond was a good idea.

Some wildflowers on the way down to the pond

This one had a bug peaking out

Kelley wasn't interested in a walk into the forest so I looked for pictures while she enjoyed the pond.

This was a new one for me

On the way up the hill

So, no hike except for the walk to the pond and back but Kelley seemed happy with that.

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.