Dog trots. Trailing with mutters.
Cool! Cruel and unusual punishment to be forced to stay inside.©
“I’m booooored. Wanna go outside and play. You are the meanest parents ever.”
Way past dog whispering. Full out muttering and exclaiming.
Yes, admitting it.
The worst, over protective, hovering, meanest dog parents ever. While Molly Malamute is past the initial danger period immediately after being poisoned, for the next 4-5 weeks there’s a risk of internal hemorrhaging. No rough play.
Know what young huskies, Malamutes, or sled-type dogs find entertaining?
Charging pell-mell around the yard at break claw speed, smashing through any bush with the poor judgement to grow in the way, then whole body crashing into each other. I have bruises to prove it. (Nice to be accepted into the pack, but not The Hulk-type here.)
Playing chase the ball was suggested to drain energy. Ball. Something she absolutely shows no interest in unless another dog is playing. Peer pressure, perhaps.
It’s not good for a young malamute to be bored.
We shall not discuss the bedspread.
Do kennels have recreation managers? If so, gaining plenty experience for the job.
Ready to go? Ready to go. Ready to go. Ready to go. You carry the water. ©
Current tactic is daily afternoon outings.
Which eats a bit of time, so blog posts may be a little different, lack polish, or existence at all.
Work with me here. Did I mention the bed spread? The couch can take just so many Molly mountain goat leaps.
Wander along Pine Gully on a rare spring day: cool, low humidity, bright sun.
“Mom, don’t stand so close. You’re always right next to me. I’m just sniffing – not eating it. Give a dog some space!”
Must you dawdle? Enough with the pictures. There’s stuff to see – keep up. Molly’s the dark blob on the far right. ©
Molly was on the far right for a reason. There’s an alligator lurking in the shallow water back there in the canal.©
Pine Gully is a flood control area as well as a restored natural wetlands and waterway to Galveston Bay.©
Dow Chemical donated and planted native trees to re-forest this area which was damaged during Hurricane Ike. Some 8-10 feet of salt water surged in here. Volunteers are also planting native grasses. Stuff grows fast here, so it won’t take long once it’s established. ©
“Hey, open trail. Leashes are such a drag. How about a little free range dog here? I promise to stay out of the tall grass. No? Oh, OK, let’s go on down to the bay and see what’s splashing.”©
Pine Gully Trail ends on the banks of county park over looking Galveston Bay and the ships in the Houston Ship Channel heading to the Port of Houston. ©
Another view of one cargo ship headed down the ship channel to open waters of Galveston Bay. We’re far away. Difficult to describe how gigantic the cargo ships are. Unsettling if you are in a sailboat also sharing the channel passage. Wise to not insist on right of way in that circumstance.©
The park’s very popular, very long public fishing pier over Galveston Bay. No dogs allowed, but Molly isn’t insulted. Something smells fishy about it.©
Squint at the horizon and you can see small sailboats during a race out there. These are shallow keels boats, so they do not need the depth of the channel to sail. Small boats race on courses around floating marks set out race morning Boats are much closer to shore than to the shipping lanes of the ship channel.©
Tired? Well, better trot on back to the car.
Mind shaking off that mud before going?
Trailing thoughts until the next run.
Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.
Related posts about Pine Gully Trail
- 2012.“End of the Campaign. End of the Trail.”
- Jan.2014.“Gators.Where yat?” Multiple threats facing Pine Gully. Why restoration necessary. Work begins.
- April, 2014.“Obscured on purpose?” Pine Gully is alive. Visit the residents and enjoy the decor.
- Jan. 1015. “Flyers. Bits and pieces” Pine Gully has history and tells ancient tales.
Well, if running wild isn’t an option, doggone it, a change of scenery helps.©
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41 Comments
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Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge 
Sounds like young huskies like to entertain themselves much like teenage boys do, especially that whole body crashing thing. And if they’re lucky–though to Mom’s chagrin–the father will join in too, and it’s not long before you hear crashes coming from the kitchen that you’re not sure you want to know about…
Great pictures!
