Sky High Energy

Because the Runner is taking a few days off from running our trails, I had the Duo with me for my mountain bike ride again this morning.

Right away, R taught Shyla about the big mud puddle that emerges every year as the snow melts - and the puddle is HUGE this year due to the floods last autumn. My neighbors and I joke that a local dog getting giardia from that puddle is a universal rite of passage. Until today, Shyla has acted as if the puddle was a big yucky thing to be avoided. Today, R leaped into it, splashed around, and even rolled over onto his back, getting his entire body wet in the muddy spring water. Shyla mimicked him after a single moment of contemplation.

They were both soaked from head to tail at the start of our mountain bike ride. I'm hoping that Shyla skips the giardia rite of passage.

R seemed to whisper something to Shyla, and she looked surprised! Perhaps she was surprised that the puddle could be so much fun.

 Under the warm Springtime sun, they both dried out fast.

They've been having such fun together - chasing each other, wrestling, and racing. Last fall, before R's elbow surgery, Shyla won every race by a huge margin. Now R is winning sometimes! He's cagey, and he knows when to cut in front of her to prevent her from passing.

They are a great pair, so closely bonded to each other.

They feed off of each other, mostly in good ways. Although their combined energy level can frazzle me, I am having tons of fun shepherding the Duo on my rides.