Into the Desert

As soon as we rolled into Quartzsite I remembered it. We’d stayed there for more than a week two years ago and spent hours exploring the desert at Scaddan Wash where we camped. It was our first real experience of boondocking and I loved it. Coming from a farm on the big flat of Alberta, it’s tough to be sandwiched into an RV park and restricted to peeing on one small patch of earth designated for that purpose. The plethora of canine odour that rises out of the sand is pretty enticing, at first, but even I have to admit the place rather stinks. That was life in Las Vegas.

Walking at Plomosa Road BLM

Our first night in Quartzsite we stayed in an RV park right in town and I was a little concerned. What about the desert camping? But, after only one night, and a day of having the trailer at Solar Bill’s, we were out at Plomosa Road BLM – room to breathe, freedom to pee on any bush or rock I chose, and even some off-leash time around camp. When we arrived there were some other trailers and motorhomes in the area but as the week progressed there were hundreds, maybe even a thousand – something to do with a big RV show in a monstrous tent. Didn’t get to see it – didn’t really want to.

Palm Canyon

Hiking at Buckskin Mountain

I was quite content with the things we dogs did get in on – a hike to Palm Canyon, another hike at Buckskin Mountain, and daily walking around the Plomosa Road camping area which is more than two miles long and at least half a mile wide. There was one thing about the desert I had forgotten about though, and it wasn’t a happy remembrance…sore feet. Quartzsite is a rocky place, and the rocks are not smooth like the stones we have at home. I’d try to follow vehicle tracks where it was slightly more dusty and less rocky, but after day two I didn’t want to go for walks much anymore. It was then they put my boots on me. They’re made for snow but also provide some protection from the rocks. A bit embarrassing to have to wear them, yes, but I couldn’t help skipping along just a little that morning, my feet much happier. Not sure what Chico’s feet are made of, but obviously tougher stuff than mine.

Cooling our feet in the Colorado River after a hike.

On Wednesday night I heard Teresa and Nollind discussing a day to leave Plomosa and they decided on Friday the 24^th of January. The next morning, as soon as they were up, there was talk and activity uncharacteristic of relaxing mornings in camp. Something about the black water tank being full?

Leaving Plomosa

So, with the sun barely cresting the hills to the east we were hitched up, legs up, packed up and on our way, with a pit stop at the aptly named “Pit Stop” in Quartzsite to dump the waste water tanks and fill with fresh. California here we come…one day early.

Las Vegas!

We stayed in Vegas for five days and went to the 12-acre Dog Fanciers Park every morning. I didn’t expect to have a good time, was kind of dreading it to be honest, but it felt different this trip. Two years ago all those big, rambunctious dogs were intimidating, but they don’t bother me much anymore. And I don’t feel jealous now when Logan makes new friends—I just go make some of my own. T and Nollind said I’ve grown up, but I think I’m about the same size. In fact, T put me on a diet last spring, so I’d say I’m actually a bit smaller.

Making new friends at Dog Fanciers Park

Vegas was more of a time for house cleaning and sorting than it was for sightseeing this trip, although they did go out a couple of nights when we weren’t invited. We always miss out on a certain amount of “people only” stuff. They try to tell us we wouldn’t enjoy it anyway but I doubt that. If there’s a place where people are gathering, I’m going to have a good time, period. Logan is more of a stay at home type. I’d go EVERYWHERE…if they’d let me.

Trailer cleaning day.

During the day T and Nollind cleaned all the travel muck off the trailer (we helped as you can see in the photo), filled the water tanks (which they couldn’t do at home for some reason), and got stocked up with groceries and other supplies (including dog treats!). They went out a couple of times at night for music and theatre stuff leaving us to guard the trailer against all of the marauding dogs in the RV park. Okay, they were on leashes, and most were tiny, but still, we did have an important job to do. Logan took the task very seriously, as is typical, I mostly slept, but don’t tell my people.

We set out on Monday morning, one week after leaving home. I’d tell you about what it was like between Las Vegas and Quartzsite but…well…I was sleeping.

On the Road!

We’re on the road, the four of us…and Sid, Sidney actually…what they’ve named the fifth wheel. That’s where he came from, Sidney, BC. We had to take a boat to go and get him. We dogs weren’t allowed up on deck to look around, but I knew we were on a boat. I’m ten and I know many things.

It was cold the morning we left the farm in Alberta, so cold the front of the truck was covered in ice and so were the roads.

