The Sugarloaf Trail?

Good Morning Sunday, the sun is out and it looks like a good day for a hike. Let’s get online to find a trail reasonably close that is not too strenuous so all the dogs can enjoy time outside, including the senior members of the pack. I find one called “Sugarloaf,” described as a 3-mile loop going around several ponds, easy and well marked. Perfect!

There were a few red flags to start the day off. I take Woody out front for a quick walk and he manages to poop right in front of Dora’s door on the passenger side. I go back inside to get a plastic bag and grab some dogs to load up at the same time. When I return, Woody is headed straight out onto 4^th Avenue so I drop everything and chase after him and well, you guessed it. I step right in the middle of his earlier deposit as the plastic bag lay on the ground marking the spot. I panicked when I saw him in the street and temporarily forgot about the poop but it somehow found me. After loading the dogs in the van, picking up the reminder of the mess, and cleaning the bottom of my shoe we were off, to an ominous start in search of Sugarloaf. On the way I get a call from my local hiking buddy asking what we were up to. I tell her we are going hiking at Sugarloaf and her response is “where’s that?” – second red flag.

A few wrong turns, a few corrections on GPS and we finally reach the trailhead shown on the Internet. The parking area is strange and looks just like private property with an outbuilding. I leave the dogs with their excitement and protesting barks in Dora long enough to walk around the building to investigate. Sure enough there is the row of ponds as shown on the website, and what looks like a trail leading down and around them. I return to Dora, let the dogs out and we were off. On the way down the hill my feet get tangled in extremely tough, stringy vines sending me forward into a chest plant – similar to the face plant earlier this year in San Diego, minus the tequila. The dogs didn’t miss a beat as I struggle to pick myself up with Anne desperately pulling me with her leash - red flag #3.

Blazin' the trail

After going only 300 yards the water ends and we are in the middle of a plowed area with a trail around the edge. We walk through a field covered with rotten pumpkins that the dogs thoroughly enjoy, followed by apple trees with loads of fallen apples covering the ground that they also love. DoDog manages to find a pile of dung that she rolled around in smearing her neck, throat and harness with a lovely aroma that I can only hope will dissipate by the time we return to Dora. The trail continues to wind through several fields and eventually we end up on what looks like a dirt road for farm equipment. In fact we see miscellaneous tractors and apple crates sitting along the trail. It seems odd not seeing another soul, and there is no signs markings the trail as indicated on the Internet.  But, the road is weaving to the left looking like the loop described on the website.

Anne wonders where we are going?

 We continue walking and the dogs are having a blast eating the apples along the way and crawling under electric fences that are obviously turned off. We finally come to the end of the trail and find ourselves at the intersection of a major country road. What the hell? There is a house off to the left so we hike up the hill in search of someone to ask about the trail, but first we have to pass an open barn with a large curious collie and a freaked out cat that jumped to the rafters after seeing the herd of dogs approaching. No worries we all manage to get up the driveway except DoDog, who is delayed by a Blue Healer refusing to let her pass. He actually had her rooted to the spot and I knew we would find her there when we returned. She can be extremely stubborn when she doesn’t get her way and an obvious stare down is in progress with this bossy healer.

The garage door is open so we knock on the door inside the garage. An elderly lady opens it and I explain our situation. Her response is “are you looking for my daughter?” I quickly realize she didn’t understand what I was talking about, probably because I lack her accent so I thank her, and decide we are going to go back the way we came. The hell with the loop! It obviously doesn’t exist. By this time we have hiked at least five miles, maybe farther and I hate to turnaround and admit defeat, but it is time. We are all getting a bit weary. 

