Tag Archives: camping with your dog

Woof, it Snowed Again, and Again

April 9, 2017 Odee 1 Comment

Woof, we have been doing a lot since I last wrote. We have been in Arizona a long time now. We hiked through a forest turned into stone. At first when Matt said we were going to the petrified forest, I thought he meant it was afraid of something but he explained the other meaning of the word. I liked it when we went to a big canyon Matt said it wasn’t the Grand Canyon, but it was so pretty green on the canyon floor. Woof, I even got to sit in four states at one time. How many dogs or even humans can say that? Then we stayed at a mountain cabin and then we went to the Grand Canyon and boy was it grand. It seemed grander than the last time we were there. I know I have left some things out. I’ll just have to write more often, ruff.

Woof, I'm trying to help! — Woof, I’m trying to help!

I really enjoyed staying at the cabin. We stayed there with Matt’s aunt Nancy and Janet. I got to lie down by the fire and it was so warm and cozy and I got to chase the big birds out of the yard. It snowed while we were there too, I have not seen this much snow in a long time. It was nice visiting with them; I like both of them so much. We left for the Grand Canyon after staying at the cabin.

When we got to the Grand Canyon I got to ride on a big thing called a bus. Matt laughed when I called it a big truck, he explained what it was to me.. I have only seen them from the outside and wondered why they were so big. A lot of humans ride on it all at one time and it has doors that open all by themselves. The doors have windows too, I liked looking out at the road and things passing by. The bus stopped a lot of times to let humans on and off. It was nice Matt did not have to drive. Woof, woof, it snowed again when we were camping at the Grand canyon, everything was white when we woke up one morning, but it melted all away.

While we were at the Grand Canyon we went on a hike down into it. Before we could go we had to go talk to a ranger three times. She was real nice. Matt had to explain what I did to help him on the trail. Then she had to tell all the rangers and something called a mule driver we would be on the trail. I really appreciate all the help we had from the Ranger Casey. We got to the trail and walked down, and down, and down. There were a lot of humans on the trail. A lot of them said hello and some wanted to pet me but Matt had to tell them I was working. On our way back up we had to step to the side of the trail because some horses were coming towards us. Well I thought they were horses but Matt said they were mules, so I guess the humans riding them were the mule drivers, woof!

Woof, on the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon!

Well I had better start on my next blog because I left a lot out of this one!

Later,

Woof, It Snowed!

March 25, 2017 Odee 9 Comments

We stayed in a big city for a long time. It got so hot there we only went out early or late then came back to a house when it got too warm. One place we went to was a place where humans lived a long time ago, only a little of the walls and holes in the ground were left. We hiked in green deserts with plants everywhere. A lot of them had stickers on them so I had to be careful. Then we hiked in a desert where flowers were everywhere, I could smell them all over. One place we drove on a real windy road, up and up we went where we could see the sunset and the city light up all over. One of my boots got a hole in it so we went to the place we got my last set. No more little rocks and stuff in my boots and he fixed my old ones so I have two sets of boots now, woof!

We stayed at Matt’s cousin house. Everyone there was very nice. I met a little human named Abby. She hugged me and gave me kisses. She would throw my ball and give me treats. I tried my best not to play with Abby’s toys, but she has some nice balls and a little doll that were too much to resist. My human told me I could not play with them, I tried my best not to and every time I sneaked over to get one of hrs toys Matt caught me, ruff! The only thing I did not like when we were staying there is I had to stay behind two days in a row and that made me a little upset. The second day I howled a little for him, even though his cousins at the house tried to make me feel better.

After the stay in the big city we left to go camping again first we went to a place called Dead Horse. I was afraid we would find dead horses but my human said the name came from a long time ago. Then we went to a town that was on the side of a mountain. My human said there were mines there. I asked him did he say it was mine, but he laughed and said mines were where humans went down inside the ground and brought things back up. That is taking hole digging much further than any dog I know. Usually we bury things, bones and stuff, not find things! Next we went to a different less crowded campground. I liked it there.

Our campfire, but I got in the truck because it is softer.

Oh woof! Talking about big holes, we went to a place that was a big water hole where humans lived a long time ago. Matt said it was a well, but it did not look like a well to me, it looked like a big swimming place to me. We went on a nice hike the next day and came back to rest at the camp. We had a nice fire and then it started to thunder after it was dark. Later that night it started snowing and we woke up to a white campground, it was fun playing in the snow, woof, woof! We packed up and drove to another town called Flag something where we stayed until it stopped snowing.

