I started it with a two-mile sunrise hike down the forest service road/maintenance road across from the Mesquite Inn. I took all four dogs and even Minnie did the walk. I made the burned ruins my turn-around point, then stopped at the hidden stock pond to let Minnie cool off. This is her third morning walk in the last ten days that she has completed without wanting to turn around to head back to the car. The morning lows of mid 40s seem to be ideal for her. It was 50F when I got back home 90 minutes later, to a hazy sky that looked like it could bring rain later.
The Great Lakes and Northeast are having rainy, cold weather, and another cold blast will hit the entire eastern half of the country early this week, but I am enjoying this weather here. I wouldn't mind some rain for California and Arizona, though. My tomato plant is still thriving outside.
I didn't do much else again until early in the afternoon when I took the dogs out for a second round, this time to the river specifically for Minnie. She loves walking in the deep water.She is so at ease in the water, unlike her wobbly, stiff self on land. I met up with Susan and together we walked the usual course going north from the B&B, stopping a few times so that Minnie can enjoy the water. Susan wanted to check out the beaver dam farther north and I went along, making sure Minnie would do ok. She was starting to limp.
We didn't make it to the dam, but we did stop at the 1.5-mile mark south of the dam. Water wasn't deep here, but the river meandered and flowed nicely. Heron tracks in the sand revealed a recent bird visit, but we were all alone. We were a good half-mile away from the dam and knew we wouldn't make it there and back so late in the day. We were averaging a mile an hour with all the stopping for the dogs.The tall Johnson grass along the river wasn't too hard to move through, so at least we know where we can access the river should we hike a longer route next time. What is a pain is the dried prickly seeds that now get caught in our socks and shoes and the dogs' paws and fur.
We met Bob the Rancher and his two Golden Retriever Cooper and Baxter. He lives south of the field and walks his dogs along the same route as we do twice a day. He also mows the 2.3-mile perimeter, making it easier for his horse and dogs and us to walk the course. (The Bureau of Land Management knows he does this, and lets him cut the grass. Why would they mind? It's not like the BLM is managing the area at all!) We have taken a liking to Bob, as we always stop and chat. Like Susan's husband Randal, he is also a Vietnam War veteran, having served in the Special Forces. He still sports a slender body.
Susan told Bob that she and I were due a road trip, and he said that his cabin in New Mexico is available for us. At 7000' elevation, though. "go now or wait till spring." The cabin is an hour north of Silver City and is large enough to "sleep two people who are friendly". We may take him up on that offer. Susan keeps talking about hitting the road, but then never does for a variety of reasons. The Corvette Club that her husband belonged to demands much of her time, but I've noticed the stress and grief on her face since Randal died.
Minnie was clearly tired by the time we got back to the car. The dogs walked five miles today. Minnie hasn't done that distance since hiking up Carr Peak. I try to keep her mileage to no more than three miles a day.
She fell back as she was trying to jump into the car and landed on her rump. I had to help her get back up, but she had trouble getting up on her hind feet. Had I pushed her too far, or was that just a temporary bruising? I will watch her closely over the next few days, maybe even give her a rest from walking tomorrow.
It was a good day walking along our river and sharing thoughts. Susan and I love spending time here with the dogs, where few people wander. We both agree that we live in the best part of Arizona, where water is still free-flowing. What other places in the state can claim that, that also offers a mild climate and urban amenities? With California burning up, more of its residents are moving east to Arizona; already 9.7% of our state's residents hail from there, according to latest US Census Bureau estimates. I loved my years living in central coastal California and will always have a soft spot for California in my heart, but the constant fear of wildfires would have me running from the hills.
The Kincade fire in Sonoma County, CA, which began October 23rd and reached 78,000 is slowly getting contained. This fire prompted even Travis Air Force Base where Eric is stationed to shut down its power intermittently.
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