Enough of this car stuff, let's get back to me

So yesterday Mom FINALLY took me on the hike promised as we were driving back through the oh-so-exciting states of Nebraska and Wyoming. I will say this just one more time – until next year, that is – OMD; could those states be any more boring? And I can’t even IMAGINE what it’s got to be like there in winter. Although the big barriers they’ve got to help create snowdrifts and stop (some) snow from blowing across the highway gives a pretty good indication of how miserable it must be. All I can say is that I’m one lucky doggie to live someplace that actually has, erm, something other than cornfields and cows.

We started off on a trail that we hike a lot, and then took a new turn, and ended up hiking over 4 miles. Which was most fun. I just wanna know when we are going to start going on LONG hikes! Heehee! Mom, however, didn’t bring the real camera, and had to take pictures with her phone. Which was a real shame, because the trees are starting to change colors, and there are some really bright reds out right now. So…. Mom is going to have to take me on another (possibly longer? C’mon Mom… There are MILES of trails out there for us to explore!) hike where she’ll have the camera and we can get some good scenery pictures. Because it is really pretty right now.

And perfect for hiking! Did I ever mention that I’m subtle? No? There’s probably a reason for that…

Anyhoo, last night I got in some quality snoozling with my little big sister.


Because Mom promised me another hike today, we went hiking, despite the weather forecast that there could be thunderstorms in the afternoon. Mom looked out the window (her own personal weather forecasting) and deemed it fine. And a chance to get some pictures of the “fall colors”.

So off we went.
Um. Mom? So far this looks like the regular trail. Where are the colors?

Oh. Okay. Got it. Biggify to actually see the colors...

We did the same hike as yesterday - which is our usual hike but with an extra mile loop in there. And lots of hills. And trees and stuff.

This is steeper than it looks. Trust me. In person it goes straight up!


And if you notice, for a while it looked pretty darn sunny.

Are we there yet? You mean we keep going UP? Wow.

We finally made it to the top of the climb, and from there, you could see all the way to the Olympic Park where they held the ski jumping and luge and bobsled events during the 2002 Winter Olympics.

And the hillside to the right was starting to turn all sorts of colors. In another week the colors will really be out.


And if you must know, yes, I am a Happy Dog! I love hiking!


But as we stopped for water, something on the horizon caught my attention:

Uh, Mom. Would you look over there. Please?!?

I think we'd better GO. Because we're only halfway through the hike!

So we dashed off, Mom taking only one more picture before we were all the way home.


By the time we got home the skies were totally black, and literally 5 minutes after we walked in the door it started raining. About 5 minutes later we lost power for about 30 minutes! I'm glad I hustled Mom along when we saw that first dark cloud! But we didn't get wet, and it was a great hike.

So, Mom, whaddya think about tomorrow, huh? Huh? Pretty please?!?

Heehee.

And on other stuff. Thanks to Dennis the Vizsla Dog who gave me this award:

Even if it is a little mis-spelled, I’m a class act! Woo-hoo!!! Heehee. Proof that I can fake people out when I really try!

The award is, of course, made by the The Purple Hatter, and the requirements is that I pass this along to six class act doggies. I know so many. But I’ll pick six class acts.

Martha and Bailey, who are legal masterminds and who get to go on walkies in some of the prettiest places ever.

Clive. Because he actually works for a living. And Mom thinks that he looks like a big Irish sweater! And, of course, because he is a goldendoodle (and rather handsome, if I say so myself).

Doby and Lola. Because they are seriously classy.

Lorenza. Because she is just the classiest dresser I know. Not to mention a sweetheart.

The 4 Bs. Because poodles and a schnoodle? How can they be anything BUT classy?

Sierra Rose. Because she’s classy in the making!

And this isn’t to say that all of my other friends aren’t classy, but I was forced to pick six…

And now, I must nap if I am to be ready for tomorrow hike. And for the record? The little thingy that Mom wears on her wrist to give distance and heart rate and stuff says that we climbed over 1300 feet today. In 4 miles. Not shabby!

*kissey face*
-Fiona, The Intrepid Hiker

The Road To Lincoln, Nebraska, Day 1

Mom is typing this as we are driving through the wilds of Wyoming. She tried to get some pictures of the, erm, scenery, but she hasn’t taken them off the camera yet, so I don’t know what they look like.

We started off getting the trailed hooked up to the House With Wheels. We are 64.5 feet long – a whisker under the legal length limit.


And then we were On the Road To Lincoln, Nebraska. TaiChi and I had to make sure that Dad and Uncle Charlie knew where they were going, and that the music was okay.


Then we settled in for the drive.


Here I am, checking out the scenery. Last time we drove to this car race (i.e. last year when I was but a wee bitty puppy), I could only see out the window on the couch if I stood up on my hind legs and perched on the back of the couch. Now? I can sit comfortably on my tuckus and rest my chin on the back of the couch and watch the scenery (or lack thereof…. Wyoming Tourism Bureau?!? You might want to see what you can do about the scenery. Once you get past Green River, it’s, well, um, Really Boring).


TaiChi has taken to traveling quite well; she can sleep anywhere! (But apparently I make a very good pillow!)


Mr. Bufus has had a bit of a rough time, but he usually does on the first day of a trip; he throws up a couple of times, poos in Unapproved places, and then settles down. He has done all of the aforementioned things, and is now napping on Uncle Charlie’s computer bag. Uncle Charlie is hoping that Mr. Bufus is done throwing up…


After a while we ran into a traffic jam, so TaiChi and I took to snoozing.


After what seemed like hours, we finally passed the cause of the delay; a semi truck carrying wine that apparently caught fire and burned to the ground. (It was tough to get a picture as we went driving by. And Mom was sad about the loss of all that wine.)


Finally, the end of road construction. Yay!


And then I thought I’d see if I could sit on the back of the couch. You know, to get a better view! (Not that the scenery is all that exciting...)

How about that?!? I mostly fit!!!

Then, after a zillion miles of nothing other than bugs (I think most of the bugs in Wyoming met a violent farewell on our windshield. Eeesh. But I’ll see if Mom can get a picture of it before Dad cleans the windshield tomorrow morning.), we have stopped in Laramie, Wyoming for the night. So, we’ve got about 100 miles left of Wyoming, and then about 10,000 miles across Nebraska. If you haven’t looked on a map, Nebraska is a VERY long state…. I’ll keep you posted, but sometimes the internet is a little sketchy.

Now it’s time for toys and then a late-night walk and bedtime.

*kissey face*
-Fiona, World Traveler