Author: Erin Keehn

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The Best Way to Keep Cool

Hello everyone—Saint here. Summer is coming! That means that it’s time to really think about water.  Do you guys know how critical water is? Could you imagine what would happen without water in our lives? Have you ever figured how much water you drink each day? I did a rough calculation of my need for water each day. Now I realize that I need more water in summer and on days when I’m really active because I need water to cool my body when it’s hot.

At home I have several bowls with water that help me to save energy. Now I really know how important it is to drink lots and lots of water when the sun beats down, because I spend much time hiking with my Mummy every day. More water makes my body cool as soon as possible so I will have more energy to hike with Mummy. I need more water now. I see Mummy always brings a big bottle with enough water to save her and my energy. Roughly now my water intake is two times more than when we were at UMPI.

Anyway, Saint wants to remind you all to drink more water, in time. Water is the source of life and the link that binds all living beings on this planet. No creatures cannot survive without water. The body’s need for water is second only to its need for oxygen. Not only should you drink enough water daily to keep your body healthy. Also, please make sure that you’re drinking enough after running or hiking, especially in the summer months.

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Warmer Weather

Hi guys! Saint here. Wow, what a difference in the weather we have here in Virginia. It is really nice and warm! Unlike Maine, where it’s cold all the time. When we were in Maine, Mummy would bundle up in so many jackets to go outside. Here in Virginia, she doesn’t have to! I think Mummy likes the warmer weather. I like it too! Nothing better than sleeping in a nice, warm place!

We are still waiting to go back on the trail. I heard Mummy telling her students back in Maine that we would be heading back to Maine for a little bit. I think Mummy said it has something to do with equipment issues, but I really don’t know what that means. But it must be important since we are heading all the way back home. I am very excited to see all our friends again. I’ve missed the students too. They always smell so good and pet me when I walk over to them. I can tell they really like me, which is good because I really like them!

Even though I am excited to head back to Maine, I am a little sad that we won’t be hiking for a little bit. Mummy and I have met so many new friends and I will miss all of them. And even though there is nothing I love more than taking many naps in a day, I will miss being out on the trail. There are all kinds of new places to go and things to smell, it’s never a dull moment! It is so much fun being on the trail surrounded by so many beautiful things! I will miss it so much! But Mummy says after a couple of weeks in Maine, we will be heading back onto the trail. I hope we meet up with old friends and meet new ones as well. It will be fun being back on the trail, and I can’t wait to see what new adventures unfold! Be sure to keep up with my blogs, I will be telling all kinds of fun stories in the future! Bye for now!

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Just Chilling For Now

Hi, guys! It’s me, Saint! Since I had a little down time, I thought I’d take a minute to catch you up on what I’ve been up to. I’m so excited I hardly know where to begin!
Well, if you’ve all been keeping up with us, you know that Mummy and I are pretty far from home. We hiked our first week on the Appalachian Trail a little while ago. After that, we spent some time in Clemson, SC. Mummy got to know a lot of the students at Clemson University. She even did some talks around the area about our adventure.
Now, we are in Virginia. We just moved here last week, and we’re waiting for the next group of hikers so we can get back on the trail. I don’t think we made it as far as Mummy had planned. But she seemed to think it was a good thing. She still had to help her students up in Maine finish their finals. Boy, I really miss them! I think Mummy does, too. She uses her computer to talk to them a lot!
I’m really excited to get back on the trail. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m a really great hiker. I think that Mummy is really proud of me. I hiked the whole way our first week and I didn’t need any help! I’ve been training for months so I’m really not surprised.
Oh, I almost forgot. In case you guys haven’t already seen them, you should check out Mummy’s blog. She wrote about our first week on the trail. She’s been really busy with finals and moving, so she hasn’t written as much as she’d like. But I think she’s going to start again soon. I can’t wait! Mummy’s a great storyteller. I wonder if that’s where I get it?
Well, I think that’s about it for now. I’ll have a lot more to tell you all in a couple of weeks. Make sure you keep up with us on Facebook and the website. Bye, guys!

