Homolovi and Home!

by Chico
It was a long way to Homolovi State Park from the far south of Arizona. We drove through two big cities, a bunch of small towns, over a couple of mountain ranges, past cactus, rivers, and big piles of snow. It was like a replay of our many months of travelling all in one day! And we were still in Arizona!

We spent 3 days at Homolovi, visited Winslow, Arizona, stood on the corner in Winslow, Arizona, which has to do with some famous old song T and Nollind kept singing. A song by some Eagles? Had me confused. Didn't know they could sing. But, we got to go along and get our picture taken so it was all good by me.

From Winslow we headed north to our final stop in Arizona -- Page and Lake Havasu. Apparently one of the highlights of the trip was there at Page, Antelope Canyon, but I wouldn't know for sure since I couldn't go along. But I did get to visit Lake Havasu and me and Logan had this flat out race on the beach. As you can see, Logan beat me, twice actually. I have to give him credit. He may be eight but he sure ain't slow!

We left Arizona behind us the next day, driving into Utah where we stayed in this terrific place right on a lake, Utah Lake I think it was. We were supposed to be on leashes but there were so few people around that T & Nollind walked us out on the breakwater without them. I could have stayed there for days with all that room to run and water to swim in but we were on our way north again the next morning, into Idaho, where it was cold and rainy.

Luckily, we didn't stay in Idaho long, just overnight, driving out in a thick fog that disappeared as we crossed the continental divide. Montana and almost home! But we had one more stop to make, Great Falls for shopping and something called the Sip 'n Dip? You'll have to use your imagination because I don't know what it is either.
(<-- Here I am working on my blog.)

And, on Saturday afternoon, six driving days after leaving the far south, we rolled into the farm yard. Having shed my winter coat half way through the trip, I'd been preparing myself for returning to the cold of early spring in Alberta, but it was +16 and sunny when I jumped out of the truck! It did snow a few days later, but that just made for a fun romp along the irrigation canal. There's no place like home, but I sure hope we go back.

Sore Feet and Sore Eyes

by Logan

I thought I'd covered all of the bases on desert hazards for dogs but then I discovered yet another -- volcanic rock. Doesn't sound like a big deal to you maybe, but it does a number on a dog's pads after a few miles. In fact, at least in my case, it wears the surface right off making it extremely painful to walk on anything but a nice smooth surface. Luckily, I have very caring people, who bought me some boots to get around in until things were less sensitive. It was a bit embarrassing walking around camp and having people pointing and saying, "Oh, look at the doggie in the cute little boots!" But it was worth it. I seem to be mostly okay now, although rough surfaces are still cause for a bit of tenderness.

After a week in Tucson we spent a couple of days next to a lake in the far south of Arizona, Patagonia. Sandy soil, a lake to swim in, and grassy hills mostly without cactus, dog heaven! Well, almost. Dog heaven was actually the next stop just a few miles up the road near Sonoita at Xanadu Ranch. I felt like we'd come home -- pastures, horses, wide open spaces -- it was a sight for a travel-weary dog's sore eyes. And then it got better. Owners Karen and Bernie came out to meet us in the driveway as we drove in. Chico and I didn't get out right away, but the windows were down so we could hear the conversation. When Sa asked about rules for dogs, Karen said to make sure they didn't put us on a leash or tie us up. That was the best dog rule of the whole trip!!

We spent three days at Xanadu and I made myself a nice spot underneath the horse trailer, just like I do at home. Chico and I played frisbee in the horse pastures, Sa & Nollind took us for long walks up the road. We even walked to a tack shop one day about a mile from the ranch. If the weather had been better we might have stayed longer but a storm rolled in, bringing first wind, then rain, and finally snow. That's what can happen at 5,000 feet in Arizona. We pulled out in the blowing snow, heading for Tombstone.

In Tombstone we got to walk down the main street past the famous O.K. Corral. Seems odd that such a fuss is made about a bunch of cowboys killing another bunch of cowboys but humans are a strange lot. We dogs just go along with it and try to enjoy ourselves.

Yesterday we left Bisbee, the farthest point south we've travelled on this trip, and drove all day heading north. I hear we're going home! Now, don't get me wrong, I've had a good time, but I am a bit of a homebody and I'm looking forward to my farm, my bed, my doggie friends across the road, and leashes that hang on a hook in the porch. Oh, and friendlier plants.

