Like a child at Christmas, Rocket was happy and excited during the holidays. The cookies, the toys, the visitors all made for an exhilarating season of celebrating. Now into the new year, Rocket turned his attention to the short days and colder weather. Luckily, 2022 would turn out to be a rather mild year in Ohio. This meant there would be plenty of opportunities to go hiking!!!
One of the first trails Rocket hiked in the new year was at a local lake. Atwood Lake is a popular area in the summer, but in winter, it is much quieter. The beaches were empty, and we had the trails all to ourselves, so Rocket and Frank were able to hike with leads dragging behind them which allowed them the freedom to explore more thoroughly at their own discretion. By now, both Frank and Rocket had become veteran hikers and excellent dog walkers. Always quick to respond to our commands on the trail, we felt comfortable with giving them the space to explore at their own leisure, within reasonable distance.
The best trails include bodies of water! Rocket and Frank are always excited to find a pond, lake, river, stream, or even an ocean on the trails. Fresh water provides the opportunity to cool off or get a drink, but Rocket enjoys a little more interaction with these bodies of water. Rocket loves to swim and retrieve, so he is quick to dive into the water to fetch a ball or stick. Sometimes he likes to jump at the waves or just lower his body into the shallow waters.
And for some reason, Rocket thinks rolling around in the sand is a blast! He will drop and roll in the sand until his face and body are covered and he is nearly unrecognizable. Yes, 2022 was off to a great start! As the long, cold days of winter progressed, there would be more hiking, more Sunday dinners at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, and perhaps best of all, more vacations to look forward to!