POCUS--AN ICON

It seems I am faced with the destruction of the very things that I adore at every turn. When I moved to Tennessee one of the first dogs I was introduced to was a hound named Pocus. That's his picture above as a baby staying warm. I borrowed the photo from Pocus's human. Even as a baby his eyes were always wide and the whites showed prominent. I would joke to his human that Pocus had eyes that stared through ya. Those eyes are the same today. I never met another dog with those piercing eyes. Pocus and Pie, who passed on last month, are icons to me. They represent what dogs should be. They reflect passion to please and loyalty above and beyond all else. They, Pie and Pocus both, are Innocent beyond the words meaning and dedicated up until death. They are precious. They deserve a few words. As I walk into the room I notice Pocus there on his bed sleeping. But no; his eyes are open. His head raises only just a little. It's plain that he feels pain. I run my hand under his chin as I kneel and sit beside him. His eyes are locked onto my face the whole time. But he knows who I am. The slightest shake of the tail, almost imperceptible, a feeble attempt at a wag. The ever present bulge behind his shoulder is apparent. That bulge that is hastening his demise. I rub behind his ears and he makes a soft smacking sound with his mouth. His eyes never leave mine. I can not stare into his face. I feel so terrible about his future and I don't want him to sense my weakness. I just want to spend a little time with my friend before I leave. "Are you hungry boy?" I stood up and walked to the kitchen where his food bowel is. Pocus laboriously arose to his feet and on wobbly legs, slowly followed me to the food bowel. He stared at me for a lengthily period of time and slowly lowered his head to the food and gently licked at it. He did not pick it up. I watched as his rear legs started to falter and gradually bend. He tried so hard to maintain his stance but the legs just wouldn't hold him up. His feet slid out to the side and he pulled them under him in a sitting position. The eating chore was too much for him. Better to go lie down on his bed. I followed him in the room and watched as this noble animal struggled to make himself comfortable. I sat down on the floor beside him and scooted up close and layed his muzzle on my leg. My left hand caressed him behind his ears and at the back of his head. And those eyes still never left my face. Those expressionless eyes! Unique to only Pocus. Well, I've got to go soon Pocus. I just wanted to stop by and see you today. I wanted to let you know I was thinking of you. No. No. That's not the reason I stopped. That's not the reason at all old friend. I really wanted to see you one last time. Because I know there won't be a tomorrow for us. You have to understand, old one, that you are loved beyond comprehension and that those humans who hold you in the highest esteem will not tolerate you to suffer the way you are. So I am here with you to let you know that I love you and will miss you. No one wishes to harm you dear old friend. I hope you understand. Tomorrow another friend will come to help you start on your own personal journey. Just relax and close your eyes and think of all the good things in your life. I don't want you to be afraid because I asked Pie Pie to walk slowly so you could catch up to her. You both can meet Mother Nature together. She is a wonderful woman. She is your true mother, Pocus. And Pie's. When I go home; I'm going to give each of my kids a hug for you. I'll tell them you are strong and are going away for a long time. And Pocus; when my kids take their final long journey; would you and Pie see that they don't get lost? So, in the morning, my friend; just close your eyes and remember the days of youth and how grand it felt to make your human happy. Your loyalty will never be forgotten. You have been and are still an icon in my life. Well, I have to go now friend. Hope you don't mind if I give you a quick kiss on the muzzle. Good by Pocus. Good by precious dog. Until we meet again.......................

