Back to Barkin' Springs and Poison Ivy Update

So yesterday, as promised, Apple and I went back to Barkin' Springs.

It was a different experience trying to swim with him, since the terrain is really rough and the water doesn't get really deep. it was knee level-waist level most of the time...but I'd recommend humans do the doggy paddle as well to make their way through the water, because the ground is rough and slippery. I slipped on a boulder and fell right on my butt.

The dorky water shoes were quite a necessity. I'm glad I remembered to get some.

It was great to be able to swim with Apple, but he found it quite confusing! We went out a little too far in my hopes of finding a better swimming area, and when I was doggy paddling next to him to get back to where we were, he started squeaking because I think he was getting tired and he didn't know when we would be able to stop. I was worried he was tired so I picked up that big 75 lb dog, and as soon as I held him he got brave enough to keep going. I think he was worried since he didn't have Steven or me to look at on the shore as a "target."

He squeaked again when I was "racing" him for a ball, and after he got it he swam around in a very confused circle and squeaked...once again because I think he was just so confused by having me swim with him.

And of course, since I was out alone with my very attractive dog, I had to deal with "Dog Dating" once again. In fact, I actually got ASKED OUT at the park by a guy on a bicycle. He told me my dog was cute, I said thank you, and after he had ridden about 15 feet he turned around and asked if I wanted to get dinner with him and my dog sometime. He was not at all swayed by the fact that I was married either. 

Guys, I've heard this kind of stuff from some of you before. If I'm married...I will not go out with you or hook up with you, and yes, my ring does mean something to ME even if it doesn't to you.

Also, I can now update you on the poison ivy. Apple has no reactions, as expected, but I managed to break out on the back of my upper arm. The oil causes itchy blisters on your skin and they often occur in a straight line. I have two main blisters with a few smaller ones scattered around the area, and if I don't scratch it,  it doesn't itch, which is good. Last summer, I had a dangerous reaction to Sulfanomides and I thought I would EXPLODE from the itching. 

The two main blisters are easy to see, but the smaller ones are hard to notice in the picture

I want to wait until Steven comes home to take Apple swimming again, so we can work as a team swimming with him and being a "target." Also, I prefer going out with my man to dog parks so other men don't use my dog as a "cool" pick-up line!

Peeing in Poison Ivy

As you might have read in my previous blog post, Barkin' Springs, my dog peed in poison ivy today while at a swimming hole that did not have ample space for the dogs to do their business. Apple got a bit frantic at the end of our swimming trip and started to run off in hopes of finding a place to pee, but didn't have much luck. After I wrangled him and put on my shoes, I walked him to a grassy spot that wasn't as grown up as other areas that had obvious poison ivy, and didn't notice the plant until he was already squatting.

Fortunately, I work for the City of Austin (I was a camp counselor last year and this year I'm a sub since I'm working some other theatre camps as well) and I just went through training on outdoor safety and poison ivy, so I know what it looks like and I know what to do if you come into contact with it. I read some interesting information about poison ivy and dogs, so I wanted to share that information as well.



This is exactly what the poison ivy I saw today looked like:

Leaves of Three, Let them Be

At my trainings I learned a cool way to identify it. They described the leaves as looking like two hands put together: a big point in the middle with two thumbs. Also, it grows with three leaves together, so that is important to look for as well.

How to identify poison ivy with your hands

I also learned that the best thing to do if you come into contact with poison ivy is to rinse the area very well with COLD water. The reaction is caused by an oil called Urushiol and it is important to get it off. Hot water opens your pores and allows the oil to sink into your skin. Soap can also help the oil spread. Urushiol can also get into fabrics and affect people who come into contact with them.

After I rinsed Apple in cold water, I did some research on dogs and poison ivy and actually found that it is unlikely for dogs to be affected by the oil because of their fur. However, the oil can stick to their fur and affect people who touch them. I read on a website that I should bathe Apple in dish soap because it breaks down oils, which is exactly how rescuers save animals after oil spills. 

I washed Apple in the soap, but unfortunately, I didn't have any rubber gloves, so I might break out with a reaction. It can take hours or even days for the rash to appear. My finger was burning earlier, but I think it is fine. I have a really itchy area on my chest, but I'm not sure if that is related to poison ivy or not. Let's hope it will be fine...and I hope to avoid further contact with this plant tomorrow, as I am planning to go back and swim at the exact same spot.

I also learned at the City trainings that I can call 311 to report poison ivy. Maybe I should do that...

I'll keep you posted if Apple or I have any adverse reactions to the poison ivy.

Barkin' Springs!

Today was such a momentous day.

My husband left for E3 (the big video game convention) in Los Angeles today, and my family is also at Disney World, leaving me all alone and not on a super awesome vacation. 

I wanted to take Apple somewhere fun today, and it was hot, so I decided to take him for a swim at our old standby, Auditorium Shores.

Auditorium Shores on a good day

Now you know how much I love Auditorium Shores, but today, it was seriously disgusting. The Austin area has been experiencing much more rainfall than we are used to (which is a great thing, since we are in a severe drought,) but the increased rainfall and the heat caused a lot of nasty algae and bacteria to grow in the water. It was disgusting, green, smelly, warm, and basically un-swimmable. I let Apple get in it once to fetch a ball, and then I saw a "Swim at Your Own Risk" sign warning people that the bacteria levels were high and posed an increased risk for infection. 

I then promptly leashed up my dog and took him out of the park, and set off on a new mission: to find "Barkin' Springs."

In Austin, there is a popular natural swimming pool known as Barton Springs. It is 3 acres in size, 68 degrees year round (according to the website, I've always heard 62,) and home to a unique species of salamander known as the Barton Springs Salamander. 

Barton Springs Pool

Barton Springs Salamander

 It is a great Austin landmark, and it is with deep regret that I admit to you that in my 5 years of living here I have NEVER been to Barton Springs. I have always wanted to, but with good reason I avoid it; I have a condition known as Raynaud's Phenomenon that requires me to keep warm, and I thought the water would be too cold for me.

Downstream of Barton Springs is another swimming hole known literally as "Barton Springs Downstream" or colloquially, "Barkin' Springs." It is a free section of the springs that is blocked from the main part of the pool by a fence and a dam, and dogs and humans can swim there. I planned on just sitting and watching and testing the water with my feet while I let him swim, but I was pleasantly surprised that the water was very nice looking and it was not too cold for me! I got in with him! I couldn't go very far because I didn't bring my swimsuit, but we're going back tomorrow and I'll wear one then.

Barton Springs Downstream, or Barkin' Springs

 It was so much fun! I was talking to so many other Dog Moms there who couldn't believe I had never been. Of course, it wasn't all free of downsides...I actually witnessed a dog mauling further up the shore, we lost a ball due to the uneven terrain and my lack of a swimsuit, and there's nowhere for the dogs to go potty. Apple hopped out of the water after an hour or so and started to run off because he had to pee...he didn't get lost and he doesn't often run off, but he's such a good boy he wanted to find some grass! I had to chase him down and leave all my stuff, but a nice man helped me out and brought my stuff to me.

Then, when he finally peed, it was near some POISON IVY. I feel like an ass because I told him to pee there (it wasn't as grown over with poison ivy as the other areas) but as soon as he started peeing I spotted a bit of it. I don't know if he came into contact with it or not, and I'll detail my preventative measures in the next blog post.

Despite that, it was ridiculously fun and I plan on going back tomorrow. I will wear a swimsuit and I should probably see if I can find some water shoes or something, so I can walk through the rocks and traverse the terrain if my dog suddenly needs to pee. When Steven comes back we totally have to come back again too!