Episode 3: San Juan Island Sightseer

- - Arriving in Friday Harbor on the ferry.










American Camp at San Juan Island National Historical Park - where the US & Great Britain almost went to war over a pig. - -





- - Watching for whales.








Hiking at Lime Kiln State Park - -








- - Back home at last in the RV, exhausted!

Episode 2: Lopez Island Beachcomber Dog

Charlie adjusted easily to this, his second RV camping trip.

And, true to his golden retriever nature, he turned out to be exceptionally interested in the WATER!

At first he was a little wary.

But he quickly warmed up to it, and soon he was splashing around in the water, exploring.

By the time we were done, he was ready and eager to plunge in further and try some ocean swimming. Only the prospect of a big wet salty dog in the RV caused discretion to win out.

As it was, though, Charlie had a splashing great time!

Travels with Charlie - The San Juan Islands. Episode 1: Charlie Rides the Ferry

We're going where in the RV?








In that? I don't think so...




Are you sure this thing is safe? We're awfully close to the edge of the boat!

Holding Paws

Charlie loves to hold paws. In fact he demands it!

He'll come up and put a paw out for you to take. And forget ignoring it. Ignoring is not an option, unless you want to experience escalation in action.

No, your best choice is to take the paw and hold it. And hold it. And hold it. And hold it.

Eventually he will become tired and lie down. But you're not out of the woods yet. Oh no...

Even when lying down, he wants to hold paws. So you can count on doing so until he falls asleep. Eventually.

Then you can let go. Maybe. If he's sound asleep. And he doesn't wake up.

It will happen. It must...

Fun with Tomo

Charlie's California friend, Tomo, recently came to visit, along with his parents. Charlie had a great time following him around and doing tricks for treats. He even showed Tomo one of his best ones -- catching treats right out of the air.

He can't wait for a return visit soon!

And then there are the ears...

Charlie may get his squinty smile from his dad. But that beautiful coat and those shaggy flyaway ears seem to be all mom!

No matter how much you brush Charlie's ears, they always look windblown and in need of combing. And no matter how much you neglect it, the rest of his coat stays shiny and beautiful!

Above is Mom with 10-day-old Charlie & company, and below/right is almost 2-year-old Charlie.

Like Father, Like Son

I came across this picture of Charlie's Indiana dad (above) and was struck by how much adult Charlie (below) looks like him!

The same profile. That same squinty smile. Even the way he holds his nose up in the air, just rocking with excitement, looking happy, when someone he likes approaches.

I'd know that dog anywhere!

Guarding the Chew

The other night Charlie and Gabbie were chewing chews in the backyard. They each treat this as a somewhat dangerous and competitive endeavor, requiring constant vigilance and care, and sometimes even growling, lest the other make a play for and steal away a coveted morsel, let alone the whole chew.

When dinner was over and the plates ready to lick, Gabbie stayed outside chewing, but Charlie arrived in the kitchen in a heartbeat. With his chew, of course. Which he carefully placed on the plate so he could protect it, while taking care of business. What a dog!

Thanks, Everybody!

Pssst! Gabbie!! Guess what!!???

You gotta go look at Dogs with Blogs right away!

Me and Ranger and Sam I Am are featured there this month! And there are tons of other great dogs with blogs there too. Not to mention my role model Charlie the Big Dog and his sister Opy who kinda run the place.

Anyway, check it out real soon!

Gifts

Often in the morning, I feel a little shake of the bed. And when I wake, I find this next to my face...

Then, when he knows I'm awake, Charlie oh-so-quietly retrieves the chew and carries it around the house, typically following me, while I stumble to get up and going.

When I move to my office and get settled, Charlie arrives, chew in mouth. And we both settle in for the morning.

This is never an actively in-play chew. It's always one that's been formerly chewed and then fallen out of favor. A has-been.

I guess such chews are for carrying around and leaving as gifts or decorations or place markers. Perhaps a reminder of fun times gone by and more yet-to-come.

Tug of War, Chapter 2

Gabbie and Charlie like to play tug-of-war. Sometimes it takes a human referee to get the game started, but then it progresses on its own.

Gabbie is so determined - she latches onto the toy and pulls and pulls and pulls. Charlie's strong, but can't match her puppy energy. He puts up a good fight, but usually gives in.

Sometimes, though, Charlie matches her determination and they arrive at a standoff... just lying down, still holding the toy in their mouths, too tired to really pull anymore.