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Yep, with the tiniest bit of encouragement the energetic can become overly excited and totally wild. It’s going to be a challenge to keep finding outing locations close-by. We’ve got 3 days of mild weather before it gets hot again. Her dark color absorbs heat more and she’s got thick fur. There is one unexpected benefit: the cat is probably losing weight from all the aerobic exercise. With this layout, the two play chase round and round from hall to dining to kitchen to living room, then back down the hall. Don’t worry about RC…she refuses to hide out of sight, not one to back down, and Molly isn’t the first big dog she’s trained. I do have to be wary not to get in their path, though. It’s like they don’t see me. Glad you enjoyed the trail. Thanks for jogging along. Have a great weekend.
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Thanks, you too. And the image of your cat losing weight from aerobics is making me smile. 🙂
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RC insists Molly was never hired as a trainer!
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a bored nordic dog is dangerous… our huskies did horrible things… and if we picked them up we had always the checkbook in our hand :o(
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And they have those cute little happy faces…when standing in front of what ever just got torn to shreds. Very different from our Bouviers or German Shepherds. But Molly is such an endearing clown. Laughter alone is worth it. (but yes, we are nuts, Totally nuts) Paw waves! HAve a great weekend, Easy and Staff!
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Continued healing for Molly even though it means having to attempt to slow down a bit. Glad to hear she is recovering
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Molly wanted to share a toy with you, but decided it needed to be nibble down to size a bit first. Have a great weekend! Paw waves for running by!
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What a shame you can’t teach her to go online! Amazing how days can slip completely away as I browse….She might never go outside again if she starts watching all the Cute Dog videos….
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Noooo. Don’t turn on cute pet videos….one leads to another. And another. Addictive.Next it’s PVA (Pet Video Anonymous)
Actually Molly does watch CBS Sunday Morning “Moments of Nature” – and anything on TV with birds flying. Now the cat does find the office computer entertaining. Being a serious sort (when awake), RC Cat seems to find computer videos frivolous. Now the baby birds on the Lantana bushes are much more intriguing. Molly prefers to scowl at the big black grackles stomping all over her backyard.
Hope spring is flying your way. Thanks for wandering this way
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The good news is that she is recovering. The bad news….well, there is the bedspread. Good thing she’s lovable.
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And her hair is so soft – like a big plush toy…that really doesn’t belong on the bed. She’s milking it for all it’s worth – the poor little invalid doggy….who crashes into things like a buffalo. She must have been taken away from her mother too soon. When stressed, she mouths on her dog bed/blanket, then must grind her teeth a bit, then suddenly there’s a hole. I thought we had gotten past that. Somehow the RC Cat gets her to slink back down to the dog bed…looking pathetic the whole time. Shakespeare couldn’t create better characters and drama. Thanks for trotting over to chat. Hope your weekend is wonderful
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Poor doggy! They do know how to milk it.
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Better Molly be frustrated for a bit than to risk an injury. How’s the German doing?
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We swear she can tell time and reads a calendar. She knows exactly when we normally head out to meet her playmate pack in the fields. So far walking and change of scenery is helping. Temperatures are supposed to be back hot starting Monday. UGH.
Got word a little bit ago that the antibiotics seem to be what the German needed. She’s bouncing back quickly.
Hope you’re doing well. Is it spring there yet? Please let me know when you guest post again! Thanks for trailing over this way.
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She isn’t all malamute, is she? Looks part Rottie. Hopefully has the smarts of a Malamute 🙂
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Could be a good bit of German Shepherd in there too. She escaped an area known for raising dog fighting animals ( It’s illegal to fight dogs or be at a dog fight, but raising dogs is legal – only the rescue groups/humane officers keep a close eye on the area. Dogs can’t be chained 24 hrs or on short ropes/chains, must have shelter from extreme heat/cold, clean bedding and grounds, and fresh water at all time or they confiscate the animals. Molly chewed through the wire harness and tether to escape then eluded capture for quite a while. Finally an elderly couple lured her in and took her to vet. Eventually released her to rescue group for adoption as her medical bills were too high…and she was awfully wild and destructive when she felt better. At first glance she looked very much like the German when she was younger. Now she looks like the lead dogs of the big sled race in Alaska – google Iditarod sled dog race….there’s Molly’s relatives! (those sled dogs are mostly mixed bred dogs, too…some actually are bred in TX). She really is intelligent and an independent thinker. The more I read about Malamute, the more certain she’s got a lot of that…”Malamutes think for themselves which means they will not obedience train the same way other dogs do. They learn commands and know exactly what you want them to do, but they may just be busy with plans of their own…” Quite an adjustment from the German. And she’s got the coat(s) along with the rough big paws. Hopefully she’ll get to play in snow someday…meanwhile the AC and ceiling fans work. Now if we can just convincer her that her friendly paw “high fives” look/feel like Paw of Death to RC and if truth be told to us sometimes: Whack! “Hey, let’s play.” Whack.
