Bosco Dog Blog

Hondacar started the day at 118,775. Joan and I both were pretty tired because of some nighttime antics, on my part. We went to bed around 10pm, and I was in the tent with Joan. The last time I was in a tent was when I went backpacking along Lake Superior with Joan about 3 years ago. That went fine BUT there was no wind or people that time. Last night, there were people and wind. First, we got in the tent and since the sky was threatening with lightning etc., Joan had the extra cover over the tent which made it kinda hot inside and I could see out only in one spot. So, then I started hearing people making all sorts of noises, and I, out of respect and protection for Joan, wanted to investigate and was concerned. So I started panting and standing up. When dogs like me pant, we also drip saliva all over. THAT was a problem for Joan, I guess. I kept dripping saliva on her and she was not too happy about it! Especially since she was already hot in there, too. Around 11, the noise died down and I snuggled – not on my bed – but between Joan and the tent side – kinda on top of her. For a while, I had my head and my paw on her leg. But I stopped panting and went to sleep somewhat. THEN, about an hour and half later, I jumped up and started being concerned again because the tent started making all sorts of noises – Joan said this was the wind, but I still was concerned and resumed my panting/saliva dripping/standing routine but this time I was standing near her head so I was dripping saliva on her head or arm, and she really did not like that! Joan wanted to get up at 5:20 AM and it was already nearly 1:00 AM – Joan let me outside the tent and I went over and laid down near the tree where we had hung out during the day. Joan said I could not stay there because there are lions that could come in the night and eat me. So, instead, she got up, put me in the car, opened the windows, and returned to her tent. I loved that – finally a familiar spot that is comfortable. This morning at 5:30, she poked her head out the tent, and I was there waiting for her, sitting in the backseat in my spot. The problem is Joan didn’t sleep very much because she was concerned about me!

So we started our day and I was a happy camper (no pun intended) on my long leash at the site while Joan packed things up. I wouldn’t eat any breakfast though except my peanut butter pill. Then just before we left, I threw up. Oh well! Joan plied me with treats because I eat those. I’m just so out of sorts and hot, I haven’t been eating very much this week.

We headed out and arrived at a place called “Dead Horse Point State Park.� Here are pictures of our long walk there. It runs atop the Colorado River - Joan thought it was just as good as the Grand Canyon (note - that's another national park that we won't go to!!)

We got back to the car around 11:30, and during the last part of our walk, we stopped often and Joan gave me water.

It was very hot! Then Joan ate lunch and we headed off again in the Hondacar. I slept a bit, but then I woke up when we went through Capitol Reef National Park – we just drove through but it has spectacular scenery (but it’s a national park and we are boycotting those for dog reasons).

The scenery just kept getting better and better – we went up into a windy and cool forest with lots of aspen trees. Then we went down in elevation and went through more spectacular rock formations and ended up at Calf Creek Recreation area where we got the very last campsite at 4 PM. Phew – we were lucky!

Joan set up the tent while I waited, and then we went on another hike – this one was to a waterfall and was 6 miles roundtrip and I pulled the entire way. I had lots of energy after sitting in the car for 4 hours. I got to cool off in the creek several times.

I’m really exhausted now, back at camp. I hope tonight we all get some sleep!