Dog, Hike, Paddle -- Hooray!

This weekend turned out to be fan-tab-u-lous.

Friday evening I picked Kodie up for the weekend and I worked on my taxes...ok, so the latter really wasn't all that grand. But it was great to have some Kodie time.

Saturday I went for a fantastic hike at Bernheim with Kodie and my friend Laurie in about seven different kinds of snow. There were big fat flakes and little tiny flakes. There were big round icy balls (ok, some might call this a hail-like substance) and little teeny tiny icy balls. There was straight down snow and sideways snow...well, you get the picture. We walked a total of about 9 miles - 7 on trails and 2 on the road. It was wonderful to be in the woods again and off that dad-gum couch!

I realized I hadn't been hiking for nearly 4 months! That's ridiculous! I did realize, however, that Kodie's new diet seems to be working. Four months ago I couldn't get her packs on her with the adjustments I had made (with the sewing machine) about 2 years prior. Yesterday when I put her packs on they fit like a glove. Perfect! So Kodie is on her way to that sexy young body she had at two!!

Today I also went paddling! Well, some may argue the validity of that statement considering I was in a raft. But it was wonderful for me. I had had such bad times in a kayak, much of which was in the pool, that I really didn't see ANY fun in it anymore. Running a couple of rapids in a raft and seeing everyone else have fun in their kayaks instilled a new eagerness to learn. I even bought a pair of water shoes today! Ooh, my second piece of gear! Chris bought me a rash guard a couple of months ago. I think I'll step up to the wetsuit and PFD purchase soon. And oh yeah, noseplugs....that makes life upside down in a boat slightly more tolerable.