Tag Archives: Eugene

My New (to me) Backpack

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Woof! I found out I am the third dog to own this backpack! At first Matt thought it was Jackson’s originally but Matt found a picture of Maverick wearing it back in 2009, so it’s more than 13 years old! Jackson used it on hikes but Maverick was the real trooper, he went on camping trips with it. Matt used to go backpacking; I can’t believe he carried everything he needed on his back, a tent, sleeping bag, food, clothes, and more. Maverick had to carry his food, toys, and bowls in his. I don’t know if I would like that, but if I had to do that to be able to go on a trip I would. Matt said they would walk with that stuff for miles and miles. I’ve walked miles and miles with Matt but he said some of those walks were longer.

Maverick with his pack on a backpacking trip with Matt.

Maverick wasn’t the only backpacking dog Matt had; he showed me a picture of Doc and his brother with packs on. Doc was Matt’s dog and Cody, which sounds almost like my name, belonged to Matt’s sister. Both Doc and Cody really worried Matt on one trip. When Matt got to camp and set it up he fell asleep. Both Doc and Cody wandered off and were gone all night until late the next morning. You should hear the whole story. I think the picture with this post is from that trip. Doc went on many backpacking trip with Matt. I think Matt needs to tell and retell some of those stories.

Doc (left) and Cody (right) getting ready to go on a backpacking trip at the Mt. Rogers area in Va.

By the time Jackson came along Matt wasn’t backpacking anymore but he did use the pack. He would carry his thing on the long hikes they took together when they lived in North Carolina but Matt left it there when they moved to Oregon.

Jackson on the trail in the Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina.
Jackson on the trail in the Uwharrie National Forest in North Carolina.

Well when our teacher said I needed a backpack to work with Matt remembered the pack and had his friend send it to us. We just started using it a week ago and I like it. Of course I can smell Jackson on it, I knew his smell from when I first came home with Matt. Now I am carrying on the proud tradition of being a “pack” dog!

Now it's my pack!
Now it’s my pack!

Well it is time for me to sign off now. Matt’s trying to decide if we are going to our lesson today. It snowed yesterday and he is not sure if we want to drive on icy roads, woof, woof!

Odee

Odee’s Frist Big Trip!

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Woof, I went on my first big trip not long ago. Matt drove for a long time, it took two days. We went to a place called California where his cousin lives. I have been on short trips before but only for a day or two, maybe three. This time we were gone long enough I thought we had moved. Matt said he and Jackson took trips like this all the time and he wants us to do more soon, that sounds like fun. California was sunnier than Oregon. When we left snow had changed the way everything looked at home. It was all white and slippery and fun to play in but it made me shiver!

This is how it looked in Eugene, woof!
This is how it looked in Eugene, woof!

While I was riding shotgun with Matt, he had to explain that meant riding in the front seat, I saw a lot I haven’t seen before. We drove by a huge man and a big blue dog with horns, Matt told me it was really a bull, whatever that is. The man was called Paul something; he had a big axe too. Maybe he uses it to cut down big trees to make big houses for big dogs and big people. Some of the roads we drove on were real windy and twisted back and forth and I didn’t like it. Sometimes going through those curves the truck made a scary loud rumbling sound. It didn’t happen often but when it did Matt would apologize saying it was his fault for getting too close to the side of the road. I told Matt slow down!

This was before we saw big Paul and the big blue dog.
This was before we saw big Paul and the big blue dog.

The first night we stayed at a place called a motel. It was the first time I have ever been to one but it’s a lot like home just nosier. Matt found out what a good dog I have become when he left me in the room to pick up dinner. I worried a little but I was quiet; I knew he would be back because I was guarding all our stuff. When he got back he told me I was a good boy and gave me some special treats.

Woof, me guarding the room at the motel.
Woof, me guarding the room at the motel.

While we were staying at my new friend Francie’s house in California we went on long walks in the city. On some of them we saw big noisy locos with bells, horns and lights flashing making a bunch of squeaks and hisses! At first I was frightened then Matt told me they would stay on the tracks and not bother us. I really enjoyed visiting Francie except for the few times I had to stay at the house by myself but again I showed Matt I was a big boy. Matt said he had to leave me because there were some places I couldn’t go. I wasn’t happy about that but I was a good dog anyway.

We stopped at Cache Creek Natural Area for a picnic one day.
We stopped at Cashe Creek Natural Area for a picnic one day.

On our way home we had more adventures, we spent some time in a forest with trees so big you can’t see the tops; we hiked on trails dogs are allowed so I got a close look at them. I have never seen things so big! One time Matt turned around when we saw some big dogs with horns sticking way out of their heads with lots of pointy ends. He stopped and photographed them in the rain; I guess he really wanted pictures of them.  Matt said the beasts were elk and those horns were called antlers. And can you believe this? Those antler things fall off and grow back every year, wow! I wonder how those elk dogs walk around in the forest, and don’t get stuck or tangled in the trees and bushes and things.