Bunny looking for apples

We pick up DoDog on the way still in a stare down with the Blue Healer, and begin backtracking with only a few stops for more apples, dung rolling and water. Finally, we see the van. By this time we have been gone several hours and are really happy to see Dora the Explorer waiting for us – we have no idea at this point how lucky we really are to find her there. All the dogs have slowed down to a meandering pace and are more than ready to get inside the van. Luce and Woody at 15 and 14, were troopers but I can tell they need  a bowl of water and then a nap, in that order. I’m loading the dogs in the back when two women and a small boy come walking across the field toward us and one said: “what are you doing here, this is private property. There are no trespassing signs everywhere,” although I hadn’t seen a one. I tell her just a minute as I get the dogs settled and pour them some water, first things first. I then go back out and explain that we were hiking the Sugarloaf as she eyes me suspiciously saying there is no Sugarloaf Trail here;  something about owning 35 acres and me being on that property. What? But, I found this trail on the Internet I say and show her the driving instructions I have written down leading us to this very spot. She is confused, I am confused and the other lady asked where I am from in Alaska. I tell her Homer and she said she was stationed at Fort Richardson for a year. Small world, but back to the situation at hand.

Lady #l Kathy, tells me that the Sheriff has been there looking inside the van to find a receipt on the floor with my name on it, noticed the Alaska license plates, and saw the keys dangling in the ignition. I always leave my keys in the car figuring if someone steals it, well then they obviously need it more than me. It’s never happened. However, that’s not how the Sheriff saw this situation at all. It was apparent that the woman owning the van had been abducted, driven to this spot and taken off to the woods for God knows what? I’m having a hard time comprehending all this logic as I continue to try and explain my Sugarloaf story. In the meantime Kathy is on her IPhone calling the Sheriff to tell him I have arrived back at the van unharmed, looking for some trail that I found on the Internet. OMG! I’m in the twilight zone in the hills of North Carolina.

Kathy ends her conversation with the Sheriff and then tells me that they were in the process of getting a tow truck to pick up Dora and then put out an APB on me. “You mean like an Alls Points Bulletin?” Yep, that be the one. I am more than flabbergasted and having a hard time keeping a straight face. If this weren’t so damn dramatic, it would be hysterical. Really.

I finally get Kathy to do a Goggle search on her phone for ‘hiking trails in Hendersonville’ but I can’t tell which link I clicked on to find this so-called Sugarloaf Trail. In the end I get her email promising to send her the link so that she can contact the powers that be to get her property removed from the list of available hiking trails in Hendersonville. She kept saying it wasn’t the trespassing that bothered her; it was the fact that they were sure a lunatic had abducted me. I apologized for being on her property and we were finally able to laugh about it, and the dogs and I head home. But not before another warning from her: ‘ be careful here this time of year, there are lots of psychos out.” Holy Shit, now what do you suppose that means?

On the way home we stop at the doggie wash for a much-needed DoDog bath and a complimentary one for BunBun. By this time I am hungry, as I didn’t sample the rotten pumpkins or apples on the trail, I stop at the Fresh Market, similar to a small Whole Foods store to get dinner. I settle on a scrumptious chicken breast that has been marinated in white wine and baked to perfection. We are less than a mile from the house when the aroma of that chicken breast overtokes the inside of the van and it slowly dawns on me. OMG, as I slam on the brakes, pull Dora off the road into a parking lot, and start yelling at the dogs. Five of them are accounted for but when I open the back of the van, there she is – Ms. America, aka DoDog trying to jump back over the seat before I actually catch her. Too late girlfriend, you are so busted! All that was left of the chicken breast was the aroma and an open, empty container. She had consumed the entire thing, including the bones in a flash. Pissed off to the max, the other dogs are running for cover because they know it and regret not getting in on the action before it was too late. But DoDog was quick, even quicker than Anne this time and that is amazing.

I drop them all off at the house, put Ms. DoDog in her kennel and go straight back to Fresh Market to get yet another chicken breast. The clerk at the deli reminded me that I was just there and the cashier commented, weren’t you just here? The sad part of this story, well the breast I just bought weighs less than the one she ate. And I’m still not over that one.

So much for our first day of hiking solo in the hills of North Carolina, I guess more research is in order before our next major outing. But the good news? Well the dogs had a terrific time and could care less about private property, tow trucks, APB’s or wrongly marked trails. They are asleep, twitching at my feet as I write this, probably dreaming about rolling in dung, eating apples and pumpkins, sniffing wildlife and chasing barn cats. DoDog is still smiling over the chicken breast, and occasionally licks her lips to remind me how much it was worth the scolding that she took with her head down and her tail tucked. Isn’t that just like a hound dog? 

Woof! Woof!.

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

 Day 15, The End of the Road

Blue Ridge Mountains

A six hour drive from Columbus, Ohio and we have arrived. It is pitch black outside and my friend tells me to meet her in front of the courthouse. Of course I take the wrong turn and find myself on 4^th Avenue West – isn’t that where the Dahl house is located? I decide to look for number 614 the address of our new home, and quickly realize that is a bad idea. There are ghosts and goblins dressed in black wandering both sides of the street - did I mention how very dark it is outside? Like so dark I can’t see behind me in the van. I remember as a child in West Virginia being fearful of what might be lurking in the back seat of the car. I had forgotten about that blackness.

I also forgot it is Trick or Treat night, again. Seeing all the critters on the street causes a flashback to the time I moved to Spanish Harlem in 2002 for eight weeks. Three dogs and I arrived in Newark at 5 PM and rented a large taxi van to take us to our sight unseen apartment on 112^th Street in Manhattan. It was dark and there were ghoulish characters roaming the neighborhood as far as the eye could see. I completely spaced out the fact it was Halloween! The wanderlust rarely knows what day it is let alone the date on the calendar, so we were clueless before we arrived. The dogs freaked out, barking madly in the taxi while I frantically banged on the door to my apartment house until Paco (landlord) let us in. I then proceeded to tote an IMac, two dog crates, three dogs and luggage up six flights of stairs. That was the beginning of an adventure in Spanish Harlem where the roaches were huge, the stairs were daunting and the dogs became models – three cocker spaniels dressed in hooded sweatshirts sitting on the stairs leading up to our apartment. The image was later named “Dogz in the Hood.”

Sign for Asheville!

Obviously it is nothing like that in Hendersonville but with my limited night vision and all the black costumes I hightail it out of the neighborhood fast before I actually hit one of the small moving shadows. And of course, the dogs are barking their heads off and my patience has faded. My friend tells me to just park the van and she will find me; I agree without even hesitating. Miriam and I have never met face-to-face but have been friends on Facebook for three years. Amazing how it feels like we’ve always known each other. She is an artist and dog trainer, has four dogs and had a business similar to TBTB before moving here from Pennsylvania. Since we have been in Dora driving for hours, she thought a trip to the local dog park would be good so we follow her to Jackson Park. I still can’t see shit so I leave the headlights on so the dogs can go potty in a place meant for them. A quick jaunt in the dark, a few wet bushes and then it’s time to leave – the dogs can’t see either but they are more willing to meander around in the dark than me.

Hendersonville Exit!

We are blessed to park Dora at Miriam & Doug’s place for the night. They have an adorable storybook cottage in the woods a few miles outside of Hendersonville town. The dogs enjoy rolling in the leaves, sniffing the squirrels that pepper the yard, and stretching their legs after being confined to Dora for two straight weeks. We sleep blissfully knowing our journey has finally ended and we are safely at our destination. We are indeed at the end of the road for a time. Today we will get the keys to the Dahl House and begin the process of making it our nest for the winter.

Thanks to all of you for reading the long, involved tale of a wanderlust traveling cross-country with six dogs in a van called Dora. Some days in the snow blizzard your comments were our only link to the world beyond our reality at the time, and were indeed encouraging. We hope you continue to follow the stories that will no doubt unfold at 614 4^th Avenue West where a boarding house called Milepost 49 will host an assortment of interesting characters from who knows where?

