Sophie's first look at Lake Erie

[Diamond_Dog]

[LakeArenal]

1. Woooz a good girl. Youz a good girl.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. She was so funny

She had never seen that much water before. It just blew her mind.

[LakeArenal]

3. Mailo is scared of water. Poor boy.

[Diamond_Dog]

4. Awwww

Our previous Lab, Molly, was, too. Some water dog! My son finally got into the lake waist deep and managed to coax her in. From then on, she loved it and would even jump off the side of our boat into the lake.

Here Sophie figured out how to body-surf the waves.

[Cracklin Charlie]

5. The Great Lakes are very cool.

That’s how I feel when I see one.

[Diamond_Dog]

8. I know people make fun of Lake Erie being polluted sometimes

But it’s been cleaned up considerably and many places the water is clean and beautiful

[wnylib]

6. I had a border collie who loved water.

He would jump into creeks whenever we took him out in the country for a run.

When we took him to Lake Erie, he didn't hesitate to go right in.

Just wondering where on the lake this picture was taken.

[Diamond_Dog]

9. Geneva on the Lake State Park beach

[wnylib]

11. I am familiar with the name

but never went there, although my parents and my sister did. We took our dog to Presque Isle state park at Erie.

[Diamond_Dog]

12. I LOVE Presque Isle in Erie.

They have that beautiful walking/biking path that I really enjoy. And it’s so scenic.

[wnylib]

13. It's my home town. I grew up with it

and miss it now that I don't live there.

In junior high, our homeroom always had end-of-the-year beach parties there. One girl's parents owned a pizzeria and provided pizzas for the parties.

The last weekend of summer vacation before my senior year, a group of friends and I had an all day party at the beach, then continued the party at a Y teen dance in the evening.

My senior prom was held at a building that was on the lake. After leaving the prom, my boyfriend and I, with another couple, changed clothes and spent a good part of the night at a beach when we were supposed to be at the after prom all night supervised party.

As an adult, on hot days after work, I often got some take out food and went to a beach to unwind, listening to the sounds of the waves and sea gulls, and feeling the breezes off the lake.

Before he got a small boat, my husband and I used to rent one at the marina and take nature rides through the lagoons. In spring, we fished the channel between the bay and the lake for lake perch, then had fish fry parties on the beach with friends.

In summer, we took the dog with us on walks through the nature trails in the woods.

In winter, a drive around the peninsula after a fresh snow fall was breathtakingly beautiful.

Driving onto Presque Isle peninsula was like entering a different world, just minutes after the noise and traffic of the city. The lake, bay, and state park were a part of my life that I took for granted, until I moved away from the area.

[Diamond_Dog]

14. Thank you wnylib

For sharing all those wonderful memories. I enjoyed reading about your experiences!

Presque Isle is everything you described and I am often envious that the people of Erie have such a beautiful natural “escape” from the stresses of city life.

I live about an hour and a half away from Presque Isle but we try to make it up there at least once a summer. It’s such a neat place for kids who would be interested in nature and they have that big visitor’s nature center now. We used to load the van up with our bikes and take our kids up to bike and then stop for a perch dinner on the way home. Now that we’re older it’s a beautiful place to go for a stroll and a picnic lunch. You are right it is beautiful any time of the year.

[George McGovern]

7. DELIGHTFUL Diamond!!!!! Both pics!!!

[Diamond_Dog]

10. Thank you, George!

You know, what’s funny is that this started out as The Trip From Hell.

Sophie was about 2 here and we were trying to get her used to car rides. She never liked riding in a car and got extremely anxious, trembling, panting, whimpering, etc.

We thought that if we took her to a fun place and broke the trip up by stopping every 20 minutes or so, she’d be OK. Hah!!! She got loose at a rest stop and we had to chase her down. Then when we stopped for a picnic lunch she refused to get back in the car. Try getting a willful 65 lb. dog into a car that wants no part of it! After that, once we were at the park, she lost her entire breakfast in the car.

But, all that faded into distant memory once she saw the big lake. She was just enthralled with it and had a great time playing in the water and fetching sticks.

At least the return trip home was a bit less eventful!

[Duncanpup]

15. I love Sophie

Boog Duncan loves Sophie as well

[Diamond_Dog]

16. We should have a dog party on the beach!

Bring refreshments

Sushi will be served!

[Duncanpup]

17. That's a big water bowl mom

[Diamond_Dog]

18. Better water bowl than bath tub