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morning run:
Alice
Godzilla
Truman
George
Reggie
Tuesday
Archie
Frankie
(8)
Southern charcos: ~7k. We went the exact same route as yesterday but with Tuesday along it literally took half the time or damned near. Running with Tuesday is like being in an Olympic event. She was a really good girl and she was on the leash the whole way mainly because there was just no point at which we stopped or slowed down long enough to think about switching anything up. Alice and George kept up better than I would've expected; it's blustery, overcast and a bit cold and that always makes them happier to run. Everyone else was perfect and ran like freaking gazelles.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Rita
Otto
Gowron
Rufus
Jack
Monkey
Linda
Lex
(8)
Southern charcos: ~7k. This time we went out the southern way via the land bridge and came home via the cut-over and the alt. land bridge; instead of going all the way to the Au Soleil Couchant road I decided to bring us home on the middle path from the south and cut across the jeep berm to the intersection. Otto looked good the whole way; he and Rita were frequently together. Rufus was not that difficult at the gate and Roni opening it for us helps. PupG and Linda are so obscenely cute together that it is fatal to look in their direction while we're running; PupG made a point of dragging a crab shell bigger than her head along for over a kilometer. Monkey was also ridiculously cute. They all were good and had a good time.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Ginger
Gracie
Ernie
Lily
Daisy
Petey
Amber
Hazel
(8)
Southern charcos: ~8k. This route is slightly shorter than the one that goes all the way south but is still just barely over 8k; we came home via the serpentine and the cut-over instead of the main land bridge. We left with Amber on the leash but I let her off when we got to the parallel access road and she was a good girl; I had her on and off several times, testing her to see if she would shy away from me and she was good about it. We ended up with her on one end of the leash and Hazel at the other and they were both good about it. Hazel is easily influenced and Ginger was doing her best to turn the kid to the dark side by turning her ears off while she poked around in some garbage left by salt workers; Hazel stuck with Ginger and I had to go put her on the leash for a spell. That was about the most egregious sin; everyone was really good and happy to come along. Ernie's waddling gait is sometimes concerning; I think he's okay but he needs to lose a little more weight. He certainly has a lot of enthusiasm and drinks a lot of water on the way. Petey was really good as were the rest.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Posey
Eve
Osita
Ziggy
Stella
Molly
Twiggy
Mega
(8)
Southern charcos: ~8k. Stella is a pain in the ass. She left on the leash and she's alright that way but she always drags a little and sometimes she drags a lot; she's heavy and when she wants to become an anchor it becomes difficult to make forward progress. I tried letting her off on the palapa road for some relief but she then just wants to screw around and dawdle so I ended up putting her back on the leash before we got to the intersection with the road to no-man's land. She started digging her heels in worse by the time we were out of the charcos; I also had Molly on the other end of the leash for a bit because she took off towards the coconut plantation to the south and I had to yell for her - TWO anchors dragging behind me. Molly was actually a little better than Stella and I ended up letting her off near the shrimpery and putting Mega on instead for the last bit home. Everyone else was good but Stella made it a frustrating run.
GRADE: B
morning run:
Godzilla
Blue
Rita
Chester
Frankie
Luna
Steve McQueen
Hazel
(8)
Northern loop: ~7k. We did a loop around the swimming hole, effectively, but never got there; we headed north and hit the palapa road like normal but then came home over the Bag End land bridge, looping north from the intersection to catch the tortuga crossroads on the way home. I didn't want to be gone too long today so it wasn't horribly hot by the time I got back. Also I still want to watch Hazel on runs because of her leg; it seems she's completely over her puppyhood injury and runs like a champ but I won't take her on any 10ks for a while just in case. I put her on the leash at the turn to Bag End because I want to work with her and she was being a little skittish; even the suggestion that she might dance away from me when I want to put her on the leash should immediately land her on the leash. She was good on the hook the rest of the way home. Everyone else was angelic and had a great time.
GRADE: A
morning walk:
Zasu
Miles
Henry
Lucy
Bette
Tito
Eve
Reggie
(8)
Roni took this group for an inspection tour of the beta site and a general patrol of the monte nearby. Bette is an angel; she left on the leash but Roni let her off down near the land bridge and she was a good girl about it. Everyone was fairly good until they were on the way home near the shrimpery, where Eve decided to run ahead and Reggie turned his ears off to follow her. They ended up dragging Lucy and Bette up towards the road when there was traffic on it while Roni was stuck back all the way at the other end of the trail waiting for the slow dogs, who weren't even that far yet. Eve really sparked it and she knows better but Reggie does sometimes turn his ears off and that has to stop as well; they both ended up in the box after the walk as a result of their shenanigans.
GRADE: B
morning run:
Frijolita
Truman
Archie
Rufus
Lily
Jack
Daisy
Linda
(8)
Southern charcos: ~8k. It really wasn't too bad getting out this time. Daisy was rambunctious and took a few bluff runs at Lily (who would have none of it) on the coco trail; I was watching her carefully and the first time I saw her make a move towards Linda I let Rufus off and put Daisy on the leash - she cannot be allowed to even think those thoughts. She stayed on until we were on the palapa road and she cleaned her act up after that albeit with me riding her. Everyone was really good in general. It was quiet, overcast and even a little chilly. Bugs are dying back again but still noticeable in the deep monte.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Alice
George
Otto
Maggie
Molly
Twiggy
Petey
Lex
(8)
To the swimming hole: ~7k. I watched Otto carefully but he was off the leash the whole way; this was one of those groups/runs where everyone was together with me for the most part so it wasn't too hard to keep an eye on Otto. Alice lagged a bit at times but was probably screwing around more than actually lagging; she caught up often and was even a little bouncy. Petey and Lex were both good and had a blast. I put Molly on the leash just east of the intersection on the way home because she kinda sorta acted like maybe she wanted to bark at an old dude on a bicycle; she didn't but I don't want her to even begin to form such ideas so she went on the leash. I put Lex on the other end of the leash as we neared the coco trail and left them both on until the end. Definitely some bugs in the monte today; still having overcast and humid weather.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Ginger
Gracie
Posey
Reggie
Tuesday
Gowron
Elewah
Mo
(8)
Southern charcos: ~8k. Tuesday was on the leash the whole way and she was good about it. We left early and it was pretty and calm out. We saw one lone salt-worker in the distance to the south and that was it. Everyone was excellent.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Eve
Godzilla
Truman
Chester
Jack
Daisy
Amber
Hazel
(8)
Southern charcos: ~8k. Amber left on the leash but she was off for about half of the run; I let her off and put her back on a few times, mainly to gauge how she's doing. She never tried to run away from me or keep me from putting her back on the leash but the last time I felt like she was getting a bit skittish so I left her on from the southernmost crossing to home. Hazel did really well. She was off the leash until we were leaving the monte towards the main road south; I put her on the other end of the leash with Amber because there have been a lot of motos and people around and I wanted her to be under control. Neither of them mind the leash; they both run well and don't try to dig their heels in or shake it off. The rest of them were angels the whole way. The monte was a bit buggy for the first time in weeks; the gestation period for mosquitoes must be about a week since that's how long it has been since there was rain. There is still a fair bit of standing water in the hollows everywhere.
GRADE: A
morning walk:
Zasu
Miles
Henry
Lucy
Bette
Tito
Frijolita
(7)
Roni took this crew out for a walk around the cow pasture the long way. Bette was on the leash the whole way to keep her from running too much; Roni said she was really good and didn't pull like a maniac or hurt her arm. Miles screwed around a bit at the beginning but he straightened up and was even in the lead on the coco trail coming home. Henry is feeling better now that he's on doxycicline (ehrlichiosis as it turned out); his leg doesn't seem to be bothering him now but we watch him. Everyone had a good time and behaved themselves.
