|
|
Elvis and I -- end of Winter 2010,
Knox State Park |
Last week, we got an invite for "Save the Park" -- a group of concerned citizens upset that New York had slated our beloved Knox Park for closure, effective April 1st -- :(
Well, I packed up Elvis, and off we went!
|
|
|
Knox is a BEAUTIFUL park -- we have been coming here for years --
|
-- it's full of natural beauty -- 600 acres of it!
Originally, it was home to the Knox family, who turned it over to NY State in past years, to become a park.
Well, with budget cuts, come park cuts --
-- but my question is, how do you close a park?
|
|
|
Well, after hearing a lot of speakers and saying a lot of HELLOS, we were off to explore, little Elvis and me.
Let me say first, though, how PROUD I was of Elvis --
-- a pit bull, through and through, and an absolute gentleman with all the people at the meetup.
|
Whether it was kissing babies or sniffing other dogs' butts, Elvis was 100% on --
-- not once did he jump too much, nor did he have any confrontation with other dogs --
-- just a lot of sniffs!
In a park predominated by labs and goldens, I was proud of my little man -- !!
|
|
|
So then, with that, we were OFF to EXPLORE -- !! |
For this walk, I brought my camera along --
-- earlier it was too difficult with controlling Elvis and trying to juggle camera and pup, so this was our sunset serenade -- :D
|
|
| |
And what natural beauty it is... |
|
|
|
The funny thing is, a quick turn to the left, away from the sun, looks like this --
-- pretty, but not as pretty as the sunset...
|
... and a quick turn to the right -- interesting, indeed --
-- but again, no sun -- !!
|
|
|
Ohhh... sun or not, I like this one -- !! |
| |
So off we went, westerly. And let me tell you, it was WINDY and CHILLY -- !! |
| |
|
|
What I love here is the reflections off the cross-country skiers' tracks... |
... and this, a bench I've looked at countless times, imagining the day I might sit here with my parents, or my future family... |
|
|
Eeks -- with all this daydreaming, the sun continues to set... |
Till it's almost too dark to photograph much -- :| |
|
| |
But wait... a quick southerly view gives me my all-time favorite view of the park --
-- I just loooveee the hills...
|
| |
|
Okay, okay -- we've gotta go in to the forest -- it's FREEZING out here -- |
|
|
-- little Elvis agrees -- !! |
Tromp, tromp, tromp -- !! |
|
|
It's interesting with Elvie-pie --
-- not a SHIVER came out of him outside --
-- though had I known it was so chilly, he would have had a girlie coat on him, pronto -- !!
|
| |
|
What I love about this one is the curves of the land... |
| |
|
|
And before we know it, we're in the forest... |
|
|
... which, from these pictures, actually looks sorta scary -- !! |
Mind you, this whole time, Elvis was leashed --
-- why not?
To me, he has plenty of explorin' and fun on is 26' giant Flexi --
-- and also, there's never a worry about him running off or getting in to a situation with another dog --
-- why set him up to fail? He certainly doesn't deserve it -- !!
|
|
|
In to the depths... where the wild things are --
-- in my imagination -- !!
|
What I loveeee about these next pictures is not only the contrast of the sun and the trees --
-- but the spider web that shows up in the sunlight --
-- something I totally missed when taking the pictures -- !!
|
|
And the last shot inside the forest -- with a valiant sun, and a peaceful landscape... |
|
|
So now, out of the thick of it, we can breathe a little easier... |
... as Elvis enjoys the last of the warm sun on his beautiful coat. |
|
| |
|
Ohhhh... this is everything. |
| |
|
|
|
... so much beauty, all around --
-- and it's absolutely free, with no strings attached...
|
Really, days like this make you realize the gift of being alive...
...it's like heaven came to earth.
|
|
|
And then, before we know it, the sun has set. |
But, mind you, I was able to get the absolute best of pictures --
-- the ski tracks reflecting the last of the sunlight.
|
|
On my way back to the car, officer friendly had to pull up in his impala -- :| -- and belch out to me, "if you want to take pictures, park your car in the lot, not in the driveway" --
-- even though I told him we were exiting and had to stop quick to get these last pictures --
The take-away?? I was so happy, his gruff and unhappy demeanor didn't phase me -- :D
|
|
|
So there we went, Elvis all buckled up and ready to roll.
Please note, crating your dogs when transporting just makes good sense -- for you and them, lest you get in an accident, everyone will be much more safe -- !!
|
So with that, off to home we went --
-- with hopes that this lovely park will never close --
-- it is a big deal around here, in summer or winter --
-- and we'll do all we can to keep it that way!!
|
|
|
