Shelby and I on Graybeard
I thought it was fitting that the first time in more than a year that Shelby and I ventured out into the woods again together, it should be on a trail called "Grabeard." Because if you notice, Shelby is my little Graybeard. At 14 years old, she has quite the gray muzzle now, cute as ever.
We have not hiked in more than a year after a painful foot injury last summer. It led to an even more painful foot surgery last November, which has left me mostly laid up on the bed, couch, and office chair since then.
I finally kicked the crutches to the curb a couple of weeks ago, but the pain and unsteadiness in my left foot continues. My brave little Shelby has all this time been battling the nasty effects of advancing age and arthritis in her hips, making stairs and uneven forest terrain dauntingly difficult.
But we were tired of being homebound and headed out to one of our favorite trails last week - Mountains-to-Sea starting at Graybeard Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We didn't get too far (there was a diarrhea incident in the car) and both of our feet and legs hurt, but Shelby's nose was all perky and excited to be out in the forest again. (We wrote about it in the Citizen-Times today)
I highly recommend this trail. It's not in the book (I wanted to keep some good trails to myself), but this one is great at this time of year because of all the blueberry bushed. Hike about 2 miles north and you'll come to Glassmine Overlook, and then head back. Bring something to hold the blueberries in, and watch out for black bears, who are also on the blueberry hunt now.
Hopefully Shelby and I will see you on the trail soon.
We have not hiked in more than a year after a painful foot injury last summer. It led to an even more painful foot surgery last November, which has left me mostly laid up on the bed, couch, and office chair since then.
I finally kicked the crutches to the curb a couple of weeks ago, but the pain and unsteadiness in my left foot continues. My brave little Shelby has all this time been battling the nasty effects of advancing age and arthritis in her hips, making stairs and uneven forest terrain dauntingly difficult.
But we were tired of being homebound and headed out to one of our favorite trails last week - Mountains-to-Sea starting at Graybeard Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We didn't get too far (there was a diarrhea incident in the car) and both of our feet and legs hurt, but Shelby's nose was all perky and excited to be out in the forest again. (We wrote about it in the Citizen-Times today)
I highly recommend this trail. It's not in the book (I wanted to keep some good trails to myself), but this one is great at this time of year because of all the blueberry bushed. Hike about 2 miles north and you'll come to Glassmine Overlook, and then head back. Bring something to hold the blueberries in, and watch out for black bears, who are also on the blueberry hunt now.
Hopefully Shelby and I will see you on the trail soon.
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