Maple's Mountain Adventure: Parades, Panic, and a Close Call — Day 2 of 3

Make Way for the Parade

Today was a bit overwhelming for the both of us.

We decided to head into town to check out the Boom Day parade. Maple, of course, was coming with me, but I opted to keep her inside the bag until I could get a feel for the situation. It was my first time in Leadville, and the town itself is pretty cute, though finding parking during a parade was a nightmare. With the streets filled with cars and people, we finally snagged a spot far from the action. Leadville’s main street—Harrison Avenue, as I later discovered—was packed with parade-goers.

I was excited to see what was going on and even more excited for Maple to experience it, though I had my concerns. Maple had never been in a crowd this large before, and I was hoping that riding inside her pack would help her acclimate. At least if she panicked, she was safe and secure in the bag.

My friend Beth and I arrived near the front of the parade, and it was... interesting, to say the least. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but reality definitely didn’t match up. Or maybe it did, just sideways? One of the first things we saw was a woman dressed in Victorian burlesque, riding a lawnmower. Yep, it was that kind of parade.

The noise, though—wow. It was so loud that even I was having trouble with it, and I couldn’t stop worrying about Maple. The deafening music, honking horns, and general chaos weren’t ideal for a cat’s first parade. The sheer number of people around us didn’t help either. I glanced at Maple, hoping she wasn’t overwhelmed. After about 20 minutes, the parade turned a corner, and we made a swift exit from the crowds. Maple was done being in the bag, so I took her out to ride on top, giving her some time to recover in a quiet alley before we ventured to the shops.

Shopping Didn't Soothe the Nerves

With the parade behind us, we headed down the street for some window shopping. The streets were still crowded, and it didn’t take long for people to notice Maple perched on my shoulder. The reactions were pretty predictable—lots of surprised faces, followed by a dozen questions: “What breed is she?” “How old is she?” “Can we pet her?”

It was exhausting for both of us. Maple kept calm, but I could feel her tensing up as more and more strangers asked to touch her. At one point, we were practically boxed in by three people hovering over her, and both of us were feeling trapped. Maple let out a low grumble, and it was almost funny to watch the people back away quickly. Only I know how gentle she is; she’s never scratched or bitten me, but I wasn’t about to let them in on that secret! We managed to extract ourselves from the crowd, and after that, I politely declined when anyone else asked to pet her.

The Great Escape

After lunch, I met up with my friend Wes to throw some disc golf. The real excitement of the day, though, came when Maple decided to jump out of the car without her harness or leash. I hadn’t felt fear like that in a long time. She darted under a nearby trailer, and coaxing her out was proving impossible. Bribery came to the rescue yet again, and after what felt like an eternity, she came crawling back toward me.

For the record, I don’t usually harness Maple while we’re in the car because it hinders her coordination, and I don’t want her flying if I make a sharp turn. But after this little escape stunt, you can bet that harness stayed on for the rest of the day. Have you ever had your pet make an unexpected dash for freedom? How did you handle it?

Winding Down

The rest of the day was much calmer. We returned to the campsite, and everyone settled into relaxation mode—reading, lounging in hammocks, and, in my case, doing homework on my computer (which Wes gave me a hard time for, but I do as I please!). Maple wandered around on her leash while I kept a close watch on her, making sure she didn’t get any more ideas about escaping.

As night fell, exhaustion crept in quickly. It’s funny how being in a crowd can be more tiring than a long hike. Still, I forced myself to stay up and stargaze with the group for a while. The stars were stunning, stretching endlessly across the sky—a perfect end to a hectic day. Eventually, I said goodnight and left my friends to it, looking forward to what tomorrow might bring.

Reflection

All in all, I’d say today was a success. Maple was exposed to crowds, noise, and a whole lot of strangers, and she handled it better than I expected. My goal was never really set in stone, but if I had any, I think they were met—and maybe even exceeded. For one, Maple was calm while in her carrier, at least for a while. I now know that if I’m in a crowded area, keeping her in the pack is a viable option to keep her safe. It’s also a relief to know that even in stressful situations, she doesn’t lash out. While it wasn’t easy, today showed me that Maple is more adaptable than I thought. With Boom Day behind us, I’m curious to see what tomorrow has in store for us in Leadville!