Woodland Tails Along the Snowy Pawtomac River Trail

Yesterday's snowstorm created man-made chaos, when it slammed the northeastern US region hard during peak rush hour; and cars without proper snow tires and drivers without experience blocked every major artery in the NE. It was the perfect storm for  commuters nightmare.

Exhausted after inching 8 miles in 4 hours that night,  Kyra took me outside for some needed stress relief the next morning (she'll use any reason to go swimming).
 
And today, we chose for more natural order and hiked along a snowy, but scenic Pawtomic River Trail to visit her favorite wintery friends and a doggy dip at her favorite watering hole. ...

Eager to break into fresh pawder,  Kyra leaped forward onto the Pawtomac River Trail ...

Kyra first meets "Sammy the Snowy Woodpecker", who greets her with a drummmmmada-da-da roll.

Kyra's hollers back, "See at the River, Sammy!"

One mile into the Pawtomac River Trail,  "Earle the Eastern Bluebird" challenges Kyra in a race to the river ...
 
Kyra immediately starts pulling hard, ... as the fresh and crisp smell of  the river's water fills the air)

Another one-half mile trek later,  Kyra hears the distinct and loud thumping beat of "Peter the Piliated Woodpecker" (dude's a hard rocker), who's appetite for grubs and ants along the withered and felled trees at the river banks makes her more eager to pull even harder...

Kyra even locates Dancer and Prancer foraging at their vacation resort (before next Christmas);  and she continued to race to the river to beat Earl. ...



From the next bend on the trail, Kyra can finally see the river; 
.... but starts  getting hungry for some reason.

But Kyra's desire to paddle was stronger,... and continued to race to the river  banks. ...

Only to realize in utter disappointment,  ....

that her swimming pool entrance into the river banks was completely frozen. ...