Photo Inspiration

I have been following a camera bag company on Facebook, twitter and instagram called Epiphanie Bags.  They are purse like camera bags that are cute and functional.  They recently started a giveaway challenge calling for your weekend top 10 photos.  The photo's didn't necessarily have to be from this weekend so I searched through my history and decided that my trip to New Orleans was one of my favorite weekends.  My sister and I took a photography tour with American Photo Safari through the famous French Quarter and learned how to approach shots and how to better use our cameras.  It was a great time for us and looking back it was a wonderful way to see New Orleans.
I thought I would share my entries for this contest and encourage you to visit the beautiful city.  I hope you enjoy the photo's

New Trails

My husband dislikes being on the same trail twice.  Every time we discuss where to go he wants to find a different starting point.  He always wants to go somewhere different or start on a different part of the trail.  I don't mind but I prefer to not blindly wander without a map or idea of the distance or type of trail we are on.  I like to know if it will be near water or not at all, if it loops or is an out and back, etc.   I like to plan.  This weekend we went back out the the Perry Lake Trails that are about 30 minutes from our house.  The website has a pretty decent map and good trail descriptions.  We opted to try the Section 2 west near the Longview Park.  The Longview Camping area is very close to the trail head for the 2 West section.  We drove into the camping area and the tent camping sites look really nice.  Right on the lake shore with shade trees and an amazing view.  We decided we will definitely come back to this area for some camping this summer.

The trailhead is just beyond this sign. There isn't parking right at the trail head but just a few hundred yards beyond there is a small parking area just off the road.  There is room for 2-3 cars.  

There is a map and some other various information in the trailhead sign.  It doesn't get too specific about where you are on the map which would be helpful.  

Off we go!

These trails weren't as well defined as the Slough Creek trails we were on a few weeks ago but they were well marked.  It just shows that they don't get as much foot traffic, which is just fine!!

These trails had some interest rock paths and a few areas of decent elevation gain and loss.  

Winston was happiest about the lake access.  It was about 1.5 miles into the hike but well worth it.  It was a warm day and he was thrilled to swim and play in the water.  

Some fun driftwood art!

We used the water as a turnaround point for us as we were just on a short hike today.  So most of the way back to the car was uphill.  

I love stopping to take a few pics of the flowers while they are blooming!

Desperate for the trails

My poodle mix Winston is desperate for trail running.  It has been rainy here and caused the trails to be quite muddy.  We have been going to the local dog park and some various pastures that have dried out a little but this isn't enough.  Winston heads straight for any clumping of trees looking for a trail.  He even heads down the game trails.  He runs into the trees desperately searching for a trail, barking once he finds one and then runs back to me as if to say, "It's here, I found it!"  I then just keep walking along the pasture areas and he continues this pattern of looking into the trees, sometimes running into them and the occasional excited bark before returning.
Winston has tendencies to be obsessive about things.  Fetch, for example, will occur with any item he can find from hedge balls to ripping roots from the ground to proudly present to you to throw.  Yesterday we went to the local dog park, which is only about 1/2 mile from the hiking trails we frequent.  We walked along the pastured area and played frisbee.  Once we started to frisbee back toward the car Winston just took off and went straight to the car dropping his frisbee at the back door.  I was kind of surprised that he was ready to head home but I loaded stuff up and we headed out of the parking lot.  Once we were leaving he started whining, turning circles and acting all excited again.  I was quite confused.  So, I pulled over at our hiking trail head to let him out and see what was wrong.  Well, I was fooled by a dog.  Once I opened the door and invited him out he immediately took off toward the trailhead, bouncing and yelping with joy.  Luckily there wasn't a car around since the recent rains, and threatening weather probably encouraged most people to stay away from the trails.  I walked around with Winston for a little while near the edges of the woods and he ran into the woods onto the trails and back to me yelping and barking with  joy.  I wished that I could explain to his little poodle brain that the trails were too muddy to go but he didn't care.  He ran through the trails leaving streams of mud flying in the air. After about 20 minutes of running and yelping we headed back to the car and he had flecks of mud covering his belly and sides like a car that had been driven through mud roads.  His face with his long tongue hanging was of pure joy ready to find another trail to run on.

I totally understand how he feels.  There really isn't anything better than an isolated trail to run on in cool spring weather.  I have created a trail hound in Winston and I'm thrilled.  He is going to be a wonderful little hiking buddy for years to come.