ANOTHER CHAMPLAIN RIDE-WITH HAPPY

click on image to enlarge At last. I woke up this morning and it wasn't raining. Great! It's a chance to get the canoe out and hone the paddling skills. I wanted to slip out alone without any dog but Happy slipped past the gate faster than lightning. Oh well, why not take her. It was early morning and the sky was overcast. But no rain. Tellico Lake appeared brown and filthy. It's been raining for two weeks solid. I wanted to get the boat in and out of the water before any afternoon winds should appear. Ok; I got a dog this trip. I figured a little thirty pound dog wouldn't make too much difference to a sixteen foot canoe. Whoa! It does. I gently settled myself into my position within the boat and called Happy to get in. She did so nicely. Great! This isn't bad at all. I pushed off the boat and we were on our way out toward the main channel of the lake. I steered toward the North shore line in an attempt to hug it just in case. This was my third time out with this canoe and I was getting fairly familier with it's idiosyncrocies. I slowly put more power into the paddle stroke and we were gliding along really fast. This canoe has great long glide, thankfully, and is very responsive to the J Stroke. I settled into a cadence and focused on the J Stroke. This boat moves. Soon focus on the Stroke was not necessary and I was looking at the scenery. The total control of this canoe was mine. I didn't have to think about the paddle strokes or turning slightly left or right. It was all happening as if I had done this all my life. Then it happened! Happy NOOOO. NOOOO!!! This little dog decided to stand up on the left side of the boat and put her feet on the gun wale. Her thirty five pounds was instantly placed in a high position on the paddle side of the boat. The canoe listed strongly to the left and the gun wale almost touched the water. Happy NOOOOOOOOOO! A quick shift of my weight to the right corrected the sudden weight of the dog to the left. I learned a quick lesson. You're never in total control with a canoe. There are too many variances that affect operation. Current, wind, waves, chop, obstacles, and yes; dogs. This is becoming like motorcycling. One can never assume or take his mind off the business at hand. Ever! NO HAPPY; NOT AGAIN! OH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok; I gotta either get this dog to sit beside or in front of me or get her to go clear forward and sit in the front. The key here is sit. Ok Hap--------Go up front and sit ....There's a good little dog. Good girl. Go up front. OH HELL! Happy!!!! Down girl. Happy; come back. Come!!!!!!! Great Scott! The canoe really felt the transfer to the left side when Happy went totally to the front nose of the canoe and jumped up on the gun wale there. I think it's time to go to the shore and rest a bit. I have to think this out a little bit. If that little dog can create this much havoc with this canoe; what would a one hundred pound Golden Retriever do to it? It's a certainty Douglas can never go in an empty canoe. But a canoe loaded full of gear would make the boat displace more water. It would sit deeper into the lake thereby making it more stable. That would be called secondary stability. I'll try it with Happy first. The shoreline is very rocky here. I'm sure the canoe will pay the price with scratches on it's bottom. I am gentle with it and beach it the proper way. I can't decide if it's pretty out here or gloomy. I'll settle for "it's natural." The morning is warm and there is no wind. Happy is having a great time exploring the edge of the forest. The bank has a good concentration of forest ferns and mosses. These areas in the woods always appealed to me. They offer a beautiful green hue to the mundane browns of Winter. This canoe was not acquired to be used on these big lakes. There are too many motorized boats in the Summer to really enjoy paddling. This boat will be used on lakes where motors are not permitted. Of course; Santeelah and Calderwood Lakes will see the Champlain. Note the scum line in the picture above. This is filth from the lake. It also is indicative of how much water the canoe, Happy and I are displacing. The next photo is of another area of the boat. According to the line of scum on the bow; there is just enough of the canoe in the water to allow stability. Good thing I put ballast in the front today. The education process is ongoing. For instance; I learned that a beavertail paddle is a better paddle for this boat. It is wider and facilitates correction strokes. It grabs more water than the longer more slender ottertail paddle. The Ottertail requires less effort to use but requires more paddle strokes to propell the boat. I guess it depends if one desires more speed or more grace. Ha. How bout both?! I learned one more valuable lesson when I put the canoe onto this shoreline above. I came into the shallows with the side of the canoe facing the bank. In eight to ten inches of water, Happy decided to jump out of the boat. Fine. When she made her leap; the boat tipped quickly in her direction, taking me with it. This put my torso over the edge of the boat thereby creating a top heavy situation. Over it went. I plunged my hand into the ten inches of water and stopped the complete upset of the boat. But I couldn't right it back up. I was holding it from tipping any further only. And here came Happy with intentions of re-entering the canoe. NO, NO, NO, NO Happy. Go Back!!!!!! With my other hand I swung the paddle around and quickly stuck it into the mud on the tippy side. Whew! Saved! I'm glad this is happening in ten inches of water. I think I'll get this dog back to the truck. The truck is out there somewhere. I'm enjoying this canoe experience a lot. I believe I could load it up today and go for days in it without any worries. The paddle strokes and corrections strokes come to me without thought now. I need to experience the boat with a load of camp gear in it. The stability of it should improve tremendously. As far as dogs go; the jury is still out. I believe Happy would be fine on a camping trip. I'm not sure of anything bigger. It makes me wonder how Clark Gable paddled that canoe with the huge wolf dog in "Call of The Wild."

