Leaving California, Ft Worth Here We Come

Tuesday we were on the road for 14 hours, from Sunol, CA (home) to Winslow, AZ. We stopped for 'brunch' at Harris Ranch off of I-5 and found out that they serve tri-tip sandwiches darn near all day! Yay for that!! We stretched our legs and got gas, then hit the road for Arizona. We stopped for a moment near Tehachapie to get pictures of the poppies, fiddleneck and lupine in full bloom, this is one time of the year these hills will be green. We stopped again in the Mohave desert to stretch our legs again (it's the only way to drive this alone, move around as much as possible). Darby discovered lizards and fuzzy little pill bugs in the desert. No rattlesnakes or jacks, and I'm really okay with that.





So much for not lollygagging in California. We said goodnight to the California desert and crossed into Arizona at dusk. Welcome to night driving. I don't like night driving, but it seemed to be a way to buy myself daylight hours for Wednesday, so we drove straight through to Winslow. We stopped in Kingman for some really really bad lukewarm road coffee and a clean bathroom. Then again in Seligham for gas and more coffee, just as bad but at least hot. It was so cold Darby didn't want to pee, but he had held it for 9 hours, and didn't really have a choice. He did what I call a TannerPee.....one of those embarrassingly long drainings (a la Tanner at Del Valle fall specialty), it was really cold so we tucked back in the warm van and pushed on. There was quite a bit of snow in Flagstaff, which is at 7500 feet, and it was horribly cold (30 degrees). Flagstaff turned me around a little, with "old historic Route 66" and the faster "route 40/route 66" but no worries, a rather remedial gas station attendant set us straight and we pulled into Winslow, exhausted, at 11:30. Today we go to Amarillo by way of Albuquerque, NM. But first, breakfast. I will say this, Darby is an EXCELLENT travel companion. He eats well, is great company and doesn't mess with the settings on the radio. Good dog!!!

Road Trip to the Southern Specialty

I've Been Everywhere, Man......(as told by Darby's owner Lisa)

As Johnny Cash sings it, I doubt we will ever be able to claim that, but we're going to give it our best shot. Back at the end of January I decided that I was going to the GCA southern specialty in Ft. Worth Texas. It was a spontaneous decision, and a resolute one. I was going, I didn't bother to check and see who else was going like I usually do. A lot of my show attendance decisions in the past have been strongly influenced by the company I'd be keeping and how many dogs were going (logical). This decision wasn't based on anything other than my pride and strong held confidence in Darby, I didn't care who else was going. Well, that and my need for a road trip. :)

I've been so excited about this roadtrip, I started packing last week, even though we don't leave until Tuesday. It takes 26 hours to get to Ft. Worth, I'm giving us plenty of time to enjoy the drive. Today I packed my suitcase, and when the suitcase comes out, the dogs are 100% gung-ho with me. They're absolutely sure we're leaving TODAY. Andretti was so sure he planted himself in the big empty suitcase and refused to budge. He's never done that before, I think he might be a genius to have figured it out: suitcase = going away with the mom-lady, so therefore, I'll just be in the suitcase.







After I removed Andretti, Darby decided to see if there was something to this suitcase idea. I can't believe he actually fit. Later, after my camera battery died, he trotted off and came back with his favorite toy and proceeded to try and fit himself and the toy in the suitcase. It didn't work out too well; it's a big toy and he couldn't get it to fit.







But I do think it makes his butt look a little big, maybe something in black would be better?




The two of them played "Going on a Roadtrip" while I packed.




I'm not sure how I'm going to tell Dretti he's not going, it's not going to go over well. But I'm sure Darby will be thrilled to learn he won't be traveling Suitcase Class.

I'll be updating during the roadtrip. It starts Tuesday and we hope to be in Winslow by evening. Ha ha ha, we shall see but the California portion is pretty boring so lollygagging should be kept to a minimum. :)