Wheel 'n' Paw

At the suggestion of a friend, who once cared for a large dog like my Koda Bear, I strapped on my roller blades for what was to become our first Wheel 'n' Paw adventure.  My feet had not been strapped to inline wheels for over five years (or perhaps ten); but I wasn't necessarily thinking about that... It was just going to be a GREAT way to get Miss Dog some exercise - exercise I couldn't give her while on foot.

After a bit of wheeling around alone while Miss Dog was tied to a post, I felt that I had regained my skill sufficiently to take up the leash.  Miss Dog was leaping from paw to paw with happy excitement!!  

We went tenderly at first, I thanked God for grass (which slowed me down and upon which I could "walk") and the brake (which of course helped me to stop before rolling into oncoming traffic)!  

Destination:  Bethany's house, 2 miles due East.  

We kept to the sidewalks.  At first, it seemed Miss Dog instinctively understood that she should not cross in front of me.  Then, occasionally a scent caught her attention, and I had to jump to the other foot or slow down to avoid rolling over her paws.  Uneven sidewalks, sticks and rocks on the pavement were all somewhat of a threat, but the worst threat of all:  Miss Dog's incorrigible addiction to squirrels!!

Looking back, I realize, I presumed too much upon her loyalty to me, her owner of only 1 week.  I thought  she was tuned in and aware that her new master was on wheels and thus chasing a squirrel would NOT be a good idea.

After a short while, I dared to venture into a non-busy street - we could really pick up the pace and Miss Dog broke into a full out run.  (NOTE: To any concerned reader, I never allow her to pull me, we go at the same pace and each carry our own weight... I'm not training her to be an Alaskan sled dog!)

We were going at a pretty good clip... and then... "SQUIRREL!"

Before I knew what was happening, Koda darted from my right side, crossed in front of me and over to the left side of the road... I was braking, yanking her leash and yelling "NO!"  It must have been exhilarating to Miss Dog that she was finally going at the speed she needed to actually CATCH the squirrel...

Well...

Eventually, she stopped; and thanks to the rubber brake, so did I.  We did not collide into the parked cars, nor did I fall over when I hit the curb.  Additionally, Miss Dog did not catch the squirrel.  There were no oncoming cars to run us over... but... I knew then that I had to watch more diligently for squirrels if we were going to make it alive to Bethany's house.

Soon after that incident (and it happened more than once on the trip); there was a downward hill heading straight into Lexington Ave (a busy boulevard).  Koda and I resumed our journey on the sidewalk.  Once again over sticks, stones and cement blocks pushed out of place by protruding tree roots, I rolled and she ran.  We picked up speed heading down, down, down... ahead I could see cars flying by.  The old rubber brakes were original to the blades and I didn't know how much I had left to slow me down.  As we neared the Boulevard, I slowly shortened Koda's leash, braking now and then... soon I saw a grassy patch and a telephone poll.  Much to my relief I was able to slow down in the grass, and support myself with the poll until Koda and I had a green light.

Besides an occasional squirrel ... or plastic bag floating in the wind (highly resembling a small critter that really ought to be chased, caught and eaten), the remainder of the trip was uneventful.  We arrived safely at Bethany's house and enjoyed the company of both canine and human friends ... oh... and a feline too, but he got banished to the west wing.  

Wheel 'n' Paw had been a dashing success... still, I was relieved when Bethany offered to drive us home.