Join us for one of our walks near the Lake Panasoffkee Water Management District (WMD) campground, where we stayed for ten days – without ever seeing the lake. 🙂 The cows occupied the field two days before we left.
Our free campground for ten days!
Oh, hello!
Close encounter – cow and dog
And, this one wanted to join us on the walk and kept following us.
Next, she decided to lick my legs… quite painful!
Look at that tongue!
Then, we became friends. She actually followed us to the edge of the fenced field and called (“mooed”) us back a few times after we left.
We decided NOT to adopt a cow as a companion for Maya.
(This is my contribution for this week’s “Almost” Wordless Wednesday. It’s been a while…)
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February 26, 2020 at 18:11
Wow, Liesbet… a human cow lick! How funny! I don’t think I have ever been that close to a cow (maybe on the other side of a fence). I think you should re-think adopting a cow, though. Just think… all the milk you can use just an udder away. It’s nice that Maya was so calm around them.
February 27, 2020 at 13:28
I petted cows in the past (they’re friendly in Belgium as well) with a “kiss” as a result, so I knew cows’ tongues are quite rough, but nothing like this. That cow basically gave me a sand paper bath and the result was red legs for me. 🙂
Maya was great around them. One “woof”, which is rare as well, since she only barks when playing with other dogs. I like the idea of having my own udder nearby, but Mark couldn’t benefit from it.
February 26, 2020 at 19:09
Bet Maya thought they were just big dogs. They do have Gene Simmons tongues though!
February 27, 2020 at 13:29
Maya was a tad intimidated by these cows. She had her first interaction with a cow in Vermont last summer, where that cow gave her an unexpected lick in the face and she bounced back. She might have remembered that event this time around. 🙂
February 26, 2020 at 20:04
An udderly entertaining post.????
February 27, 2020 at 13:30
Love this comment, Ingrid! 🙂
February 26, 2020 at 21:12
A huge smile on all of the photos, Liesbet! Especially the “Oh, hello!” Darn, on many “ouches” in the video. If I recall, cows can leave many “pies.” ???? Had to throw one in after the “cow lick” and the “underly.” A fun post!
February 27, 2020 at 13:32
Haha! Cows DO leave many pies. The entire walk through the cow field was a training session for Maya, as she used to show the same interest in those pies, as humans do in “normal” pies… 🙂 I’m sure it was an experience of all senses for our furry one.
February 26, 2020 at 23:01
Cute! And lovely photos. You are quite brave. I try to get as far away from cows as possible if we have to walk through them, especially with a dog.
February 27, 2020 at 13:41
Hi Trace! How come? Have you met any “mad cows”? The hiking trail passed through this field, so we assumed it would be OK to join the cows. It was a bit intimidating to have an entire herd watch you and then approach us. But, it was funny how curious they were and how that one was immediately attached to our pack and interested in Maya. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. 🙂
February 27, 2020 at 21:58
I’ve never met any mad cows – thankfully! But I don’t know – I just read stuff sometimes about how people have been attacked by them and it always sticks in my mind. Maybe I’m just an uber wimp!
February 28, 2020 at 19:32
Haha! I’m sure you’re not a wimp. Maybe I should read more of these kinds of accounts. I’m not easily intimidated (by animals).
February 26, 2020 at 23:21
Delightful post and lovely photos! That cow lick was so funny! No, I wouldn’t venture as close, though! Maya is so so cute. I think she was very sensible not to get too close to the cows. Adopt a cow? No way.
Btw, Natasha and I host a weekly #ww bloghop. Would love to have you join us too. As they say, the more the merrier. 🙂
Have a wonderful week ahead. See you soon.
Cheers
Esha
https://mysoultalks.com/2020/02/25/when-does-one-take-a-risk-wordlesswednesday/
February 28, 2020 at 19:02
Hi Esha,
Thanks for swinging by and leaving a comment – and enjoying the cow and Maya photos. She’s a great dog and might have remembered a previous cow encounter (possibly the first one ever for her), where that cow licked her in the face unexpectedly. While she loves chasing wildlife, she seems to have respect for cows. 🙂
I’ll check out your blog hop one of these weeks, but I’m not one to participate in many hops, as I don’t want to post more than once a week (too time consuming) and I have loads of ideas and material for blogs already, adding to those every day we travel. But, you never know…
February 27, 2020 at 03:25
I think maybe setting down on a farm might be in your future, Liesbet. You look right at home! Great photos!
February 28, 2020 at 19:04
I LOVE animals, Jill. Yet, living on a farm will never happen: I hate getting up early (unlike you :-)) and I would never be able to travel extensively anymore with a flock of animals. I’m wondering whether we should add a link to this post as part of my “animal language” answer next week…??