I love playing in the snow, double WOOF!

Now we are getting ready to go again, I cannot wait to see where we are going!

*Note from Matt*
Places we were visiting/staying in this report:
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Jerome
Sedona
Montezuma’s Well
The Devil’s Bridge – Sedona
Oak Creek Canyon
Pine Flats Campground
Flagstaff

The Really Big Adventure, part 2

March 17, 2017 Odee 1 Comment

Woof woof! I have become a backseat driver! I started out in the front seat on this trip as usual and ended up in the back. This made me mad at first and I kept trying to sneak back up in the front, but that is hard to do. At first I though it was because of all the helpful suggestions I make when he is driving. I know I do get a bit talkative and pace a little bit so I thought my commentary on his driving got me put there. He said something about it being safer for me than riding in the front seat since I do not have a doggie seat belt. Matt said his truck was too old to take the right kind so the back seat is now mine, well at least half of it is. I think I finally am used to it, but I did not like it at first. Woof, I do have to admit this was after I was not ready for the bump in the road and my head hit the front window and made the crack longer.

Since we left my friend Francie’s house (she is my human’s cousin) we have camped and gone to so many places. Texas is a big place and we have been to two other states after that. My human said we were in it long before we stayed at Francie’s house. In Texas we saw places where wires ran all over in crazy patterns and huge machines that look like they were big birds drinking water, but there was no water there. We hiked on sandy beaches where I could not see or smell water. Then we came to a place called New Mexico, another place that is a lot different from where I live, we found an even bigger beach with no water there. Another had pictures and drawings on the rocks. Matt said they were done a long, long time ago. Not like the painted things you see in the cities. He said these were done long before he was born! We walked along these rocks for what seemed forever while he looked and photographed them.

Then we stayed in a place called Cliff and there were a lot of cliffs there. We stayed for a few days visiting with my human’s friends. We went on hikes every day and I even had to walk on a strange path where you could see below you. Matt said it was a cat walk, but I did not see any cats. They must be special to have their own walk. I wonder if they are okay with all that noisy water rushing below them. I bothered me. I know that water is dangerous and we were way above it I was scary but Matt helped me. I even got to swim in a gentle creek, there was a lot of fast water at other places, but my new friends knew where to go for the best swimming.

I love water, this is in Gila Monsterville!

Woof! I was hoping to catch up to where we are now, but I have waited too long to write, I have been so busy. I think I will stop here and continue in the next blog entry. I will let you know we are in another state with a green desert.

Woof, bye for now,

We Are Not in North Carolina Anymore!

February 28, 2017 Odee 3 Comments

Woof, woof, we have been busy. We had a great time at my friend Marlene’s place for two days. My human needed a rest after all the things he had to do just before we left and it was going to rain so we stayed longer. Marlene was real nice and it is always fun to visit her even though Hobo, her cat, was not to happy I was there. Marlene lives in a place called Welcome Valley and I always feel welcome there. I hated to leave but Matt said it was time to go. I hope we visit Marlene again after we get back woof!

We left early the next day to go to a state called Missus Sippy; I wonder who she was and why they named a state after her? That night we camped at a park named Wall Doxey. I did not see a wall, but it was a nice quiet place. We left early the next morning and went to a place called Barkansas. We stopped at a place that my human said was a welcome center. It was nice, but not nice like Welcome Valley. The humans at the welcome center were welcoming, woof, that is a doggy joke! They let us use the sitting area to make posts on Facebook and my other doggie media places. That night we ended up staying in a park in Barkansas because we got stuck for a long time on one of those big fast roads. My human says the other roads are better and I think he is right. There are a lot more neat things to see and not as many cars and big trucks.

Camping at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

After leaving the diamond park in Barkansas (I did not see any shiny rocks there) we went to find a Broken Bow in a place my human had never been to. It was a funny name, Okayhome I think. It seemed to be a nice place. Then we had a long drive to a big town in Texas, did I get that one right? We spent several days in the town Matt calls Austin, while we were there he took me into two places that has food all around, it was so hard to keep working on my mind with all of those yummy smells right next to me and all around. Now I know where he gets my food from. We went on a hike where there were a lot of people and dogs. Barking Creek maybe? I cannot remember. The only thing I did not like was my human did not let me swim, ruff!

Having fun at Barton Creek Greenbelt Park.

