Mount Townsend 20 Aug 06

Regret the tardiness, but been busy. Where were we, ah yes, Mount Townsend for the weekend hike. Ok, it's a calm, warm day, but just gorgeous. So the furmeister and I get our gear together, with shoe-laces this time ;-), throw it in the BMW and leave the mundane world behind.
We arrive at the trail head, while listening to the "original MTV" music on Kiwi's Ipod. Fun times with good memories on a curving, mountain road to a real outdoorsy hike. So Kiwi starts off through the forest part of the trail as it starts to rise in elevation. Her majesty let me snap this photo, but wouldn't allow any paw-graphs.So Kiwi leads the expidition through the darkest regions of the Buckhorn Wilderness. Eventually we break out of the forest shade into the sunlight that is starting to warm the day for us. Here are some of the flowers we encounter as we start to pass the 4,500 foot level. Someday soon, Kiwi will teach me how to do a collage type thing with pictures so I can combine them for easier viewing pleasure. LOLThis little guy, below, was all by his lonesome, without any support from his fellow fauna friends. His tenacity for survival caught my spirit, so I decided to capture his glorious struggle for life and save it forever. Camera on, focus, click, image ok. Yes! One with nature feeling. Then Kiwi PEED on it!! Haha, gotcha, we left it as we found it, alone in its universal fight for primal existence.This is a sneak peak at the peak we were headed to, if we don't get to peaked. Two photos stiched together to make one. (if you look real hard when its magnified, you can see the thread) The ridgeline you see is the one will be hiking on. Yeah baby.Kiwi making sure I'm not lagging to far behind. Good thing she has me hold the other end of the leash. :-) Which is a great book!!
It was pretty dry on this hike, as there was no source of water for us the entire trip. But we carried, or Kiwi had me carry plenty of water. Two liter camelback and 64 ounces in separate containers. Funny thing, the water containers alway get lighter when we start to come back down the trail. Now just how does that happen? ;-)
This is Daisy. One of many furry companions Kiwi met this hike.Here we are nearing the ridgeline, notice how dry it looks. I recently bought some sun-glasses that are not black like most lens' are. There kind of brownish. On this hike they made everything appear as if I was looking thru a sepia filter. That didn't help on this "lack of water" hike.Yehaw, we're there! I danced a little jig at the great 360 degree view we had. Kiwi just wanted some more water. :-)
So I start taking pictures as we go at our own pace exploring the ridgeline. At the top, we were over 6,200 feet. Air was clear with no pollution, breeze was gentle but enough to help the direct rays from the sun. Man, it was super. Kiwi with North Pole a little ways behind her.
Yep, still snow on some of the Olympic Mountains. Gotta love the Olympic Peninsula for year round hike with Nature at its best.We were able to enjoy the day with many other hikers. This lady below is headed to Tonga in a few weeks to go diving with Humpbacks. I sorta mentioned that she was more than prepared with that big lump attached to her back, but would have to be careful when she was swimming with it. ROFLKiwi hamming it up. Beautiful sky, eh? And we could see Canada too, eh. Wished for a Molson, but the humpback going to Tonga didn't have one. :-(
Told you it was dry. I mean dry. As we enjoyed the 27 switchbacks on this 8 mile hike, Kiwi's paw action would stir trail dust that would rise up to about my haist and linger. Dry, as in Dingo dry. Oops did I say that? Do ACD's have Dingo in their heritage. I won't tell, unless I get on Oprah. LOLAnother trail loving pooch. Seems to be taking care of soldier Steve who might be enjoying some R&R from the dry Iraqi, deser, uh....nevermind. Who might be enjoying his time on Mount Townsend. :-) Video 1Kiwi is facing west here, which means that behind her is the Seattle side of the state. Of course it lies across the blue stuff, which is the Puget Sound. Carved out by prehistoric glaciers, Puget Sound is uh, big, deep, uh cold, and yeah big. Some big mountains nearby, plenty of water for those aquatic activities, great weather,....ah the Pacific Northwest. (wait, what was that Kiwi? Don't say that stuff, uh oh yeah, lots of communicable diseases here folk, cough, pollution all around, ow, mean people, stay away, stay far away. whew, thx Kiwi) This natural rock formation below is testament to the queer winds that can whirl around the tops of mountain peaks. Kiwi counted 4 or 5 along the ridge. Highly unnatural how these formations can occur.
And a pretty golden boy here.Convenient pocket camera with zoom lens allows us to enjoy the scenic beauty, even if it is at a distance. And has a nifty video feature also. Video 360This mellow fellow, who was sleeping when we first went by, was friendly enough to greet Kiwi. Looking at his packs, and knowing his real name, "Clutch Cargo" made me chuckle. That really is his name. :-)
A look back over the ridge trail. Did I mention it was dry?ANother sticthed pciture. thise neattle is shharp. ROFLDecent hike, roughly 7,500 feet of elevation on our paws, no running water, did I mention it was dry too? We get back to the car, err BMW and all I can find in the big bottle of pain relief is this..... sheesh.

Whoa, what's this? Is that a beautiful Boxer puppy? Why yes it is. At eight weeks old she is the latest addition to my friend's family. The quiet little female beauty is named Rocky. And damn, her teeth are sharp. I forgot all about that with Kiwi at nine months. LOLKiwi showing some of her good manners by not being aggressive around her water. She even shared some. Another flic.

Pop quiz. What is the one common thing in all the dog pictures? Go ahead scroll back and check. Any ideas? Waiting music....
Well? Ok I'll give you a hint. Kiwi. Look at her in all the pics and compare her to the other hiking hounds. It's called a leash! Kiwi and I rounded a small crook in the trail, came past a large christmas type tree and had a surprised greeting with another hiker and his leashless dog coming down the trail. First thing out of his mouth in a snotty tone was, "Is she friendly? Bastard. Get your own stuff in one sock before you start casting aspersions of indifference on others. I thought it but didn't say it. Kiwi was fine and the other dog was also. His tone and words just didn't set in my saddle too well. By the way all the other dogs off their leash were fine and their owners were laid back as well.

Home alone...... :-O

Well this little critter was that the last photo worthy subject Kiwi ran across during her walk this evening. I saw the lump in grass and since it seemed out of place, we investigated. Or rather I did. I kept Kiwi right next to me, but at arm's length. I really don't think she ever noticed it. I got really close but it never moved. Just saw its side heaving in and out with its labored breathing. Finally got a stick and smoothed the grass next to the little booger but he wouldn't move, nary a whisker. Finally saw the blood on his front paws. Didn't seem much, but maybe he was ran over or something and this was his post traumatic stress freeze. So we left him to survive or not.
Now this fellow below keeps saying hi to Kiwi every time we take this route. Her white knight is even chivalrous enough to escort her to the other side of the fence, shouting and praising Kiwi's beauty for all to hear. Thankfully this is only one lone knight and there are no other vying for Kiwi's affection along this stretch of her journey.
The shots below (Kiwi, right now, is playing with the door stop thingy, sproing, sprooinnggggg, bark, sproingg, whuff, sproing, too funny) are just for me to see what my camera can do. Canon 400 Powershot on normal, 3x zoom, and then 12x with digital zoom and an unsteady hand. Or it could have been the anticipation of the rum & coke after the walk. ;-)
Really like the small pocket camera. And this is just a pretty blue Northwest sky. So much better than when I worked in LA.Today, because of me being on call, in case the world needed saving or something, Kiwi and I stayed local. We went to local parks in different towns, Silverdale and Poulsbo. Or as the folk in Poulsbo call it, "the village".

First Poulsbo, with its small, quaint norwegian feel. Beautiful day, and what do you know, some festivity going on at the marina park. Small and homey, but Kiwi and I enjoyed ourselves none the less, as we mingled amongst all the others.Not the greatest pics, but still a good time.

Then we headed over to the "main" street. Definitely quaint and folksy but laid back and such wonderfuls smells emanating all over the place. Sluy's bakery, the chocolate store, barbeque from the beach. Kiwi was so mentally drooling that when I stopped to talk to some people, she started nibbling on some of the decorative floral displays. LOL So funny to look down and see a blue flower in her red ACD mouth. :-)
By the way, she got the lower floral displays. LOLAfter walking in Poulsbo, we drove over to the waterfront park in Silverdale. Man, another activity in progress. Our lucky local day.Turns out this weekend at the Silverdale marina there was some boat racing going on. Great sunny day, plently of friendly people and Kiwi minding her manners the whole time. Not even one piddle in public, whew. (listening to this as I blog, dating myself ROFL)

