Tag Archives: The Big Move

My New Home in Eugene

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  Woof, we arrived at our new home a few weeks ago and it has been a busy time unpacking and running around with Matt. It seems people have to do a lot when they move. I had no idea it would take so long and really don’t understand, dogs have things so much easier. While he is doing some of those things I go along and keep him company, I do like going in the stores and meeting his new doctors. After traveling so much it is nice to have one place to come home every day, or even just stay home plus its dry in the house when it rains. Sometimes it gets a little messy when we are camping in the rain. Eugene is a nice place with a lot of parks and places to walk and run. It really doesn’t seem like a city until we get in the truck and have to go somewhere. Even then there are no tall or really big buildings and right now everything is so bright green I can even see it.

This is the park close to my house.
This is the park close to my house.

  Matt takes me to the park right next to where we live where I can run and play Frisbee. Sometimes I have to remind him when it is time to go though he does get busy and forgets. I like walking around the neighborhood to get to know where we live. My doctor isn’t far, we can walk there and also we sometimes stop in the local shops. Most of those have or serve food and smell so good. There is a hill with trails close to the other side of the house. It has all these grey stones with names on them. Matt says it is an old cemetery. We saw pretty wildflowers blooming there the first time we walked there.

This is where we go walking up the hill in the cemetery.
This is where we go walking up the hill in the cemetery.

  We have gone on a couple of day trips exploring the mountains close to us. On one trip we were hiking and got to the river and saw another person with their dog but the man was not wearing any clothes. I asked Matt why he never did that and he muttered something about modesty. Woof, I need to google that word. Matt explained there was a hot spring there and people got in the water at those without any clothes. Later we hiked in the snow to a waterfall then found a place later to watch trains roll by in the forest and went to a covered bridge. Matt said the man should have been covered instead of the bridge, I think he was trying to be funny saying that. After our day exploring we came home and rested.  

Me at Salt Creek Waterfall in the Willamette National Forest.
Me at Salt Creek Waterfall in the Willamette National Forest.

So far I like being here in Oregon though I do miss my friends back in North Carolina. I told Matt I do want to go back and visit sometime and it would be great if some of our friends would visit here. We have room for them, woof; I have to go for now Matt says we have to go run some errands. I think I’ll take my Frisbee along and hopefully we will get to play too!

 

Jackson in the City

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  Woof, honk, honk, people rolling by on funny wheels and I am not talking about bicycles, I know what they are, and all kinds of weird noises. That’s what I think of places called cities. All that plus all of the strange smells are what I first experienced. Cars, trucks, and big things called a bus go up and down the roads and there are so many of them. What are they all doing? Most times we just drive through the cities without stopping. Sometimes we are on the big roads and there are a lot of cars and trucks and all you can see is road. Other times we drive through streets lined with buildings and I see people out walking.

  The other day when we were on our walk in Oakland I started wondering where all these people were going and what were they doing. We spend a lot of the outdoors and I have only lived in small towns. I had no idea there were so many people. Especially all in one place like this, most of them seem to be in a big hurry so they must be important or have something important to do. I know when Matt has something important sometimes he gets in a hurry.

Crossing a busy street in Oakland.
What are all these buildings used for?

  When we walk in the city it is different when we cross the road. Usually all we have to do is look both ways and wait until traffic is clear. In the city you have to push buttons and then the lights tell you to wait. Next it beeps until it is okay to cross. Plus there are signs that let you know when it is safe to cross too.

Crossing a busy street in Oakland.
Crossing a busy street in Oakland.

   We did find a nice park next to a lake where we could get away from all of the hectic running around a little. I did see a lot of other dogs out with their people enjoying their day. On our way back we did stop in a couple of stores. One was sort of boring; all it had were clothes that had been worn by other people. Another store we went in smelled wonderful. I could smell it before we crossed the street and I was hoping we were going there. Matt said it was a bakery and he bought some stuff. He did let me have what he called donut holes. I thought he was crazy, they weren’t holes, they are balls and they taste good! People have such strange names for things though, woof!

Grant Lake sure is pretty but I don't think I want to swim in it!
Grant Lake sure is pretty but I don’t think I want to swim in it!

  When we were walking back to where we were staying I saw a lot of children out with their parents so even more people were out walking. Matt told be the schools had let the children out for the day. I asked him what the children do at school and he said it was like when we train for my service work but a lot harder. Woof, I think I will just stay with service work!

Our campground at Pinnacles National Park.
Our campground at Pinnacles National Park.

  While I do like the city because it is different I still prefer to be outdoors in the woods or wilderness. I’ll be writing from somewhere out there next.

Camping is Fun!