Oh, and the reason it’s so dark here? There is no snow! In Alaska the light reflects off the snow so you are able to somewhat see what is hiding in the backseat! But I still don’t miss it!

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

 Day 13 & 14

Rock on DoDog

R We There Yet?

Today was an uneventful drive to Columbus, Ohio where I stayed for two nights with my son and family. We could feel the wind moving the van around the freeway, but the storm is coming so it is expected. It feels so good to be out of Dora and she is delighted to have a rest. The dogs sprawled out across two couches leaving little room for the rest of us to sit down. They loved hanging out with the kids and were happy to get some much-needed attention from someone other than me!

Day 13 is the night Hurricane Sandy came ashore so we watched the devastation in both New Jersey and NYC as it developed. The temperature dropped in Columbus and the winds kicked up but other than that, everything was normal. We did sleep in Dora because it was easier than bringing all our belongings inside and we do love our nest. On the morning of Day 14 when I opened the door to get out Josh and Sunshine just happened to be waiting for the school bus and saw an opportunity they couldn’t resist. I was hit me in the chest with a snowball - both of them laughing uncontrollable because they got me! They love the snow and when I explained I had ten feet at my house last winter the comment was “lucky.” I guess it all depends on your perspective.  The snow quickly melts as the storm continues to pass over. I spent the day visiting with my son and taking their Shih Tzu to the groomer. Apparently he has been such a terror in the past that one groomer refused to do him again. No worries, the dog woman was able to find a groomer that actually breeds Shih Tzus and thought that Chico was a challenge. He looks and feels terrific after six hours at the spa.

Bradford with Doggies

After the storm the media was back at the political side of things in America. So much mud slinging and slander - who even talks about the issues anymore? It seems like reality TV and is rated much the same – how they looked, their voices, expressions, etc. Little emphasis is ever spent on what’s really going on in this country. Sigh.  . . The media has so much control over how we think feel and what we think we know.

So, we are off to bed after making a manicotti dinner for my favorite Ohio boys. Tomorrow begins the last leg – did I really say that? – of my trip south. I will arrive in North Carolina to the Dahl house at last! It has been one hell of a ride south.

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 12           

The dogs are wondering if their life has in fact changed forever? They were fine to travel in the van to begin with but now the trip has turned into a marathon and I can see the worry in their eyes. What the hell happened to our leather couch and chair for lounging? You expect us to be content in these small chairs with only a dog cushion for days on end? That’s why we keep switching around so much. We are not getting nearly enough exercise. What about the sand pit and the chuck-it ball sessions? RockDog wonders where 40-West went?

And the food? What happened to the oatmeal, eggs and yogurt for breakfast, and the salmon dinners we love so much? We are really sick of this dry kibble and the spoonful of nasty canned dog food that you add for flavor. UGH!

DoDog: “I have decided to sleep for 4,000 miles getting up only to eat, pee and poop. No matter who sits on me and tries to push me out of my C position, I will persevere and continue to sleep. A few years ago I slept all the way to Mexico and back. When there is nothing else to do, I can sleep for hours. Not a problem. I know this is a temporary situation and we will eventually arrive at a warm destination.”

Luce Goose: “I am content to be inside a crate looking out and growling at any dog that passes in front of it. I need my quiet space and prefer it be away from the rest of you canines, thank you very much. I resent RockDog sniffing my butt every chance he gets, and his attempt to make light of it by getting in a play bow. And I too am used to traveling for days. I know we will get to a snow-free place soon.

WoodBoy: “I love the back bed and am so ashamed that I can’t control my bladder better. My leg and shoulder feel okay and I am content to do as DoDog, sleep most of the way. We are on yet another adventure and will soon have lots of new butts to sniff and a place to lie in the sun.”

AnnBanane: “I have been so good, better than anyone expected that is until tonight. I got into a dark chocolate bar and think I might get sick, or worse yet have diarrhea like Woody did a few days ago. Other than that I too like to sleep in the sun and have caused absolutely no problems on this journey. I am content to drive and drive without a clue as to where we might end up.”

