Fort Jackson State Forest - Part 2

The dogs and I were taking a short hike in the Fort Jackson State Forest (see Part 1, posted yesterday). Little Clover ran ahead, looking back occasionally to be sure she hadn't gone too far and that we were following:

We'd turned off the main trail and were exploring a new lane through the forest:

I'd hoped that this lane would lead us to the St. Regis River or back to where we'd begun, or to something interesting, whatever it might be:

But my ankles were beginning to hurt and the gunfire continued to sound off in the forest and I decided it was time to turn around and begin walking back toward the car:

The dogs, of course, were just as happy to return to the car as they were to walk away from it. A walk in the woods is fun for them, no matter which direction we are headed:

The occasional gunfire didn't bother any of the dogs except Jack. He grew more nervous as we walked, seldom leaving my feet:

Yet even Jack was having lots of fun:

Seamus' newly slimmed body gave him much more energy than he'd had in years, and he was having a grand time:

I relaxed the rules a bit as we got closer to our car, allowing Fergus and Seamus to walk on ahead:

A day in the forest on a clear, autumn day was a mood elevator for dogs and man alike:

We returned to the main lane and turned back toward our car:

It was a short hike but a wonderfully happy experience. It's a blessing to live so close to so much natural beauty: