Diesel

On Sunday I wanted to run the Oak View Trail which is that last part of the August 1 Course, which I did not run the last time I was out. Running along and just starting up to the back entrance to the park, I see a black dog in the middle of the road. As I got closer he had a kind of guilty look like he was not supposed to be out. I had not seen him before and of course did the quick assessment of him for safety. Turns out he was still a bit of a puppy. Black lab but skinny with a tag. I am starting up the hill in earnest and pay little heed once past. But he starts to follow. I talk with him and he just keeps following.
I get up on the trail and he is following for real now. I stop and try some commands to no avail. Not too well trained, but friendly and enthusiastic as is the want of such creatures. I toss an old ball back to the park entrance and street we had met, but after he chased it he just came back.
So I head on up the trail with Diesel in tow...or in front, or on the side, and wait was that a squirrel? he asks. And back again. Run with a dog--very different than solo and running with this pup was a challenge. He did not seem to know the trials and did not know how we were going to negotiate them together. He almost brought me down more than once.
I decide we better stick to the trails and will have to alter my plan. I want to crest Oak View and then into the main part of the park and on to the Valley Road for the usual Sunday trek. But surely did not know how Diesel was around other people, dogs and certainly all the cars on the Valley Road. So I decide to crest the trail and then come back down Garzas Canyon.
Wonderful run but hot and dry. I am thinking the pup is going to need some water. The last time I was in the creek there was still water up there so I head that way. Sure enough a nice spring still running and I splash some at Diesel so he knows to drink. Hope he does not get sick from it.
After the creek bottom we have to go up the other side of the canyon. As we ascend we come upon some nice young CDF guys out training to climb the hills with packs on. I ask if they have a cell to call the number on the tag--and they do. The address is 1 Paseo Rio...almost all the way back where I met Diesel. They say just leave him in their truck and they will return him.
When we get to the bottom, I do not see the truck, so decide to just return him myself. Added a little more the run, but what the heck.
I ring the bell and a nice little old lady say "Oh My, where did you find him." Diesel is gone to the cool of the house and a water bowl I hope. I tell her the story, and she, it turns out is dog-sitting for her son who is in San Luis.
Diesel was fun and running with a pup is a hoot.