How Did She Know?

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For days now, Mabel has been wanting to head over to the big creek {Big Tujunga (ta hung ga)} on the north side of the valley where we hike. This is actually the area I prefer to hike. I get more of a workout and, when the water is flowing, it's so pretty there.

Mabel usually prefers "dirty creek." It is actually a run off from behind our house and flows along the south side of the valley. There are lots of critters: a blue heron, an egret, plenty of mallards, lizards and lots and lots of "runny babbits." There is also mud and lots of trash. But, in addition to the many breeds that fill Miss Mabel Lou's pedigree card, I'm am almost certain she is also part pig because she loves to wallow in mud. The stinkier, the better.

This time of year, when there is no water in Big Tujunga, it's dirty creek every day for us. The dogs just play better when there is water. And for the past few days, when we reach the shortcut to Big Tujunga, Mabel has headed down the path. It has be me who insisted, "No, Dirty Creek." She hesitates and then follows.

Today was no different. I usually allow Mabel to decide where we hike most days but the past few, we've had friends along. Today, I warned her, "There's no water and Mom's busy in the shop so, you're just gonna be hot, Missy. No complaining."

She started to turn around but realizing I was going to follow her, she dashed ahead.

When we got to the top of the levy, I could see a dark brown stain where the creek usually is. This is often an indication that the damn released water in the past few days. I stood there trying to process it...that's sort of strange this time of year...and then I heard my favorite music. WATER!

It's been a month since the water was there. The last time was also a full moon. Here's a few pics:



We dashed down the levy to the shoreline, water, water everywhere. And I started to wonder about my pup. How long has the water been here? Is that why she's tried to come here for three days? Did she know all along?

We hiked to the end of the water about a 1/2 mile down. I plopped on a boulder in the middle of the dry stream and waited. The music of the water over the rocks is just mesmerizing. The high notes of shallow water being forced over two rocks. The low notes that happen as the water gets deeper.

Within minutes water was flowing on both sides of my boulder. Mabel busied herself with a few lizards and kept coming up to me happily and checking on the progress of the stream. We left our stream and pray it's there tomorrow.