Dates:
August 21-23
Exploration:
Patte Brook Waterfowl Impoundment Reservoir, White Mountains National Forest,
Maine
Station:
14 Bethel Outdoor Adventure & Campground
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Patte Marsh
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For dogs, RVing full-time has its pros (getting explore and
sniff lots of new places) and cons (campers are much smaller than houses). When
their humans are work
camping, there isn’t much to do but nap and look at each other. Needless to
say, George and Emma were ready for adventure, so we decided to take them
camping.
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Camping—duh, don’t we do that already?—has a new definition for
full-time RVers Ditch the RV and camp with a tent.
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We found a place to camp primitively where our only company
was a moose cow with her calf, leeches, and a belted kingfisher. This was Patte
Marsh in the White
Mountains National Forest.
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Water bugs skimming the surface of Patte Marsh
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Patte Marsh was located on Patte Brook, which flowed into
the Crooked River. The 22-acre marsh was created in the 1800s when the brook
was dammed to provide power to a sawmill. In 2002, with the help of Ducks
Unlimited, the forest service restored the dam, designating the marsh as a
waterfowl habitat.
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The only duck we saw
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As we set up our campsite, the dogs went wild getting to run
freely. It had been a long time since they’d been off leash. Every other
moment, there was a crash in the water, and then we’d be getting sprayed as a
dog ran by. I’d be lying if told you that the dogs were considerate of our
belongings and didn’t them wet.
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Wild, wet and stinky dogs
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While work camping, we met several floaters who took
their pets canoeing. Usually they had little dogs or one very docile dog. George
and Emma were neither. 160 pounds in the canoe that wouldn’t hold still or keep
quiet seemed like a recipe for disaster inside the canoe. That meant no free
rides for our mutts.
And with that, we discovered the easiest method to exercise
our high-energy, non-stop, pack.
Video:
George and Emma swimming alongside our canoe
This was the perfect exercise. Swimming was low-impact exercise
appropriate for George’s joints, a plus after his injury,
and the slower speed meant that Emma couldn’t charge off at any little thing. The
icing on the cake, free baths!
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Several times, we head out onto the marsh during the camping trip.
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Emma and George swim along the shore racing us back to camp.
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Patte Marsh water lilies
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Exploring from watercraft was an intimate way to see the
marsh. In the farthest point from the dam, the canoe floated silently through
water lilies, and we noticed many pads had been chewed. Soon we found the
culprit, a little beaver. I could have almost touched the creature with my
paddle before it realized we were near. With a big splash, it dove away into
the sanctity of its lodge.
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Beaver
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Finally tired
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The trip was great for peace and quiet (for the humans) and
to blow off steam (for the dogs). This was George and Emma’s favorite kind of
camping, and all the activity worked—they were tired!
What creative means have you discovered to exercise your pets?
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Water lily
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Thank you for exploring
America with 1,000 MILES!
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© Abigail Austin 2011-2013
All rights reserved
That's a very creative way to give your dogs exercise! And looks like a great camping trip. Great shot of the beaver too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda!
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