Free to Roam

Today’s photo was taken on a solo (no dogs) day trip to Sterling State Park, a favorite getaway less than 30 minutes from home. These solo trips were previously hindered by a series of circumstances that kept me close to home, almost all dog-related.

I had a dying dog in my care and his comfort and safety during his final year of life was my top priority. Shortly after Charlie’s passing, I adopted Ringo only to find he had a severe case of separation anxiety that was unrelenting for about nine months. Ringo got better with a lot of patience and training, and just as his separation anxiety eased, I adopted Moose, an 8-week old puppy. Three days later, I broke my foot.

It’s almost a year later now and I’m finally at the point where I can leave the dogs at home without worry. I’m free to roam and explore beautiful places on my own. I love visiting these places with my dogs, but it’s a completely different experience on my own.