Bunny: “Where are the bushes full of birds that I love to flush out? I entertain myself by running back and forth in the van when we pass a semi-truck. At least I get some exercise and can’t wait to check out the dog park in Hendersonville to see if they have any birds there.”

RockDog: “I’m always in trouble because I constantly vie for my position up front next to my mom, and I’m always looking for food. I do like to sleep on top of DoDog because she makes the best pillow pet ever. I would really like to stretch my legs and go on a hike. I am told we will do that as soon as we arrive at our new home.”

I’m a bit guilty keeping the dogs so cooped up and am projecting how I feel onto them, when really they are content to do whatever I want. I’m just so ready to be out of Dora for awhile – not that I don’t enjoy her, we are just ready to stretch our legs a bit and she is needs a rest. Tomorrow we will arrive in Columbus to see family and ride out the Perfect Storm. For now we are off to a good start – no problems with the Wells Fargo card and Woody had a great night, no more episodes! And AnnBanane does not have diarrhea or even an upset stomach from her chocolate bar episode. She’s like her Auntie DoDog, iron stomach of steal. We cruise toward Minneapolis and on to Madison WI without incident. It is now time to go around Chicago, and that is when things turn to shit. Little did I know that it would take at least 3 hours to do it! The toll roads are being worked on so the speed limit is 45 MPH, lovely - and traffic is heavy for the only two open lanes. Thanks goodness it is Sunday, imagine if it were a workday?

At the first toll both the attendant is in awe of the dogs and has to show me a picture on his phone of his black/white cocker spaniel. Of course all the dogs think we are at a drive-thru and wonder where the treats are. For the amount of money we spent driving these crappy roads, they should have gotten at least a scrap. The first toll was $1.90, the second $3 and the third $1.50. After that I lost count. I do know I missed one turnoff so had to double back. Of course there is a toll to get off and one to get back on, without attendants. I need 90 cents in change to throw in a basket – it will not take $1. Oh well, blew right through both of those without paying. There is no time for this nonsense. I assume the state police will stop me at some point or I will get a bill in the mail, as there are cameras everywhere.

There is absolutely no place to pull off as we cruise on and on. I know that Woody is up and that usually means he has to pee. I keep driving because of course I have no choice – this seems to be a common theme particularly in Midwest semi country. An hour later I look in the rear view mirror just in time to see him peeing on our bed. Grrrr! I know he can’t help it. And then, I see him trying to cover it up. Poor boy, he is mortified again. It’s okay Woody; we will get out of here soon. Finally I see an Oasis exit – essentially a concrete jungle with fast food restaurants and a gas station with exorbitant prices! I pull off and everyone has to go potty, including me but of course I am last.

Glad that’s over with but as I pull out I notice the transmission is slipping on Dora just a little. I feel tense and agitated at this point. I know it’s my attitude that has to change and not the situation at hand. I try to do some deep breathing but then my contacts get cloudy and now I can’t see very well, it’s getting dark and I’m still on this bloody toll road. OMG, will it ever end? If there is ever a next time driving across country, I will drive hundreds of miles out of my way to avoid the Chicago area. Finally I see 65-South and the sign for Indiana. Wheew! We are finally on the road out of this hellhole. We pull off at the first truck stop because of course I have to wash the bedding. No problem, I am comfortable inside waiting for the blankets to dry and checking email. We will go to bed, get some rest and tomorrow will be another day. In fact it will be a great day because I will be in Ohio visiting my son and family for a couple days. I had hopes of making it today but after the 45 MPH for three hours I am too exhausted to keep driving. We need to rest and be safe.

