The Dog Paw

I love dogs, but they have a habit that is universally annoying.  The obsessive licking, when they sit beside you and fixate on one paw.  Lick, lick, lick, lick, lick...lick, lick, lick.  At first you just try to ignore it, you are happy to be hanging out with your pooch.  The noise goes in and out of your consciousness, you notice it, but it is not too big of a deal.  Lick, lick, lick... You pet the dog a little bit, they pause,  they look up at you, but back to it, lick, lick, lick, lick...You ignore them, or maybe mumble for them to stop, you may even distract them for a time, but lick, lick, lick.  Finally there is that point where you cannot take it anymore - AHHHHHHH!  STOP IT!

The Dog Paw.  That is what we call a section of trail that goes on, and on, and on.  Where the rhythm of your steps stay the same for miles, and you have nothing to do but keep walking.   The Dog Paw is almost always flat.  I may be known to utter a few profanities going uphill gasping for breath and wondering if the summit will ever appear, but the Dog Paw, it can usually convince me that the ups are never that bad.

There are two epic Dogs Paws in my life.  The Lake Road in the Adirondack Mountain Reserve in New York and large sections of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.  Both are flat, wide and long, too long, the monotony of these trails are bone crushing.  More than any other type of trail, the Dog Paw makes your joints hurt and feet ache from the pounding.

One section of the Pennsylvania AT is the Dog Paw namesake.  On an outing four years ago Andy and I and our friend Jimmy were on our weekly training hike.  We turned onto the AT from another trail and started on the dreaded section, we walked and mumbled under our breath, you go as fast as you can to get it over with, but like the dog licking, it just keeps going.

Finally, we got to the next trail junction, happy just for the opportunity to make a turn.  "You know what that is like?"  Andy said as we paused at the trail.  "When the dog licks and licks at his paw and doesn't stop."

Jimmy and I agreed, and from that day forward all long, flat sections of the trail are known as the Dog Paw.

This is Kertesz, our little dog who would lick all night if we let him and the inspiration for the Dog Paw.  The trail inspires many things, but funny sayings and catch phrases created on the trail are some of my favorite.  Do you have any to share? 

Go, go, go!
Anne