GRADE: A
morning walk:
Henry
Bette
Lucy
Rita
Otto
Monkey
Bosha
Linda
(8)
I took this group down the dirty road, across the alt. land bridge and back home via the main road in the monte and the trail to the main land bridge. It was blustery and overcast and everyone thought that was swell. Otto and Bette left on the leash but I let Otto off at the shrimpery and he was a good boy from there on.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Blue
Reggie
Rufus
Ernie
Ziggy
Lily
Molly
Luna
(8)
Southern charcos: ~8k.
morning run:
Frijolita
Osita
Monkey
Twiggy
Steve McQueen
Petey
Lex
Hazel
(8)
Southern loop: ~6k. Not sure exactly how long this one was but it wasn't any farther than to the swimming hole and probably a little less. We turned south where the road east from the intersection splits and took the serpentine to the secret trail that heads off west, headed south on the "terreno federal" road all the way around south and came home via the land bridge. I wanted this one to not be too long but long enough to tire them out. We ran into motos in a couple of places and everyone was surprisingly good; I put Hazel on the hook when I heard the first moto coming up behind us so she didn't have a chance to be bad, but she didn't bark or pull or give me any indication that she wanted to misbehave. She was on the leash from that point on but she had been good off the leash as well. I put Lex on the other end of the leash with her at the shrimpery to keep us together on the trail home. Everyone had a good time.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Ginger
Gracie
Posey
Chester
Archie
Elewah
Daisy
Mega
(8)
Southern charcos: ~8k. Nobody left on the leash; Mega is definitely less crazed at the start when he isn't with his peeps and he seems to enjoy running with Posey and Chester and other fast dogs. A truck came up behind us as we were heading east on the Au Soleil Couchant road where the path to the swimming hole comes out; Mega got a bit agitated and started to run off to the south to get away from it but he came back to me when I called him and I put him on the leash to calm him. He shaped up immediately and we continued on with him on the leash for a while. The southernmost charcos were flooded and rising; it must be deliberate because the current was strong and we haven't had much rain. The road was completely flooded for stretches down there; I let Mega off the leash to horse around in the water with everyone but I put him back on by the time we got to the road. Everyone else were angels the whole way although Ginger was her usual mischievous self; she generally gives the "no harm no foul" argument as she catches up from whatever mischief she was into.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Alice
Eve
George
Maggie
Stella
Molly
Monkey
Mo
(8)
To the swimming hole: ~7k. We went out the parallel access road and came back by the eastern way out across from the charcos to the tortuga crossroads. Stella was on the leash the whole way but I only put Molly on right as we were getting to the coco trail at the end. A truck went by us when we just got to the Au Soleil Couchant road and I was watering the dogs; I just squatted down and put my hands on Molly while it rolled past but she made no sign of wanting to chase it and she was good when we ran into a moto as well. Maybe she's over her vehicle-chasing phase. Everyone else was stellar.
GRADE: A
morning walk:
Lucy
Shirley
Bosha
Linda
Hazel
(5)
To the tortuga sign, a loop in the monte to the maginot line and home on the beach: ~3k. Shirley is really feeling good; she wants to run but I can't let her completely so we sort of jog/walked this. I scanned the beach for Xmul and gang before we left but as frequently happens I just didn't see them; they were about 200m south of us when we hit the beach. I don't think it's a big deal but I didn't want to deal with it and everyone was really up for the march north; we got to the tortuga sign so quickly that I figured we might as well loop around and avoid the issue entirely. I had Hazel on the other end of the leash with Shirley for two stretches and she was good; she doesn't shy away when I want to put her back on. When we went by the soldiers' heading north it seemed completely deserted; no dogs, no people, nothing. This is why I figured we might as well head back down the maginot line to the beach and come back the way we came. Everyone enjoyed it immensely. Bosha was good off the leash.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Blue
Gowron
Frankie
Twiggy
Amber
Lex
Zoot
Petey
(8)
Hidden trail: ~8k. It was relatively easy to get out of the gate with this crew. Amber left on the leash but I let her off out on the parallel access road and didn't put her back on until we were on the beach; she was a good girl, did not shy away from me and listened reasonably well. I put her back on in part because there was a local kid jogging on the beach north towards us and a beach-comber on a bike heading south ~100m south of where we came out. With Amber on the leash PupG was the worst dog when we got close to the jogger; she is little and cute and when I tell people they don't bite they seem to think she's funny but I don't - she needs some work on the leash and slides under the radar because she's got seniority. Amber was good and everyone else was pretty good. The beach-comber saw us coming and wisely pulled their bike up onto the beach a little; the dogs didn't pay him any attention at all as we ran by. I put Twigs on the other end of the leash for a spell on the way home because she wouldn't get out of a garbage pile without my going back to force her. I let her off on the coco trail and put Lex on the other end to keep us all under control on the trail home; amazingly it worked and everyone arrived with me at the gate together.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Rita
Posey
Reggie
Ernie
Ziggy
Molly
Linda
Hazel
(8)
To the swimming hole: ~7k. We went out the parallel road and came back via the intersection. Hazel was great. She left off the leash but I had her on where I thought there might be salt workers and to work with her on going on and off the leash; she doesn't shy away or keep me from putting her back on the leash after I've let her off. She loves drinking from the bottle and whistling so it's generally pretty easy to get her to come to you. Molly was off the leash almost the whole way again; I think maybe she's turned the corner but I still like to keep her close when we see people or vehicles. I had her on the other end of the leash with Hazel on the coco trail and coming home; everyone else fell in line and there were no problems. Strange group but a good one and they had a good time.