The blankets are dry so we find a large field out back of the truck stop where only a few tractor-trailers are parked. A trucker helped me add a bit of transmission fluid to the well, and Dora is once again happy and ready to hit the road tomorrow. We settle in and I decompress with a murder mystery when I hear a loud pop. Holy Crap, did someone just hit the side of Dora? Interesting, none of the dogs moved. I peek out into the night and find everything quiet - no one around. A few minutes later more loud pops, what the hell? Still the dogs are not responding. When I look out the back window I see fireworks lighting up the sky! Ahh, that’s what it is - one of the truckers is setting off fireworks. No worries, it’s actually cool in the ominous, dark sky of angry looking clouds with a full moon in the background. Lights out, we have a short drive tomorrow!

Dora sandwiched between the Big Dogs

Day 12 ends in a large field outside a truck stop in Indiana, where I am cuddled with six dogs under a clean down comforter with a display of colorful fireworks out the back window. Life is good in a van called Dora!

Semi Plaza

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 11

Last night right before bed, Woody had another bad episode. He was panting, pacing, howling, and distressed, obviously in pain. The muscles near his shoulder and down his leg were contracting when I touched them. I tried massaging him, but he would have none of it.  I finally took him outside on the grass away from the other dogs and he seemed to walk it off. I have no clue what’s going on, but today he is fine. Fingers crossed that me remains okay.

Saturday, Wow! I have no idea what day it is until I call a friend and wonder why she’s not at work. In fact I call lots of friends and spend hours on my cell while driving 75 MPH down the freeway - 52 East which is essentially a two-lane highway, to I94 East, eventually heading south tomorrow morning on I90. I practice some cat-cow moves to keep my spine and neck supple; it’s easy to do when I’m on the phone and driving. It feels like I have been out of touch for months!  A blizzard is peppering snow down causing limited visibility on 52E, but that’s the norm in North Dakota. I know because I lived here for 18 months a few decades ago.

Clear highway

The morning starts off with a decline on my Wells Fargo card. Grrrr! It happened yesterday in Canada, I called and supposedly the problem was fixed and it wouldn’t happen again. But it did the very next time I used the card. I call again and they connect me to the fraud department. Apparently, even though I had the travel plan in effect they ‘flagged’ the account because I made multiple gas purchases in one day. Well, I am driving across country so yes I will have more than one gas purchase in a day. They assure me it is for my own protection. Well, okay but let’s get it straightened out because not only is it embarrassing when someone tells me my card is declined, making a phone call and being put on hold is time wasted that I could be driving. They apologize and say the account is no longer flagged. Let’s hope not!

The gas prices are a welcoming relief; some places are near $3/gallon – beats the hell out of $4.75+ in Homer! As I continue across North Dakota it keeps snowing and snowing and blowing. The good news is nothing is sticking to the road. I am finally able to drive out of it near the Minnesota border. Seems like snow follows me no matter where I go – I have been accused of bringing bad weather to places more than once.

the road east

 I can tell I’m in the Midwest because multiple radio stations are broadcasting college football games and I am passing racecars on the freeway headed to the track for Saturday night races. J I now feel like I am making progress on this journey. I cross two states today and am near the Wisconsin border. On to Chicago, Indiana and Ohio tomorrow to visit family, hopefully arriving in the Carolinas on Thursday after the Perfect Storm has passed.

Now that I don’t have to spend all my waking energy on road conditions, I’m able to brainstorm some ideas. A 6-bedroom, 4-bath house awaits me in the historical district of Hendersonville zoned commercial, essentially meaning the possibilities are endless. The house has an interesting history; built in the 20’s it was a naturopathic school in the 1940’s owned by Dr. Dahl, and is locally referred to as the Dahl House. I have lots of ideas for what to do with it, one being to continue the tradition and create a healing center. That might include a massage therapist, an acupuncturist, or maybe an energy healer. For me personally, I may convert the large living area into a yoga studio, and also offer art workshops. I will for sure have a guest room for anyone that wants to come for a visit. This reinvention/transformation is exciting. Who knows where this adventure may lead? Stay tuned for the Tales of the Dahl House blog.

