I'm...baaaacccckkk...

 It seems like it takes at least a day or so to recover even from a mini trip of 48 hrs.

The drive across the state was pretty nice aside from the intense heat. I had mapped a route that would take me to Paradise Springs Natural Area. I planned on a picnic out of the back of my 'Ru with Charlie.

When we pulled up and parked in the small lot under a tree there was no one else around. I shared some PB&J with Charlie and he had a big drink of water.

I grabbed my back pack and thought we'd head into the little trail to see the spring building.

Another vehicle pulled up and two older guys stepped out into the heat. They asked if they could pet Charlie. Charlie loved the attention. When we walked around the corner from the parking lot there was a huge red sign:

NO PETS!

I was crushed. I stood there. It was too hot to leave Charlie in the car. The guys looked at me and the one said: We won't say a thing. I doubt he will harm anything.

I tucked Charlie under my arm and headed down a paved trail. The last time I'd been to Paradise Springs, the trails were dirt. The area had suffered quite a bit of neglect. After the 2018 record floods groups got together and donated monies to fix this little beautiful place. New trails were laid down and paved. The pond was cleaned and benches along with a nice little deck for viewing was made.

The improvements were beautiful. The building was the same, but the area was much cleaner. 

The Spring Building from across the pond.
The water smelled bad because
of the lack of rain and fresh 

water.

Inside the building looking out through 
the windows across the pond
back towards where
I had been standing.

The two older guys looking

for turtles.
One fella told me that he

'rescued' turtles by taking them off

the road and bringing them to 

this pond.

I saw no turtles and they didn't either.

There were quite a few nice benches along the paths with donor's names on them. I took a few shots with my IR camera and scurried back to the parking lot so as not to get in trouble. Charlie stayed tucked under my arm.

No selfie with Charlie to add to our collection of doggie photos. I was disappointed, but understood that sometimes people who don't make their pets behave ruin it for those that do.

I sat in the back of the 'Ru with my dog and we had some water while I plotted our next stop. Beula's Bog. 

In truth, it sounded way too hot and muggy to go to a Bog, but we'd head that way and check it out.

I followed the directions...until...

the connection between my smarty phone and my car stopped. I couldn't stop on the narrow back road safely to try and figure it out. So I just 'winged' it. I drove on one curvy road and to another unmarked black top and eventually came out in a town. I pulled into a parking lot and disconnected everything and restarted the phone.

I really regret not having a good ol' paper map in my car. I must have cleaned out the 'Ru and tossed it. 

By the time everything was set, I decided that it was too hot and nasty to go explore a bog with Charlie. I set my sights on Petrified Springs Park and decided to go there until it would be time to drop in on the 'kids'.

I was looking forward to cooler weather near Lake Michigan.

And so it went...

Road Trip

 I did it ... I did it!

I asked for help and I got it!
I get to get off the farm and get
some me time for a mini
adventure!

The last time I actually had a 'day' off from being a Caregiver was in July 2021. But hey, who is counting, right?

692 days. But who is counting? 

Charlie and I are going to make this into mini road trip. I plan on stopping at a couple of SNA or State Natural Areas to do some exploring. The last time I was at Paradise Springs, it was April of 2017, just days before Rich's stroke.

Morris and I explored together and took a 'selfie' in the doorway of the Spring house. 👇

I think I want a do over with Charlie. I'm packing a lunch for Charlie and I to have on our drive. In reality, the drive across the state is not that terribly long.

But, I'll make it longer by taking a route for us to stop at a couple of places.

Morris and I used to do road trips often...he just loved riding in a car more than anything else in the world.

I'd often just take him in my old Jeep to a closed back road and let him 'hang out' the window while I idled down the road at about 5 mph. He thought he was king.

Charlie can't hang out the window and I made him a 'car seat' so he could at sort of see where we are going.

I've since added a sheet to the seat of the car as Charlie is often full of dirt and sand on his belly when we get back from hikes. This contraption  ended his motion sickness.

Now when I jingle the keys and ask if he wants to go for a ride, he runs to the passenger side of the Subaru and waits for me.

He is a pretty good travel companion but he whines a LOT more than any other dog I've ever had. He also has to comment each time I use a turn signal. 

Charlie will be meeting my son and his wife's new pup, Twila and the cats. If nothing else, it will be a fun animal fest.

This little trip and weekend is such a great birthday gift from my son and his wife as hosts and my friends who are going to care for hubby in my absence.

To say I am thankful is an understatement.

Later...tators.

I'm unplugging for the weekend!

A weekend break

Charlie had his first L...O...N...G car trip. At first he was nervous and did a lot of whining.
Charlie doesn't like bumpy roads. He stands up in his car seat and peers at the road and then me as if I could change the bouncing he feels.

He gets concerned over stop and go traffic too. He placed his feet on the console between us and tried to get as near to me as he could. I wasn't very nice, I pushed him back into his seat. He does have a harness and is tethered into his seat but apparently IF he really wants to he can stretch out of it.

Otherwise he was the perfect little traveler. He just gave me sleepy eyes once in a while and would 'navigate' for a bit then lay back down.

We got to my son's house and Charlie got reacquainted with Teslin. He is quick to understand that she doesn't want to play and would rather ignore him. He is fine with that.

Fun things we did:
Ikea. I loved that store and found a fake fur pillow cover for Charlie as a gift.
Rich loved the seat cushions I got!

Eating out at the Noble and meeting Amber. What a fun person!

Saturday was just as great.
I'll just let the photos do the talking....

Charlie met this young German Shephard named Shark. She is Amber's young dog who is full of boundless energy.
Charlie was pretty sure that Shark was going to eat him. Shark wanted to play with Charlie and Charlie wasn't too sure about that.

I think if Shark and Charlie had a few days to get used to each other, they'd get along just fine. Charlie loves to play but has never played with someone like Shark who is very vocal. After all, it took Charlie and Teslin about 3 days to get their pecking order figured out.

However by the time I took this photo of the fireplace, all dogs were sleepy and calm.

I had a perfect get away weekend.

Travels with Charlie

Today was one of those days when I didn't have to run someone to an appointment, mow, fix something, or go anywhere. I decided to ask Rich if I could just take Charlie and head out to the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.

He said he didn't care, he'd sleep anyway.

Sunday would be a 'get hay' day and unload the truck too. That is if I can handle that job again.

So without a guilty conscience, I packed a lunch and Charlie's crate into the 'Ru. I laid a towel out on the front seat for on the way back.
I grabbed two bottles of water.
Charlie made an inspection before we left.

Charlie doesn't really 'like' riding in the car much. He still gets car sick. Unless I hold him so he feels comfortable and can look out the window, it seems he gets car sick.

Off we went. Charlie made some gruesome noises in his crate about half way there. I pulled over to check and he'd just been sick. He then laid on the other side of his crate and gave me a dirty look.

We parked and headed across the parking lot and didn't get perhaps 10 feet before a little girl asked her mom if she could see Charlie. Charlie whined and wagged and even peed a bit he was so happy.
I was stopped 3 more times before we got out of the parking lot and onto the trail.
By now Charlie just was wagging and greeting everyone who asked to pet him.

Charlie was over his car sickness and ready to hike.

It was hot in the valley. We both quickly felt a bit overwhelmed by the heat. On the ridge there had been a nice breeze.

So I took Charlie where I knew we could cool off. Bridge 18 in KVR is covered and makes for a nice spot to rest.

Our picnic spot. Charlie had some water and some treats. I ate a sandwich.

The Kickapoo flowed under us, the breezes flowed through the bridge. And we were happy campers.

We finally cooled off and then headed back towards the ponds where we decided to turn around. It was getting hot again and I am not sure how a Pekinese X mini doxxie would handle the heat. Charlie was panting. I knelt in a spot of shade and gave him water for about the 3rd time on our hike.
He lapped it up and then tried to drink out of my water bottle.

His attention was taken by two young ladies walking towards us. I waited in the shade for them to pass.
Charlie stole the show again.

Charlie is loved I guess. I just sat back and beamed. It is nice to have such a well behaved young dog. His temperament and size make him very approachable.

It happened that the girls were also going back the way we were going so I asked if they minded if Charlie and I walked with them.

An adorable dog is an ice breaker indeed. We chatted and walked back to the  parking lot. I gave the girls some other places to visit and hike while they were visiting our area. They thanked me and Charlie and I left for our next stop.
The trail above the little known ice caves.

I think that only local folks know about this parking spot. Most any vehicle can get in and out. Of course, I was driving the 'Ru so... no problem.

We set off for the deep woods.

Charlie was a trooper, he was tired and walked slowly, so I gave him a lift.

We looked down on the ice caves which of course don't have ice in them this time of year. If you didn't know they were below you ... you'd never see them.

[Ice cave from last February...there is a hollow behind the ice.]

We got to the bluff and I had to really keep an eye on Charlie. He isn't as nimble as Morris was and I was afraid he'd try and go over the side of the rock to explore.

He did get stuck in that crack in front of him.

The view is never disappointing from this bluff.

We then stopped for another water break and I set up the Teddy Bear for some photos.

And this happened...

Charlie is always willing to help make trying to photograph this particular Bear very difficult.
I had to catch the bear so he wouldn't roll off the steep bluff.

Of course I figured this would happen. The middle photo was actually what I was looking for!

We headed back to the car. Charlie was tired and I carried him most of the way. Those short little legs aren't made for hard hiking in the heat.
I set him in the passenger seat and took this photo after we got to LaFarge.

He looks miserable doesn't he?

By the next stop sign, he was sacked out enjoying the a/c on the Subraru.

It took him only a few minutes to get back to himself when we got home.
I'm going to have to ask the vet if there is something I can give him for these jaunts we go on. He is a pleasure to have along.

And I'm going to invest in a booster seat. I think that will help a lot.

Charlie was fawned over by everyone he met. I'll bet I could have been dressed in a clown suit and no one would have noticed.

We had a great afternoon.
I'm looking forward to more short jaunts with Charlie.