Pizza Crusts and Other Highlights

by Chico

We were on our way to Phoenix when T and Nollind took one of their flyers and we ended up in a place called Ajo near the Mexican border. Their detours always seem to take us somewhere fun or interesting, and this one included a day trip to Organ Pipe National Monument, a desert area filled with plants we had to stay away from. Just because I made the mistake of jumping up on a saguaro, once, they seem to think I'm going to stick myself to anything with thorns.

The rest of our time in Ajo, Logan and I hung out in the trailer and in the yard watching T and Nollind vacuum, dust, do the laundry, and wash and condition the roof of the RV. It was a very relaxing time. Our last evening there we walked to the centre of town to a cafe and got to sit on the patio with the people! Finally -- equality! Although...I have to say I didn't actually get a latte, or a chair.

When we got to Phoenix I was pretty excited because I could hear and smell the horses as soon as we rolled into the RV park. We were going trail riding! I love trail riding! I kept waiting for T and Nollind to go get the ponies and saddle up until Logan informed me that we were just camped beside a race track and there would be no trail ride. Oh...drag. Logan always seems to know what's going on. I wonder if I'll be that smart when I'm his age.

The city means a lot of time waiting for T & Nollind to come home from things, but I do like the great selection of food it offers -- pizza crusts, rib bones, cheezies, muffin wrappers. There are snacks everywhere! Nollind is always trying to keep me from eating the things I find on our walks but I'm pretty quick and becoming increasingly crafty in my approach. "Just sniffing at this rock over here, nothing to concern yourself with" ...and then grab and swallow as quickly as I can. In the campgrounds I hunt out the picnic tables. You'd be amazed what you can find underneath. They don't call them picnic tables for nothing!

After a week in the big city it was sure nice to be back out in the desert under the stars. Picacho Peak State Park is between Phoenix and Tucson and we went there for a few days of "country" before heading back into the city at Tucson. It was such a nice place that a few days turned into a full week of hiking, photography, painting, and cocktail hour. Now I've not been offered a cocktail just yet, but it's still fun hanging out with T & Nollind while they sit and talk and laugh and enjoy the sunset. They don't do it every day, but a lot more often when we're out in the desert. Desert and sunset watching just seem to go together.

Tucson has meant a bit more trailer time for me and Logan, but today we drove out of the city and went on a hike in Catalina State Park, right at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. It was a hot day, over 30 degrees, and I was pretty excited to hear there would be three creek crossings on the way up to see the wildflowers. Back where I come from, creeks have water in them, but not so here in Arizona. Even rivers can be just big, sandy ditches. The first crossing was completely dry and the second one had a few pools of standing water that T & Nollind wouldn't let us near. I was pretty disappointed, not to mention melting. And then, at the third crossing -- water! Cool, clear, running, glorious water! As you can see, I'm not shy about going for a dip, and I'll find a way to cool off, even when the water is shallow.

I hear we're on the move again tomorrow, back to the desert and another state park. This one has the word "lake" in the name. The weather forecast is for more hot so I'm hoping the lake has water in it.

How Do Dogs Live Down Here?!

by Logan

I'm a pretty tough guy but, really, this desert dog stuff is pushing my limits. I drink from puddles at home all the time but whatever tiny critters live in the water down here do a number on my digestive system. Drinking from a watering hole in a dog park at Oceanside gave me a thorough understanding of the term "explosive diarrhea". Another normally innocuous part of my life on the farm, plants, also seem to be out to get me down here. I've had more thorns in my paws than I can count, one big ball of nasty stuck to the back of my leg, and a spiky branch that seemed to jump right off its host onto my thigh when I walked by. I also had an eye infection that took many days of an antibiotic ointment to cure, and running in deep sand at the dunes tired out my hindquarters so much I had trouble getting up the stairs into the trailer when we got home. Now you could attribute this to my 8 years, but I blame the sand. I can trot for 20 km beside a horse out in the Rockies and still have the energy to chase a gopher when I get home! And what is with all the gunfire and explosions down here? It seems every time we camp we're close to a gun range or some military area where they're testing artillery. I try to be brave, but every shot sends me under the table.