CANOE'S AND STUFF

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE Many things have happened over the past three days off work. I had a great day in the woods with the dogs on Monday and found a boxer mix young dog lying along the hiking trail. Her ribs were showing and a very bad rain storm was scheduled to hit later that night. So I picked her up and hustled her home with me. That's all I needed; another dog. I now live with six of the rascals. They are becoming a burden on my financial ability to care for them properly. I absolutely can not accept one more dog. The dog's name will be Almondine. It's off to the vet for heart worm testing, vaccination, rabies shot, and spay operation. There goes a hundred bucks. But I gotta say; the look in her eyes when I stopped and picked her up is the look of relief. She was just out there on the edge of the forest with no idea of where to go. A mark on her hair around her neck indicates a collar was once attached. Someone removed the collar and let her out. How heartless! Her disposition is sweet and mellow. What a great little dog! I often wonder if people even consider in the slightest way what it must be like for a little dog like this to wander aimlessly and slowly starve. She'll keep walking until her strength is gone and there's nothing left but to lay down and let go. Many castaways have the luck to run into coyotes who will make the end less painful. People - and the dog is called an animal. On a more cheerful note; Douglas, Happy, Sigh, Shade and I went out to the woods down by the lake for a long walk and a relaxing rest. The geese were active on the lake and Douglas just had to chase a group of them that were sitting on the shoreline. They made a chorus of squawks and honks as Douglas drove them into the lake. He could never catch one as they are too close to the water for him to gain proximity to them. They paddled just off shore and sat there and taunted Douglas with their insulting croaking and complaining. Douglas and Shade languished in the water after two long weeks of being trapped in the house due to cold weather. It felt good to visit the old ruins. The dogs know exactly where they are here at the ruins and they plunge off toward the lake. I like to throw them a curve and head off in another direction. This time I walked off across the huge fields that lie adjacent to the forested hills. I had a clear view of the open path they all ran down. I could watch the path to see how long it would take for them to figure it out that I wasn't coming behind them. It was so humorous to watch all three dogs; Shade first, Douglas second and Happy third come running back up the path in search of me. Their heads were turning left and right as they trotted along. Shade ran all the way back to the truck. So funny! I yelled "Hey"! All three heads snapped in my direction and all three dogs ran at break neck speed toward me. I love em......... We walked to the ruins via the long way through the fields that lie to the rear of the old foundation. There we would sit and rest awhile. Well; I would sit and rest awhile. Shade seems to have uncovered a tunnel under the leaves left by some varmint. She can sure make the dirt fly. Douglas, on the other hand, uses a more civilized approach to the excavation. He simply uses his nose to sniff out the little rodent. Shade quickly tires of varmint duty and starts acting like the big goof she is. But there is one who watches the two undisciplined youths through knowing eyes. She also, at an earlier period in her life, chased squirrels and dug up varmints. She drank deep from the cup of life that Mother Nature offered her and she even tried unsuccessfully to make her first human happy. Her loyalty was rewarded by being cast out along the highway to die. She was found and treated like royalty, as she deserves to be. She watches these two kids playing in the leaves and for just a moment, her old heart beats just a bit faster as some youthful memory passes fleetingly through her mind. Old Sigh. Ever watchful. This brings us up to today. I am working on a bathroom remodel project for a friend. I proceeded as far as I could without the aid of an electrician. After lunch I decided to give the canoe another try. There was not a breeze and the lake was dead calm. The threat of rain was constant but I was eager to try out my canoe paddle strokes. So off to the lake I went with the canoe. I decided to sit backward in the front seat and paddle the canoe backwards. I would need ballast in the opposite end of the canoe. I filled a dry bag full of water and placed it behind the nose of the boat. Perfect. I launched and proceeded down the lake. My first attempt at paddling left a lot to be desired. But research indicated to me some errors of my ways. I pushed off and began the paddle strokes I have practiced in my mind for weeks. I used the "J" Stroke, which is a corrective stroke, to move the canoe across the lake. After several alterations to the "J" Stroke were tried; I finally settled into a steady paddle stroke that incorporated the correction "J" Stroke at the end of the power stroke . It was working perfectly. I increased the power in the stroke and put the "J" hook at the end of each stroke in one fluid motion. Soon I only needed the "J" hook on every two strokes. This canoe moves! The glide was long and the nose of the canoe went strait; proof that my correction "J" stroke was working. Life is great. Note the dry bag full of water I placed in the nose of the canoe for ballast. At the end of the trip I simply dump the water out and fold up the bag. Neat! I'm ready to load her up with camping gear and get out there on some trips. This summer is going to be extremely interesting. I am treading on unfamiliar territory with this canoe adventuring. I think that is why I am drawn to it.