We will be leaving Austin soon and going to some desert areas, I wonder if that means it will be sweet and yummy there.

Woofer update!

Before we left Austin I did get a chance to swim, but I did have to get a bath after, ruff! I will tell about that in my next post.

That is it for now!

Life at Ole Betsey’s Country Store

September 20, 2016 Odee 3 Comments

Woof, woof, we had the best time last week in the mountains. It was so much cooler up there we stayed outside most of the time. Not like we have been at home, only going out early in the morning. We stayed in a town called Mortimer. The strange thing is there are hardly any buildings there, ruff! We camped at our friend’s place called Betsey’s Ole Country Store. It was a great place to camp and visit with Bruce and all the humans and dogs stopping by.

Betsey's Ole Country Store and Rental Cabins. — Betsey’s Ole Country Store and Rental Cabins.

From behind the store at the back of the campground.

One day we went on a hike to a waterfall where fish hunt, I don’t know what they hunt, other fish, bugs? Or what??? But the name is Hunt Fish Falls. The trail goes down, down, and down more, but when you get there I discovered one of the best swimming places ever! The water was nice and deep and clean smelling (my human likes that.) I did a video of this hike so we should be able to see it soon if my human ever gets it done, woof!

After the hike Matt was pretty tired (I was too, but I was not going to let him know) so we rested on the front porch at the Betsey’s place, but it is really Lucy’s place. She says her human, Bruce, thinks he runs the place, but she is the one really in charge. I like visiting Lucy’s place. I don’t know why she named it Betsey’s Ole Country Store, maybe Betsey is her mother? We spent some time every day there on the porch, my human talking with the other humans. I got to visit with them also plus all the dogs that came visiting. Sometimes it got busy and sometimes it was quiet but it was always peaceful!

We spent a few days at the campground at Ole Betsey’s, it was nice. One evening we went on a walk with Lucy and my human friends Bruce and Candice. Bruce was telling the other humans the history of Mortimer and where the buildings were before the floods made them disappear. One thing I heard was the last big flood was the one that wiped most of the town out. Now it is only a few buildings and houses. Woof, I know my human will be surprised I heard this, all he thought I wanted to do was swim, but I do listen. But, yes I really wanted to swim too; I can never get enough of that!

There are a lot of fish at the pond at Betsey's, that is why I cannot swim there, but you can catch them. woof! — There are a lot of fish at the pond at Betsey’s, that is why I cannot swim there, but you can catch them. woof!

I’m not sure what part of Betsey’s Country Store I like best. I have stayed in the cabin and teepee before they are nice and I like the campground too! Woof, woof, I almost forgot if you like good food Bruce told me they are going to have a Lowcountry Oyster & Seafood boil on October 22. Woof did I do good Bruce?

PS Here is a link to Betsey’s Ole Country Store Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Betseys-Ole-Country-Store-Cabin-Rental-258129213967/?fref=ts

The Last of our Scooty Trip

September 2, 2016 Odee 5 Comments

Woof, woof, what fun we had on our last two days of our trip! We drove for a long time. It was so hot my human said we were going to head for the mountains in a state I have been in some, Virginia. We drove from a place call Binghamton, I wonder if they have ham there and what kind ham is Bing? Woof, maybe Bing is the name of the man that has the ham and there is a ton of it? Woof, I think I may be onto something. Well we drove all the way from Bings place to a place in Virginia called Shiny Doe National Park. I like going to national parks even though at most of those I am only allowed in certain places.

Ruff, one bad thing along the way was we got stuck on the big road that has so many cars and big trucks zooming by, but they were not zooming at all for a long, long time that afternoon. All we could see were stopped cars ahead and behind us. On the other side there was not any cars, the road was empty. Woof, I have not ever seen anything like it. Cars with flashing lights and sirens passed by us on the part of the road you are not supposed to drive on. Finally we started moving again, but we got to our campsite later than we wanted. Instead of afternoon, we got there in the evening but before the sun went down.

Woof, I can almost see why the park is called Shiny Doe because we saw plenty of does all around our campground and all over the place. There were big deer and baby deer eating all that good tasting green grass there. I just wonder when they are shiny? They did not look very shiny to me! We were camped at a place called Big Meadows and they were big. Not as big at that Gray Sun Park in Virginia, but it was big, woof! We got there in time to take some sunset photos, well Matt did. I am having some problems with my harness my human is going to have to work on so I only took videos on this trip. Though Matt does have some tricks where he pulls out a frame of the video to make a photograph, ruff!

