9/7/14 Little River Trail

Yesterday was hot and humid with thunder storms forecast so we just went to the forest for a short walk. I picked that mainly because of the beaver pond for Kelley. Neither of us was enthusiastic about walking so the pond was the main attraction. We didn't get the storms until late in the day.

Today was very nice- sunny with 67 degrees when we started and 72 at the finish. This is a pretty woods hike with water for Kelley. We started from the parking lot at the water district office where you get this view of the first reservoir.

Not far along is Kelley's first chance to get into the water ( I screwed up pics of her in water)

much of the banks of the reservoirs are too steep for Kelley to get in and out but there are spots she gets in and there also several small streams and the river.

Spillway at the second reservoir

Some of the woods- not well photographed - very contrasty light

We hiked to where the trail turns away from the water. Here you can see why it is called Little River

A wild snapdragon- one of the few flowers we saw today

A very pleasant hike. We met a couple of runners along the way and then a nice family just starting as we got to the parking lot. Kelley was excited to meet them all and we chatted briefly about trails.  3  hours 

9/5/14 Little Long Pond

Forecast for our area was 85 degrees with 70's on the island so that's where we headed. This hike also has lots of water for Kelley to cool off and usually people and dogs to meet. We started from the parking lot near the Friends Path.

Coming to the open ledge part of the path

and , of course, the pond

It turned out to be warmer than forecast and no breeze so I decided we would just do the circuit of the pond, including the Jordan Stream Trail to the Cobblestone Bridge.

Some reflections in the stream

We don't usually meet people on the first part of this route- most people with their dogs walk the carriage  road on the east side of the pond. Once we reached the bridge there were people and dogs for Kelley to meet as we walked back on the east side.

One last swim for Kelley

and one more picture for me

Not a bad hike in spite of the heat- we met several nice people and dogs and did a fair amount of chatting- which is why it took 2  1/2 hours 

9/4/14 Newman Hill- Hinds

I didn't feel like a long drive so it was a nearby hike. Sunny and a bit warmer so we got a fairly early start.

At the start -

Fall Aster

Clematis virginiana

We did a different route today because Kelley wanted to turn off at the ski trail which shortly leads to a small pond. After a swim we took the trail that led us to Black pond and another swim. Back on the rail bed we met a forester we had met before- he had been working on the Pine pond project and was heading out. We went over to see what they had done.

This is the main pond

There was a gap between the pond and a smaller pond that had a cement construction  with a gap that Kelley would go in the water to get around. Now there is a fairly large ditch with large rocks- she didn't care for them either. I don't know the purpose of this construction and should have asked the man we met. They have also done some mowing which revealed an old woods road part way around the ponds. We walked them and saw these geese

Back on the old rail bed we continued on until we turned off into the woods and out of the sun- we both appreciated the shade, The rest of the route is shown on the map.

More wildflowers

Though a bit warmer than we prefer it was still a pleasant hike- several places for Kelley to get into the water and we didn't get off track as we sometimes do on these trails.  2  1/4 hours 

9/3/14 Perch Pond Trails

A little warmer but no fog or rain. Last time we were here I had a hard time following the trail from the pond back to South Trail and thought we would try it the other way this time and discover the error of our ways. Wanted to go in on the North Trail

and when we got to Spruce took a wrong turn and ended up taking the old road that parallels North back to where we began. Not an auspicious start- don't know what it is about these trails. Back tracked and took the trail to Wild Kingdom and followed it to the pond. No problem- still don't know what the problem was last time.

Kelley was happy to reach the pond and we followed the trail along it for awhile.

And then back into the woods to complete our loop

with a stop at a smaller pond for lunch and more water time for Kelley

and a couple of pictures for me

Turned out to be a nice hike -pleasant weather, pretty woods, no deer flies- they finally seem to be finished.  2  1/2 hours

9/2/14 Caribou Mountain

Clouds and fog with a "dense fog advisory" until 10:00 am . We planned to start our hike at 10 - when we arrived the fog was as thick as ever.
We started from the trail head on Dynamite Brook Rd. and took the 'Caribou Connector' up to the trail. A pretty woods trail but a pretty steady climb

The connector comes out of the woods at the Caribou Mt. Trail on a ledge with , usually, some nice views. Not today

We usually head west but I thought east today and started down. I looked back and Kelley was not following

I called but she would not come- didn't seem to want to go that way. Kelley has a good memory for place and going east a short way we would cross a small stream- there had been no water to this point. So west it was. The first section has some woods but also several open ledges which on other days also provide views.

Dropping down into the woods we came to the small stream

The rest of the hike was through pretty woods and when we came to a spot where there is a fairly large drop we turned back  ( I didn't want to climb back up it ). On the way back we met some nice people and that made Kelley happy. They were local folks and we chatted a bit about area trails.

Too soon

and some colorful berries

It stayed cloudy and the fog never really lifted but it was still a pleasant hike- very peaceful and the woods were quite pretty.  2  1/2 hours 

9/1/14 City Forest

Cloudy, warmer, and much more humid with thunder storms again forecast. After a bit it seemed to clear so we headed for the forest. We started from our usual spot at the end of Kittredge Rd. Now the sun was out and there was not a bit of breeze - I was hoping the little rain we got last night would provide some water  spots for Kelley beyond the beaver pond.

The meadow down to the pond was filled with cabbage whites- as is my garden of late

This duck wasn't interested in meeting Kelley

We took the side trail to the rail bed and met a woman and her dog Sophie that we had not seen in some time- we used to see them regularly - and they walked with us down the rail bed and then back ( talking instead of picture taking today) . Tried for a nice shot of Sophie but she is pretty much in constant motion ( and trying to get both dogs in one picture is almost impossible) - so here is an out of focus shot of her running toward me.

They were parked at Walden so we took a side trail back to the West Trail and they went their way. There had been only two small spots for Kelley to get in the water so when we got back to the beaver pond we stayed long enough for her to get in and out several times- happy dog - and I got a couple of pictures.

Other than not much water for Kelley it turned out to be a pleasant hike. It was nice to see our friends, the woods were pretty,  and our timing was good as it started to rain as we reached the car.  2 hours

8/31/14 City Forest

Gray day with rain predicted so we went to the forest to get in a short one before it started. We got a few sprinkles but the rain didn't really start 'till later in the day.

Still plenty of water for Kelley

One wonders how this poor thing could even fly - it did.

A lichen I have a hard time resisting

Back home after our short walk, I was able to catch up on some garden work and Kelley had a nice rest until it felt like the predicted storm was coming and she wanted to go inside- she has a hard time with storms. More rain predicted for tomorrow.