Trouble, with a capital "T", and that rhymes with "C", and that stands for...

Charlie!

If nominated, he will run...

Charlie, along with some other great dogs, has been nominated for a Dogs with Blogs Awesome Blog Award. He clearly feels honored to be in such good company!

You can cast a vote for your favorite blog at The Bone Zone.

Will lick for lasagne...

Usually Charlie cleans up the dishes in a very business-like way, but tonight he sprawled on the floor and took his time, reveling in the lasagne pan.I guess now we know what he likes more than cherries...

We Love DIRT!

Charlie and Gabbie have decided that they like the taste of the dirt at the top of the steps to the back yard. After roughhousing together and blowing off the initial head of steam, they turn to eating DIRT. Yes, there used to be grass there, but that's ancient history!

We try to distract them with frisbees and tug-of-war toys, but the only thing that seems to work for any length of time is...
CHERRIES!

Now that the season is over, there are lots of dried cherries on the terraces and hanging in the bushes. It's just like a doggie's Trader Joe's in the backyard!

Then and Now

When Charlie first met Gabbie, the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy, in April, she was much smaller than he was. And he consequently ruled the backyard play sessions.
Now, only 4 months later, Gabbie is about Charlie's size - in fact she makes him look kind of petite. And she gives as good as she gets.
I can't wait to see them together when she's all grown up!

Tagged

I too have been tagged. Here are the requisite 5 (I can't count) weird things about me:

- I don't like my mom to talk to anyone but me, and I jump on her and bite her if she tries it.
- I get scared of stuff when we go on walks and insist on going home, right now (!).
- I want to sit in the front seat of the car, preferably in the driver's lap.
- When my mom put up a dog barrier in the car, I bent the bars and got through it. However... in the house, I always honor the baby gate we've had since I was a puppy - I never push it or try to get past it.
- I like to hold paws.
- I have never ever (yet) chewed furniture or shoes or carpet or anything else my humans have ... but I've demolished every toy and dog bed I've ever been given - - - post haste!!

The Rules: "The player of this game starts by listing "5 weird things/habits" about yourself, then you "tag" five friends and list their names. Those who get "tagged" need to write on their blogs about their "5 weird things/habits", as well as state this rule clearly, then "tag" five more victims. Don't forget get to leave your victim a comment that says "you're tagged!" in their comments and tell them to read your blog."

Now, as to victims... almost everyone's been tagged already, so I nominate only one - - US First Dog, Barney. Those in favor*, say "Woof!"


*I figure we dogs are non-partisan and non-political. Dogocrats, republicanines,... what does it all mean anyway?

So darn helpful!

This afternoon, Charlie decided to help me outdoors. I was washing the patio furniture on the back lawn and turned away to hose off the soap. When I turned back, there stood Charlie with my scrub brush in his mouth.

I don't have a picture (because I didn't want to give him time to eat the brush while I found the camera), so you'll have to imagine this scene: Charlie, standing defiantly, looking at me, brush in mouth. Me running after him, and Charlie easily dodging; cutting left when I ran right, cutting right when I ran left. Around and around and around the yard... And, whenever I'd stop to catch my breath, he'd stand just out of reach, facing me, taunting me to come get the brush.

If I hadn't been laughing so hard, I might have gotten it back sooner, but it took easily 10 min. of "Chase Charlie" to reclaim the brush. That dog's fast and agile!

Camping - Part II

Next stop on Charlie's camping trail was Ilwaco, WA. We walked the boardwalk, checking out the people and shops, and watching boats come in and unload their catch.
At Jessie's Fish Market, the staff invited Charlie in and fed him smoked salmon tidbits and gave him a big container of water to wash it down.
Then up the Long Beach peninsula to the wildlife preserve, where we hiked a little around Willapa Bay.
Charlie's kitty companion came on the trip too, but didn't get to make any extra-vehicular excursions. So, before bed, Charlie told her all about the day.

CDX - Camper Dog Excellent

This week Charlie got to go RV camping for the first time and had a great time!

We did a joint trip with a sailboat part-way down the Columbia, camping at spots along the river.

We picnicked at St. Helens, overlooking the river. Charlie had a bowl of food, as well as tidbits that dropped.



Then we stayed overnight in a county park near Rainier and a marina at Cathlamet. Charlie was a good camper and even went down to the docks at Rainier (he found Cathlamet a little too scary.)