We love to walk at our house! We take in the scenery and see how it changes from day to day, season to season, but even with the changes that go on, it can get boring. Mom likes routine, but she doesn’t believe in taking the same walks day in and day out which is why several times a month we get in the car and head out for a change of scenery!
Last weekend, we visited Gramma. Mom and I decided to take Bailie on a walk through the swamp on the Minnetonka trail system. When we first moved back to the USA, we walked these trails all the time, but I haven’t set a paw on this one in about two years, and for Bailie it was her first time. Katie stayed home with Gramma as it was too far for her to go.
We have to walk through a neighborhood to get to the gravel trail that goes through a huge swamp. The good news is that Minnesota doesn’t have alligators or crocodiles, so it is safe for all of us on these trails. The grass is so tall it is like walking through a chute of grass with cat tails most of the way. At first Bailie thought it was a field of sausages on sticks but she learned otherwise
There are some creeks that run through, but the water is all green with algae, nothing to swim in.
As you approach the edge of the swamp, there are some wooded areas with lots of squirrels and chipmunks.
We passed by a park with a picnic pavilion. The shade was nice. It was about 80 degrees, but real humid. Can you tell we are warm by our long, long tongues?
Mom liked these pretty yellow flowers that we found here and there along the swamp paths.
I took a break on the side of the path while Bailie tried to get into the swamp. There was a scuffle, but Mom won. That water was real nasty and smelly and Mom did not want Bailie in it.
One spot has a wooden bridge. Bailie and I needed a short break as we were pretty warm. The entire walk took about 1:40. We were both worn out when we got back to Gramma’s house, but it was so much fun being in a place I hadn’t been for a long time, taking in all the smells and sights. If you are bored with your walks, try a change of scenery, it will really help you stay in the mood!
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Looks like a fun walk!
Some place totally different with all different sights and smells.
That place looks pretty cool! How are the mosquitoes there? Looks like it would be a good place for them with that yucky water.
They spray the water/swamp areas from the air pretty well, so the bugs weren’t bad at all.
A field of sausages on sticks would be amazing!!
Wouldn’t that be something! A dog sure can dream and hope.
Lucky you with great walkies with lots of squirrels and chipmunks. I wish big sigh. Have a fabulous Friday.
Best wishes Molly
Lots of critters out by Gramma’s house. Mom gets a good workout on her arms when we walk out there!
Hey! We didn’t know you live in Minnesota! Our daughter lives in Plymouth! Er vacationed in Pequot Lake and Nisswa last year and we have been to Prior Lake a few times. They have a beautiful trail system there. LOVE the picture of you two on the picnic table! Happy Friday!
That is cool. Mom is from Wayzata, so she knows Plymouth well, and her grandparents lived in Brainerd, so they would go to Nisswa a lot for shopping and stuff. Today we are actually going to the dog park in Prior Lake, Three Rivers Park System. Such a small world! Minnesota is really great for trails, I think that is why we often score high in fittest states. Even though it is cold and snowy half the year, we are all still out on the trails.
What a beautiful walk, I like nature walks, the cattails are my favorite. You took some beautiful pictures.
Thank you. It was humid, and the lighting was difficult, but the main thing was the walk anyway.
Looks like a great place for a walk with lots of good smells!
Definitely something new for our noses.
A walk on memory lane. Glad it was fun.
It was really fun and we were totally worn out afterwards.
That looks like a wonderful place to walk. Did you see any waterfowl?
No, just regular birds. With the tall grass and cat tails, we don’t seem much besides that and the trail.
What a wonderful adventure! Mom wanted me to ask you if you have the dreaded foxtails in Minnesota? We don’t have them here in Florida, but she has heard how nasty they are to puppy paws. I bet you both got BIG drinks when you got back to your gramma’s. Have a fit Friday. XOXO Sparkle the PBGV
We do have them, but usually you only run across them if you are wandering in a field that isn’t mowed or something like that. We had some nice snacks and drinks after that walk.
We love different walks too.
It keeps it interesting for everyone.
Wow, that looks like such a nice place. Great place for a walk.
It’s not the mountains and canyons you have, but it is still fun and something we don’t have in our immediate area.
Such good advice Emma – a change of scenery is always welcome isn’t it.Although, a walk through a field of sausage on a stick would be preferable.
Wouldn’t that be a dream come true! We like variety, so things stay interesting.
What a GORGEOUS backdrop! While driving to the dentist a few weeks ago I discovered a “new” park that I keep meaning to check out (and see if they allow dogs), thanks for the reminder! Will try and take Dakota soon!
That is exactly the spark of curiosity that is needed. Mom is always finding places she wants to check out, and then we do it together.
Hi Emma! Great post. I reminded mom there are a few trails still out here that we haven’t seen in a while. We gotta get going before summer ends! Your tongues are long, long in those pictures!! Have a great weekend. your doodle friend Dash
I think we were in danger of tripping on our tongues! It is always fun to go places that are new or old favs that you haven’t been to in a while.
