A morning walk

          Having Chance motivates me to get out and go walking.  It's far too easy to become house bound, but an energetic dog needs more exercise than squirrel chasing.  Now that it's fall, it seems the wind picks up around 9:00, so if I want to enjoy my walk, I'm out the door by 7:30 latest.  This morning I decided to park at the end of Hart Road and trek down the dirt road that connects Hart with Hunt Road.  I recall driving it several years ago when it was in good shape, and then driving it a few years later when it was less maintained.  Road extensions in neighboring towns seem to go by the wayside and eventually disappear.  What has saved Hart/Hunt Road extension is the blueberry barrens that are raked annually.  Trucks and cars have to get in there, so even though there are a few rough spots, the road is still intact.

Blueberry fields in fall are a sight to behold. This picture doesn't do it justice.

           It's a beautiful walk through the woods from the Northport side.  As expected, I found a few places that were challenging--puddles that covered the entire road, places that a car might sink into, washed out portions that didn't matter much on foot but would give pause to someone in a low-slung vehicle.  Luckily Chance showed me where the dry spots were.  Is there anything better than a dog to show you where to walk high and dry?

One of the easier puddles to navigate, but I was glad I was walking and not driving.

 I even saw one pathway that veered off the road and down the hill. Deer path?  Something to explore another day.

A pathway to the right and down the hill, saved for another day.

           We walked all the way down to within a few yards of Back Belmont Road, then turned and walked back.  It's obvious that it's election time. Even on this quiet road, signs proclaiming candidacy march one ahead of the other.  Chance, perhaps making a political statement, marked them all.

          As we approached the end of the pavement to return home, I let my eye wander over a track to the right, taking in the fence, and musing on where it might lead. 

A track off to the side, just where the pavement ends, looked very inviting.

Chance was ahead of me, intent on something in the woods...I thought.

Not wanting to trespass, I kept on my way. Chance had no such compunction.  As I peered through the trees, I discovered a house just visible. 

It's hard to see the house through the trees, but as I peered, it came into view.

The house at the end of the lane.

I realized Chance was not with me, called his name, and in a minute he came bounding down the track.  No doubt he got a close-up view, but like the wonderfully obedient dog he is, he left his explorations to return to my side.  I love this dog!

          Maine has some of the most beautiful stone walls, and this road is no different.  I sometimes envision the early settlers hauling them one by one, stacking them into useful borders. "Good fences make good neighbors."  Ayuh!  I'm glad I get to admire them rather than build them.  Farming was not an easy task when the ground was such a challenge.

Good fences make good neighbors.  Having hauled a few stones by hand, I can imagine the labor to build this.

           I think we walking in total a little less than two miles.  We got back to the car a little before 9:00.  By 9:15 it had started to gust.  Perfect timing.