Throwing the dog into a canoe

Last weekend I was in Stowe, VT with my boyfriend and Zico. Stowe is a really health-conscious place! The whole village is ringed with paved walking/biking trails that run alongside the river, offering great views of rolling hills, dairy farms, etc. Our hotel had mountain bikes to lend and we took off on them with Zico running alongside. We only stopped at areas that allowed us to go to the river's edge and let Z swim and play in the water. Oh, and also to build Japanese stone sculptures....they were everywhere and I wish I had taken some pictures. It was very therapeutic for me to build a few sculptures, and to know that countless others had taken their time to choose their stones and place them in very zen-like formations, leaving behind an edifice....a monument to the natural world. So of course.....I really dug that.

We took a day trip to Burlington, VT and wandered Market St. There was a festival going on (of course) and we took in the many music acts and other street performers while chowing down on some great Greek street food (souvlaki...holla!). Even though we were not dressed for lake activities, we decided to rent a canoe and go paddling around on Lake Champlain. I mean...how could we not?

I haven't been in a canoe in many years, and Zico has never been! It must have been comical to watch as we cajoled, urged and finally picked him up and placed Zico in the canoe and shoved off (only to have to do all of that all over again as he kept jumping out). But we perservered, lending continuous encouragement to Z and rowing like maniacs to stay out of the way of other boats and swimmers. I am happy to say that Zico wound up liking his canoe trip, and even voluntarily jumped back in when we beached at one point. He is such a trooper....and we had a great time out on that lovely lake.