Cowboy Lake Park

This morning Jack and I decided to go for a walk at Cowboy Lake Park by the airport in Kingsford. The website had said there was a 1.5 mile groomed loop so we bundled up and set out.

 Now, it had snowed overnight and has continued to snow all day so far but I have only seen one snow plow and only the major roads have been plowed. Definitely feel right at home. :) 

When we got to the park, I couldn't really find an opening in the woods or any semblance of the beginning of a trail. Jack didn't care, he was bounding and rolling around in the fresh powder. It didn't take me long to find out that wherever the trail was, it was definitely not groomed. There seemed to be a packed down foot trail that went along the Menominee River, so we started down that. Had I been equipped with snowshoes it probably would have been fine, but since I was not, I was sinking every few steps or so and it was VERY slow going. As always, Jack was completely unphased and enjoying the freedom. 

As you drive in, you are facing a power plant, to the left is where I was struggling in 3 feet of snow and crust, and at the other is the opening of Cowboy Lake. Once we made it back to the road, I leashed up Jack to walk down to the lake. I knew there were probably ice fishermen out and since Jack is so insistent on making friends, I didn't want to take any chances of him running out onto the frozen lake. 

I was surprised to see so many geese out and about once we got down by the lake. Although the calendar says it is spring, it is still very much winter weather. Jack jumped up with all four paws in the air when the geese started honking at him. He just stood there frozen staring back at them with all the fur on his back standing on end. Once they flew away, I unhooked Jack and said, "Find the car!"  He booked it all the way to the jeep and sat there until I caught up to let him in. 

On the way back, I wanted to see if I could find my way to the house without using my gps. Unfortunately, I missed a turn and wound up in Wisconsin. No joke. There was a bridge that went over the Menominee River and then a big building that had WISCONSIN painted on the side. Jesse had said we lived close to the state line, but I didn't think THAT close. Sure enough, I turned around and pulled out my phone...5 minutes away from the house. Pretty neat. Now I can officially say that this trip has brought me through 8 states - Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, AND Wisconsin.