HAPPY TRAILS

We tried out a new trail today, walking a portion of the Lochside Trail southwards into the Blenkinsop Valley. Lots of cyclists on the trail, but 99.9% of them were just great, giving us plenty of verbal or bell-ringing warning of their approach from behind. What a different attitude from that of the runners on the back trail at Beaver Lake. There was only one cyclist who insisted on barrelling at full speed through the group, muttering at us as he flew by. But he was the exception. Pretty much everyone else we met, mounted on bicycles or just walking, were all smiles when they met up with our impressive little pack.

This was an on-leash trail walk (good for practicing those leash skills that we sometimes let slide!). My mini-pack needs some more work in this regard, although they all seemed to get the idea of staying beside/behind me rather than in front of me by the end of the trail. Of course, that may just have been because they were exhausted by the long walk. ;-)

It was great to see Gerald and Marlee back with the group, with their new little Papillion puppy, Fonty, in tow. What a cutie! He was a little perturbed by all the new dogs, big and small, that came rushing over to greet him, and took refuge between Gerald's feet. But he soon got into a playful mood, once the pack's initial wave of canine enthusiasm at meeting a new dog was over.

The general consensus about this portion of the Lochside trail was that it was an excellent choice. We were basically casing it out as one of our winter options, when trail traffic of the 2-wheeled kind may be a bit less in volume. Thanks to Heather for the suggestion!