That's how close those elk dogs were, woof!
That’s how close those elk dogs were, woof!

Well I have rambled on longer than I meant to and Matt told me my tail was getting long enough. I wonder what he means by that? I hope we go on another adventure soon, even a short one; I need to practice using my camera!

Until next time,
Woof, woof!

Odee

The Final Adventure

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Woof, as you read this I have probably already crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. I wrote this last night and this morning to post after the event and I am keeping it pretty short. Things have really slowed down for me several weeks ago when I got so sick I could barely move but I got a little better. I really had a hard time eating food until Matt started cooking hamburger and eggs chopping them up real fine so I can swallow them and that tasted so good, but now even that really isn’t satisfying me and I don’t want to eat all my food.  All the swelling I had is almost gone but I have small bumps all over and that had Matt very worried. I really didn’t feel like doing much other than going down the stairs to go out for a few minutes, use the bathroom, look around at what was happening, and then go back up to our home. Most of the time I sleep and Matt is by my side a lot when I wake up he is right by me a lot of the time. Years ago Matt was sick with the cancer and I stayed by him and Matt says now I have it but with mine it is too bad to fix. Matt has been doing his best not to cry, I hate to see him so sad, I don’t know what to do about that. He tried his best not to do it around me but I know he was and is hurting inside.

Matt said I will be seeing Maverick soon, it’s been a long time since I have seen him and I still miss him. I’m looking forward to seeing him and all the dogs that have been in Matt’s life. I was hoping to have some more time to have adventures with Matt but that isn’t possible. I have really enjoyed sharing my life and adventures with everyone and I hope you won’t be too sad, it’s time for me to say farewell…

 

 

 

 

 

PS – I want to end this on a happier note, These photographs below are the fist Matt ever took of me and of our first adventure. All of these were taken in August 2010. We started out having adventures right after I adopted Matt.


This was the first day I met Matt after I adopted him at the shelter. He was visiting his sister in the NC mountains. She went to the shelter looking for a puppy and I got Matt (she didn’t have a dog adopt her.)

Only a week later we got to go on our first camping trip together in the Virginia mountains. We got to go hiking and romping in open fields of flowers and were our all day.

Of course there were creeks and water involved we had a blast!

Even Maverick had a great time, he was still young enough to run around and chase sticks and I wish I had told you some stories about how he liked to swim. He was crazy about it, crazier than I was about my ball and toys.

Well now I must say goodbye!

Staying Home Blues

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  Woof, things have been different for a while and it really concerns me. I noticed Matt has been distracted and concerned, even tense. We have been staying home a lot and have been only walking places close to home. With Matt being concerned and preoccupied I am confused and concerned also. I miss going to the grocery store and other places we normally go all the time. And I really miss going outdoors, camping, taking pictures, and having adventures. It has been getting so boring. Matt has been trying to make things interesting but sometimes we just sit together. To make it worse I accidentally stepped the wrong way when we were playing Frisbee last week and we had to get some more of my medicine. Luckily that is much better now and I should be able to play again soon, we have been going for walks though.

One of our walks.
One of our walks.

Just the other day one of our friends came over. I heard the knock on the door so I grabbed one of my toys and stood by the door like I usually do. Matt didn’t open the door so I jumped up on the bed to look out the window to see who it was. I barked for joy when I saw it was a friend but I couldn’t understand why they were leaving. After they got down the stairs we went outside and talked a little, they had dropped something by for Matt. When they left Matt sprayed and wiped all the things with smelly stuff and let it dry before putting them away and then he washed his hands. He has been doing that a lot more than he usually does also cleaning things more and using wipes.

One of my many naps!
One of my many naps!

I usually know what day of the week it is because usually one day a week I stay at home when Matt goes to church. I get to sleep in that day and I enjoy my nap time. That’s not to say I am not getting my naps now but I am getting more than normal. Matt has been on the phone with friends and relatives more and it is strange not seeing other people and dogs. It seems like everything in our lives has changed and that is upsetting.

Matt has explained to me there is an invisible danger spreading and we have to stay at home as much as possible to protect us and others. Matt said the shots I get at the animal hospital protect me from things like which affect dogs. He said this is one that affects humans and there is no shot for it right now. I make sure he keeps up with his shots every year like he does with mine, we have to look out for each other.

Our walks are a lot different now. We usually walk close to home and Matt knows some places we can be alone. Other places we make sure we have enough distance apart from other people and dogs too. I know this really doesn’t affect dogs but we just need to be careful. I am getting jumpy too, when we are on our night “potty” walks around the apartment complex sometimes I warn Matt someone is around because I can smell them before he can hear them and he has good hearing, woof!

