This weekend I conquered another hurdle towards getting back to adventures. I hiked a portion of the Eastern Trail, and along the way continued to work on old skills, while adding new ones, as I learn to navigate the world with my heart as a team. We chose this rail trail because it is wide and flat, thus giving me the space I need to practice, and it presented a few new obstacles for me. It also consists of various textures, including asphalt, dirt, and wooden planks. And on top of all that I continued to hone in my superpowers of smell and sound, making this a perfect opportunity to build on our teamwork skills!
The Eastern Trail is popular with bicycles and runners. So it was important that I walked at a close heel with Dad so as not to accidentally trip or bump into anyone. As folks approached, if I was drifting Dad would use my usual command of “heel,” which reminded me to stay close to his side. Occasionally we had to really move to the side of the trail to let large groups pass who weren’t going single file. Those times Dad used our old command of “over.” I rocked both with ease!
Another obstacle I had to work as a team on were the bollards placed at trail crossings to prevent recreation vehicles from other preserves from driving on the rail trail and at road crossings. Without sight knowing they were coming, I had to learn to pace myself to notice when Dad was slowing down, and listen as he said the command “easy.” That word is becoming my catchall phrase to alert me I need to pay attention because an obstacle is ahead. At one point Dad said, “Over Easy.” I had an eggsellent breakfast yolk to share, but I knew training is no laughing matter, so it had to let my pun boil for a while in my head instead.
Next up texture changes. This trail is mostly dirt, which is not an issue for me. There is one spot though where after maneuvering past the bollard, I suddenly found myself walking on the wood planks of a bridge. The sounds of our footsteps were different here too. So at first I began lifting my paws high, not quite knowing what was going on. I was also distracted not only by the echo of our footsteps, but by the sound of the river running below the bridge too. The wetlands also smelled different than the forest, and got my nose going. It took a moment for me to get my bearings. To help build my confidence to this new experience, Mom and Dad took tuns walking me back and forth across it a couple times, as I made a mental picture. Then we continued on our way. By the return trip I crossed that bridge with ease, and even stopped to pose for photos!
There is also a concrete footbridge that takes hikers over the Maine Turnpike. This I have to admit concerned me. As we approached the sound of the traffic made me hesitate. I began leaning into Dad as I walked, and listened to his reassuring command to heel. I know by that command we are moving forward, not stopping, so it was safe to follow his lead. But then there was a slight incline to the trail, as well as a switch from dirt to pavement. The incline confused me, so again I lifted my paws high thinking there were stairs ahead. There was also another bollard for me to work around with the “easy” command. All this happened in a matter of moments, and soon I was walking over that bridge with confidence, listening to the roar of holiday traffic below! On the return trip I knew exactly what it was so I even started to prance a little! After all, I wanted to give the drivers below something to smile about while in traffic.
There were, however, a couple of surprises along the way that we need to work on. The first being the sounds of runners or bicyclists quickly approaching from behind. My instinct told me to turn and face them. But that could lead to me accidentally tripping someone, or getting hurt. Luckily Dad identified the problem, and would remind me to heel, while tightening up my loose leash. I understood. But we need a little more practice ignoring sounds coming from behind, so that I can be as good at not reacting like I am with barking dogs and people cooing while coming towards me. However, you have to remember I am a celebrity, and sometimes let my ego get the better of me. Apparently a large group of people walking dogs and little ones on bikes were headed down the trail. To make room, I was seated on some new bog bridges that haven’t been installed yet on a connecting trail. I was doing good sitting there. No one said anything to acknowledge me, as they talked amongst themselves, and Mom and Dad were quiet. When all of a sudden I felt the need to take a leap of faith off the bridge! Thankfully Dad held my leash with a firm grip, we were well off the trail so I wasn’t going to hit anyone, and although a big leap where I couldn’t see where I was landing, there was nothing in the way. But impulse control is something I need to work on, just like with the coconut sunbathers on the beach. Stay means stay, even on a stage. We hung out there a while hoping more people would come by to practice this a little more, but the trail was quiet. Later while in a down/stay on a water break, a similar situation did happen and this time I stayed in place without any command. So hopefully that leap was a one-off, but I’ll work on it, so as not to put myself in a dangerous situation.
Finally, there was one surprise none of us anticipated in all of our years of hiking. A Bobcat came sauntering out of the woods onto the trail! We were a fair distance away that Mom and Dad weren’t sure at first if it was a Bobcat or a dog. But Mom’s trusted camera zoomed in on it, and sure enough it was a Bobcat! As I said, we were far away, and in no danger. And clearly by the calm manner the Bobcat was walking, he’s use to encountering people and dogs on this trail. There was a couple of dogs, with their humans in tow, a lot closer to him and he walked a few paces down the trail towards them, turned and looked at us, then returned to the woods. As for me, I wondered why we stopped so abruptly, and then caught the scent of my new friend as I sniffed the air. This made me wag my tail. We stayed in our spot as the other two dogs walked past, barking where he exited back into the woods. But wow! Never expected that as an obstacle! And again, this photo was taken on a point and click camera with a really good zoom lens. Do not approach wildlife!
Overall this trail walk was a great team building exercise where I refreshed old skills, while adding new ones to help me navigate with my heart on grand adventures. It also helped Mom and Dad to identify some areas I will need a little more practice.
