I hope you had a nice holiday weekend. Mom and Dad went to Sedona without me. I haven’t forgiven them yet. They say they did non-dog-friendly stuff. Hmph. Maureen from Paws on Pet Sitting and our neighbor Dee took very good care of me and my brother, but I was happy to get out with mom for a long walk. We are peas and carrots, so I can’t stay mad for long.
Mom has a bum ankle, so we haven’t been trail running. She needs a flat surface, so off to the Dove Valley path we went. We are so fortunate to have this gem on the north side of Phoenix. You can pick up the path at two places: 1) The Apache Wash trail head parking lot off the Sonoran Parkway. You will have to walk ¼ of a mile to get to the path and then can go left or right. It is free and has human restrooms. 2) Park off of Dove Valley Road, just past the gated community. It’s a dirt lot and limited to about 10 to 12 cars. It’s free and is the beginning of the path. No human restrooms.
The Dove Valley Path is great for walking, running or biking. On any given day, you will see all of them. Tons of folks take their doggies out on this path. It has all the scenery of a hiking trail but is paved and relatively flat. This was just what we needed. Mom wants to strengthen her ankle without injuring it further.
From the dirt parking lot, you could go 5.5 miles to the Apache Wash trail head…or not. That’s the beauty of
it: you go as far as you like. The path follows Dove Valley Road, which eventually turns into the Sonoran Parkway. You will have some traffic noise, but the tranquility of the desert will override it.
Early in the morning, you will see balloons launching and floating above. You may even see helicopters practicing their landings. Mostly, you will absorb the beautiful terrain. With our recent rains, the plants are greening up and even the Ocotillo are showing signs of life.
The path has markers, so you can track your distance. We went 1.5 miles out for a 3-mile loop. As always, mom had to drag my lazy butt out. Since I never know how far we will go, I conserve my energy. Remember, it isn’t about getting some place; it is about getting back safely! Always have enough energy and water for the return trip. Mom taught me that.
As soon as we turned around, I took the lead. That’s my job! I pull mom back home. I have four legs, so I have to slow down sometimes for her. Poor humans with their measly two legs. Anyway, the temperatures were just perfect. Right now, you can go just about any time. Once the summer comes, however, you will want to get out early. Your reward will be watching the desert and sky wake up. It’s worth it.
If you are on a bicycle, I would recommend you park at the dirt path and ride to the Apache Trail head (5.5 miles) and then continue on past it for another 3 or so miles. That would give you a very nice ride of nearly 20 miles…all protected and not near cars.
As for us, three miles was just right for the day. A good nap was in order afterwards, and I forgot all about Sedona…almost.
My mom, Lorraine Bossé-Smith, is kind enough to help me share my Great Adventures, big and small. My mom is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, executive recruiter, business consultant, coach, fitness expert, and author of nine published books. More importantly, she’s the best doggy mom ever!
Enjoy my blog at https://www.lorrainebosse-smith.com/category/kuma/kumas-great-adventures/
and be sure to follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kumathedog/ and Instagram: kumaitothedog
Get outside! You never know what you’ll discover, and our paths just might cross. Happy tails!
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