February 13 - On the Trail of a Healthier Lifestyle
13th February 2019
If you've been following along since all this started a few weeks ago, you already know about my partner, Blue, and our commitment to drop about 20% of our body weights. We're doing that together with the guidance and encouragement of Dr. Melisa Kauffman, the staff veterinarian at the Humane Society of Summit County, and my general practitioner. Both docs have assessed our current situations, helped us set our objectives, and talked us through the changes we need to make to achieve these goals safely and responsibly.
This past weekend was all about getting started. Blue and I worked with the knowledgeable and talented animal behavior specialists at HSSC to help Blue understand that getting in a crate for a car ride wasn't really so scary after all. We also learned about the magic of green beans, instead of peanut butter or hotdogs, as a healthy reward for being brave and trying new things. (That little trick worked for both of us, to be honest.)
With all that knowledge safely tucked away, Blue and I drove over to Deep Lock Quarry, a unit of Summit County Metro Parks just outside Peninsula. There, we walked about 2 miles on easy trails, took in some interesting historical sites that taught us about how the locks and other structures along the Ohio and Erie Canal were built nearly 200 years ago, enjoyed great views from the top of the old quarry, and met some nice people who asked a lot of questions about Blue and the shelter. (Humans call that "outreach". Dogs call it "fun".)
At the end of the morning, we'd put in nearly 2 hours on the trail and about an hour in the car. Blue seemed to enjoy his field trip, but he was definitely ready for a nice nap after all that time in the crisp winter air. (I might have felt the same way, but I would never admit that here.)
Blue and I plan to make a habit out of getting outside together like this. At least once a week, weather permitting, we'll be hitting the trails somewhere in the Summit Metro Parks or Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Combined, these phenomenal public resources offer nearly 300 miles of scenic adventure and endless opportunities to learn about the natural and human history of our county. Blue thinks that's a pretty good deal, and he wanted you to know about it.
Blue also asked me to make sure his fans know what he's up to until this project wraps up. So, look for these updates the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month until Blue gets adopted, we hit our $5000 fundraising goal, or the scale tells Blue that he's run through the finish line.
Oh, almost forgot. Check back on Wednesday, February 27th, for our first progress report. We'll tell you where we are on our journey and the even bigger adventures we have planned after things warm up a bit. (Of course, I'd rather turn all this over to you if you decide that Blue would make a good trail companion for you and your family. Because why shouldn't it be you getting all this exercise and education?)
Until next time, thanks from Blue and I for joining us on our journey. And if you want to help us along the way, don't forget about that "Donate!" button, right here in the blog.
Thanks, and bye for now.
Ted
