Last October I took a trip with Caesar to Hocking Hills. In fall of 2017, I thought that it would be neat to take him on a hiking trip, so at the beginning of 2018, I started to walk him religiously. It paid off, the second to last weekend in October we walked and hiked a total of 18 miles – pretty impressive for a 7 1/2-year-old dog at the time.
Caesar has always been bursting with energy, and even at his age, he’s still more robust than many younger pups. Taking him on a mini-vacation with me will always be one of my most favorite memories from now on.
If you’ve ever hiked around Hocking Hills, you know that the terrain can be rough. At some points, it felt like we were rock climbing. It was also slippery from the recent rain which caused a lot of mud, but none of that stopped us. Instead, my dog powered on for an eight-mile loop around Old Man’s Cave and Cedar Falls. He went for a dip in the streams and waterfalls and was told how beautiful he is by dozens of strangers.
When I went to Portland in August 2018, I missed my dogs like crazy – to the point where it about ruined my trip. I can easily say it’s a much happier experience to go with your best friend, and I truly believe it has made our bond even stronger. It’s also interesting to see how people treat you when you take a dog.
Strangers didn’t think twice about stopping to talk to us or to just start talking to Caesar. Many stopped to compliment his markings or his backpack or to give him a pat on the head. Yes, Caesar has his own backpack where he carries his own treats, water, water bowl, and waste bags. He’s a working man and people seemed to be fascinated by a dog with a backpack.
The whole experience was joyful, not only for me, but for him. As I looked at all the photos I took over the weekend, I noticed I had only taken one or two of my surroundings, but I took nearly a hundred of my dog enjoying himself. For Caesar, this trip may have been one of the best days ever.
I couldn’t imagine a more perfect experience.
Nearly as soon as I left Hocking Hills, I was already wishing to do the whole trip again. When I returned home on Sunday, I began to search for other dog-friendly parks. Ohio’s only National Park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, is dog-friendly and only a few hours away. So, I booked a one night stay at a close hotel, and Caesar and I will be took a trip in November to tackle a new area (more on that later).
My hope is that I can give my dog as many of these adventures as I can before it’s too late. Dogs are family, and it’s a much better time when you can take your family with you on happy little adventures.