Clem and I try to go for one walk a day. She and I are both about the same speed these days - she's an old dog with a blown ACL and I'm just putzy. So, our choice of routes is somewhat constrained - we live right on the Coastal Trail, but I try to avoid it on high traffic sunny days. Too many people let their dogs off lead and Clemmie and I have been mugged more than once by unleashed dogs. And now that she's moved into Senior Dog status, she can't defend herself as well as she once could. And well, I'm not interested in getting in any more fights with negligent dog owners.
So, this winter, Clem and I disovered another very nice route up to West High that takes us through a quiet wooded street with log cabins and fabulous gardens. The last little bit of our route detours through the woods and along the bluff to the little park across from West. It's really spiffy - sort of our very own micro hike through forest.
Well, it was very spiffy. Clem and I had walked the trail through Winter and into Spring. However, when we walked it yesterday something rather disconcerting dawned on me. The brush and plants have grown so much in the past few weeks that you cannot see more than four feet in any direction. Our twenty hours of daylight make for some massively fast and verdant growth. Our woods turn into thick green (and very buggy) jungles literally overnight.
So, as we were deep in the mosquito infested brush, I got rather spooked and was very happy when popped out of the trail into the parking lot.
Later that evening, I told Peter about our little experience. His comment was that perhaps, "the Slat Rat and her Elderly Dog" should not take that trail. Nasty sorts could be hiding in the trees.
I replied that I wasn't worried about the Bogeyman. I was fairly confident that I could pound the shit out of the Bogeyman. No, I was worried about the Bogeybear or the Bogeymoose. I don't think Clem and I could hold off a bear or a mama moose.
So, until the leaves fall in Autumn (just a few short months away - it is Alaska afterall), Clem and I will avoid our little path. We are not interested in an up close and personal encounter with the Bogeybear or the Bogeymooose.
8:03:52 PM 
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