Happy Dogs In The Fort Jackson State Forest - Part 2

The dogs and I were hiking in the Fort Jackson State Forest and exploring a grassy lane through the trees (see also Part 1, posted yesterday):

I could see a bluish gray field of nothingness downhill and through the trees. Deciding it must be water, I decided to walk down to it and find out what it was. There was, however, no path to it and the walking got dicey in many places. I put my camera in my pocket and took no more photos until we reached the water's edge:

It was a very large beaver pond. Like many wild ponds, there was no clear shoreline but only a tangled web of trees, bushes and beaver-gnawed stumps. I couldn't get very close to it, but the dogs could:

Clover found a grassy knoll to explore while Daphne waded into the water for a drink:

They were having a grand time:

As for me, I simply marveled at the serene and wild beauty of it all:

Fergus came down to join the exploration of the water's edge:

And little Jack waded in - but not too far:

  Seamus also came down to the water's edge but to my surprise, did not wade in:

I tried to search the far shore for openings, but saw none:

But there was nothing more to see, at least not within walking distance for me, so we turned back uphill, hoping to find the grassy lane again. I knew the footing was treacherous, so I put my camera back in my pocket. I'll post Part 3 tomorrow: