Hiking with Kobae

A lot of stuff happens out here and Teresa, Thomas (grandson) and I know we're pretty much on our own. Despite 18 years of living here mother nature and life in general still provide surprises for us. Still there's not much stress most of the time. Hiking with Kobae though is almost always a stressful experience. Trying to keep him alive until he returns to San Diego for the winter is an effort. Kobae chose to hike into a dead end canyon which I like because it's easier to keep track of him and narrows his options of getting into trouble, but not this dead end so Jax and I head into the canyon with him.

At the end of the canyon is sometimes a waterfall and the rest of the time all but quicksand. I tried three times to turn him around but he's strong and I couldn't. Finally just before he headed into the mud I took a head glove and slapped him in the face and each time he would bring his head out I's slap him again to keep him from dying. In time he retreated and started heading back to the canyon entrance.

I moved back down the canyon and hung out waiting for Kobae to come back my way. Theb I heard him above me. When I looked out from the overhang Kobae was on top heading down the overhand where if he would have fallen he'd have a serious injury or worse. I had to get up on the rock and get him to turn around and go back where he came up. It's an effort to keep him alive.