Day 11 ends outside a Pilot’s Travel Plaza near Minneapolis where we are sandwiched between two semi-trucks in a parking lot full of tractor-trailers. We are grateful for a van named Dora that has kept us safe along this amazing journey Tomorrow we will cross 3, maybe even 4 states as we near the Perfect Storm. 

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 10, the longest day yet!

Sunglasses, at last!

Up at 5:00 AM because of course that’s the time the motel crowd starts heading out. That means I had about five hours sleep, give or take the times the dogs get me up to switch beds – I knew we should have slept in Dora. The walls are paper-thin so we hear everything. I work on my blog, pack the van, walk the dogs, feed the dogs, do a load of laundry and am out of there by 9:30. It’s been snowing but the roads are clear. The temperature is frigid with the wind chill. I cannot wait to feel the sun on my body. I manage to dump three of my sandbags here in Lloydmister - my trash is someone else’s find. The other two will be left in North Dakota for some lucky sucker that has to cope with winter this year. Where I’m going I will not need them.

Dry Road!

I called Woody OgDog at least six times today. No idea why other than the fact he looks so much like him now that he is older. And his leg/shoulder? Well duhhh. I realize he is not been getting much exercise, and I have been treating him like he is feeble and he has responded accordingly. So, it’s time for him to start taking walks off leash just like at home. He has done much better today. He had yogurt and a banana for breakfast and his digestive system is back to normal. No more blowouts in Dora, thank goodness. Anne was sweet to lie on the bed beside him all afternoon.

Co-pilot

Asleep on the job

I drive and I drive, not realizing just how far the border is plus I lost another hour – that makes two in two days. So instead of being 6:30 PM it is actually 8:30 PM, sigh. The night is pitch black and clear, and I am in the country on a two-lane road frantically looking for the US border. Traffic is minimal and there are no signs anywhere. I finally stop at a Husky Station in a small town to make sure I am on the right road – just 20 more miles the attendant said. I am not going to buy another gallon of gas in Canada and I want my US dollar to actually work at the next restaurant.  I am determined to enter North Dakota tonight, no matter how long it takes!

Talkin' to Bunny

Finally I see it, Yippee! We are excited. It is in fact 24 miles and not 20 like he said, but hey who’s counting? Obviously me, on the dark desolate road. Crossing the border turned out to be pretty funny. I sure wish I had a picture but it happened too fast. When we get in line I notice that the two cars in front of me are taking forever, and then they both have to pull over for a search. Great, this is a small border crossing and they are usually easy to get through. Border Patrol must be bored. My turn, I pull up all smiles and tell him how happy I am to be back. No comment. He asked all the normal questions:  how long I’ve been in Canada, where am I going, what do I do for a living, how many dogs are in the car? My answers are:  longer than expected (not even a smile), North Carolina, photographer, and six. He didn’t think any of it was funny.

UpDog

“If I have a look inside are the dogs going to attack me?” was his only question.

“Not at all, they are very super friendly,” I assure him.

He comes around to the passenger side of Dora with my passport in his hand, and opens the side door. As soon as the door opens, he is fair game and just the right height. DoDog flings herself at him, jumping up and landing her paws on his shoulders, proceeding to completely wash his face in no time flat. In the meantime he is reaching, reaching, finally stretching across her trying to hand me my passport all the while saying: “you’re okay to go.” He can’t seem to shut the door quick enough. I roll down my window and yell, “How many miles to a truck stop from here?”

“43, turn left at the four way stop up the road and get on 52 east. You’ll see it.” I think I actually saw a little smile on his lips.

I pull off smiling and as soon as we were out of his sight I burst out laughing. Now isn’t that just like a DoDog? Good girl, Zip! Way to get us through the border. And to think, he didn’t even ask for the health certificates that cost me $268!

