Even though this is a working vacation, there's still plenty of time for play! I'm hoping to get in a few early morning hikes with the dogs in parks where weekend crowds usually prevent us from going off-leash. We'll be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of nature and have the trails all to ourselves... and during the coolest part of the day - morning.
We'll also have a couple of afternoons for short road trips to explore new areas. I'm looking forward to dipping my toes in cool streams, having a picnic in a rural county park, listening to cicadas and watching Jake chase butterflies!
There will also be some backyard time to relax and read a couple good library books. And by the end of the week, we'll have crossed a lot of items off my "to do" list and improved our quality of life.
Today, we made a trip out to Big Eau Pleine county park. I knew the blue-green algae bloom came early on this body of water this year, so I had hoped to keep the dogs out of the water. Unfortunately it's nearly impossible to keep these guys out of water. Jake absolutely LOVES swimming. Luckily he inherited the big webbed toes of his Labrador ancestry and is really good at swimming. Charlie is a natural in the water and seeks it out wherever we go.
The woods were beautifully green, peaceful and quiet, bird song echoed all around us and we watched several deer frolicking in the peak of summer. The dogs romped around along the trail, exploring all the new smells and were able to take a swim in the water after all.
VIDEO (Dogs on the Trail):
