Hiking Bastrop State Park with Gertie

Overnight the rain and clouds blew away

and today brought a cool crisp day

with beautiful blue sky.

 The G-man was off playing golf, so Gertie

and I decided to take advantage of the day

and go for a hike in Bastrop State Park.

 The Lake and picnic grounds in the park

are in good shape. 

The park rangers and volunteers

have worked so hard over the 

last year and 4 months to get

the park where it can be used again.

 Gertie & I hiked about 1 1/2 miles through the park

stopping to take photos of the trails, the trees,

and the grasses & mushrooms growing

on the forest floor.

 Trails through the millions of burned 

pine trees in what is know as the Lost Pines.

 Here and there I saw seedlings sprouting up

amongst the tall dead trees.

 

Along our drive out of the park

I saw where many seedlings have

recently been planted by volunteers, 

all are marked by little red flags.

Gertie loves to go on long walks where she can stop

and sniff the ground. 

She is an amazing dog (but of course I'm prejudiced).

Gertie is about 15 years old, but she really can walk!

For quite a while I've been following the adventure of

Tom Ryan and Atticus Maxwell Finch

on their FaceBook page.

Tom is a writer and a walker.

He and Atticus (his miniature schnauzer)

have hiked all 48 of New Hampshire's

4,000 foot peaks twice in one winter.

As I read Tom's book, Following Atticus, I am

inspired to go on little hikes with Gertie.

It is a good and healthy thing to do for both of us.