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On The Way

Hi everyone! Saint here. Long time no see.  Good news: Mummy has a super car! Mummy got a new wheelchair: I think that is an amazing car! It’s blue–I like blue. Blue represents the ocean, the water. When I am lying beside Mummy’s wheelchair, I always fall into a deep sleep soon. I dream Mummy and I live by the sea. Not only is the new wheelchair faster than her old one, but also Mummy can put the back down when she wants to take a break. Also, the wheelchair can go up and down, which makes it convenient for my Mummy to do everything she wants to do.

Mummy’s wheelchair is not the only good news.  Do you guys know where Mummy and I are now? Ah, we started the Appalachian Trail Adventure!!

Could you guys imagine the amazing things that I experience these days? We’re going different places, seeing the various landscapes, meeting all kinds of people, learning a lot along the way.

I enjoy this wonderful journey with Mummy. Mummy and I already successfully started the Appalachian Trail Adventure in mid-March. Mummy and I spent nearly a week hiking with five interesting people who are Mummy’s friends.  There was her colleague from Clemson, Sean Williams, and four Clemson students: Brad Bradley, Lindsay Costin, Philip Gee and Jimmy Knot. We took a lot of amazing pictures on the way that Mummy said she would like to put on our BEYOND LIMITS website and social media.

Now, Mummy and I need to take a little break. We need to adjust or repair our equipment. Mummy and I are very exciting! Mummy said we have made a good start to our trip! Over the summer we will continue to hike.  Would you like to join us? Saint is here and Saint waiting for you!  Find out how to join us at www.beyondlimitsawaken.org.

Saint’s getting comfortable and doesn’t want to leave!
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Saint On The Trail

Hello, everyone! Saint here – so sorry it’s taken me so long to update you on our trip, but boy has it been fun! Mummy and I hiked for a whole week. She told me we walked for 30 miles, but I felt like I could’ve gone for another week after! Let me tell you all about it!

After our long drive – and I mean long – we finally made it to Georgia. Mummy explained to me that this is where the Appalachian Trail begins. We had to do a funny loop on our first day; we went backward, to a place called Springer Mountain, before we started going back in the right direction, towards home! Isn’t that neat? Mummy said we had to do this because Springer Mountain is the official start of the Appalachian Trail. Then we had to get serious about our hiking.

Mummy was in her Jac Pack while I stayed on the ground. We had to use my leash whenever there were other people around, but sometimes I got to take it off and I could sneak ahead. There were so many new smells to find! I smelled so many different trees: hickory trees, poplar trees, sycamore trees, you name it! But I was a good girl and didn’t disturb them. Just a few sniffs and then I found other things to inspect!

I had so much fun smelling around and I also loved getting to smell and meet so many new people! Mummy and I had our group with us, so many nice people, but we also got to meet lots of hikers while we were on the trail. They were always friendly and loved hearing our stories. Some of them even said they would follow us, but I didn’t see anyone behind us. I think they might’ve meant a different type of follow.

When it got dark, Mummy and I enjoyed spending time around the campfire, cooking dinner, and listening to stories from the other people in our group. It was so much fun to hear everyone laughing and see their bright smiles. These people really are so interesting. But I also miss Mummy’s students and my friends in Maine. I’m sure we’ll see them soon, though!

After the campfires burned down, Mummy and I got to sleep in our tent on our fancy bed. It was so comfy and soft and warm I thought about asking Mummy to let me have it for myself when we get home! I wonder if she’ll let me. I’m so good about not scratching it with my claws and I always leave room for Mummy.

It’s been a few weeks now since we’ve been on the trail and I can’t wait to get back out there! The trail is always fun and exciting and there are so many new experiences to have! I hope to meet more people soon and I promise I won’t wait so long to let you know what Mummy and I are doing next time. What an amazing adventure we’re on!