He Was A Do-oo-og Tripper, Dog Tripper, Yeah!

JK and I are in a tiny house in Montana that makes them very happy. I like it here, but it’s not as familiar to me as our house in North Carolina.  But as long as JK are with me, I know that’s where I’m supposed to be.   I miss Buzz. He stayed behind, with Macy.

 J loaded all Buzz’s stuff into the car  last Thursday and put him back there with it.  K told me I had to stay in the house.  I knew it was a mistake, they just didn’t realize I was supposed to go along! When JK weren’t looking, I raced out and jumped into Buzz’s bed with him! It was a little crowded. Where was my spot?  Why did Buzz get to go and not me?

Well, J came back pretty quick, without Buzz. He’s all settled in, J told K. He’s going to live the life of Riley in that house.  Riley?   I smelled Macy.  No Riley. That puzzled me, but all the activity was very distracting, and I noticed they were getting out my travel stuff!  Beds and bowls and blankets and balls.  And my new Frisbee! The vile rolling bags went in.  So did boxes, and clothes on hangers, and Mr. Bill and a couple other babies.  JK kept consulting lists, going up and down stairs, making piles.  Fishing trip, they would say.  Cabin. Wedding. I had a terrible time keeping track. They just would not be herded. It was very confusing and exciting at the same time.

Early Friday morning, we were on our way.    I had a wide section of the back seat, covered with blankets and very comfy.  JK sat up front. 

That first day was a long one, but pretty fun.  I spent a lot of time looking out the front window.  I would have jumped into the passenger seat with whoever was sitting there if I would have been invited, but for some reason they are picky about that.  I had to stay in back.  We just left North Carolina, Maxie, J would say, or Welcome to Tennessee…Kentucky…Illinois…we drove and drove.  K found a tiny martian on the ground when we stopped for lunch in Tennessee.  J put it on the dashboard under the GPS,  and it pointed the way the entire trip.

Finally, about dinnertime, we stopped in O’Fallon, Illinois.  K threw the Frisbee for me while J checked us into our very pet-friendly hotel.  I rode an elevator for the first time. By the time I came in, I was so hot from running after the Frisbee that J put me in the shower stall and hosed me off for about ten minutes. OH, it felt SO good.  I just stood there and let her run that cool water over me! When she dried me off, I felt much better. I stayed in the hotel room alone and just napped while JK ate dinner. They were very happy with me.  It’s nice not to have to buy a new mattress for the Drury Inn, J said. Like I would chew anything up. Like I ever have!

Saturday was more driving.  Into Missouri, then Kansas…headed for Nebraska.  JK kept talking about a detour, since I-29 was flooded.  Well, you are just not going to believe where that detour took us.  That sign says “ROAD TO OZ HIGHWAY.”  JK said that’s exactly how they felt…We’re not in North Carolina anymore.  Especially the construction around Topeka. We needed a wizard there.

In Nebraska, we stopped at those really nice people’s house, the ones with Pip! J’s parents!  JK were so happy to see them, and I was so happy to see Pip. I hope I get to see Oliver and Mae the next time we drive through.  All the people talked and talked.  I hung out with Pip.   

Sunday morning, early…we were off again!  I knew by now that if my leash was off, I should jump into the back seat. But I won’t jump in if my leash is on.  Quirky. JK say that about me. A lot.

Driving all the way across Nebraska takes a while.  And it takes even longer when certain signs just call out, TAKE PICTURE HERE. I just went over and posed. I know by now that when J has that little square thing up by her eye, I should be still. 

And then it takes even longer when there is a huge outdoor store out in the middle of nowhere, calling its siren song to the outdoorsmen and women who happen to be in the car with me.  K went in, and J threw the Frisbee for me and walked me for about an hour. I jumped into a goose pond and swam a little ways in the smelly green water, which didn’t make J real happy since it stunk to what she says is high heaven.  Later they put me in a shaded kennel while they both went in to look around. I laid there and dried off and watched people walk by.  I didn’t mind a bit. 

That was a long day of driving, across Nebraska and up into Wyoming, all the way to Sheridan.  Hill after hill after hill after hill.  I got a little bored, I have to say.  We would stop now and then for gas and at rest areas, but that was a long, long drive. JK listened to a book and I would doze or stare out the front window.  J would sniff now and then and say I smelled like dried goose pond. Then she would spray Febreeze.  We were all ready to get out of the car. Maybe THEY smelled bad to me. Did they think about that? 

Sheridan was a fun town.  We went for a long walk that evening and I barked and barked at some of the statues downtown.  The draft horse and the fly fisherman just annoyed me.  People laughed, but I didn’t care. Those statues needed to be shown that I was onto them! 

The next day was so easy! I got a shampoo in the hotel tub before we left. No goose goo on me.  Just four short hours later, we arrived in Bozeman. We picked up J’s car and then K and I headed down the canyon to the cabin while J picked up some groceries.  Oh I was so happy to be out and running instead of cooped up in the car!  And the air is so fresh!  I love the cabin!

I should say, I love the cabin when it’s not thundering.

This is me, after a huge lightning bolt hit the ground somewhere near the cabin that evening. Then the thunder shook the whole cabin so hard that it felt like an earthquake.  JK couldn’t find me for the longest time.  Maxie, they called, Maxwell!  Come!  Where could he be, this place just isn’t that big! They looked under beds. They checked behind chairs.  Try the shower area.  It’s the only place left. K found me and called J.  They laughed and laughed and J took my picture. But they felt bad for me.

I was shaking so hard that J put a blanket over me and K sat on the floor so I could lie under his knees until the thunder stopped. There was hardly any rain. Just thunder.  It went on for over an hour.  I really hated that storm. But the blanket helped a lot.  JK stay so calm. That’s THUNDER out there! They just don't know- they should be in that shower stall with me! 

But that was so long ago, at least two days.  Since then it’s been perfect.  I’ve hiked, ridden in the car, played with Izzy, and smelled a thousand different, odd smells. I stay close and don’t have to be tied up. I’m a lucky dog. At least, that’s what JK tell me. I’ll write about it later.