The Rutland Trail From Winthrop - Part 2

The dogs and I had hiked a new section of the Rutland Trail, this one beginning in the town of Winthrop, across from the feed store (see also yesterday's post). We'd come to a locked gate and "No Trespassing" sign and turned back toward our car:

I was disappointed but the dogs were still happy. They didn't care which direction we were going:

We stayed mostly on the trail, though the dogs sometimes investigated interesting things in the woods:

And for all that this is an easy trail on a former railroad bed, the scenery can be lovely:

And lots of fun for active, curious dogs:

I can never tell what they're smelling when they collect at a spot like this, but perhaps it's just as well. I'd probably be disgusted:

Seamus began limping as we walked, so he and I were a good match for this short hike. He was fine, however, and stopped limping when we got home:

Daphne, Clover, Fergus and Jack, on the other hand, never seemed to slow down. Jack became so excited that he began to run too far ahead, ignoring my calls to return. So I used an old trick, calling the other dogs back the other direction and then hiding in the woods. When Jack turned around, he couldn't see us, causing him to panic and come running back down the trail to find us:

But mostly it was fun and very pretty in the woods:

It was a lovely autumn day and I remember thinking that everything seemed to be "Thanksgiving colored:"

With Seamus and me limping, it was a good thing we couldn't go any farther than we did:

And pretty soon we passed by the little pond at the beginning of the trail and arrived at our car. It had been an enjoyable and scenic short hike. The dogs were happy, and so was I: