ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY LOOKING FOR ADVENTURE

Hello Everybody.
As you can see me here,
I AM READY FOR CAMPING!!
Yoo Hoo!!
So this past Sunday
we are rolling out of our driveway
heading to the airport in Manchester
to pick up Uncle Jef.
Now you have to understand,
                                                I had no clue about what kind of adventure this was going to be.
I mean, we had to get me, in my crate, and Merlin in the back seat,
AND GET UNCLE JEF TO FIT IN THE BACK SEAT ALSO?
I mean it was a new thing for all of us.
And so we have our coolers, and our bicycles, and our food, and our tent, I had no clue how much STUFF you have to take with you camping, that is if you don't want to wake up with cricks in your necks. And so, we packed and we moved and we cranked the trailer and lights, and well it could have been a fully Three Stooges event. But once we got started it was good. We stopped along the way, for my kidneys were not used to all of the jostling as you know, being a couch potato. I had not up to now  been out on a long trip much. Now when we got to the airport, I remember coming into that airport. It was just me and my big red dog (see picture).
It was a good thing that Auntie Harriett gave me the "BIG RED DOG" to keep me company
for I would have surely been lonely without him and I have kept him all of these years.
But back then I was just a
"babe in wonderland".
Everything was a wonder to me. I did not understand the noises, the people.
I mean I wanted to lick everybody and no one would pick me up.
MY LITTLE HEART WAS SO SAD.
But that was until I saw Mama, and all was forgiven.
But I digress.
So we see Jef at the airport and everyone is so happy
and me too because it has been a long time since I have seen him,
AND OF COURSE I AM LICKING HIM TO DEATH.
He is a good sport though and
JUST LAUGHS THROUGH IT ALL.
And finally off to the beach we go.
Our first night at the beach was SPECTACULAR I should say. We got to go down the boardwalk and watch the sun set with younger folks who were hanging out there.
They liked me a whole lot and I liked them, but did not get in,
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, NOT EVEN ONE LICK.
(But we did give them a Dharma card).
Then back at the camp I got to go for walks with Mama and Papa and with Jef which I really loved, but was new for me to see other dogs. Remember, I am a "couch potato", so I am a little timid with others.
I learned something new, how to walk on a leash on the left. Now this might seem like odd to most people since I have been around more than a decade, but I always just hung out with my brother Stoney,
and he did not like walking so far.
Many times Mama tried to bring us to other places, even in parades, but quickly she and Papa
WOULD END UP CARRYING US.
But this beach camping was all new and exciting for me.
I am a quick study I will say.
I MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT SHE WAS SAYING TO ME, BUT I KNEW WHAT SHE MEANT.
I also started my lesson about not barking at other dogs. Now many dogs came by our camp site,
and I barked at every single one of the big dogs.
I can still hear Aunt Beki say "No Bark, No Bark" when she came to visit.
But really, I am just like my brother Stoney Wall. I have what is know as the "Little Man Syndrome".
Though I am little, I think I am a bear
(like Napoleon, those of you who are history buffs will know who I mean).
Stoney was like that. I think I just like letting them know who is boss.
Anyway, Mama has a theory about miniature long haired dachshunds,
and how she thinks they were bred with basset hounds initially,
because when I get nervous, I bay like a basset hound.
Old Pepre raised basset hounds for a long time,
and my cousin Doni,
he once had one named Casper (named after the friendliest of ghosts),
who was all white.
Finally we get to the edge of the ocean.
Now, I have never seen an "ocean" before, but I will tell you,
I WAS IMPRESSED!!
I mean I am thinking
"Oh Wow, Sweet Georgia Peaches"
how cool is that?
So I am like running down the shore dragging Mama behind. Sand is flying everywhere, the hairs on my toes are sticking out covered with sand everywhere. I am sticking my nose in the sand (see the picture) and when I get to the edge of the water and like I am thinking, well
"I'm thirsty, aren't you?"
looking up at Mama.
Wouldn't you be?
I look at all of this water,
I jump into the waves, covering my toes and
I SHOVE MY WHOLE FACE IN.
I was so thirsty and then!
YIKES!! ACH ACH!! What?
I am choking and spitting water out, and my tongue keeps coming out, what is wrong with me. and Mama,
I have no idea what is wrong with her because she is LAUGHING, can you believe, LAUGHING her head off.
All I could think about is "Come on guys, couldn't you have put up a sign?
DON'T DRINK THE WATER.
Like how was I to know?
And so, Dharma Hugs and So Long for Tonight.
Catch me on Thursday for the conclusion.
Dharma Dharma

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