Clear Pond Loop - Part 2

The dogs and I were hiking the perimeter of Clear Pond, in the White Hill Wild Forest, and had reached about the halfway point (see also Part 1, posted yesterday). The dogs were even more excited than usual and they were having fun:

I was also happy to be outdoors in a beautiful natural setting in such fine autumn weather:

When we saw a place to walk down to the water's edge once again, we took it:


I was just thinking how it was a shame I'd missed the flowering time for the little white orchids I saw last year, when I saw a whole field of them (mixed in with other fall wildflowers):

These little native orchids are called Nodding Ladies'-Tresses, and I find them fascinating:

We explored the shoreline briefly:

Daphne walked out to some rocks for a better look at the scenery or, more likely, hoping to find something dead and stinky:

We were all getting a bit tired by now, and Clover and Seamus waded into the cool, clean water to refresh themselves:

And there was a bit of horseplay between Clover and Daphne, AKA "The Silly Sisters:"

Even Jack went into the water of Clear Pond:

We were by this time approaching our starting point, and the trail took us back into the forest. I was startled to see these sizeable, red mushrooms:

We reached our car but the dogs ran past it, beginning once again the trail we'd just finished. I called and whistled until they came back, and then we began our return trip home. It's a short drive, and three miles of it is in the White Hill Wild Forest. The dogs watched the passing scenery as we drove home:

Clear Pond Loop - Part 1

The lawn needed mowing and some trees needed pruning, but it was such a lovely autumn day that I decided to forego all work and take the dogs hiking. We hadn't been to the White Hill Wild Forest recently, so I drove there, parked and let the dogs out at Clear Pond. Of course they ran straight to it and Jack lifted his leg on the bench the rangers had built:

I usually walk along the northwestern shore, but that would mean every photo of the lake would be aimed straight into the morning sun. So instead, I led the dogs out along the southeastern shore. Alas, it was so near noon that I had a lot of trouble with the sun anyway, and it bleached out many photos taken from lots of angles. But I got lots of usable pictures and the dogs were wildly happy to be running through the forest again:

I decided to let them run and not yell at them for getting too far ahead of me. Alas, my intended kindness backfired, as they seemed to think they were given free rein to run amok. In the end, I had to yell at them a lot - not that they minded. They stop when I yell "Stop!" and return to me when I yell "Come here!" but my anger doesn't seem to hurt their feelings. Apparently they think that's just how I talk when hiking:

There were not many easy access points to the water, but those we found caused great joy. Clover and Jack, not normally water dogs, even waded out into Clear Pond:

And some spots were absolutely gorgeous and peaceful:

The trail took us up away from the water's edge and into the forest:

And then back to the water again. Clover and Daphne climbed up on some overturned tree roots:

And then away from the water and back into the forest again:

I had never taken this trail any farther than this but it was so pleasant that I decided to keep going. That was just fine with the pooches, who responded with more running:

We seemed to have rounded the far end of Clear Pond and, I assumed, this was a loop trail which would take us back to our starting point:

I spotted some small, red mushrooms, a color so vibrant I don't think I could have missed them among the dead brown leaves on the forest floor:

And the dogs were having fun. They'd run ahead, I'd call them back, they'd run ahead, I'd call them back. They get a lot more mileage that way than I do:

This loop was taking much longer than I'd anticipated, but it was marked and I never lost sight of Clear Pond, so I wasn't too worried. When I got home, I checked a map and learned that we'd walked around the edge of large projection of Clear Pond which I hadn't realized was there. We were only about halfway at this point, and I'll post Part 2 tomorrow: