On The Road--The Essentials

Road trip! Most of my 4-legged buddies aren't too thrilled when they hear this phrase uttered by their 2-leggeds, but I woof at the chance to jump in the old Subaru and head out on the highway. Oh, the simple life.  Well, sort of.  She loves road trips and gushes on about the journey being as interesting/fun as the destination.  He is less inclined to pack up and head out as he much prefers to sit on the deck logged onto NY Times site.  Sometimes it just amazes me that these two are still together!  But I digress...on to the actual trip--or at least the pre-trip routine!  

What are considered essential or non-essential goods in limited physical space clearly differs from 4-legged to two-legged.  I like a soft bed (she bought me a waterproof one in her favorite color--green), my Panda, a stable bowl of ice water (we live in the desert after all), and plenty of treats.  What is packed by her (for me) in 3 canvas bags retrieved from academic conferences: Bag #1 contains greenies (to clean my teeth), soy pig ears (she avoids animal products like rawhides or authentic pig ears), and vast quantities of organic, natural, and no doubt, fair trade treats baked by some monks in an Idaho monastery.  Maybe that last item isn't exactly true, but you get the picture on treats.  She also carefully (obsessively?) packs individual meals (breakfast and dinner include the daily dose of  glucosamine/chondroitin, fish and flaxseed oil--for my dermatitis, and an allergy tablet--now you know; I have some unknown allergies that necessity medicine about 1/2 the year) in small plastic zip-locked bags.  All food-related items are packed in bag #1 with my light blue food dish neatly stacked inside a large dark blue water bowl.  

Bag #2 consists of all the medical supplies she apparently has on hand (this no doubt stems from the Vancouver incident which left a 3 inch scar on one of my front legs--this would be way too much digression): phisoderm antibacterial soap, antiseptic /antimicrobial skin cleaner, hydrocortisone salve, neosporin, medicated antibacterial creme (there appears to be some redundancy built into this bag), elastic bandages, non-stick pads, new-skin liquid bandage, water resistant adhesive tape, cotton balls and rounds, scissors, nail clippers, nail files, two different kinds of tweezers, buhach powder (99.1% of which consists "solely of powdered Pyrethrum flowers") allegedly to repel fleas, mosquitos and anything else less then 1/4 inch in size, and some wet wipes with dogs pictured on the plastic container.  Done yet?  Not quite.

Bag #3 holds all other items she deems necessary for road trips: 12-ft tie-0ut cable, 2 leashes ("one is never enough"), reflective vest (despite the fact I don't like to wear orange), my pony blanket, another fleece blanket, 2 sheets to cover the waterproof bed, two gallon containers of water, 16 oz. REI bottle (for hiking), 1 ball (baseball, softball, or golf ball), 1 flippy, two of my favorite stuffed toys (Panda and White Bear are the best for traveling), and a pack or 2 or biobags--for the obvious reason (she likes that they are 100% compostable and biodegradable and "good for the planet," he frequently points out that although corn-based, they are made in Norway--so the transportation "costs" alone outweigh the bags compostability.)  

All this and my bed packed into the back of a Subaru.  Is there even room for a chihuahua?  Actually, she carefully arranges all travel materials (she has this routine down pat) so that nothing rolls or spills, and everything uncomfortable is packed beneath layers of bedding.  I benefit greatly from her military upbringing which enables her to pack the entire back of the Subaru in less then 5 minutes--including tucking me in!

After packing the second seats to the brim, including a cooler containing my mini-carrots, we head off to the coast at a not-so-early-hour:  8 a.m.  You can fairly smell the excitement of our impending adventures in the air!  But I have better things to do, as I arrange sheets and blankets around on the waterproof canvas bed, give a good sniff into the wind, a final dog sigh, and settle down into rocking bliss for an 8-hr-filled-with-many-stops-parks-walks-drive. Oregon coast here I (and her and him) come!

