Update: We may do a different route for this walk, but will meet and park in the same place. Yesterday, we explored another "leg" of this route and it's very pretty--one mile along a very flat, shaded trail near the river. (It's the side trail just before the footbridge, for those of you who've done this walk.) We'll go in and back for a 2-mile walk. Those who want more can then do the usual 1.5-mile loop around the pond.

If you'd like to do the Sewells Orchard Pond walk before the pub, let's meet at 5:30 (see the directions below). If you can only do the pub, we walkers should be arriving there by 6:15 - 6:30. (There is a short path around the pond behind the pub.)

The walk is 1.5 miles around the beautiful and quiet pond at Sewell’s Orchard Park. It starts on Dobbin Road with a short stroll along the Columbia pathways through pine woods and a field, and then circles the pond at Sewell’s Orchard. This is a very pretty and quiet path, with lots of benches and areas to view the great blue herons and ducks who live on the pond.

For those of you who want to do a longer walk, please let me know and I'll tell you about 2 options for adding another mile or 2. (The rest of us will head to the Pub and exercise our elbows!)

After the walk, we’ll take a very short (1/10 mile) drive to the Pub Dog (8865 Stanford Blvd). Our group has met here before. Dogs are very welcome. The Pub Dog has a large outdoor patio with about a dozen tall table-and-bench sets attached to the side of the building. The pub does not offer outdoor table service (and dogs are not allowed inside, of course), so you'll need to place your order inside and bring it out--which is no big deal.

The Pub Dog offers a nice selection of their own microbrews--2 mugs for $4. Everything is dog-themed. The menu consists of salads and about 15 varieties of pizza. I'll bring menus to make ordering easier. Or, go to their website for a food menu and/or a beer menu.

DIRECTIONS

We’ll start the walk at the parking lot of the Columbia Business Center, Building 6420. The Google map is not very clear for this one, but the parking lot is directly across from the Blockbuster and Benjamin Moore Paints at 6505 Dobbin Road. It’s in the same general area as the Motor Vehicle Department express center, if that helps. However, as you turn in at the light, you’ll go toward the office buildings on your right and park close to Dobbin Road. Look for the gathering of dogs!