June 2: MN to NE
Joan spent a lot of time getting stuff together in the morning, trips to the car and back. I decided to camp out in the garage and just waited by the open trunk so that I could get in the car with easy access. When I saw her pull out my bed, I knew for sure I was going with her. She put that funny harness thing on me and attached it to the seatbelt. I found out it restrains me. It was okay. I could still stand up and lay down. I can’t hang out the window, but the windows were closed anyway. Here’s the picture in the driveway as we set to leave at 11:30 AM – much later than I think Joan intended! Hondacar’s odometer was at: 117,363.
Her neighbor is going to use the guest bedroom as she has all her sons and wives and granddaughters in town now. So our house won’t be lonely. And, of course, Eileen will come over, too, to watch movies, use whatever she needs, and mow the lawn for Joan etc. It makes me feel good that Eileen will be around our house.
We set off in Minneapolis and drove past the dog park – I really wanted to go there but we didn’t. Then we kept driving forever. At one point, I barked really loudly in Joan’s ear and she knew it was time to stop. We got out in a place called Iowa that has “fields of opportunities” as it said on the sign going into that state. We walked around and I went to the bathroom and then Joan tied me to a picnic bench and asked this boy to watch me while she ran into the bathroom, and she was back in about 30 seconds. It was really hot so I couldn’t stay in the car. Then I drank about 1 ½ bowls of water – I was really thirsty after all that panting because I was unsure what we were doing. I felt much better after that!! We got back in the car – meanwhile we were playing the license plate game – well, I slept some, so I told Joan to keep it up for me while I was sleeping – here are the plates we’ve seen along the way, generally in the order of appearance.
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska, Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana.
We stopped another time at a gas station. That time, Joan left me in the car with the windows (in the shade) while she went into the gas station store. Then she took me for a short walk to go the bathroom. I guess it is hard for her to go to the bathroom, herself, and keep me safe. We kept driving really fast then and I slept most of the way. Joan took a couple pictures from the car. We liked Iowa – it was rolling hills and lots of green.
She also captured me in my backseat kingdom.
Then we drove through a place called Council Bluffs and Omaha – I stood up for that as there was a lot going on, including traffic. Then we crossed the Missouri River and into a place called Nebraska!
We ended up in Lincoln, NE at a place I’ve already been to two years ago! The dog, Cleo, lives there with Loukia and Jim. Loukia is Joan’s friend from something called graduate school. Here’s a picture of everyone. I like Cleo okay – better when we are alone together. When everyone is outside with us, I tried to show off and be the alpha dog. One time, I stared down Cleo, kind of like I do with squirrels back home, and Cleo decided to stay on the grass while I had reign of the wood deck with all the people. Actually, Loukia’s dad said he was happy about it because Cleo I guess jumps on them and bugs them. Cleo is younger than I am and she really barked at me to get me to play with her, but it kind of bugged me, so I had to growl a few times at her.
I slept in a room with Joan but I was very anxious and was huffing and puffing quite a bit. Then, I woke up early and starting pacing on the wood floor – tap, tap, tap, tap – with my nails. Finally, Joan got up and let me outside – then a bit later, Jim got up and started making breakfast for the humans.
Joan, Loukia, Sef, Cleo and I went on a walk but it was a really slow walk because we went at Sef’s pace. We ended up at a park where Cleo caught and injured a mole of some sort – way to go, Cleo! When we got back to the house, we took a photo with Loukia's family and then Joan packed up and we left in the car….
