Rainy Hike

Unless you've been under a rock, you've heard we got some rain. First, I'll show you a pic of Mabel in the creek the day before the rain....

 

And here is the same spot the day after:

Miss Thing was NOT a happy camper. Our hike was just laughable. Mabel usually loves to go out rain or shine... but not that day. Just as we got to our parking spot, the rain picked up. 

I have to tell you a bit about my 16 year old jeep. The locks don't work properly... particularly Mabel's door. And the alarm will lock all the doors but hers but if I open her door to lock it... the alarm kicks in! And... the key fob no longer unlocks the doors or it will unlock but not turn off the alarm. Locking the car is... complicated! 

I ran around to the passenger side, realized Mabel's door was locked. I had to: unlock the front, reach in and unlock the back, lock and close the front, open and lock the back letting her out. Just as I shut her door and the rain starts to pound, I realize I've left the umbrella and leash in the car! Lather, rinse repeat! 

I was struggling with my old and underused umbrella in the rain, outside the locked car when I realized that while my back was turned dealing with the umbrella, Mabel had simply walked around the car once and gotten back in and was now locked inside!  Shortest hike ever!!! 

I gave up and got in the car thinking I would go check on the river flow on the levy and we would call it a day. 

I had to open Mabel's door to get my umbrella and...the girl jumped out and took off!  So off we went down the rainy levy. 

It was raining so hard... and it was raining sideways!  It was so cold, my fingers felt like they were being pierced by thousands of needles!  The wind was so strong! 

Mabel seemed miserable by the time we got to the end. She took a look around and instead of heading down to the water, like we always do... 

The girl took off for the homeless camp! I think she was looking for shelter!
 
 I gave chase and leashed her up.  We snapped that pic above (#2) down by the river and headed back to the car, fighting wind and rain and cold all the way back.


My old umbrella finally bit the dust mud half way back... Ain't nobody gonna write a song about this umbrella...

The next day, we made sure there was no way we'd get caught in the rain... Mabel used to love hiking in it, but I have to be aware that my girl is older. I have to listen to her needs...

Speaking of older... Monday is a big birthday. I hate my birthday.... and I've written about it ad infinitum here. But I bring it up because... it's the BIGGEST sale of the year on my glass beads and jewelry. 39% off! Details and shopping codes in my newsletter.