Setting out at sunrise.

Not being a fan of vehicle travel, the ice and snow on the road only added to my discomfort. But they were determined to set out, my humans, after being delayed by one thing or another for many days.

We drove out of the deep cold and icy roads in just a few hours with only the odd section of blowing snow as we headed south into the first state of our tour—Montana. Chico slept through all of this, of course, which is why I’m telling the tale of the journey from winter. That dog would sleep through a hurricane. I try to sleep while we’re travelling, but I just can’t. I breathe deeply, close my eyes, repeat my mantra quietly to myself, “I will get there alive, I will get there alive,” but to no avail.

Back to snowy roads in southern Montana.

I just can’t quell the shaking and panting that leave me choking for water by the next stop. If I didn’t have such a good time exploring new places once we reach our destination,  I’d insist they leave me at home to look after the farm.

The farm…I do miss it, especially when I first wake up in the morning and have to remember where we are this day. Our first stops on the road were Great Falls, Montana and Jackpot, Nevada. Great Falls had snow on the ground with a warm Chinook wind blowing in all evening. 

The last of winter - Great Basin Hwy, Nevada

Jackpot was snow free when we settled in for the night but Teresa and Nollind got a shock the next day when they opened the trailer door to take us out for our morning constitutional—four inches of fresh snow. I wasn’t surprised. Despite the closed blinds, I could have told them it had snowed overnight.

Just an hour into the final day of the seemingly endless three days of driving south, we left the snow behind and I knew we were getting close to stopping somewhere for more than one night. I was right…Las Vegas!

Delays and More Delays...

by Chico

The 30th, they said I just had to wait until the 30th. Well, I may be just a dog but I can see the calendar from down here and that day came and went and we're on to a whole new calendar! It doesn't look good. I've been shivering since October but they just don't seem to notice or care -- well, that's not entirely fair, Nollind picked me up once when my feet were really cold and they did put a ridiculous, uncomfortable jacket on me a few times. How do the humans stand those things? So itchy! Okay, I was warmer but at what cost? Luckily, Logan was the only dog who saw me with it on and he had one too, even goofier looking than mine. T and Nollind said he looked "dapper" in his. If dapper means lame then maybe.

So here it is the fifth little box on the new calendar. The first delay was because of all the work created by yet another snowstorm, then it was a broken tractor that had to be hauled to a repair shop, then Nollind got sick, then the trailer got sick or something like that, then there was a near hurricane to the south, then more snow, then even more snow and then, to top it all off, T got sick. Winter will be over before we get out of here! The worst of it is that it's nasty cold again and this morning the dreaded jacket went back on.

They're saying tomorrow...but they've said that before, at least three times. If we don't leave soon I'm going to hitch a ride with another rig before the next snowstorm or deep freeze rolls in!

Is It Time to Go Yet?

  . . . by Logan

Ready when you are

Okay, I admit I wasn't too excited when they started talking about heading out in the RV again this winter. I'm a homebody at heart and I just don't adapt easily to change. In fact, lately when we go on even short road trips, I don't feel like eating the first day or two. Maybe I'm getting old. I'm almost 10 you know, and if the dog-to-human year multiplier is 7, that makes me nearly 70 in your terms. Although, I'm told I don't look it.

When they bought the new RV in September I saw the writing on the wall and started preparing myself: eating heartily so I'll have a little extra weight for those days when food is unappealing, riding in the Kubota RTV to try to get used to the motion of a vehicle (I'm not sure it's helping), and keeping Chico in line so that I have my choice of beds and toys when we're on the road. Despite my efforts, my enthusiasm remained low. Travelling is just so stressful! Why must we? Why?

Riding with Tania and Teresa

Teresa and Nollind become more excited as we get closer to the planned departure date, Chico too, but then Chico is excited by everything so he doesn't really count. So why was it not happening for me? And then . . . it snowed, and the wind blew, and the coloured bar on the thermometer dropped below, way below, the zero line and I had to keep lifting my paws off the ground to keep them warm. That was when it came back to me - sunshine, sand dunes, walks in the desert, running on a beach, and that regularly changing view out the windows of the RV.

No place like home

It's snowing again today - a lot! Two years ago the first skiff of snow was on Halloween and we were off that very night. Not sure what they're waiting for this year but apparently departure is still two months off. Nollind leaves the farm for the big city most days so maybe it has something to do with that. I guess I'll just enjoy sleeping in my own bed until it's time to go.

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.