Chapter Three - Harper Falls

We'd seen Harper Falls from both top and bottom, though there was no place to see the whole thing at once. Perhaps later in the year when the water level is down, one might find a rock at the bottom of the falls on which to stand and get a good view. But for now, we were headed back downhill to rejoin the trail at the base of the falls:

When we arrived at the bottom, the dogs surprised and pleased me by waiting and watching to see where I'd lead them. This was a welcome change from their common exuberant "running full speed ahead without thinking" modus operandi:

And so we began happily hiking back through the forest toward our parked car:

Seamus had slowed down by then and mostly stayed by me as the smaller dogs ran ahead:

Daphne passed beneath a fallen tree:

Followed by Fergus and the rest of us:

Little Madeline posed and smiled for the camera. What a ham!:

Clover had climbed up the log and jumped off at the upper end. Sheesh! Don't these Papillons ever run out of energy?:

But the trail was comfortable, the woods pleasant and the dogs happy:

Someone long ago had laid down a corduroy road of logs where the trail became boggy and we happily made use of it - except for Fergus, who very much enjoyed sloshing through the mud:

We crossed back over several small streams:

And every crossing became another occasion to play and act silly. Soon we would be back at the car and on our way back to the farm house, but for the time being we had more trail to hike: