Life on Sugarloaf Key this past winter for Zuzu and Tootie has been one of routine, and being creatures of habit that we have discovered them to be, they are most comfortable and at ease with the expected. Their daily routine, however, would soon be interrupted with an adventure, a road trip to St. Louis.
We are extremely lucky to have adopted two dogs who not only simply enjoy car rides but also love to travel as much as we do. The shortest jaunts in the car excite them. The mere mention of "bye-bye in the car" triggers fits of body twisting and dancing from Zuzu accompanied by gleeful barks from Tootie as they impatiently wait for us to gather our wallets, keys, water, and, the most important item of them all, dog treats for the car hidden in a small cardboard box or empty paper towel roll.
One Friday morning in early April, Zuzu and Tootie quickly surmised that a long trip was eminent as we were stacking duffle bags, pillows, the cooler, dog food, their beds, and bowls by the door to be packed in the car. This wasn't going to be a short car ride to Big Pine Key. No, we were going to St. Louis via Naples, Florida where mom and dad's motorhome sat all winter long on their pad in the RV park. We offered to bring it back to St. Louis for them so they could prepare for their 40 plus day motorcade adventure to Alaska this summer.
For Zuzu and Tootie, a trip back to St. Louis in a spacious motorhome was most welcome. They seem to prefer riding on the bed looking at the passing scenery out the motorhome window over the cramped quarters of the Honda Element.
They have also learned that rest areas are treasure troves of new scents and sights. Each time the motorhome decelerated entering a rest area along the route, Zuzu and Tootie would emerge from the bedroom eager to exit and explore the new rest area. It's hard to believe that it was only a year ago when they would cautiously and nervously leave the motorhome to check out a rest area during their first motorhome trip to the Northeast last August. Now, the noise from the semis and the freeway doesn't phase them; they are much more interested in smelling and marking their new territories than to be bothered by the background noise.
In the morning of our second day I received a text from Edie saying that she was heading south on I-75. She was wrapping up a long road trip returning home to Sugarloaf Key after spending several weeks in Colorado. Along for the ride were Tyson and Bart, two of Zuzu and Tootie's closest friends. We met up in a Wal-Mart parking lot in a town south of Atlanta where our paths crossed.
It was great to see Edie, Tyson, and Bart, and the reaction of Zuzu, Tootie, Bart, and Tyson seeing each other in this strange, unfamiliar place was priceless.
Edie was so happy to see the girls, and they were equally excited to see her.
With dogs leashed, we set out in search of patches of grass along the perimeter of the parking lot. Not quite the same as our dog walks on Sugarloaf, but still enjoyable.
Edie looked great, not too haggard after driving from central Colorado, and Tyson was enjoying his first cross-country road trip.
Tootie, Zuzu, and Bart checked out this patch of grass before leaving their marks for the next dog.
Bart was happy to see Wayne as he unabashedly nestled against him for a tummy rub...
while Tyson soaked up the sun and stretched his legs.
With the excitement of the reunion past, the dogs settled into a relaxed state while we visited. You know Bart's content when he can find something to chew on with complete focus.
It was soon time to continue our trips, Edie heading south to Tampa and us heading north towards Nashville. We said our goodbyes and got back in the motorhome where Zuzu and Tootie settled back into their spots on the bed.
The next, and last day of travel, Zuzu and Tootie must have sensed that we were approaching St. Louis for they moved up to the sofa closer to us and kept a watch on the passing scenery.
Until we approached the Mississippi River. I would say they were happy to be back in St. Louis, but Tootie's expression wasn't too convincing. Her mood, though, would greatly improve once she discovers the squirrels in mom and dad's backyard.
Stay tuned for more Vizsla adventures in St. Louis!
Someone was at home toiling away giving the lawna babarous cut with a weed whacker.
ReplyDeleteThe lawn? It's more like a hodgepodge of weeds that very much deserved a barbarous thrashing. We greatly appreciate your trial in lawn care while we were away.
ReplyDelete