National Parks?? We don't need no stinking National Parks!!
--Adapted from Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles"
A world without wilderness is a cage
--David Brower, Founder of Sierra Club
Our names are Karly and Jake
Adventures we like to take
Rivers, mountains, and beaches
All best without leashes :-)
But National Parks we cannot partake!!
For reasons we don't understand
Trails on which we are banned
Why the horse rules
Including the mules
Aren't we the best friend of man??
And so we share our recent adventures in the Flathead National Forest outside Glacier National Park
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| Boondocking in leash-free paradise |
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| I can already taste the sweet smells of the glacial outdoors...let's get goin'! --Jake |
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| This is my kind of weather...and hiking! --Karly |
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| Wait for me!!! --Jake |
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| Let's take a break and enjoy the view (North Fork of the Flathead River, designated a National Wild & Scenic River) --Karly & Jake |
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| Okay, Susan, we'll keep you company now --Karly & Jake |
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| Fine, we'll pose for a photo too --Karly & Jake |
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| Whoa, that's quite a drop! |
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| Karly, what do you think? --Jake |
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| Where there's a will, there's a way! --Karly |
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| Thanks for showing the way --Jake |
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| Come on in, John, we dare you! --Jake & Karly |
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| Hey Jake, the view is spectacular, but I have a stick...come and get it!! --Karly |
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| So many smells, so little time..... --Karly & Jake |
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| So many fun things to chase too, especially this poser! --Karly & Jake |
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| (Deep Creek, Flathead National Forest) |
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| Nothing like a "room" with a view... --Karly |
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| ...a stick is nice too --Jake |
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| Did someone say Happy Hour??? Don't I look happy??? --Karly |
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| Oh yeah..... |
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| I loooooove happy hour! --Jake |
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| And yes, you can take my photo again, Susan.... --Jake |
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| So ends another wonderful dog day afternoon --Karly |
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| Oh yeah!!!!!!!! --Jake |
Your photo essay showed two dogs enjoying the good life. No wonder you like going North in the summer. They have water!
ReplyDeleteNon-dog-lovers probably don't understand how a free-running dog becomes an extension of your own central nervous system. And how you feel happy because the dog is happy.
And yes, national parks suck the big one. They are fine for mass tourists, foreign tourists, cat owners, and petless (joyless) wretches.
Yeah, we like other animals well enough, but dogs are something special in the world.
DeleteBoonie,
DeleteRe: "And yes, national parks suck the big one. They are fine for mass tourists, foreign tourists, cat owners, and petless (joyless) wretches."
You didn't put a "happy face" after the above statement so we are left to think you really feel that way.
If you keep that attitude going, pretty soon your dog will be your only friend.
I don't know anyone who doesn't like dogs, it's just that some of us choose not to have them at this moment in our lives… soon, but not yet.
I do think it is an unfair double standard to allow horses in National Parks and not dogs. Horses destroy trails and poop incessantly. Dogs would prefer to be off leash tho…and I don't blame them for that one bit. A good dog owner compromises in that regard, and I think both you and John and Susan are great in that regard.
FYI, Just hiked Bryce Canyon…you would have hated it :)
Box Canyon Mark…currently circling in on Virgin, Utah.
We just automatically assume that anyone we know who leaves a comment here is either including a friendly jab, being a little humorous, or otherwise just having some fun. Anonymous posters, however, are not given such quarter!
DeleteIf a person went through life with only dogs for friends, there's a good chance their life would be much richer than the rest of us poor wretches who have to deal with people all the time. :-)
Now those look like two happy dogs and there isn't much else that can look that happy. I see it often with Rupert and Elliot. With the two cats, not so much or maybe never. Anyway, good photos and great to see J&K again.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if memory serves, kB had a cat when he started fulltiming.
Jim
Yes, I did, and he was a very personable cat, too. But then I achieved Enlightenment and switched to the Way of the Woof.
DeleteA cat that comes when you call it, likes to have its belly rubbed, goes on walks with you, and is a master hunter is a cat I could learn to love (or at least share space with).
DeleteI can't wait until I'm semi-retired next year and can finally get a dog!
ReplyDeleteSadly I think the leash rules come about from the all-too-common bad dog owner. I went on a hike yesterday (in VT) and of the 4 hiking groups I saw on the trail, 3 had dogs with them. One solo dog growled and bit me (no blood), and a second pair ran up and surrounded me growling and barking. The third group - a single dog was well behaved. Mix that in with a horse on the trail, and I don't want to think of what would happen.
If all people were considerate and conscientious about their dog's behavior, I bet things would be different - but sadly, not enough are.
A good dog can change your life. You hit the nail on the head about bad dog owners. I would add to the list those people who think it's OK to not pick up after their dog. I don't care how small your dog is. I don't want to step in its poop!
ReplyDelete