At least I don't invite pain on myself...unlike my not-so-bright travelling companion. Chico ran up to a Saguaro cactus and jumped on it like a tree! I think he was looking for squirrels. He got down pretty quickly and hasn't done it since. I guess he's teachable.

We did 12 days in the desert near Quartzsite and then Bouse, boondocking, as they call it down here. It's basically camping outside of an RV park or campground for no charge. Chico and I love boondocking -- not enough water for baths, a lot more off-leash time, no being cabled to the RV whenever we're outside, and lots of walking. You'd think it would be lonely but we actually seem to meet more people and dogs out in the desert than we do in the parks!

After 12 days we headed for water at Lake Havasu. It was much more peaceful than the ocean with tiny waves lapping the shore instead of roaring in...much more my speed. We had some swim time and some beach time. As RV parks go, that one was pretty good, except for the constant leash time. We did get to run free on the beach for a bit, whether we were supposed to or not I'm not sure.

From Havasu, south to Yuma, and another body of water. This one was smaller still, a large pond that's part of the irrigation system. After hours in the truck I was thrilled to get out and go for a swim. Despite my earlier mistakes, I did take a big drink from the pond, and we were all a bit worried about the outcome, but by the following morning we were breathing easier. It seems the pond water is safe, even for me. We've been here over a week now and made some great friends in the RVs next door. We've all been hanging out at their place quite a bit and, if laughter is any measure of human enjoyment, Sa and Nollind seem to be enjoying their company a lot. They're from California and are all super nice to me and Chico. We'll be sad to say goodbye this morning.

But on we go...to our next stop on the adventure. I hear there's a big city in our near future so I'm preparing myself for a lot more time on a leash.

Return to the Desert

by Chico

I loved the beach! -- room to run, sand to roll in, lots of water -- strange salty, moving water, but water all the same. And, in my mind, any place I can get off leash and run is a good place. There were a few too many dogs at the Del Mar Beach for my taste, and even more when we went to a dog park in Oceanside, but whenever I feel overwhelmed I just find some friendly people to hang with, sometimes my people, sometimes new friends I meet. Logan loved the park in Oceanside, he must have met twenty or thirty dogs that day. I mostly hung out with T and Nollind on a bench.

After six days on the coast, it was time to head back to the desert and we travelled inland to the Escondido area. It was hot there, over 30 degrees, and we found this great place to camp right beside a little lake. The plan was to stay only one night before heading to the Anza-Borrego Desert but it was so nice we stayed three. I wasn't allowed to go in the water (I hate rules!) but I did enjoy watching all of the ducks and other water birds and walking the trail beside the lake.

When we got to the Anza-Borrego a few days later, there was a state park campground and a bunch of RV parks, but T and Nollind drove us right past them all, and pulled into this spot 7 miles east of Borrego Springs with about 20 other RVs parked in it. We'd arrived at "Pegleg" an area of the park where we could camp for free without any hookups -- boondocking they call it down here. We had so much more room than we'd had in any of the RV parks and all around us there were just hills and desert...no buildings, no traffic, no lights. We weren't able to run off-leash most of the time because of the cholla cactus in the area, but we did take a drive to Clark Dry Lake where they set us free for an hour. Usually I'd be pretty disappointed to go to a lake and not find any water, as I do love to swim, but this place was a happy sight for a dog who'd been spending way too much time on a leash. The cholla doesn't grow on the lake bed which made for a great doggie playground. If you've never seen cholla, it's a nasty thing, and it likes to drop little prickly nasty balls on the ground all around it. Step on one of those balls of thorn and you're off to the vet!

We stayed 6 days at Pegleg before news from home sent T and Nollind to Palm Springs. Nollind had to fly home and Palm Springs had an airport and good places for the rest of us to hang out while he was gone. T seemed kinda sad, so I made sure I spent extra time with her, sleeping on the bed at night, hanging out with her when she was sitting outside reading or writing, and cuddling up when she was on her computer or watching TV. I think it helped. She took me and Logan for some great long walks way out into the desert and up into the surrounding hills every morning and there was lots of room on the bed at night. But I still missed Nollind, of course, and we were all glad to have him back a week later.

I hear we're going further into the desert in a couple of days, back into Arizona. I hope there's no cholla at our next stop!

Beach Boys

by Logan
Green! As we drove west out of the desert we started to see bits of green on the ground and more leafy trees. Sa was pretty excited about it, pointing at every blade of grass it seemed. She wasn't nearly as excited when we reached our destination though, and I felt kind of bad because it was chosen for our sake. The Del Mar race track is a short walk to one of the only dog beaches on the southern California coast, and they open their RV park to the public when the horses aren't running in winter. Unfortunately, the Del Mar RV park is a big, ugly parking lot, right beside the railway tracks, with not one redeeming quality -- or so Sa said. It was getting late, sunset approaching, we dogs ready to get out and go for a walk, but we forged on anyway, heading north up the coast to the state parks near Encinitas and Carlsbad.

The first park, San Elijo, was crawling with campers and dogs and bikes and surfers, a bit of a shock after all the quiet places we'd been. And... they were full. Ten miles up the road, at South Carlsbad State Park, they had room for us, for at least the night. It was pretty busy there too, on account of Christmas holidays, something Nollind and Sa hadn't thought about. Not much family camping happens during Christmas break back home in Canada.

South Carlsbad was a nice park but with one fatal flaw...no dogs allowed on the beach. I'd never been to a beach and would have been happy to go walking somewhere else, but Sa was determined to give us the ocean beach experience. So back to Del Mar we went for an afternoon. Now to me it didn't seem so different from the desert, except that there were more people and it was a lot noisier. These big waves were crashing in on the shore and the water would race right up at me! Very unsettling. But, as long as I stayed away from the water it was a lot of fun, chasing Chico around and playing with a Beagle puppy we met.

A couple of days later, we visited another dog beach Sa & Nollind found for us, at San Elijo State Park. It was just a short stretch of beach and we had to be on leashes but it was fun running in the sand with Sa...as long as she didn't go in the water. Cold, noisy, salty water that chases you -- not my idea of a good time. We also got in one early morning beach walk at South Carlsbad. We weren't supposed to be there, but all we left behind were our footprints, which washed away as soon as the tide came in.

After a few days at South Carlsbad we headed a little further north to Oceanside. The second night was New Year's Eve and Sa and Nollind decided to go out early and then spend the rest of the evening with us, taking us for a walk on the beach around 8:00. They are well aware that I don't like banging noises like guns, or thunder, so I think they were trying to avoid exposing me to what they expected was coming at midnight -- FIREWORKS! But, despite their efforts, the most terrifying thing happened just after we got to the beach. The sky lit up and started to explode in all directions with the loudest popping and banging I've ever heard! I tried to head for the houses that were all along the beach, thinking someone would take pity on a poor, frightened dog, but Sa and Nollind kept pulling me back to them, out there in the open, exposed to the terror!

It felt like the longest walk of my life and I was never happier to see our trailer. I couldn't wait to get inside and crawl into my den under the table. I was safe...or so I thought. A few hours later, Nollind was sleeping, Sa was reading in bed, and I was curled up on the couch. Suddenly, it all began again, this time much closer than before. I ran to the bedroom and lay down on the floor, right beside Sa. She petted me and assured me that it was just people ringing in the new year and that it wouldn't last long. She was right, but I don't see how terrifying dogs is a good way to celebrate anything -- I may never understand the human species.

Sand Dunes and Wabbits!

by Chico

After two weeks in Las Vegas we left behind the bright lights for the desert. The dog park in Vegas was pretty cool but I get intimidated by a lot of new dogs, especially big ones, and found the trips there a bit stressful at times. I liked the chasing the ball with Logan part but he was often off meeting new dogs and not paying any attention to me. Doesn’t he know the expression about “dancing with the one who brung ya”? I’d try to jump in by barking at them but they’d ignore me, stare blankly, or just get annoyed.

In the Mojave Desert, at Kelso Dunes, we camped in the middle of nowhere! No asphalt, no gravel, no lights, and no doggie sand box. In the Las Vegas RV park they had two small spaces where we dogs were supposed to “do our business”. I wasn’t as grossed out by the concept as T and Nollind were, but a guy does like a fresh patch of earth or a shrub to scent up now and then. But anyway…back to the desert… The coolest thing about camping in the Mojave? As long as the sun was up and we didn’t get too far from T and Nollind, Logan and I could run free! The first morning we got up early and hiked an hour and a half to the top of the biggest sand dune. It was huge and it’s a lot of working walking in deep sand, but we made it, and me and Logan had enough energy left over to have a wrestling match at the top and chase each other half way down. It was the most fun I’ve had on the whole trip! Once, I got running so fast down the dune that I thought my body was going to go right over my legs – but I managed to keep it together and jumped over Logan when I reached him at the bottom. You should have seen his face as I rocketed straight at him and then vaulted over top!

We could have spent a week out in the desert but T and Nollind had people to meet in a nearby town, Twentynine Palms. Now, being a dog, I’m not much good at math, but I’m pretty sure there were a lot more than 29 palm trees in that town. But anyway, Twentynine Palms is in the Mojave Desert near a very cool place called Joshua Tree National Park. We met Nollind’s brother there, and his wife, and their little person named Harper. She was the same size as me! And, the best thing about Harper? She liked feeding me treats, and I was happy to entertain her by taking them gently from her hand. Unfortunately, they had to go home after a couple of days. I do miss her…

We stayed in Twentynine for five days after Harper and her family left and, without her there, I was able to get back to work chasing the desert rabbits. They were all over the RV park and in the desert next to the RV park, and I’d go straight to work every time I set foot outside, barely taking time to “take care of business” (if you know what I mean). T and Nollind seemed to think it was quite funny but I took my job very seriously, looking for rabbits from the moment I left the RV until the moment I returned (the photo is of me after one particularly fast rabbit.) They started calling me “Elmer Fudd” and saying something about “wascawy wabbits”. I think the reference was to something long before my time. They’re pretty old.

The last day at Twentynine, me and Logan finally got a chance to see Joshua Tree Park. It's another one of those parks that doesn't like dogs on the trails. T found us an old dirt road where we were allowed to walk on-leash and we had this great hour and a half hike through the desert and the Joshua Trees.

The rabbits? Well, I never did manage to catch one, but I certainly put the fear of dog into them!

Viva Las Vegas!

- by Logan
...or so the humans like to say. I wasn't clear what all the fuss was about until we arrived there. Once we'd settled in and done a bit of exploring, I found out why it's such a hot destination -- Las Vegas has the best dog park in the western USA, possibly in the whole country! It's huge! -- made up of many acres where you can run and play ball, with grass and trees and water fountains. And, the best part...other dogs, lots of them...and I do love to meet other dogs. I tend to get along with most of them -- big, small, timid, assertive. My secret? I pick up on their vibe and operate at their level. Timid? Don't worry, I'll approach gently. Playful? Great, I'm in! Pushy or aggressive? I'll bow down, no problem (and then head for the other side of the park when you're not looking). I'm a bit of a chameleon I guess, happy to fit in with whatever you're looking for in a companion. Probably makes me sound a bit weak, but in truth, it's just smart.

So, back to the Las Vegas Dog Fanciers' Park...of our two weeks in Vegas, we visited there all but two days -- the ones we were out of town on road trips. The first trip out of town was to a place called Valley of Fire. Not a long drive, with a cool walk on a sandy trail that took us through a slot canyon, but really...what is this human fascination with red rocks? And, at what point do they get enough? The second outing was to (here we go again) Red Rock Canyon. I admit, humans have more visual sensitivity to colour than we dogs but, really, they're rocks! Anyway, another good walk and the usual array of interesting smells so I'm not complaining, just a bit confounded.

Most of the other Las Vegas activities we were excluded from. Such prejudice. How did we get left out of the rights and freedoms legislature? But, in truth, when I heard where they'd been I wasn't too fussed. The National Finals Rodeo where they had fireworks indoors (yikes!); a Barry Manilow concert to satisfy some kind of 70's teenage girl's crush; a Blue Man Group show where they had to wear plastic ponchos; and Phantom of the Opera in a theatre so decrepit the chandelier nearly fell on the audience! Believe me, I was happy to be safe and sound and enjoying the quiet of the RV. Besides, someone has to keep an eye on the place -- all of our worldly goods in one small box and they regularly leave it unattended for long periods of time. I'm thinking this is why they brought me...to be the responsible one.

Now, we did get one look at what they call "the strip" and, even to a colour blind dog with less visual acuity, it was pretty impressive. But, on the other side of that coin, really...doesn't it waste a lot of electricity keeping all those lights on? I'm just sayin'...

Viva Las Vegas...