THE CANOE

click on photos to enlarge I finally got time to launch my new escape mechanism. I found out one important thing real fast; I am totally lost when it comes to canoe operation. I have read and studied all the canoe strokes and thought it would just be a matter of a few trial paddle strokes and I'd be streaming down the water ways. Not so. This canoe is an Esquif Champlain model in Kevlar. The light weight material makes the canoe very easy to lift onto and off the truck cap. It is a breeze to carry anywhere. I put it in the water and easily got in and positioned. Off I went with a strong paddle stroke. Good. Then two more strong strokes and the canoe started to veer to the right. I'm paddling on the left. I executed a "J" stroke at the end of my power stroke, which is designed to correct the veer to the right, and it still went to the right. OK; we'll practice this. We did for three hours. The wind picked up to a gentle, steady breeze and it blew toward right side of the canoe and I found that steady paddling without any corrective action with the paddle made the canoe go dead straight. Great! I can do this. Then the wind stopped. Correction is again needed because the bow of the boat is veering to the right again with every paddle stroke. I paddle slow and apply correction and I'm going straight. Good. Maybe I need ballast in the front of the boat. Ya; that's it. Ballast. Off I paddle toward the truck. Lets see; what do I have in the truck I can use for weight in the bow to offset my weight. So I pulled out an old trailer jack and a spare boat trailer wheel. I gently sat them into the bow of my canoe in order to set the front of the boat into the water a bit further. This gotta be it. Yep. This is the answer. Off I go again. This helped stabilize the movement of the bow when the breeze picked up. But it did nothing to help when I applied the correction "J" stroke. There's work to be done. Anyone seeing a canoe with a trailer wheel sticking out the front would think the driver was nuts. Well; he is a little different, but I don't think nuts. I did get the boat well out in the center of Tellico Lake; which is a rather large body of water. But it was a struggle. It is difficult, as with anything, to learn a new skill without training. I will get it. I promise. And I will eventually take a canoe class. Handling a canoe is a skill. And it isn't an easy skill to pickup without instruction. But I'll get it. Even with all the difficulty of my first outing; I enjoyed the activity. I'm waiting for the rain to stop today so I can get it out on the water again. I have lots of paddle stroke variations I want to try. One will work.

BREAK IN THE COLD

click pictures to enlarge Finally; the temperature has risen to 45 degrees and the day is sunny. It's been in the teens at night and not much better during the day. Well; a little better. I'm into the third day of a string of off days from work and today is the first decent day to get the dogs together for a hike in the woods. I was in such a hurry I forgot my hat and glasses. Getting old I guess. Usually this time of year finds folks staying home near the fire indoors. But I find it an exciting time to be in the out doors. Leaves are mostly off the trees and the ground is covered in a golden, leafy blanket. The dogs love to roll and burrow into them. Birds can be seen more frequently through the bare limbs of trees Simply allow your eyes to follow the music and you'll find the little fellow. The huge lake is gray and cold in appearance. It is an amazing contrast to the days of Spring and Summer where the waters are electric and vibrant with reflection. Winter extracts a different beauty in lakes. They are mirror smooth, but gray and cold. They speak at human kind to use caution when upon them. It is a quiet day. The only sound is the rustle of leaves as the dogs walk upon them. I have Douglas, Shade, Happy and Sigh today. I need to get out with my boy Douglas. Just him and me. It used to be just the two of us morning till night. But as the others came, I feel we've lost some of our closeness. He has the distraction of others on our outings where as before, it was just me. Maybe I'm jealous of the others. Ha; now there's a twist. He has matured into a gorgeous golden boy. No; a spectacular golden boy. He is so beautiful I sometimes stop in mid stride to just look at him move. He was the little puppy with feet three times too large for his body. I always wondered what those feet would eventually support. Now I know.......