It’s hot and it’s humid and walking in that shit sucks. Sunday morning I walked the dogs just before 7:00 and sweat like a whore on payday.
The dogs don’t care, they still want to walk. Mornings are typically manageable, but afternoons, well it’s just too damn hot. So I’ve taken to loading the dogs in the car and heading off to the woods. Long time readers know Sampson and I love the woods. Walking in the woods this time of year has it’s good and bad points.
The Good…
- Being able to see people or dogs heading our way – we’ve had so many winter storms that damaged so many trees, that for the most part there is good visibility on the trails. Usually it’s enough time to change direction or scream, “My dogs are on leash!”
- Not having to deal with cars – honestly the people in my neighborhood drive WAY too fast. And sometimes WAY too close. Once I had to literally jump and pull the dogs out of the way to avoid being struck!
- Being able to let Sampson off-leash – while the dogs aren’t horrible together (most days) once in the woods they are vying to lead the way. Eliminating Sampson on leash makes a world of difference with Delilah.
- Shade – even though a lot of trees are dead or damaged, there are still many more that continue to provide some relief from the relentless summer sun.
- Cooler temperatures – of course less sun usually means the woods are a tad bit cooler than street walking. Besides I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t make a good street walker. (I sweat too much.) 🙂
- Leaving the poop – no, no, I pick it up, it’s just they have a handy little receptacle at the exit of the park. It sure helps keep my garbage pail from smelling like a landfill.
The bad…
- Bugs – I hate bugs but they love me. I walk in and it’s like the all night diner at 2:00 am. Their fly bys past my ears are worthy of Tom Cruise in Top Gun. And yes, I jump and swear just like the commanding officer does. Good thing I’m not walking with coffee.
- Uncontrolled off-leash dogs – most of the people that frequent the woods walk their dogs off-leash, and when I say off-leash, I mean the people are usually one place, while their dogs are in another. Most of them just don’t care either.
- Bugs – Ever snort a bug? That shit burns worse than shooting soda out your nose. I was just walking along minding my own business and the fucker flew right up my nose.
- Dog poop – the lovely folks that let their dogs run rampant don’t clean up after them either. You gotta watch where you’re stepping.
- Bugs – I swallowed a bug last year. I was hoarse for a week and I all I could think was, “A bug, I swallowed a bug.” I don’t care what the experts say, I see absolutely no nutritional value in them and no, they don’t taste like chicken.
- Wild life – while I do love seeing the animals in their natural environment, it can sometimes be difficult to keep the dogs under control. Last week Sampson could smell something. I looked all around and finally spotted this.
Can you see it?
Whatchu looking at? Never seen a deer before?
We had a moment, enough of a moment for me to snap a couple of photos, and the dogs never caught on to what I was watching, but after the second photo, she let a big whoosh of air out, it sounded like a honk and she took off.
- Spider webs – I wish someone would send those damn spiders a memo and tell them to stop putting their webs across trees at face height. Nothing like a clingy, sticky web in your face to make you scream like a girl.
- Clothes – in order to protect myself from the…bugs, I have to wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and socks. And let me tell you it gets hot being covered up. And that still doesn’t stop them. Four years ago I got cellulitis from a deer fly that bit me THROUGH my long sleeve shirt! Most days I head home and sit in the air conditioning in my underwear.
- Bugs – nothing I spray on myself keeps those little bastards off me. Honestly, I even swat them and they STILL come back. How hard to you have to whack a bug to knock it into next week?
Now I know why they’re called bugs. They bug the ever loving shit out of me.
I hate bugs! The forest looks really neat though!
Bugs can be really annoying.
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Well, at least your dogs will walk in this heat. Mine pretty much refuse. Of course, being corgis, they almost skim the sidewalk, so all that baked in heat is very close to their bellies!
I got stung by a wasp on Sunday, so yeah, I hate bugs too!
This summer has been horrendous! Hottest one on record and so damn buggy I can’t even sit outside in the morning without being eaten alive. I hate it! I need fresh air but not the bugs. I’ve never swallowed one, tho, thank goodness. Oh well, time to get up and dressed to take the girls out.
Come to Wyoming. I’m sitting here with a blanket on my lap, and the heat going. (Don’t hate me)
Bwa ha ha! I’m so glad I wasn’t drinking when I read your “whore on payday” line. 🙂
I’m also very attractive to bugs. And I’m writing this from my creekside tent near the Chesapeake Bay. I told my husband the campground bathroom has so many mosquitoes you need to spray yourself with Deet to go in to take a shower and then Deet yourself again to get from the shower to the door.
Hopefully all the pros of walking in the woods make it worth being dinner for a plethora of bugs.
We had tons of bugs on our walk in the Whitetail Woods park, horse flies specifically. They are really nasty and painful. Bailie wasn’t bothered, but Mom and I both got some bites and I was really pestered by them flying around my face. Hate bugs!
I can sympathize with sweating like a whore on payday lol. It’s been so damned humid lately, it’s just nasty. And oh my the bugs – they are insane right now. I’ve finally gotten to the point where I have to spray myself in the nastiest bug repellent on earth (deep woods off) and while it works for mosquitoes it does NOTHING to keep the stupid deer & horse flies away. I’ve tried different color clothing, wearing a hat, ect.. Nothing makes me any less aware that they’re out there and ready to bite. And poor Laika – she’s taken to snapping at the air when it gets buggy out, they won’t leave her alone either. Great shot of the deer by the way 🙂
OMG there is nothing I hate more than getting a sticky spider web across the face!!!! GRRRRR!
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The spiders are trying to help you by building webs across the paths to catch the bugs. But apparently you are undermining their efforts with your face. 🙂
Barley and I are lucky that there are relatively few bugs here this summer. There are some gross little midge things at the lake some days, but they don’t bite, so as long as you hold your breath and don’t inhale one, they’re harmless but gross. I’m sorry they’re spoiling your woodsy walks, though!
OMD, I can’t. stop. laughing. No seriously, I’m laughing so hard, no sound is coming out! I’m with you on the bugs, clueless dog owners, and spider webs. Why oh why did Mother Nature make spider webs appear exactly at face height? Trust me, it’s not a good look with my arms flailing all over and me hopping around like I just stepped on a bed of nails to try and get rid of that crap. You however said it much more artfully. Thanks for the side ache from laughing so hard-I just might survive today. 😉
Bugs enjoy me too and I refuse to use the bug spray. I just deal with it!
The one thing I love about country life (in spite of the bugs) is that we have few cars and people around. Also, the dogs always alert me to the wildlife I would miss.
Happy walking!
Around here, it’s deer flies and ticks that are the worst., but I hate all bugs. Deer flies are so obnoxious flying around your head, and if they land and bite, it hurts like heck. I’m constantly trying to keep the dogs out of the thick brush so they don’t pick up ticks. We only walk in the morning when it’s hot. We do training in the house or yard instead.
The bugs love you cause youre so sweet!! Or something like that… ; )
Mom comes home black and blue from slapping herself when bugs come near her. I like bugs. They’re delicious. And yes they DO taste like chicken!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
It’s tricky when it’s so hot first thing in the morning! I love walking in the woods – there are so many interesting smells!
You’re too fussy if you don’t like eating bugs. My advice is to keep trying, you’re bound to find a type you enjoy sooner or later!
Bugs suck, at training these days we get bombed with deer flys, urgh! Cool pic of the deer, tell it to keep it’s flys.
Ugh, the spider webs are the worst! I walk into them sometimes while walking in our neighborhood at night and I know cars and people have just gone down the same street. How do those spiders do that?
LOL I was going to say that bugs are nasty this time of year.