On our last day we went to a place called Dismal Falls. Woof, I do not know why it was dismal, it was fun and I got to swim and swim and swim! I was fun and I think it should be called Fun Falls because there is a big swimming pool right below it!

Well we are back home now so my human needs to work on my videos, look for them soon, woof! He says we have some plans for our next trip, but I am not telling yet. I really enjoyed this trip and look forward to sharing photos and videos of it, woof, woof!

Matt here again to explain a couple of the place names:
– Shiny Doe Park is Shenandoah National Park
– Grey Sun Park is Grayson Highlands State Park
and of course the Scooty is a reference to Nova Scotia

Where are the Hamsters?

August 28, 2016 Odee Leave a comment

Woof! We made it back to the USA after our trip to that big country above us. We had fun in that Scooty place, we drove all over and I got to hike and swim at many different places. We saw places I could not swim, where the water was not clear at all. The water was red just like the earth is at home, that was strange. My human said that was because this thing called tide came in and out so fast it stirred things up. We saw one place where the rivers ran backwards sometimes, woof that was really strange. Now we are in places that look more like our mountains. The water is clear, but right now there is not much water in the streams. Matt said it is because there has not been much rain.

We drove a lot when we left Canada (that is what my human called the place where Scooty is.) We drove through that Maine place because it was so busy and hot. Then we came to a state called New Hamster. It was much busier with humans, cars, and dogs than the Nova Scooty place was. When we got to the New Hamster Matt was getting a little discouraged but he said we were going to make the best of it so we stopped and he took pictures even when it was crowded. Then we started looking for a campground to spend the night and it looked like we were going to be out of luck, ruff. Then at one of the campgrounds we stopped and a nice human told Matt there was a place with plenty of places to camp. We drove through some busy towns along the way, but the all of a sudden it was like everyone left. Well not everyone, but it was more like normal when we go camping, woof! We found a nice place with big tall trees surrounded by big tall mountains. There were trails and clear streams and just a few humans and dogs, just enough to make it nice. One thing that I am puzzled about is where are all the hamsters? Is not this place called New Hamster? Are they new? I saw plenty of chipmunks, maybe they are mistaken and calling them hamsters, woof!

Then we set up our campsite and ate dinner. Then my human started a fire and put my pad next to it along with his chair. It was so nice and comfy. I just love camping; I listen to the voices of the other humans and dogs, woof, woof. Those sounds are almost mystical (I bet you did not think I knew that word or what it means.) Everything sounds muted and pleasant. Then the owls started hooting like they did at the house we used to live in. I like hearing them. One was hooting on one side of the campground, then another answering on the other side of the campground.

This was close to our campground. I did not swim here, but I did get to swim in a stream, woof!

Well we are off again and not sure where the road will lead us. We will find out when we get there, woof!

Matt here again to interpret some of Jackson’s place names:

Of course the Scooty place is Nova Scotia and New Hamster is New Hampshire!

Carpe Cape – Seize the Cape!

August 26, 2016 Odee Leave a comment

Woof, woof, what a day we had at the cape park. I was so busy having fun I forgot to look for that cape thing. We got up early in the morning just as it got light and drove to the park from our campsite. The first thing we did was drive by a stand where a nice female human took some money from my human. She gave him a map and told him places I was not supposed to go. Luckily there were not many places I could not go, woof! We only drove a little further and took our first hike. We went up a big hill where we could see far, far away. I saw some rabbits on the trail and ran over to them to say hello, but they ran away, Matt would not let me go in the woods after them. I guess he was afraid I would get lost looking for them. I do not know why they all ran from me. All I wanted to do was say hello and ask them a few questions. The next place we went was at a real rocky beach where the waves come crashing in. Waves are strange; they come at you and then go back. It is almost like the water is alive and coming after you. I still have not quite figured them out. I do not get to see them very often, woof! The beach was one of the places I was not supposed to go so I sat in the truck and watched my human take photographs.

This is me at a beach where I am allowed not in the National Park. Even the little waves here were after me! — This is me at a beach where I am allowed, this is not in the National Park. Even the little waves here were after me!