GRADE: A
afternoon walk:
Zasu
Miles
Henry
(3)
Roni took these three down to the shrimpery for what turned out to be an abortive attempt to get us both down there at the same time to plan things out; Fredo the mechanic showed up just as I was leaving to join her. Instead she checked things out and then took these three on a little walk down to the land bridge. Henry has had a mysterious limp for a few days and she didn't want to go far because of it; he was walking on three legs at times but then later in the day he seemed to shake it off a bit (dinner time). We're not sure about it yet and are watching him; he'll probably go to the vet next time there is an opportunity.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Ginger
Gracie
Frijolita
Godzilla
Rufus
Lily
Jack
Luna
(8)
Southern charcos: ~8k. Today things went smoothly all the way around. Everyone sorted themselves out before hand more or less, Roni let Rufus out when everyone else was ready and he was fairly calm and I was able to get out without it devolving to a rodeo. I let Rufus off on the parallel access road and he was off from there on. Everyone else was good throughout. A little rain yesterday and overnight made it a little splashy and slippery in places but I was careful. I put Rufus and Luna on either ends of the leash at the shrimpery on the way home.
GRADE: A
morning run:
Osita
Truman
Tuesday
Daisy
Mega
Lex
Zoot
Steve McQueen
(8)
Southern charcos: ~8k. There were a lot of shenanigans getting out of the gate which culminated in two moringa saplings being knocked out of their pots, breaking one of them; not a good way to start. Things seemed to go alright on the run once we got going but I noticed that Osita was hanging back more than usual out on the Au Soleil Couchant road just before we turn south; I tried to coax her forward when I stopped to give them water but I ended up having to go back to her and she was hanging back again soon after we started. I fell a couple of times on the palapa road due to the combination of slippery surface (a little rain today) and dogs jamming themselves between my feet or stopping suddenly in front of me. Perhaps she was spooked by my abrupt yelp at falling the first time but for whatever reason she was over 50m behind me by the time we were at the palapa. I ended up putting her on the other end of the leash with Tuesday and from that point on (roughly midway) they were both anchors. Tuesday clearly became paranoid and Osita was determined to drag her heels. This made the rest of the run not so fun. At least the dark clouds seemed to be confined to those two; everyone else had a blast and ran around like lunatics. Mega and Zoot both listened well. We came home via the cut-over and the dirty road.
GRADE: B
morning run:
Alice
George
Maggie
Molly
Twiggy
Monkey
Linda
Hazel
(8)
To the swimming hole and back: ~6k. This was Hazel's first run so I made it a shorty; her leg has looked good to both of us beforehand but you never know. She did well and showed no sign of leg issues. She also showed herself to be a smart little dog by figuring out how to run on the leash in about 10 seconds. I let her leave off the leash but decided to try it out with her on the coco trail as we were heading out; she didn't balk and was running with me like she was a pro immediately. I left her on the leash the whole way from there to get her used to it; she needs a bit of discipline and it was her first time in strange territory. We went out the usual way and doubled back to the intersection to get to the swimming hole, then circled around to the south to cross the jeep berm and came home via the cut-over and the dirty road. Hazel also figured out how to drink from the bottle with everyone else; she did it without a second thought. Molly left off the leash and was a good girl the whole way; I put her on the other end with Hazel right at the shrimpery because I wanted to keep us all together on the trail. Maggie lagged a bit but it was hot and she always caught up quickly. All in all everyone had a blast. Yay, Hazel!
GRADE: A