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  Woof, right now home has an entire different meaning. I guess home is our truck. Sometimes we stay in the same place sometimes we drive a longs was and then we are home. I had to get used to this different meaning of home a long time ago when we first started traveling. Sometime home is with a friend of ours or one of Matt’s relatives. I do like exploring new places and I love when Matt decides to stay longer than planned at one place. I have stayed in motels, campgrounds, and people’s houses since we left our regular home. Sometimes I miss my regular home and my friends there but I meet new and old friends along the way.

Matt always packs all my toys when we go camping.
Matt always packs all my toys when we go camping.

  We do a lot of camping in all kinds of weather. On rainy days we spend time in the camper on the back of the truck. I remember on our last trip we were in the back of the truck during wind storms, thunderstorms, and snow! When it gets cold I burrow under Matt’s warm sleeping bag and get right next to him to stay warm. Other nights it stays real warm. The weather has been changing from hot to cold quite often on this trip. Just when I am getting used to the temperature it changes. I am glad Matt got a sweater for me but if it stays cold I just might need another.

Woof, I like my sweater and I have my own down sleeping bag!
Woof, I like my sweater and I have my own down sleeping bag!

  We usually walk around the campground and I see other dogs and people there. Sometimes we stop and Matt talks with the people and introduces me. I also get to talk with the friendly dogs but some are grumpy and not happy or friendly. I do not know why some dogs are that way; Matt tells me people can be the same. He says sometimes it is best to avoid people or dogs like that.

Sometimes I get to sleep in the puppy tent instead of the truck.
Sometimes I get to sleep in the puppy tent instead of the truck.

  I like campgrounds where there are a lot of trails. We usually take long hikes and take pictures but the best part is just getting out and smelling and seeing nature. I smell so many new strange  things, different animals and plants, Matt tells me we have to be careful because there are many things we are not used to that can hurt us. He told me we have to stay on guard because there are bigger and more aggressive wild animals were we go a lot. Back home I could run loose sometimes but when we are traveling we stay close together.

I like afternoon naps in the sun.
I like afternoon naps in the sun.

  Well we are going to have a lot more camping adventures to go on this trip before we get to our new home in Oregon and I am excited about that. Right now we are in Austin visiting Matt’s cousins. Like coming here to Austin to see Matt’s cousins I love them all.

I am going to sign off for now; I will be writing again soon,

 

Where Are the Keys?

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  Woof, what a great time we had in the Keys. When Matt told me we were going to a place called the Florida Keys I was expecting to see a lot of keys all over the place. I did not see any when we got there and told him so, Matt laughed and told me I had been seeing them for quite some time. They were the islands we were on. I would bet you are wondering why we are in such a pretty place. Well when we were on our long trip last year when Oregon Matt decided to move us to Oregon near the city name after a man call Eugene. I had to sit at home a lot while he was working hard so we could move and of course things did not quite work out like he planned. We had to rush down to the Keys instead of taking our time like we usually do because Matt’s plans were delayed beyond his control.

Our Campsite Before Getting to the Keys.
Our Campsite Before Getting to the Keys.

I did not know we were going to meet someone famous and even better we stayed at his house. His name is Tie Dye Mickey and people call him this Hippie Paparazzi, I had to check with Matt on the spelling, he had to look it up, tee he. I like Mickey he is my newest bestest friend, woof! He too Matt on bicycle rides every morning, he even took me on a ride. While we were visiting I got to go to all kinds of places. We went to a pub that had no name, a place call KiKi’s, and another called Boondocks. We listened to good music and I even had something from the doggy menu from Boondocks. One day Mickey took Matt and me all over Key West we went into bars and restaurants and even saw a bunch of people and dogs even on a march. Did I mention how dog friendly the Keys are? I got to meet a lot of nice dogs at almost all of the places I went. Mickey told me almost everyone love dogs here and a lot of places will let all dogs in, not just service dogs. At Kiki’s dogs can play and run around, woof! I am not used to that.

Aunt Mar and me in the chair at Boondocks!
Aunt Mar and me in the chair at Boondocks!
Me and Mickey at that bar with no name!
Me and Mickey at that bar with no name!

Woof, here I am rambling on about all the dogs I met. I almost forgot to mention my Auntie Mar came down to see us also, we had so much fun! All the people living here were friendly. Mickey’s friends were so nice; they made me feel so welcome. I almost asked Matt if we could move there instead of Oregon. He laughed and said it would be nice, but it gets too hot there in the summer for him and something about it would take more money to stay there. Why do people worry about money so much? I will never understand that.

Mickey giving me a ride in the Trykadelic Lollipop, woof!
Mickey giving me a ride in the Trykadelic Lollipop, woof!

Well we are about to get on the road again. We just spent three great days in Everglades. I still am not sure what an Everglade is but our next stop in at a place called Big Cypress Preserve. Can you eat Big Cypress Preserve, like on toast? I guess I will find out, woof and out for now!