Sunday was a beautiful fall day! Weather was just right so Maggie and I decided to go for a walk. Maggie is a 3-year-old long-haired dachshund.

Taking Maggie out is always fun and interesting. She is excited and has a nose for everything. The world is her oyster.

We often walk, but not on the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail, so this day was a special treat.

First, if you haven’t taken advantage of the Loop Trail you should! It is a great community amenity.

Growing up here, we always knew the river and riverbank were down there, but, except for Porter’s Pond, we took very little advantage of it.

Sunday was different. We entered the trail near Porter’s Pond. As a kid, I can remember swimming down there on a couple of occasions. The “big” kids would also use the pond; they had bonfires, probably some illegal beverages and other stuff that a kid at 9 not only knew little about but probably thought even less of.

Today, because of raising the river and the trail, Porter’s Pond isn’t what it once was, but many of the attractive features are still there — low-bank waterfront, trees to swing from or hide in as we explored the world of Tarzan and some wildlife.

For Maggie, it was great to wade in the water and watch the ducks. She was trying to figure out how to get out to them. I explained to her, as my dad did to me, that to catch a bird you need to sneak up behind and put salt on its tail. I honestly think she considered that for a while but then, since she has no thumb, gave the idea up.

Walking down the trail, the leaves were in full color, the sky was blue, the river mirror-like and everything was clear. Rounding a corner, lo and behold, what did we see but the bridge the Troll hides under.

Of course, there were lots of people on the Loop Trail Sunday, so the Troll was nowhere to be seen. Maggie and I were sure that on a quieter day he might come out and try to grab any unsuspecting visitors.

Next to the bridge, we also found a bramble patch where Br’er Rabbit pleaded with Br’er Fox to not be thrown into. A little reverse psychology as it were, because Rabbit knew that once in the patch he could escape from Br’er Fox. Maggie took it all in and decided something was hiding in the patch.

Dachshunds are scent hounds so ANYTHING involving a scent of any kind is reason for their heads to go down and their tails up. Unfortunately, Br’er Rabbit was also out, but, like the Troll, on the right day, we could probably find him.

Returning home, we stopped to examine a tree and then talk about all the stories and things we had seen. We will both have good stories for our grandkids one day.

Perrin Cornell is a longtime Wenatchee resident who enjoys writing about his time growing up here. He sells real estate for Windermere Real Estate/NCW.