Saturday, April 10, 2010

Spring days in our city of lakes

Spring is an amazing season here in the City of Lakes, in the State of 10,000 lakes.  In recent years, I haven't spent much time doing what a large percentage of the population is doing every weekend, which is to stroll around one or another of our lovely lakes.  Back in the day, a very left-leaning governor (Floyd B. Olson, I believe) was instrumental in keeping the lakeside and riverside properties within the Minneapolis city limits as public parklands.  It certainly has made our city liveable.

So today, we visited for the first time one of the city parks off-leash areas, where dogs can be dogs and people can enjoy them.  We have been going to an indoor dog-play hour each week, so that Charlie can become socialized.  Today, in the dog park, he was more active and social than he's been in that indoor setting, so we'll certainly return.  (He had particular fun with a young and speedy dachshund, racing around the park.)

So - two photos taken afterward, as we joined our fellow Minneapolitans on a Saturday early evening stroll along the Lake of the Isles shore:



The first is looking across to one of the little islands nestled in this lake.

Next, a view of Charlie (that's Peter on the other end of the leash) - Charlie still pulls ahead on the leash despite being in Level Three dog training.  He'll walk by my side if I have treats in my hand, but we haven't gotten it to a point of doing so when out on a walk.  Nor have I gotten him to stop jumping up on people (including a very tiny but intrepid little girl this evening).

5 comments:

ellen abbott said...

Sounds like a good time was had by all. Lucky for you the lake shore was kept public. The beaches in Texas are public and after every hurricane people lose their houses and property because the dune line moves back. such howling and attempts to change the law. But they knew when they bout beachfront property that it would eventually happen. Can't stop nature or the nature of a barrier island.

Sultan said...

I think dog parks are a wonderful idea for cities. There is one next to my house and it is often filled with happy dogs and their owners once the weather gets warm enough.

Chicago is wonderful in the sense that there are an amazing number of parks on very desirable and expensive land. I hope this won't change in the future as it makes it seem much less like a concrete jungle.

Reya Mellicker said...

Ahh you can't blame the pooch for wanting to push ahead. Spring, glorious spring! So glad you're able to get out and about, enjoy all the 10,000 kinds of beauty in your city.

Leone said...

Great photos of Spring, glad it has finally arrived for you. Charlie is such a sweetheart, I'm sure he enjoyed his visit to the park. There is a dog park near where I live and I love to go and watch the dogs running and tumbling. Wouldn't it be great if we could all play so freely?

Mary Ellen said...

Yes, I am living vicariously by means of my dog - racing, sniffing, leaping about. Spring brings so many wonderful new things for him!