February 27, 2020 at 03:40
I think your cows are more friendly than our cows, which can be quite terrifying when they come after you in a pack! The Oh Hello! photo is priceless. Nice to hear your voice too.
February 28, 2020 at 19:20
Oh no, Anabel, have you been chased by cows? With horns? I had no idea Scottish cows are mean. I think I prefer “my” friendly ones! 🙂
February 29, 2020 at 06:16
We had a couple of scary encounters on Islay last year. The Highland Cows with the big horns are quite placid – it’s the others you need to look out for!
March 4, 2020 at 21:51
Aha, good to know! Appearance doesn’t mean everything! 🙂
February 27, 2020 at 04:08
Ten days in one place? Sounds like heaven to me! What a great bovine experience. Love the photos.
February 28, 2020 at 19:22
Those ten days were “heaven” to me, too, as we rarely stop for that long (if ever) in the same place. Except to work in Kentucky! And, this was also to work, as I really, really, really, needed extended stays to be able to edit my book once more. Of course, I haven’t seen or done anything else this month, hence, few photos have been taken.
February 27, 2020 at 06:18
So you are moving again but still in Florida. Yes, I do check your coordinates.
Thanks for the picture and video story. Long ago I learned that Florida is one of the largest cattle-growing states in the nation. I also learned from you that Maya and the cows have “brindle” markings, a new term for me. I’m glad you could stay 10 days in the the same place. 😀
February 28, 2020 at 19:09
Hello Marian!
I’m glad you’re still following along, on the blog and on the map. 🙂 There was only this one time we sat still for ten days, unfortunately. It all depends on how long of a period is available at the free campsites we selected to stay. We are heading towards Tampa/St. Pete’s this weekend for Mark’s birthday. It’s not Mexico like last year, but it will have to do. 🙂
Hey, exchange of information… I had no idea about the cattle-growing in Florida and now you know what “brindle” is, or how Maya’s coat color is called. Happy weekend!
February 27, 2020 at 08:26
Aw, that’s so cute. My grandmother had cows on her farm, and I knew them to be curious, but never quite so friendly.
February 28, 2020 at 19:10
So nice you had a grandmother with a farm and animals! As a kid that must have been good fun! I was surprised to notice that cows have personalities, just like dogs and humans. 🙂
February 27, 2020 at 09:40
What an awesome experience, Liesbet….and great photos. I have never been that close to a cow before. Not sure that I will ever be….but never say never!
February 28, 2020 at 19:13
I’m surprised to see in these comments how many people are intimidated by cows, Donna. I never even thought twice about approaching cows and have done so on many occasions. One day, it might get me in trouble. Horses intimidate me a little bit more, but I still enjoy meeting them.
And, yes, never say never. There are some sweet cows out there! 🙂
February 27, 2020 at 13:34
I’m sort of afraid of cows. Not that I think that cows want to hurt me or anything – they are just so large. Large animals frighten me. But they are adorable, though.
We often camp around cows too. We were camped on this volcano in Mexico once and a cow started following us “mooing” loudly. It was a little unsettling. I don’t think she was being friendly. I was very glad when she finally turned around.
And you – you let one lick you! Wow!
February 28, 2020 at 19:18
This cow was sweet and adorable. Nothing like your chasing Mexican cow! 🙂 Haha, I can just imagine the scene, where you and Greg run away from a cow on the loose.
They are big! There was one moment when we just entered the field, and they all closed in on us, that I wondered what would happen if these were “mad cows”. Some had horns. And, it’s not that Maya would have defended us. She was pretty dismissive!
Out west, we’ve camped with them as well (I almost wrote “anchored” with them – too much memoir work) and I still remember my very first camping trip in Belgium as a teenager and being startled in the middle of the night by an unknown animal, which was a cow. Funny stuff!
February 27, 2020 at 14:09
Cows and goats, they seem so friendly! You got some great shots of the cows in action, Liesbet. I think dogs naturally gravitate toward them, glad to see Maya enjoying their company. I never knew cows’ tongues were rough, I’ll remember that! In 6 weeks, we move back into the delta, and our club occupies a two-acre area surrounded by a ranch with lots of cows. I remember the first time we took Aero and Gideon, my daughter’s dog a few years ago, and Gideon gleefully rolled in the cow manure! Yuck!
February 28, 2020 at 19:28
“Cow manure is the best, Terri. Better than horse manure. It smells so good and is just too hard to resist. We want to roll in it, so we can smell like it (and smell it) forever!”
That was Naya talking, Terri. Sorry about that. She understands Gideon and we’ve had a good practice run, teaching her to “leave it”. Walking through a cow field and camping at equestrian sites this last month, there have been MANY piles, or should I say “pies”? 🙂
Enjoy your time at the Delta! Oh, and try to get a cow lick. It’s quite an interesting experience.
February 27, 2020 at 15:00
There is something quite endearing about a cow’s face and especially those big brown eyes. Lovely post, Liesbet and one that made me smile as I munched on my morning cereal 🙂
February 28, 2020 at 19:30
Happy to make you smile, Suz! And, I’m glad it was over breakfast and not over a steak dinner. 🙂 Cows are quite cute, you are right. Endearing is an even better word!
February 28, 2020 at 09:37
Awww, I love cows! I even like the smell of cows (I’m weird); I wonder if it’s genetically ingrained as my dad spent part of his youth on a farm and loved cows also. But I digress … this looks like a fun way to spend some time for both you and Maya! I especially love the cow close-up!
February 28, 2020 at 19:36
I love cows as well. And their smell. I’m weird too! Hey, maybe you should have moved to Austin instead of Houston to “Keep Austin weird”! 🙂
Aha, you are from a cow (loving) family. We are all for socializing Maya with animals, even cows. While she seemed intimidated by them, she adores horses. I think I’d be more intimidated to cross a horse field than a cow field.
February 29, 2020 at 22:25
Well, there’s a different experience for you! I’m guessing that quirky experiences like this are why you keep up your wandering lifestyle. “Less ordinary” indeed! 😉
March 4, 2020 at 21:54
Haha, you’re right, Diane, meeting the cows was quite extraordinary. Somehow, I forget to see things that way. We run into a lot of unique situations and they become “second nature” (just like when I switched from my Belgian life to an American one; everything fades), so I don’t even write about them or mention them to others. These cow interactions almost count towards “wildlife encounters”, I think. 🙂
March 4, 2020 at 12:11
Liesbet, I’m impressed with your calm around the cows and their very friendly nature! ???? Maya looks adorable and slightly baffled … I love the name and is one I use in my children’s book!
March 4, 2020 at 22:01
Hi Annika!
Thanks for swinging by and leaving a comment. Cows are pretty docile creatures – and funny! Definitely a “level” below other animals we’ve interacted with in the wild, during our travels on land or on the water. 🙂
I like the name “Maya” as well – how nice it’s in your children’s book – but my husband thinks it’s too common. We picked it to not venture too far off her last shelter name, which was Martha. Now, I find that I often mix her name and my husband’s name up, because they both start with “Ma”.
March 4, 2020 at 14:38
Great cow photos, Liesbet! That cow was sure determined to lick your leg. She must have been going after the salt. We’ve hiked and camped among cows before, too, without having any bad experiences.
Jude
March 4, 2020 at 22:37
Hello again, Jude! I see you are binge reading blogs again… 🙂
It must be quite cool to camp among cows; the presence of grazing animals surrounding you. I think the cow liked my legs for the salty flavor as well, although I don’t really sweat there or use any products. 🙂
March 5, 2020 at 09:08
Hi Liesbet,
One thing that a lot of folks don’t realize is that there are SOOO MANY cows in Florida…in fact, it’s the top cattle state. Around here, the sign “Beef; It’s What’s for Dinner” is prolific.
Happy cows, indeed.
Until they have one very bad day, :(.
March 7, 2020 at 15:43
Such a fun and funny fact about Florida being the top cattle state, Nancy. And, it must be true, as another commenter mentioned this as well. 🙂 They sure seem happy in Florida and I hate to think about the day they’re not anymore. (I did think about that as I strolled through their field.) At least they have much better living conditions than at the cow farms I’ve spotted out west.
March 6, 2020 at 03:58
Jill sent me over. I’m pleased she did.
March 7, 2020 at 15:58
Hi Derrick! I’m pleased Jill did as well. Thanks for swinging by and taking the time to leave a comment. Welcome to Roaming About. I hope you enjoy the ride! 🙂
March 7, 2020 at 14:17
Such an entertaining post, Liesbet. That cow obviously found you to be very tasty. 🙂
March 7, 2020 at 16:04
Animals do seem to love me, but the only ones that have found me tasty – other than this funny cow – are bugs in general and mosquitoes in particular. 🙂 I’m glad you liked the post, Sylvia, and thank you for swinging by here and leaving a comment. It’s so nice to connect with fellow travelers like you. I subscribed to your blog!
March 8, 2020 at 03:15
We very often adopt a dog (or rather it adopts us) on our hill walks, Liesbet, and we’re always mildly relieved when it decides to head home. Glad your Maya and the cow saw eye to eye 🙂 🙂
March 9, 2020 at 10:11
Before we had Maya and sailed in the Caribbean and South Pacific, we would also often have a stray join us on hikes, Jo. While it was nice to have a companion, we fell inclined to give the animals some of our precious drinking water and worried they wouldn’t want to return home. As a matter of fact, I have a few heart-breaking stories about dogs doing all they could to stay with us or follow us to our boat! I’m glad your temporary walking buddies decided to return home at the end – assuming they had a home.