What a fun adventure! =D
We had a good time.
Routines are good but so are new adventures. Finding the right balance like you guys have done is key.
That is exactly our system. Nothing new gets boring for everyone!
Emma, tell your mom she takes good pictures. I would like to go hunting in a swamp. That would be a nice change from the backyard (even though we do have chipmunks and squirrels -and a concrete alligator hiding in the Louisiana iris). Since mom is still laid up, dad sometimes takes me out ,but not for long. A change of pace is always a good thing.
Sincerely,
Chablis
Hopefully your Mom will be able to walk again in the near future. Our and Mom’s worst nightmare is if she couldn’t walk. She has a walking boot two years ago for a foot injury. It was for a month and after 2 1/2 weeks the bottom wore off because she kept walking even with the boot. It will take a lot to stop her, but your poor mom really did it to herself.
our Mom is like that – she never walks the same path – always finds a different path everyday – lots of new smells that way
Our rule on our big daily walk is not to ever walk the same path more than once a week. It is much more fun that way.
What an EXCITING walk. We would have fainted seeing a Field full of Tube Steaks on Sticks. Our Kitty Furends WILL faint when they learn that those are CAT tails Instead.
They don’t even smell like cat, but they are not good to eat either.
Looks like a beautiful walk to go on! I love that wooden bridge at the end,and it made for such a lovely photo! Those tongues hanging out sure shows you all had a great time!!!
α¦ husky hugz α¦ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
We had some super long tongues going on. It was really humid out.
A change of scenery brings lots of good new smells. Granny’s area is so pretty too
Lily & Edward
Gramma lives in a great area for critter watching and other adventures, so we love to visit.
Looks like a really neat walk with all kinds of new smells and sites. Have never been to a swamp:)
I have to admit, it doesn’t sound inviting, but it is real nice for a change.
What a great place to take a walk, so pretty! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you. We had a blast and were sacked out after we got back to Gramma’s.
Looks like a beautiful walk! We love switching up the scenery π
We always feel so bad because so many dogs go for walks around the block day in and day out. How very boring!
So lush and green!
Definitely plenty of green in that swamp!
What a lovely place to walk. Glad you remember to keep things fresh. Walks should never be boring.
Sometimes we have a boring walk at lunchtime because it is just real quick, but our nice walks are always fun and interesting.
That was fun! Thanks for taking us along!!!
I bet you enjoyed the cat tails!
We love a change of scenery too. Looks like a nice walk!
The same route day in and day out would be terrible!
That looks like a beautiful and interesting place to walk, Emma. We agree, a change of scenery can be really nice. I like walking from our house because it’s easiest, but the same old routes can get boring. I even popped Cricket in the car last week to go someplace different for our run and even though we didn’t go far, it was just so nice to see some different sights.
We mainly walk around our area, but that is a big area with many different routes. We try to drive somewhere different several times a month to get a nice change.
My momma nearly engulfed in such an area once as she tried to get some reed plants… she probably thought the same like Bailie :o) Are there snakes or do you live in a snake-free area?
We have garder snakes in some places, but they are harmless except for scaring the crap out of our Mom. Luckily we have never seen any on this trail.
It drives me crazy to walk the same path all the time so we switch it up. Variety is the spice of life right?
That is it exactly!
We change routes about the neighbourhood everyday cos the human finds it boriiiinnnng… π But then that gets old too so we love to get out of the neighbourhood once in a while whether its walks somewhere else or to a dog cafe :D… Glad mom won the tussle!!
Variety keeps everyone interested!
I’m glad that you don’t have to deal with alligators! Those pictures look like you are in our bayou area. Yuck to green water! Come ride in our hot air balloon today as we tour over Blogville! I can get Pierre to take us up together β₯ Your Basset, Bentley
I don’t know if I can, Mom is scared of those things, says they are dangerous. I may have to sneak out!
Barley and I love switching things up. We have several favorite parks that we alternate between to get a break from our neighborhood and every now and then we hop in the car and head farther way to try out somewhere new. I’m used to the swamps in the south with alligators, which I am terrified of, so I would have seen the word swamp and run the other direction! But it looks like you had a lovely walk!
We wouldn’t go near a swamp in Florida! Here swamps are totally safe, so it is okay. We love the variety!
Sounds fun! We’ll have to look in to some dog friendly trails or parks. The one closest to us isn’t very big and the water is very gross (not just dog gross.)
The dog park closest to us we don’t go to in the summer because it has a totally disgusting pond. Once it freezes we go there.
Love that wooden bridge photo – really a great shot…
Thank you π
Typically I let my guys dictate the walk, but I do know that changing the route or even the time of day (different smells) can really stimulate the pups. Sounds like a great place to walk.
It is fun for something different.