Most mornings I barely make it halfway deep into my cup of coffee before Xam is at my feet staring me down. The sun has not even crested the horizon, and he’s ready to “Get Out There.” In his little dog brain, there is no time to waste. “Drink the coffee, get the shoes on and let’s go.” I can usually sympathize. He has a fur coat, and cooler weather is better weather, when we’re racking up the miles.
I don’t know if I would get out every morning and hike four or five miles before breakfast if I didn’t have a dog, but I do have a dog, two dogs in fact. So every morning, we’re out there; wind, rain, snow or shine. And while I am not always excited about it when we get underway, I am rarely disappointed afterwards.
We have several routes that we rotate through; park, fairgrounds, and the golf course are favorites because there are no cars, trucks and tractors to worry about. There are also numerous water spigots for the four-leggeds to stay hydrated and cool. I usually bring the 12-mini along in case of an emergency but more importantly if I find an interesting image to capture.
The little phone weighs about the same as my key ring and fits into the back pocket of my running shorts, and I don’t even know it’s there until I see something interesting and then it’s in my hand, as I hunt angles, shapes and colors. Even after dozens of times on a route there is always something new. I think that’s why Xam is so anxious to “Get Out There,” every morning. He knows the rabbits and the birds are going to be there; the flowers, sky and the breeze too, but different every day.
