Saturday, May 2, 2009

Diary of a Wild Hike

Last weekend, my folks took me to a Marin County Open Space area I hadn't explored. It was beautiful and we had it to ourselves... well... with the exception of some other creature species that I had to investigate. Here I am with my dad at the entrance.

Here's a beautiful California redwood! Aren't they impressive?
I've already spotted something up there. I can't convince it to come down and play heheh!

Yeah - I'm thirsty - so thirsty I could jump in - but it's for the horses.

Trot, trot, trot - ooops - missed something!

After I checked out that smell, I lead on as I needed to make sure I cleared the way of any beasts that could attack my parents.

Aha! Gopherland! Some likely candidates to flush out! Dang - missed him!

Beautiful wild iris - tons of them as we hiked on through the meadows and redwood groves.

Comforting my mom.

Hurry! There's so much to do... I smell something afoot up ahead.

Hurry............. I'm smelling something big...


Okay, I'm taking off. (I heard a crack in the woods and couldn't help myself. I took off after a gigantic furry creature that jumped gracefully over every rock and fallen tree. I couldn't keep up) Here I am returning to tell my folks all about it. They looked frantic.


Usually my recall is pretty good, but I just can't help myself. Gotta investigate this thing they called "deer" again. Their calls to me go unheeded.

But what is that? Yonder in the sky is a giant feathered menace. And I can not get him to come down.


We hike on through meadows with wildflowers and our own pretty California poppies.

I just love running through grassy fields in the spring! I'm very happy here!


THIS is the entrance to Lizardland. What a time I had here! You can imagine! I never caught one - they are zippity fast, so I don't know if they taste like chicken or what!

Can you spot me? I'm hiding!

But he is not hiding and I'm going to .... get him!


I jump in the air and pounce and... dang - missed again! That wascally lizard!

You'd think we were in the middle of nowhere, but... as mom pans the camera directly left... look!


Civilization! Drat! I thought we were all alone on this beautiful day!

I am so hot when we get to more redwoods, that I'm thrilled to find a tannin-y pool that I can cool off in.

In one of the giant trees, we find a hole that Dad and I can fit into together. Mom could even fit in with us!

I've never seen such big trees, but they sure have a lot of critters in them. I tried to get them, but they were too high up to climb to.

But I sure had a great time with my folks at this pretty place. There were a couple of minor problems. When we got home, mom and dad saturated themselves with something called Teknu to ward off a possible poison oak attack. ( I didn't know that was an enemy or I would have slayed it.) Then they got a Teknu-ed rag and slathered it all over me. Then I had to go to the spa. There, they removed about 100 ticks!!! They are still removing the little buggers from me and mom even took two out of her hair yesterday and screamed while doing so. Hope we get to go back there soon!

23 comments:

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

OMD!

That looks like SOOOOO much fun!

My snooter would be on OVERLOAD!

Tank woo fur sharing it!

I sooo hope woo get to go bakhk soon too!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
PeeEssWoo: We hear furry good things about that Teknu stuff!

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

So many things to see and smell and do - great place to have fun with family. Thanks for sharing your beautiful day.

Tail wags, the OP Pack

Gennasus said...

What a wonderful place, even with the ticks (we know all about them here too!). Loved those huge trees. Enjoyed your post and lovely photos

Princess Eva and Brice said...

So many things to chase and smell! We would never want to leave such an exciting place.


Princess Eva

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Hi There Sammie ... sure missed you. WOW! did I missed a lot. Your mom did lots of changes on your blog design ... GREAT job! LOVE your photos ... especially your adventure at the widlflower field. OH! wonderful place place but ticks are not fun ... Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

Checkers & Chess said...

What a beautiful place you have to hike in Sammie - looks like an enjoyable day for all

Dughallmor Beagles said...

Yup, ticks....the price we pay for snoofing in the heather! Thanks for sharing your walk with us Sammie, that place looks so awesome, you saw lots of Nature's wonders, we love those giant trees!
Slobbers xx

Abby said...

Hi, Sammie...

What a great place...

I've never seen trees that big...

I wouldn't like the ticks & the Teknu-thingy bath but it might be worth it...

Abby xxxooo

Lorenza said...

Hi, Sammie!
Thanks for sharing all those pictures. I can see you had lots of fun there!
I am so sorry about those thicks! I hope you got rid of all of them!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza

The Musketeers said...

Looks like you have a lot of fun in one day !
You must be worn out now ! Have a good rest (:

Teddy Westlife said...

Ewwww those ticks look awful! I hope they're all gone now. It looks like you had an awesome day anyway.

Huffle Mawson

Molly the Airedale said...

Those redwood trees are just incredible! Mom says that she would love to see one in person one day!
Ticks! YUK!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Bailey said...

What a great trip! Nice to meet you, by the way!

There's a park somewhere around here that lets dogs run around off leash - it's really a big wooded area for the horses - I know I'm not making sense, but Mom keeps promising to take me, so maybe this will move it up on my busy (HA!) schedule!

Paco,Milo, Maya and mommy Simona said...

Woowoowoowooooo dear Sammie!!!!
What a wonderful day you had!!!
Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...would love soooooooooo much to be with you and sniffing.....running...drinking....shaking...playing...discovering....all togheter!!!!!!
Why we don't live nearly????Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
all your photos are wonderful!!!
We loved a lot the ones where you are with your mommy and dad...and where you are into the big big big big tree!!!!!
Wooowoowooo...what a wonderful nature!!!
thanks for sharing with us this special day!!!
hope you could have lots of days like this!!!!
We love you so much and you and your family have a special place in our hearts!!!
Sweet kisses...licks...cuddles!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey Samantha,
That was a great outing, ceptin for them ticks. We got lots of them out in our paddock, specialy if the dad doesn't keep the grass cut; what little there is of it. The redwoods are magnificent. Our dad that there are other trees out in California called sequoias that are also magnificent. He says CA has big tree, old trees, and big old trees. Hope you gave all the ticks an alcohol bath.
- TBH

Mason Dixie said...

Wow what a great place for a hike, so beautiful. And oh my goodness the ticks!! I hope you wear flea and tick preventative and do not get lime disease, same for your parents. keep me informed of the ticks =)

GSD Adventures said...

Beautiful pics! Seems like some awesome hiking grounds!!!

Wags,
Pruett and Daphne

Anonymous said...

Ticks! Ew! But the rest was breathtaking! You could live in that tree! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Your pals,
Joey and Zeke

Thor and Jack said...

Hi Sammie!
What a wonderful day you had with your family! That place is so beautiful! So many things to smell and explore! Thanks for sharing with us.

xoxo
Thor

Lou said...

What a great day you had!!!!! I don't have much luck with lizards either. Fast buggers!
Thanks for great pics! We really enjoyed them :)

Lou & Pebbles.

YD, sometimes with ♥June and ♥Angel Samantha said...

Looks like so much fun, except for the ticks part. That place looks so nice and you get to play in the water!

Dexter said...

What a great adventure. We never go in the woods in the summer because momma FREAKS OUT over those tick creatures. I'm not even allowed to stick my face in any long grasses on my walkies. Imagine how deprived.

My uncle lives in the redwood forest. Those trees are HUGE!

Kisses,
Dexter

Kimberly said...

WOW... ALL I CAN SAY TO THE TICKS IS... EWWW OUCH I THINK.... That must have been aweful... did it hurt? I hope that Samantha feels okay after the 100+ that hitched a ride for free.
That place is absolutely beautiful... I love the pic of her in the water.. soo refreshing I bet! Your captions are great and photos are beautiful!!!