Kayla Hikes the Parts of the Appalachian Trail

So this year, guess what!! In my new house with my dad and with Penny (who turns out isn't so bad, but just gets anxious when things aren't done her way) we have a ton of squirrels. I think it's because we went far away in the car ride with mom and dad and the squirrels didn't remember we lived here-- so now they come right up to me when I'm outside and I can chase them. Wohoo!

And where did I go-- well that's kinda cool. A long time ago, mom had said she wanted to take me to hike the whole Appalachian Trail, which for all you dogs who don't know, is a really really big long walk. But then mom changed jobs and moved and then I couldn't walk and, well, everything got different for a while. -- But I guess this place we went hiking last month was right on the Appalachian trail. Even though mom says I probably won't ever hike the whole thing (and probably, if she keeps working like she does, she won't either), we got to hike PARTS of what the other dogs in the area call the AT! We also found a lot of rivers to swim in and drink from, and I learned that Penny doesn't really hate water, she only hates water that's over her head. Kinda how I don't like water that is rushing over rocks (unless I'm REALLY thirsty)... I did a really good job on the Appalachian Trail, though one day on the river walk I was really tired and I needed a day off. And then, on the Hickey Fork trail, I tried to herd mom and dad and I FELL OFF A BRIDGE and landed, squarely, on my four feet, straddling a big rock in the river, with my paws in the water-- Mom was really scared, and I limped for a minute and was afraid to try to stand on all my legs right after, but dad said shake it off, and penny said shake it off, and mom said Oh my god and I shook it off and I was fine. . . and when we got to the tops of the water fall I swam a little and I tore down tree branches, and I chewed a lot and I rolled in mud and mucky things, and I didn't get in trouble. Mom knows, somehow, that this is how I get my scariness out-- and how I feel better, and so there we were, all of us with our paws in the water by the waterfall (except dad who keeps his paw covers on) and I knew, I am not only OK, but I am really ONE LUCKY DOG. I've hiked the Rockies and the Appalachian, I've been in lots of rivers and one great lake, and I've gotten not just one set, but two sets of knees and a lot of love from my (sometimes too nervous) mom.





WOW! So, it's been a long time, and I (Kayla) am feeling great! I never think about blogging anymore, mostly because I never think about my surgery much, and neither does mom. Sometimes if I swim for a long, long time or if I go for a really long walk, I will limp a little bit, but mom usually gives me some peanut butter after a long walk with something crunchy inside and that makes me wake up not so stiff. I love peanut butter. I wish mom would give it to me when I don't hurt. Mostly, I love squirrels.


Anyway, I know mom never put up picturesss of me after my recovery, so I thought I'd post these to show my happy recovery and to tell all you orthodogs that YOU CAN DO IT (and keep up with physical therapy. It sure helps!)