#biking mutt

[ochremutt]

It's so cool to me seeing fellow zoanthropes working on those whale and dolphin suits. It's a massive project and has been so interesting seeing the planning process.

I think more animal folk should find ways like that in expressing their animality. Maybe not as complex as building a fully functioning and liveable suit, but finding ways with the same intention and pride. The same focus and drive that is prompted the planning and detail into those suits.

Like for me, I see my bike as an extension of my being a painted dog and horse. I travel far distances, and hopefully this summer with some packs and go even farther. But even the day trips are far. Yeah, it might not make me look more like a painted dog or horse, but it sure strengthens that feeling of being one. People see how far I go during my rides and recognize that I'm built for long distance and endurance. And to me, that's just as important as being seen and treated as the animal I am.

It would be difficult for me to make a proper painted dog or horse suit, so this is the next best thing to me. Might not be for everyone, but it's a very important part of being an animal to me.

[ochremutt]

I'm going biking this morning I am so exciteddddd

It's been a while since I've been out for a long solo ride, and that's what I'm hoping to do today. I might post some pictures if I get some nice ones. Right now, I feel like jumping around and playing. Typical before a long ride, since that's what painted dogs often do before heading out to find prey.

'A Wild Dog's Story' (2002)

I haven't had much time to really think or just exist lately since starting school again. I've had a fair amount of work already that takes up my day then I'm too tired to even watch a movie or think about my experiences as an animal. Being a social animal like a painted dog or horse certainly has helped with being social. I'm not the greatest at picking up social cues from humans, since I often interpret them as behaviours and body language of a dog or horse. It is somewhat similar, being all mammals, but I feel like humans have a more subtle body language, or at least expectation of body language being read because of having a very complex spoken language.

Being a nonhuman in a human environment is tough. But hey we're just truckin' along and making best of what we got so far. And so far, it's been pretty good.

I do wish I could clock at least one fellow queer in my class though. Either they're stealth like me, or I'm the only queer in this class. Maybe I should get some subtly queer and maybe even nonhuman stickers to put on my laptop.

[ochremutt]

Couple photos from last night and this morning's bike rides. Will never get tired of views like these.

I might ride up to a local forest trail and get some pictures there. But we'll see how the weather is. Just for a change of scenery and I miss riding on my own. I've been riding in a group a lot lately. Maybe friday or saturday.

[ochremutt]

I am such a horse it's not even funny.

Us horses are prey animals. So any sign of weakness or injury or illness can make us a target for any predators. So like many other prey animals, we hide our weakness.

I fell off my bike yesterday and kept going with the group. I was able to keep pace and ride for the rest of the morning without much trouble. I think my high pain tolerance comes from my being a horse. I figured I just scraped my elbow and overall was okay. But until I got home, I didn't realize how banged up I was. I am alright, just a few more aches and scrapes than I expected.

Anyway. Have a couple pictures I took of a trail I biked the other day. Just something nice to end the post with. I gotta ride up to the forest trails again and get some pictures. So nice up that way.

[ochremutt]

From today's ride. Gorgeous weather and landscapes. I am absolutely so lucky to be able to biking in places like this.

[ochremutt]

I've been biking with a local group lately and oh it's so much fun. Feels like running with a pack. Or when I lag behind, catching up feels like chasing after prey.

I love being two wild canines that are evolved for long distance running. It does make me wonder though, being two canines that are quite similar. I have thought maybe I'm just one of these canines and think I'm the other through associations and the like. But when I really give it even half a thought, even without the associations of where I live and my hearthomes and all that, I'm still both a painted dog and arctic wolf. It's just coincidence that both live in similar environments, just one is cold and one is warm.

Wolf by Jeff Wilson, Dog from iNat

Also in how I am each of these animals. I'm physically a painted dog. And I'm not exactly sure if I'm spiritually or psychologically an arctic wolf. I'm not sure. I used to say I was spiritually an inuit dog, but I'm not sure anymore. I think over the years the distinction between psychological and spiritual has blurred for me with my theriotypes. For the most part I say both spiritual and psychological. But some, like my being a dalmatian, I lean towards psychological. Or weddell seal, lean towards spiritual / past life.

It's difficult to say, because psychological feels the most grounded to me. I can understand how and why I am a dalmatian and my fictotypes in a psychological manner. But spiritual? It's more difficult to place and understand. It doesn't make much sense and there's no way to say it's for sure. At least in my experience. And physical is pretty obvious, so yeah.

[ochremutt]

Took my little dog on a little bikejoring adventure today. He spent most of the ride in the basket, but so proud of him for remembering most of the commands. I honestly should do more canicross with him to keep him sharp, but eh

I don't plan on doing much with my little dog with bikejoring, since he's so tiny. But he's good practice for me for when I get a more suitable dog down the road.

[ochremutt]

I gotta make more environments in planet zoo. And post them here. But it's so nice out that I've just been biking every chance I get. And too tired to boot it up when I get home.

Some photos from recent rides. :3