County Multi-Use Trail at Hopkinton - Part 2

I'd mistaken a trail sign and headed off into the woods, thinking I was following the trail (see yesterday's post), but quickly figured out that I should have stayed on the edge of the field. The dogs, however, were delighted by a big, old, hollow maple. We rejoined the real trail at the deer stand I'd previously photographed and which you can just up ahead:

Clover bounced through the trees, climbing up onto a boulder before she joined us on the real trail:

But I could see the ATV tracks continuing on for a very long distance, staying at the edge of the field. We'd already come quite a way and the frozen tracks were difficult walking, so we turned back toward where we'd parked. The dogs were as overjoyed to be going that direction as they were at the beginning. They're so easy to please:

They ran ahead, then came back, never going too far. Well, Jack went too far once, but he came back when I sounded sufficiently angry:

But mostly it was a pleasant walk in spring sunshine:

There was little green, of course, but the melting snow had exposed some green grass and Mullein leaves:

And mosses and lichens on rocks:

The dogs were so well behaved that I was able to relax and save my voice:

Although they did find some small patches of ice and venture out onto them:

Almost back to our car, we returned to the shelter of the trees:

The car was parked along a busy highway, so I called the dogs to heel. Jack, however, ran ahead (you can see him at the top of this photo) and when I got him back, snapped a leash on him. This was a short and pleasant excursion but not one I'll try again. Several State Forests are within a couple of miles, so I'll take the dogs there instead:

County Multi-Use Trail at Hopkinton - Part 1

I'd noticed a small sign along State Route 11B in the town of Hopkinton which announced the St. Lawrence County Multi-Use Trail. I'd tried two parts of it elsewhere, one of which was a winner and one of which was a bust. So on an unusually sunny day, I took the dogs to this third spot. It began along the edges of a corn field, in which Jack was delighted to run:

But mostly we walked along the edge of the field, just as we were supposed to do. The ATV ruts were frozen mud and difficult walking, especially for me with my leg braces:

But the dogs had fun, sniffing and running - and I hardly yelled at them at all because they were so well behaved:

There were a few patches of snow remaining, and Jack decided to roll in one of them:

I prefer hiking in the forest, but I had to admit that this scenery was not unpleasant:

And the dogs enjoyed every moment of it:

Up ahead I could see a deer stand in a tree, where someone had sat and watched for bucks in the adjacent field. It looked old, probably several decades, but sturdy enough to still use:

The bark had been chewed off this young White Pine, probably too high up for deer damage, so I guessed it had been a porcupine:

I misinterpreted a sign, thinking it told me to turn left into the woods, but the trail only went about twenty feet, ending at this old wreck of a trailer. There was still a sign on it which said "Norm's Quality Cars" and an 800 number. It might easily have been there for 30 to 50 years, as 800 numbers began in 1966:

A big, hollow maple was up ahead and the dogs ran to it as I tried to figure out where the real trail was. Clearly I was not on it anymore. But I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

St. Lawrence County Multi-Use Trail

The weather was beautiful and I was caught up on chores, so I took the dogs down to the Catherineville State Forest, about 8 miles from my door. Nothing much is well marked there, neither trails nor roads, and I get confused every time I go there, but I found a sign for a "Multi-Use Trail" on county land. I parked, and let the dogs out:

They ran and explored, while I hollered at them to stay close to me:

The forest was beautiful but my camera was perplexed by the dappled sunlight, not knowing what kind of setting to use. I did manage to get a few photos worth saving, however:

The dogs and I stayed on the trail this time. It was so dense in some places that every time I spoke to the dogs, it sounded like I was in an echo chamber:

And it turned out to be a short loop trail which I remembered from last autumn. It's beautiful in the summertime also. Still short, though:

Clover and Seamus led the way:

And all the dogs stopped to check out the many smells:

Jack ran ahead and then lagged behind. Not wanting to get separated from his new family, however, he always hastened to rejoin us:

The trail had been lovely but far too short. We were almost back to the road and I was contemplating finding another trail to take that afternoon:

And there was our car, just ahead. I let the dogs inside and started it up, hoping to find another good trail. I'll post about that tomorrow: