I LOVE HIKING!

I found my new favorite thing. . . HIKING!
Liza went hiking every morning we were at Grandpa's house. Thursday she picked an easy hike so I could take Mom with her and Jessica and Aunt Melissa could come with us. We went to see Mill Creek Falls, but we never found the waterfall. It was wonderful! We drove way back into the mountains, and I walked with Mom so well that she thought I could walk without the leash. (I've been practicing on the really long leash and in the dog park and in Maverick's yard. I'm really good about coming to check on her when she calls me!) That was wonderful!!! I could run and sniff and jump and not worry about pulling Mom over. I was SOOO happy! The bridge wasn't too bad even though I could see the stream under us. That made me nervous, but I was there to help Mom, so I was brave.

Then we got to a dam- someone built a wall across the stream! Silly people!

But I could run on the wall and get a drink and splash a little bit, but I didn't like it when my foot missed the wall and my leg got wet. 

I followed Liza down the rocks to the stream below the wall- but I didn't go in the water- at least not too much. Feet don't count, do they?

Then we went further up the trail and climbed over some more rocks. I had a hard time keeping track of my pack. Liza walks really fast. Mom and Jessica and Aunt Melissa walk very slowly. I have to be really tired to want to walk that slowly. But I had fun running up to check on Liza and then running back to get love (and sometimes cheese!) from Mom. I could run really really really fast on that trail. I had to slow down because I scared Jessica when I ran so fast. Sometimes I forgot to slow down :-( I'm glad Jessica loves me anyway. I try to be good! (Photo credits for the first four photos: Eliza Hokanson)

We took pictures all together, but Melissa says Mother Nature (whoever that is- I want to meet her too! Do you think she'll love me?) was warning us. (Photo credit: Melissa Kniskern) She made lots of thunder while we were picking up the cans from someone else's party and taking our pictures. It was really fun! because it started raining when we were walking back to the car so all my pack started squealing and running and jumping and being happy and I got to run and jump with them! I was in the front when I saw a little dog in his yard on the way to the car. I wanted to stop and play, but Mom told me to Find the Car. Silly Mom- it was right there. She could see it. But I couldn't stop and play when I was finding the car for her. Everyone was laughing and dripping wet when we got in the car. It was fun! (Mom took this one.)