Hampton Beach, NH
Dear Reader,
I hope this post finds you well. Again, we find ourselves in the strange transition between winter and spring. The weather never knows what it wants to do, which turned out to be the case for our impromptu trip to Hampton Beach State Park. The morning started off rainy, then progressively got more and more sunny.
For friends with dogs, you may or may not know that until April 30th, you can bring dog along on your adventure to Hampton, but on-leash rules apply. We took this very seriously, as everyone should, because the piping plovers are currently in their hatching season. There are rules for a reason, which is that this little bird has a near-threatened conservation status. The coastline is their home. Please don't be that person that thinks their dog is literally the only dog allowed off-leash on the beach.
Piper (2016) Pixar Animation Studios
This is also why you'll see that Anouk is wearing her Gentle Leader in the following photographs. Anouk loves to pull. She knows where she's going, which would put a lot of force on her neck and our arms. With her Gentle Leader, she is easily redirected from pulling, which makes everyone happy.
For those of you who have been following Anouk's story, this is the first time we have been able to make it to the beach following her surgery last year. She had such a good time, which made us feel so grateful of her recovery.
As you can you can see, the beach was fairly empty except for a few people. For those of you who've been to Hampton in the summer, it looks eerie without everyone there. We very much enjoyed having the beach to ourselves.
Anouk liked the beach, but she's always super skeptical of the tide. She prefers a good roll instead.
Anouk turned 2 last week, and has a much calmer disposition than the last time we visited the coast with her. She still managed to dig a few holes, and drink a few gulps of sea water, which she soon realized wasn't the best idea.
Anouk 2017 vs. 2019
She's still got that great spotted tongue, too.
The beach started becoming VERY busy by the time we decided to leave. Our timing really was impeccable.
If you're looking to take your dog to the coast this summer, you can consult the NH State Parks, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island websites for more information. I highly recommend only reading the actual state websites rather than unofficial sites due to recent changes in pet policies. And if you do head out this summer, it certainly goes without saying to respect the parks pet privileges. Always leave a place better than you find it. From our pack to yours, we wish you a memorable summer!
Much love,
Lady Frye + Anouk