Then we took a hike to a waterfall. I decided to walk mostly in the stream and it was fun, the water was so clear and it even smelled good. When we got to the waterfall I got to swim in the pool right at the waterfall. It was deep, nice and cool. Matt said he walked eight miles, I bet I walked twice that, ruff! Humans are good walkers, but they are slow and a dog has got to do what he has to do, run! We had a great time hiking together and I loved being in the park greeting nature and other humans and dogs along the trail. I did record some videos, but Matt said we would wait until we get home to edit and post those.

Well we are headed back on the long trip home, but Matt says we will have fun and visit places on the way back so we will see you from the road, woof!

PS – Matt here this was the day we spent in Cape Breton Highlands National Park – it is a beautiful place and dogs are restricted only in two places; the beaches and the Skyline Trail. I did a small portion of the Skyline early in the morning while Jackson was in the car parked in a shady spot. The rest of the time we were hiking together.

The Cape!

August 24, 2016 Odee 3 Comments

Woof, woof! What a great time we have had so far. We have been in Canada four days now and have been to so many places. After camping near the place where the water runs backwards and has big whirlpools we finally made it to the Scooty place. My human calls it Nova Scotia, I think that sounds funny and guess what? We have been traveling by Funny Bay and it is funny! The water gets real high and real low. My human would not let me swim there because he said a thing called tide (is that not a detergent?) comes in and out so fast I would be taken away by it. I would not like to lose my human so I decided he was right so I just looked at the water. It was not clear most of the time. It was so red that even I could see the color! Woof! We were at Funny Bay for two days camping by the water, it was very pretty there. We went by a lighthouse at a place called burnt coat. I kept looking for that coat to see if it was burnt, ruff, but I did not see one!

Then it started raining so we went to a big city, but it was so busy and crowded we left there and found a neat place close to a famous lighthouse named Peggy Cove. She must have been special to have a cove and a lighthouse named after her., ruff. Woof, woof, I did get an ice cream cone when we were driving there that day and it was good, they even put a doggy treat on top!

It cleared off that night and we got up early the next morning so my human and I could take pictures. He said there would be a lot of people there and the best time would be very early in the morning. Besides, having been an art director for my human I know morning light makes good photographs. We spent a lot of time photographing the lighthouse, the village where the humans live there, and along the rocky coast. It was very pretty. After taking the photos we packed up and went to a place called Picktoo or something like that. I really liked the campsite we got in the park near the Picky place it is called Cariboo something, boo who? After we set up camp we went into town to see the boats and village. I liked it; there were friendly people and not at all busy like that big Halley city. Now we are at some place that has a cape, I have been busy looking for and when I find it, I will let you know.

Woof, that is all for now, I think Matt has something to say so here he is!

Matt here I think need to decode a few names here for everyone. Jackson has a hard enough time with our local place names, but when we headed north he just doesn’t quite understand them. Here are a few interpretations:

Funny Bay – Bay of Fundy

Picktoo – Pictou

Halley City – Halifax

Burnt coat – Burntcoat Head lighthouse

Cariboo – Caribou Provincial Park

Oh Canada!

August 20, 2016 Odee Leave a comment

Woof, woof. What a start to our trip! My human got sick on the way up to Canada and we had to check into one of those motels that lots of people stay in. Woof, and there was some dogs there too. He slept all day long for one say and thank goodness he felt much better after that. I did my best to take care of him and stayed right by his side. I was hoping we did not have to go back home and luckily we did not. The next day we took off for Canada and now that we are here I have become and international dog, at least that is what Matt says. I do not quite understand what that means, I will have to think on that or get someone to explain it to me.

This is where I got to play in the water!

We did stop a couple of times before we got to our campsite and it was fun. I got to play in the water at a place called Black Bay. I wonder why it is called that? It was blue and green and grey and very pretty. I wanted to go way out, but because that would have worried my human, I stayed close to the shore and just waded in water just over my feet. Some of the rocks are sharp so next time Matt said he would put my boots on to protect my feet. The next place we went to was a place called the Reversible Waterfalls. Ruff, I do not know why it is called that. To me it looked normal, but my human said at times the water runs in the opposite direction. It sure did look dangerous though. There were huge whirlpools and waves. The water was all white and foamy; I did not even want to swim there!

I am so glad we finally made it here. Matt said it took seven days instead of the five he had planned, but it sure was worth it. I am going to keep this post short because we need to go to bed and get up early in the morning. We are going to the scooty place; I think it is Nova Sootia or something like that.

Woof, that is all for tonight, we are camping in Rockwell Park. I will report again as soon as I can. Bye for now.

The Adventures of Odee & Matt