What have I eaten today anyhow I wonder? Well there was a pancake and a blueberry muffin at the motel, plus a small bag of Lay’s Dill Pickle Chips, a bag of M&M’s and a diet coke from the gas station. Yuck. Makes me sick just thinking of it. So, for dinner I make up for it with a greasy personal pizza from the truck stop. Pickins’ are slim, and there are no fruits or vegetables to be had. We are 45 miles on the US side of the border and not much else is around. Can’t wait until I start seeing the Flying J or Pilot Travel Plazas where there is a restaurant, gas, showers and a safe place to camp in Dora.

Goose Girl says GoodNight!

Day 10 finally ends in the back of Dora with six dogs and my murder mystery to read before nodding off after a long day on the road. We’re back in the USA and the odometer turned 3K. We only have 1400 more miles to go!  I knew there was light at the end of the snow tunnel I’ve been buried in. But now I’m headed for Hurricane Sandy, Whoopee!

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 9

Dry road!

Cruisin' at 70+

Today is going to be a good day of driving. Up early and on the road to Grand Prairie, on to Edmonton and beyond. The roads are not only clear, but they are also dry AND it’s a freeway. No more remote highway, we have returned to civilization. Homer is about as remote as it gets for this girl. We are cruising at 70+ MPH and yes the cruise control is working! I stopped at PetSmart to get the dogs more food since we only packed for the eight days it normally takes to reach the east coast. Somewhere in the process we lost our road caravan, but that’s okay. 

BunBun and RockDog threw up this morning, no more worrying about terrifying roads. Instead I’m back to cleaning up puke and poop. I also notice that Woody has diarrhea – could be the aspirins but it’s probably the Beneful chicken dinner that I gave them for a treat, no doubt made in China. Yikes. Driving down the road we are about halfway to Grand Prairie when Woody starts demand barking from the bed in the back of Dora. I cannot stop (again) because of course I’m on the freeway and there is nowhere to pull off. He eventually stops barking and then a dreadful stench rises up permeating the back of Dora, slowly moving forward. I look behind me and see Woody has assumed the position on the floor. Oh NOOOOO! Walk, squirt, walk, squirt, walk, walk, dump. Holy shit, and yes that is what it is. The five other dogs rush to the front seat as far away as possible from the mysterious blob in the middle of the floor. OMG, to find a pull-off. I finally do and at this point Woody is both mortified and distressed.  He never has accidents in the house. Plus he has leaped off the bed, thank goodness but he has once again hurt his leg and is howling.

Bunny likes sitting on Zip's head

I clean up the mess, give him a massage and an aspirin, and we are back on the road, but not before pulling up the soiled rug, dog bed and down comforter. I had already decided we were staying in a motel tonight, but now it must also have a laundry rood. We continue on our route, fly through Grand Prairie, reach Edmonton and I realize we have lost yet another hour. Instead of being 4:30 it is actually 5:30 PM now. Oh well, we will keep going.

We reach Lloydmister around 7 PM and find a motel with a washer/dryer. Woody is again very distressed. I’m not sure about his shoulder/leg theory. At times it seems fine, and then he becomes totally agitated and almost lame. As I write this he is resting comfortable after two more aspirins, but still has the diarrhea. I will give him a banana in the morning and keep him off food for the day to see if it helps. Luce’s growth on her foot has also come back. Sounds like we will be seeing a vet when we arrive in North Carolina.

One bed

Unloading dogs and all our things at the motel is indeed an ordeal. This is all new to RockDog, Bunny and Anne. However, the seasoned dogs assume their positions on the beds, we actually have two. So 3 dogs on one, and 3 on the other.  I fit wherever I can around them. The shower is hot, the room is cozy and we are finally settled at midnight. It’s been a long day of driving and we covered over 600 miles. I am happy to say there is barely any snow on the ground and we are still headed south.

and the other. . . 

Day 9 is ending in the comfort of a motel room. However, I am actually more comfortable in our cocoon in Dora, but it is nice to stretch our legs a bit. Hopefully tomorrow will not be another day of Diarrhea Mama Mia! Fingers crossed, or maybe I should say legs?