Me and Matt, woof!
Me and Matt, woof!

Matt has been reassuring me these changes are necessary and will be helpful; I understand but don’t like it. Matt said it was okay not to like it but he wanted me to say it is to help everyone right now. Both Matt and I want everyone take care and practice social distancing. That means no petting, or hugging; which makes me sad because I love pets and hugs but we have to do what we have to do, woof, woof!

Our Little Move

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Matt called our move to Oregon The Big Move, that was his working folder for photos during the trip, so I am calling this Our Little Move.

Woof, where do I start? We have been so busy I haven’t had time to write and Matt didn’t either, or felt too bad to. He even got his October newsletter out late and he better hurry up on his November one. I never wrote my second part of our camping trip to Grand Teton, we had adventures with the truck and weather as usual and luckily on the truck it was something simple.

Me running on one of my "walks."
Me running on one of my “walks.”

It was when I told Matt to get a motel room because he wasn’t feeling well so we had to drive to the other side of the mountains to get a motel room we could afford. There is a pass you have to drive way up and then way down it is one of the steepest ones I have seen. I’m glad it’s not a real long drive over that pass just very steep, did I say the road went way up and way down? Woof, well that is the way that road is! When we got to the town on the other side Matt discovered an oil leak. We were lucky Matt picked a motel that was only two blocks away from the mechanic. Of course Matt was upset since the engine in the truck had been replaced last year and he imagined something really bad had happened. Well it turned out to be simple and inexpensive so we were lucky it happened where we could get it fixed fast!

And there I go!
And there I go!

We went back to the Grand Teton park early the next day. After spending most of the day there we started our trip back home in the afternoon. Our second day heading home was rainy and we got home on the third. Shortly after we got back we found out Matt had been approved for an apartment, he was on a waiting list and thought it would be a long time before we would get the place. It’s an apartment, at first I thought we were moving into one of those motels because it almost looked like one, only more buildings and a lot nicer than the ones we stay in when we travel. It’s like living in a park, real grass and real big trees, lots of them. We live in a grove of Redwood trees (WOOF! WOOF!) and just on the edge of town near some nice parks and trails.

This is close to where we live.
This is close to where we live.

After we settled in Matt got sick and I had to keep an eye on him. A lucky thing is Matt already had some doctor appointments arranged for regular checkups so I made sure he went to those so his doctors could help him. I made Matt stay at home mostly and even hid his truck keys for a while. When he started getting well we started taking a few short rides to neat places where I got out to run and walk.

 

Well that should catch some things up; Matt was talking about going to some waterfalls tomorrow. I hope we do.

My New Chair

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  Woof, I have been busy since we have moved here to Eugene. We have been learning how to get around, finding doctors, and I have been learning how to go on walks in the city. Now I know I lived in a small town but it is different here and the streets are much busier so now we stop at every road intersection whether cars are coming or not. When we were in Norwood we would scan ahead to see if traffic was coming. Now with more people and traffic, and bicycles we stop every time. I like the places where the poles tell you to wait and then let you know when it is safe to cross, woof, sometimes people can be pretty smart inventing things.

  I am happy to say I finally got my chair. Matt has been taking me to a store almost every week looking for one but we could not find a chair I liked that would fit in our new place. The people at the store are nice to me and give me treats sometimes. The place is called the ReStore where people send things to be reused instead of thrown away. We found the perfect chair this  week. There were two low backed chairs with the new stuff and I tried one out and it fit me just right. Matt didn’t even try it out at the store and told me if I liked it that was good enough for him. The lady at the store watched us and said she just loved the fact I got to choose the chair. Matt told me it was a real bargain at only $10 and almost bought both but he said both would take up too much room and we had to share the one chair. Woof, I don’t know about sharing but he can use it when I am not.

Me in my new chair.
Me in my new chair.

  I did enjoy going to the highland games last weekend. Matt had to explain why all these men including him wear skirts. I just didn’t but the “it’s not a skirt thing” at first until he showed me an old style kilt that was one long piece of wool. You had to fold all the pleats in it and lie down and wrap it around you. Now people wear the modern kilt that is easier to put on. The old kilt was multi-functional as you could sleep in it also. There were a lot of people throwing things, dancing, and playing weird instruments call bagpipes I almost started singing with them.

Matt, me, and our friends Ann & Paul Key.
Matt, me, and our friends Ann & Paul Key.

  Well it is hot here in Eugene and I am ready to go to the mountains and go camping. I know Matt has something in mind but we have had to make changes already due to wildfires so we have to watch the news and see. I have some photographs and videos I’ll be posting on social media soon.

Dreaming about camping.
Dreaming about camping.

 

Bye for now,