xiao_nu

Wow, what a long trip. I’m glad to be almost home, but I wanted to take advantage of the laptop and the ride from Vegas to get you all updated on the trip.

We left last Saturday. There was a lot of activity involving suitcases in the living room. I know my human was trying to hide it from me, but I caught on. I’m normally a “cool” dog and I don’t like to my tail in a knot, but I was worried about her leaving. Every trip out to the car was making me more and more nuts, but then my human put my BED in the back seat—WHOO HOO, ROAD TRIP!!!
I jumped right in and refused to get out, even when human breakfast was being served inside. In a few minutes, one of our good friends came with her suitcase and we were ready to be off. My mom and the birds’ mom got settled in and we were off. My mom had set up my bed on a basket in the backseat and we figured out how to put my water right in front of me.

It was pretty cozy, but heading across the desert got warm. We stopped at state line and it was HOT!! My paws were pretty toasty on the hot blacktop, but I just pranced across and tried not to have more than 2 paws down at a time. It probably looked a little silly, but I didn’t care. The day consisted of sleeping while Mom and Birds’ Mom listened to things called “eye pods.” I never figured out why it wasn’t called an “ear pod” if you were listening to it, but mostly I was too tired to care. Riding in a car is VERY exhausting.

At night we stayed in Salt Lick City, but I never had the opportunity to lick anything. My mom had brought along my own kennel, but I didn’t have my regular bed in it. I was pretty tired after that long day, so we all went to bed pretty quickly.

The next day was more of the same. Riding, Riding, Riding. We stopped for lunch and at a coffee shop in West Yellowstone. It was nice sitting out by the tables and having children and adults come adore me. I hadn’t had much of that on the ride. When we got back in the car, we were on the home stretch. We went to the birds’ grandma’s house first and dropped off Birds’ Mom. I stretched my legs on the lawn, but everyone had to go inside to use the potty. I don’t get that. The lawn was fine and there was plenty of room, but I guess if it makes them happier, it’s OK.

Next, we went to a park and got to see Aunt Thea and her family. We also got to go SWIMMING and I got to show Nolan a few things. He was getting much better after I gave him some helpful hints, but he still wouldn’t chase the ball into the deeper water. After the swimming and greeting the family, I go in the car with mom and we went to…A KENNEL!! I wish Mom had told me I was going to be working with these humans to keep dogs in line. It was such a shock. I dutifully followed the humans around and tried to express to them the urgency of some of the dogs’ needs but they kept walking away and just left me with the dogs. I did the best I could, but it wasn’t easy.

The day after the HOWLIDAY where they explode lots of noisy things that hurt my ears, I got picked up by Mom and Aunt Thea. The car was packed and my bed was right where it belonged, so I knew it was time to RIDE!! I was a bit concerned that were were leaving Birds’ Mom, but was reassured that she was flying home. I was ready for the ride this time and was asleep before we left the city. We made a quick stop in West Yellowstone when I got to ride a buffalo and then we were off. Aunt Thea and Mom kept talking about keeping good time, but I didn’t know what they were talking about until we got to Salt Lick where we picked up AUNT KATIE!!! Now I had constant company in the back seat.

The next day we drove to a place called “Bryce Canyon” in Utah. They kept trying to point things out to me, but I didn’t think it was that big of deal. I mean, I had to stay near the car, so no hiking (which was fine b/c it was HOT), but when we looked at the canyon it was just rocks stacked on rocks. Pretty, but not so exciting that I needed to stop at EVERY lookout and see another view of the same rocks. I kept trying to nap, but the humans kept me awake the whole time we were there.

One funny thing that did happen was at the entrance sign for the park. We stopped to get a nice photo and there was a pedestal for me to sit on. I mean, HOW perfect…my own throne of sorts. I sat, I smile, I was photographed and by the time we were done, several other humans had gathered around and begun smiling at me with that she’s-just-so-stinkin’-cute smile on their faces. On our way back to the car a human said to us, “So you just took a picture of the best looking passenger, huh?” Hey, at least HE knows perfection when he sees it. I felt a bit bad for my humans, but I figure one of their kind had said it, so it was OK.

Well, we’re almost to Needles, home of Spike (cousin of the world famous Snoopy), so I guess it’s time to get this posted and go back to my nap. I need to be well-rested for my next adventure.