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Oh my! I keep telling people here that Huskies, while beautiful, are NOT going to be fenced/caged, etc. We have had people get angry with us when I tell them so. I’ve only seen one malamute locally – a young man walking his truly massive dog. I knew right away what the dog was, and he was ever so grateful that someone got it right for once.
Malamute, along with Akita, have a tendency to use those big paws as hands. Sign of intelligence? Maybe not when a small cat with a big attitude is nearby 🙂 Good thing RC knows more than a doggie ever could!
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Looks like a lovely place to walk. Soon Molly will want to go there all the time. 🙂
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We all like to go there. Probably a big reason not to move from this area. Probably everyone is sick of Pine Gully pictures, but there’s always something new to see there. Thanks for wading in with a comment
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So glad to hear Molly is doing well. It’s a lovely day for a tour, even on a leash. I’ve sailed near(ish) those ships. It was unsettling and thrilling, all at once. Thanks for the memories!
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Giant ships are a weird magnet…you just have to see them. My preference is having them anchored off shore while they sit waiting their turn in channel and port. Moving mountains are scary…must be how small bugs feel? Thanks for sailing in to chat
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Just getting them out – even though on a leash – helps tremendously. But yes, bored dogs are the worst. There’s just too much mischief to be made around the house!
Nancy
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It seems RC Cat is busy helping to distract Molly and offering aerobic exercise…(of course HRH is doing this totally voluntarily…) We get out every morning while it’s cool to walk to the lake and a couple of short walks during the day…the better she feels the more energy we need to burn off – so if it’s not too humid and hot we try to go some place to wander late in the day. You’d think staff would be losing weight with all this. Sigh. Thanks for leashing a comment over here
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Recuperating is soooo boooooring! I have a G.O. who has in the last couple of weeks had plastic surgery removing a skin cancer from his face and 25-ish skin cancers zapped from his arms & hands… maybe I’ll take him for a walk 🙂 Although it won’t be anywhere near as pleasant as walking around Galveston Bay proximity of alligators notwithstanding.
I’m happy Molly is well & healthy enough to be rattling the boundaries.
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Whew, that’s a lot of cosmetic surgery. Sitting and watching the world going by through the window only works for so long. Hope your guys is bouncing back well. Paw waves to all (and I am so behind with the blogs…Molly says, running faster covers ground better, but finders and eyes just go so fast….:)
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Poor puppy dog. Held back by the Woman. What a conflict of wills you have going here. The photos are beautiful. I’m a decidedly sedentary human being, but even I would like to run along that path. So pretty.
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There is a purpose for hot weather – keeps the dog from having too much energy! This remodeled trail has become very popular – the crushed granite path is usually dry enough for little kids on bikes and even grandparents driving motorized wheelchairs with kids on board. Although you do have to watch for the serious people cross training on bicycles or running really fast. Molly normally would be insisting we try to keep up, but walking is hot enough in the sun right now.
It really is a pretty area – one reason we bought nearby. Thanks for sauntering along
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Glad to hear Molly is “out of the woods” and counting down the days. The walk around the bay looks lovely, even on a short leash!
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She’s getting very tired of the leash, but if we’ll go someplace other than the backyard, she’s ready to hop in the car. Thanks for watching the countdown.
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I might be biased ’cause Antwerp has a big harbor but I love the look of cargo ships.. not sure why. So industrial and colorful. I like how they sink when they get loaded as well. On a side note, mutts are the best.
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Giant harbors are fascinating – what big cranes! We used to sail down by the Galveston docks and ship dry docks/building areas and the big anchorages off shore where the loaded ships anchor to wait their turn in the channel or ports. They are a bit like Mondrian painting or Legos. Thanks for sailing along
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Just like with children, it’s so hard to explain to a dog why this curb on their normal activities is so important. 🙂 I hope the next few weeks fly by with no further ill effects!
