In need of some quiet time this morning, I revisited Maryland Heights, the place where not too long ago I was reminded of my pathetic physical condition. Well the second time I went back I hiked higher and farther, and this morning I took the long route past the civil war relics. About a five mile hike start to finish, and some very steep parts.
So steep, in fact, that today I made it a bit higher than ol' Abe himself went in 1862. But, in all fairness, I think I would have been impeded if I were wearing the big Abe Lincoln hat, having to duck under all the low branches.
Great views from strategic strongholds along the way.
This is part of a stone fort at the summit.
Evidence of bears can be found along the path. Not surprising on this upper route, it's a challenging hike. I was there mid-morning on a holiday and didn't see another person on that trail loop. But after seeing this my eyes were peeled for the rest of the way!
By the time I started heading downhill, I could stop focusing on my physical limitations and water conservation, and started to take in the sights a little closer than the vistas I took in from the summit.
I was third in line for a female out of this litter of Wirehaired Vizslas. An early ultrasound of the mother indicated probably at least six dogs, but those are inaccurate at best. So I had my fingers crossed when the breeder called me this evening. Three boys and SIX girls!!
I don't know. What do you think? On the one hand, Gromit has yet to discover a horizontal surface in our house that he doesn't enjoy standing on. But on the other hand, and certainly more positive from a dog training standpoint, he did obey the "Stay" command long enough for my wife to get the camera and return to catch him in the act. That's not all bad, right?
To quote a Patty Griffin song, "Today my heart is big and sore." 