Sights, Sounds, and Smells of Trails

Up and at 'em! Today I was a little slow to get off the futon and start the a.m. wake-up routine.   After this less-than-firecracker start, by 6:53 a.m. I was eating breakfast as She began refilling Hummingbird feeders, watering flowers, and sweeping the decks.  He usually rolls out of bed later, makes coffee (taste bad, smell good), and sits down at his desk to read newspapers on-line (so much for the old-time 4-leggeds' bringing in the paper!).  I managed to solicit a few golf ball tosses from Her as she weeded the flagstone patio.  He in turn threw my rope toy a couple of times before biking off into the morning heat.  Wanting to go myself, I begin talking at Her to motivate her to stop whatever She is doing and pay attention to my needs.  This plan succeeded after about 10 minutes when She finally cinched on my collar, grabbed the pack (with my H2O and bowl), and rushed me into the truck as we headed to the switchbacks for an early hike.  She is chatty today suggesting we look for Him along the trail.  He likes to bike the hike.  I smell only passing wisps of his scent from drops of sweat, a step-off the bike maneuver to avoid sliding off the trail, and an occasion whiff of him brushing against Oregon Grape or Gambrel Oak.  His tracks are clear and easy to follow, which I do sensing He is not far ahead.  Loose rocks and downed branches coupled with sharp uphill turns make the trail slow going (or is it because She didn't have her a.m. coffee?).  I enjoy the green lushness of the plants which grow over the trail like the sandstone arches of the desert or the concrete tunnels cutting viciously through mountains.

Lots of smells on the trails this a.m.; lots of visitors checking in and leaving messages along the way.  I can't identify them all, but coyote, perhaps weasel, and maybe bear have crossed this trail.  More importantly is the deep, rich, dense smell of the plants all around.  The smell of dirt fills my nose (sometimes making me sneeze) and I can almost see the life that exists below the surface of the soil.  I often follow the bugs under the carpet with my nose (one more reason She reviles the carpeting in the basement); following their random trajectory.  It is harder on the trail to follow the worms or beetles that lay beneath.

Today's hike was one I haven't taken since I was a young pup.  When (according to family lore) I was nicknamed Danger Dog because I leapt off rocks and trees with abandon.  I don't recall doing this, but I have seen the photos in my puppy album.  I guess I have always been an adventurous  trail hound.

You Can Get Water from A Stone!

Ahhh...Summer!  What would it be like without a refuge of H2O?  She bought me the requisite seasonal furniture--an inflatable pool--and today we tested it out.  She thought with age (I'm 3 years now) I would be able to handle soft (and delectable) plastic inflatable items.  Was she wrong!  My brand spankin' new pool is layered inches deep with (the Alaskan method of repair-She doesn't know any other way) duct tape (I much prefer Duck Tape) already.  So much for growth.  Four paws out-weigh 2 legs!  Double Duty!  Regardless, I enjoyed my brief and wet moment in the Sun.  Now the item of my desire (and the preface for the Summer of my discontent) sits beaten on the lower deck (poop deck?) waiting for a reprieve from non-use.  I like water.  Did I say I like water?  I do!  She hates dirt and has some phobia about water that doesn't come from a tap.  This adds up to not much water adventure for this pup.  I'm a Labrador Retriever for Nature's Sake!!  Because She so clearly adores me (I'm first saved in Her "Life Boat" scenario) I tolerate all kinds of whimsy and anal-ism from Her.  She knows me pretty well.  When the seasonal watering hole/water activity is blown up (as in inflated) She is the first to bring the floating Hermit Crab, the Wiggy Ball, and my favorite, the Flippy (appropriately encased in, yes, duct tape).  He is less considerate during pool activity time.  Although I have to admit, He doesn't care if I eat grass along the trail, deer poop (rating=PG), etc., and I get more sniff-time along the trails (She likes forced marches).  Regardless of 2-leggeds' quirks, I'm enjoying Summer despite the fact there is no water in a desert.