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Molly is good at learning behavior patterns. Right now she knows there’s a good walk early in the morning, a few short ones, then if she looks really sad staff will break down and go someplace to walk in late afternoon…and there’s always being RC’s exercise trainer. Plus side is that walking is good for everyone. Thanks for checking by
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I’ve not been to Pine Gully in forever. Now, it’s starting to get hot… Oh, my. Well, it looks like they have it spiffed up enough that a trip is in order. Besides, June and July aren’t going to be any cooler!
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I just went over and looked at the website. A $20 admission fee? Are you kidding me? Is there a way around that? Some other place to access the trails you’re walking? I’ve always thought the city of Seabrook government was idiotic, but assumed that was blind prejudice speaking. Maybe it’s not. 😉
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Oh, you’re looking at the actual park entrance. We park in the trail parking lots along Toddville Rd/or by those tennis courts and hike along the road to the bay. Seabrook isn’t so bad – they are serious about providing hike and bike trails entirely around and through the city. Yesterday we ran into a woman and her family who after parking in that side road hard to find parking lot (free) along the south edge of the area. She was looking around and asked “How far to the wildlife park?” We looked at her. Thinking she meant the county Bay Park, we said “Oh, about 2-3 miles down the trail. She was miffed, “They expect us to hike 2-3 miles after parking?” And she irritably repeated “The sign on the road said there’s a wild life park” I said, “Oh, you’re in it now.” We walked on as she said “Where’s the shopping and dining?” And, we wondered: probably alligators and animals in cages? …hmmm maybe a whole post about that encounter..
Anyway – lots of free parking and we saw another new trail area has opened! It’s cool in the forest areas. Busy on weekends, but weekdays are super. Thanks for hiking over with all the comments!
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It’s no doubt true that things have changed in Seabrook. My initial impressions were formed back in the ’80s, when things still were in flux and there were lots of fights about development.
I wonder if that woman had confused the wildlife park in Dickinson with Seabrook. That’s another one I haven’t checked out. I need to get out more!
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Gettin’ pretty hot now. The past few mornings have been amazing. The park on the bay is the county’s. Recently they’ve had real problems with overcrowding. At times there was a line of cars trying to get in and they had to turn people away. Crowd control/vandalism, too. Not to mention they have to maintain/repair the bulkheads, piers, water faucets, picnic shelters. Tell one thing, that’s a fantastic playground for kids: hills, tunnels, all sorts of equipment – including big trees/stumps from the storm that have been arranged for play. We just stop in there briefly for the view so we park in the prairie/bird watching/ actual Pine Gully parking spots.
Seabrook still seems to have humorous politics from a distance (but who doesn’t).
Going to have to do a post about that funny encounter…No, she kept talking about the sign out front with the Seabrook logo and their city tag line: “shop, dine, stay” (which is at the bottom of all their signs.) There’s another trail south of Pine gully west of the road. Nice shade and plants/tree with a long (hot) sunny trail which goes a really long way bordering a couple of neighborhoods. Good space for big dogs and bicycles
(on another note, my niece is in Nepal working as nurse /EMC with rescue effort. Hospitals really short on everything. Everyone would appreciate a break in the earthquakes and aftershocks. Of course all the “unhappy, deprived” people destroying things here seem a tad spoiled when elsewhere…) Jumping paw waves…RC may be calling Dixie for reinforcements…
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Oh my, good luck keeping activity curbed! We had an Alaskan Malamute growing up and she was quite active as well (very sweet dog, though.) It reminds me of when my older son had his tonsils and adnoids removed. I’m reading the at-home care sheet that says he may be sluggish for a few days and he’s over there jumping off the couch. Turns out codeine did NOT make him drowsy, haha.
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Oh, you have one of those, too. Like the time 3 year old was sick and the doc gave us meds that would probably make her sleepy…only she bounced off the walls all night long, at one point weeping she was so tired – with eyes as wide and big as saucers. Molly is pretty tired of being harnessed and leashed – free the doggy! The German may come for a few hours visit sometime this weekend which will help cheer her up.We’ll just dodge the play chaos. Thanks for bouncing in!
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