Frito & Ophelia's Amazing Adventure

Fellow raiser Ashley and I decided one morning, while Ophelia and Frito were playing in Battery Park, to take the dogs on a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge in search of a dog park I had heard was great from another dog owner. While we knew the walk across the bridge would be a great experience for both dogs, we also looked forward to the lengthy naps that would be sure to follow.

For some reason, it did not occur to me that the bridge would be crowded. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the sun was shining, and the temperature was mild. Apparently, many other people decided that walking across the bridge at the same time as Ashley, Ophelia, Frito, and me would be a good idea.

Here is Frito and I as we begin our trek across the bridge:


Ashley and Ophelia at the beginning of the epic walk:


Walking across the bridge was a mental work-out for raiser and dog alike. It required a lot of focus on both our parts in order to maneuver around the people and dodge any wheeled vehicle (bikes, skateboards, rollerbladers, etc) that whizzed past. To add to the challenge, Frito and Ophelia walked the entire way side-by-side - a major challenge for any dog! The surface of the bridge was a new experience for Frito as well - wood boards with cracks between them that looked down at the cars on the level below. Both Frito and Ophelia paid the cars no attention whatsoever.

Several water breaks were taken as we made our way across the bridge:


After approximately one hour, we made it all the way across the bridge. We located the supposed "great" dog park (which turned out to be mildly scary in the quickly disappearing daylight) and then returned back to Manhattan, again via the Brooklyn Bridge.


And just as predicted, epic treks across huge bridges makes for a very tired puppy: