January 7th and Waiting

Waiting...

The fifth wheel has been sitting up near the house for a long time now and for a while Teresa was regularly taking things in and out with bins and boxes filling all over the house. There was talk of the 27^th of December for heading south, but then the horses had a visit from the vet on Christmas Eve and that was the end of that. The next departure date was set for New Year’s Day, but on the Monday after Christmas they hauled a couple of the horses off to another vet and were suddenly talking about the 8^th.

Storm getting his New Year's bath.

On the last day of the year they started giving baths to the horse herd with five of them done on that day and the other six the next. Bathing eleven 1,000 lb animals in freezing temperatures seemed like an odd way to celebrate the new year but apparently the horses have some kind of cooties. In the event it's something transferable to dogs, I'm glad I only come in contact with the backs of their heels now and then when I’m herding one of them. I’ll pass on the itchy skin and missing hair.

Ready for the -30C windchills.

Until recently, I didn't see the need to go anywhere this winter because the weather's been so warm and snow-free. Although we did have one nasty stretch back in late November when we had to wear the dreaded jackets a few times. I don’t mind so much if it makes my people feel better about taking us outside since I’m all about the outdoors, but Chico rolls around and rubs himself on everything he walks past as if the thing is strangling him. If he were human I’m sure he’d be a nudist. And if you think that's funny, you should see him when they put boots on his feet -- more effective than hobbling a horse! He won’t even move for food, which I didn’t think was possible without hog-tying him. He moves like lightning if I drop even a morsel of something I'm eating. I admit I did feel for the little guy when Teresa and Nollind got laughing so hard they were wiping tears from their faces. Poor dude, standing there in the kitchen in my new boots, a ring of treats around him just out of reach. Good thing he’s got tough paws and doesn’t need protection from the volcanic rock in the Arizona desert.

The travel delay doesn’t really bother me. I get to sleep in my own bed, explore my home turf and chase off any coyotes who dare enter my domain, and I don’t have to ride in the four-wheeled death trap. They assure me this new truck will be quieter and therefore less scary than the old one, but it probably goes just as fast, maybe even faster since it’s supposed to be more powerful, and I'm guessing those monstrous rigs with their freaky jake brakes still roar up and down the interstate highways south of the border.

Checking out the Coyote Freeway

I admit, I miss going for walks when it’s cold like it has been for this past week, and in the desert we walk for 1-2 hours every day. If only I could get there without the days of terrifying truck travel. How I envy Chico his ability to sleep most of the way. They once put me to sleep to have some dental work done (got a little too close to the horse’s heels that day) and it would be ideal to have some of whatever was in that needle to get me down to Arizona. Although, who would keep an eye on the road.

Freedom!

If you were to ask me what I value most in life, being that I’m a dog, you might expect me to say treats, the stroke of my master’s hand, my favourite squeaky toy, or some other such stereotypical malarkey. All of the above are nice but, truth is, for me, it’s independence. Most of you probably don’t know why I'm named Logan and might even think Teresa picked it because it was a popular boy's name at the time I came into their lives. Ever see the 70's sci-fi movie “Logan’s Run”? Well, that’s where my name comes from. The first time they took the leash off me out on the prairie I pulled the fastest horizon-job they’d ever seen, and—just like that—I was named. Too bad I wasn’t close enough to see their faces; humans are so amusing. Of course, I came back, always do.

Okay...I confess to having a favourite toy,
but it doesn't squeak, it grunts.

Dogs on strings.

So at home I have a lot of what I value most and can wander over to visit my friends Coco and Asta across the road, or chase off a coyote that comes too close to the farm, or just have my morning constitutional somewhere private, away from where everyone walks. Here on the road, it’s very different and, more often than not, I’m attached to the end of a retractable string. I’m quite aware of how long the leash is, so I rarely hit the end of it, but just knowing that it’s there changes the feel of an outing. And who wants to poop with two people watching and waiting to pick it up? It’s so degrading.

North Algodones Dunes Wilderness

After a week at Fountain of Youth Spa, where we were leashed most of the time, we had the chance to go for a run at Imperial Dunes Recreation Area. At camp there were ATVs, sand cars and side-by-sides everywhere but on the north side of the highway, where the vehicles weren’t allowed, the dunes were completely untracked…until we got there. It was kind of like Huntington Beach piled higher and without water and I couldn’t get enough of running up the hills. Young as he is, I beat that little red mutt to the top every time.

Hiking at Saddle Mountain

Since that day we’ve had some off-leash time every day—at a second place we stayed in the dunes and now here at Saddle Mountain. This was the best spot yet for the first few days; I was free around camp and out walking. The only time the leash went on was when we got up into the cholla cactus, and I’m fine with that—I’ve had a chunk of cholla on my leg and I’m happy to not repeat the experience. But then a new threat was spotted by one of our fellow campers. I don't know much about rattlesnakes but seeing one in the vicinity has meant a lot more leash time for Chico and I. We did see a snake on one of our walks a few days ago—Teresa almost stepped on it—but apparently it was a harmless type (although it did make her jump!).

Western Patchnose Snake about 3' long

Sunset at Saddle Mountain

At Wickenburg yesterday, another Albertan told us about a rattlesnake showing up in a firepit in his busy campground and that they’ve been coming out of hibernation the past couple of weeks. This made for a lot more eyes to the ground during today’s hike back here at Saddle Mountain. I stayed on the road and close to Nollind’s hip, not wanting to find out firsthand about snakes. I’ll leave that to my good buddy Chico.