My man made me a new Jeep trunk/bed platform so we could take a cooler with my raw food with us and my woman did stuff to my bed to make it shorter but keep it comfy! I really like the new bed platform because it gives me more room to take toys and stuff!
To Washington
We left home just after 10:00 a.m. and headed for the place we stayed last year near Spokane. This is our long drive on the way out and we don't do much other than drive. We went to a different gas station in The Dalles, OR this year for our 1st stop because the gas was cheaper. The people who pump the gas have DOG BONES at this gas station! The other place doesn't. I'd get a dog bone from the person when I got out to pee and then I'd get another one when I'd come back!!!! Our next stop was at the rest area before Boardman, OR. There were cows there this year! We stopped to pee and to eat some lunch. It was kind of warm so we didn't stay long. We made another stop for gas in Pasco, WA but since we have to pump our own gas there is no one to give me bones. But my people bring bones with them. Gas stations are exciting!!!! Then we drove to the rest area near Sprague Lake, WA so I could do a final pee before we got to our hotel. I like to walk to the edge to make sure the lake is still there! It was hot so we didn't walk around much after I made sure no one had stolen the water! Then we drove to our hotel, put the stuff we needed for that night in the room, I ate my chicken, we ordered pizza, walked across the street to pick it up and then I helped my people eat pizza!
1st Night in Montana
We left Washington after 11:00 a.m. and drove to Missoula. My people say this is the official start of our vacation because we do more than drive. I was very excited to be travelling and did lots of barking after we gassed up by the hotel. My people laughed at me because I started getting really excited around Wallace, ID and started barking and talking and didn't stop until we crossed the state line! Our 1st stop was at the 1st rest area in Montana. I really like this one because they have trails through the trees for dogs. This year I found a river so I got to go splash and play for a long time! It was a lot of fun!!! Our next stop wasn't until Missoula so we could put gas in the Jeep and then we went to Blossom's house. This year we stayed in a new room on the 1st floor. It was nice because it had an air conditioner in the window but I don't really like staying where people are above me. My people said it was a very nice room. We put our stuff in the room and then walked to the dog park! I played in the river for a really long time and then we stopped for burgers on the way back. I ate dinner then had some burger and fell asleep.
Leaving Missoula, Stopping in Butte, To the Mountain House
My people got ready to go before breakfast and after breakfast they took me to the dog park so I could swim before we had to leave to see Krista in Butte! I was my usual self in Butte, ignoring Krista and being difficult until she least expected it then I would do a surprise licking!!!!! After Krista left we stopped for a quick pork chop sandwich and then headed to where we would be staying.
Mountain Fun
This year my people found me the best place to stay! It was in the mountains on 40 acres and there were chipmunks and bunnies!!!!!!!!!!!!! I spent a lot of time watching them! The chipmunks were lucky I don't try to kill things because I had chipmunks walking between my legs and coming up to my face to chatter at me! There were lots of deer everywhere and coyotes and I saw a moose and calf and antelope! The antelope was exciting because it would run in front of or beside the Jeep when we'd come up the road! I liked this place so much I didn't want to leave!!!! There were days I just hung out, watched the animals and explored the property. Other days we'd drive up into the mountains around the house and explore. The other days I went up into the mountains to the lakes and swam. This year there was no snow so we could make it to the lakes. There was some snow around the lakes so I still got to play in snow and water! I didn't have to wear my life jacket at all and was swimming in the cold water for an hour or more every time before I'd get tired! One day I swam for 2 hours. We did some exploring around the lake too. I hope we can stay in the same house next year!
To Missoula
I didn't want to but my people packed up the Jeep and we left the house to start heading for home. I wanted to stay and explore and watch bunnies and chipmunks and swim in the lakes. Then the best thing happened once we got on the highway to go to the town where we turn to go to the lakes. There were COWS in the road!!!!! I moved them right along and we got through that cattle drive in record time! After I swam, we went to Butte to go grab a quick lunch of pork chop sandwiches then we headed for Missoula. It was HOT when we got to Missoula, almost 100 degrees!
Leaving Montana
We had time to kill after we checked out of the bed and breakfast so I got to go to the dog park for as long as I wanted after we checked out! I stayed extra long and then we stopped for a burger before we left Missoula. We were going to stop at a tree nursery for a walk but it was HOT so we skipped it. We did stop for huckleberry milkshakes in St. Regis, yummy - I LOVE huckleberries - and stopped to get souvenirs at another spot. Our last stop before getting to the place we stayed for the night was the rest area just before crossing over into Idaho. This rest area has trails and prairie dogs. We stayed in Washington again at the same place we stayed at on the way to Montana. And it was PIZZA FRIDAY but it was so hot we had the pizza come to us instead of walking across the street to pick it up!
Home
It was a boring and long trip home until we got to Portland and they had closed the interstate for construction. There was no info on how to get around the problems and the road people made a real mess of things!!! We finally got through the detour and made it home.