Look Mildred, its ona dem thar weener dogs and it has a rainbow leash. :-)
And even though this little boy is doing a poor John Travolta or asking Kiwi to look up, he did this several times. Never could understand what he wanted. Kiwi would just look at him like the old RCA icon, Nipper.See, it was a boating event. Why else would they try to sell little boats?(Remember this tune?) Heard some acceptable music coming from the PA system while Kiwi and I strolled along the park taking in the activities and shade when available.I almost forgot about this. :-) Well since the family is vacationing in Mexico, I had the whole place to myself, chores and all. Well it was time to do the dishes. Simple enough, no? Rinse off the big stuff, throw it in the dishwasher, add soap and git 'r done. Well three degrees and three more certificates doesn't mean your smart by any means. Yup, I put the WRONG "dish-washing" soap in the dishwasher. Man, that thing takes a long time when your manning the bucket and swab brigade. Kiwi even got in the act. Telling me what she thought of the incident. I'll leave it up to you to translate, because it makes my ears red. ROFL
Quickly, get away from the machine. Get far away. Ok, how about the dog park? Just look at those two faces. Only a mother could love those. LOL I keed, I keed. These fellas were two of four basset flavored pooches that day at the park. These guys were mello and good dog park citizens. One of them sniffed out the treats I had in my shirt pocket. Little bugger stayed with me at my feet the rest of the time he was there. He wasn't rude, no barking nor whining, but that sad puppy dog face followed me everywhere. :-) Plleeeaasssseeeeeeeee mister, can I have a treat?
The park has its own watering hole too. And even those pretty, polite little poop bags. Some big enough for Romo. LOL Romo is about 10 months. Glad I don't pay his food bill or pick up his turds. snickeringKiwi and the bassets, showing about a fourth of the "dog park"There's my girl.Oh yeah, almost forgot. Here is a video of Kiwi "herding" Jack. Jack was not hurt, Jack's dad is cool with this since no blood was drawn. But is this bad? Is Kiwi becoming a teenager and trying to establish herself? She has only done this once or twice. Can this be controlled? Is it part of an ACD lifestyle? Share your opinions please.

You think dogs will not be in heaven?

I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.


This week my great friend Steph and his family had to help another member to the rainbow bridge. It grieves me so much to write this. I can hardly see the keyboard becasue of the tears. Making so many errors.

This is one way to share what has been a fulfilling life.

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. Roger Caras

Every boy should have two things: a dog, and a mother willing to let him have one. Anonymous

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. Anonymous


The one absolute, unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world - the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous - is his dog . . . . He will kiss the hand that had no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world . . . . When all other friends desert, he will remain. George G. Vest

This is Steph confiding with me:

Good Sir,Good Friend, Mon Ami, Michael:



This is a heart-rendering day; Major Pain (the name of which, and of course, has always been a lie), has been put down.



My heart is aching (and so is my spelling and diction).



Major has been my companion, has been my confidant, and of course, has his own character.



He has been my friend.



Now the household is empty without his "ball busting" tail-wagging.



I am venting, good Sir, good Friend.



His hips were gone, he couldn't walk outdoors without help. Yet Dawn couldn't let him go without me saying "good-bye".



The schedule was set with Ridgetop for 6:00 p.m. 14 August, 2006.



Of course, I came home at 3:00 p.m., and he couldn't get up to give me the anxious loving and nuzzling and muzzling.



Oh, the hurt...



The "Doc" was gracious. Nathaniel elected to be there.



They inserted the catheter and brought my companion, my confidant, my character back into the room.



Dawn was at the "nose" end, Major laying on his left side down, and Nathaniel at the chest.



Me, I was on Major's back and head.



I leaned down to Major's left ear, as he'd raise his head, and said "you know my words, and you know my love..."



The "Doc" injected the serum.



Major licked my face and got my glasses pretty well done.



Then he died. Silently.



With grace and peace.



We came home to an emptiness.



The squeaky ducks that he took out of Dawn's garden are sitting where we had retrieved them...



My boots are where I put them so that he can cuddle up at night, and I can still find them in the morning...



The breakfast bowl that I get to fill every Saturday and Sunday morning as he awaits my wake-up, has been inverted...



His water-dish that I hound Nathaniel for making crystal clear and clean and more clear; has been emptied.



Tonight, I will go to bed.



Tonight, I will cry.



Tonight I will try to cuddle and hold my wife as she finally lets the emotions flow into the night, into the hope of all hopes:



Major Pain is finally free.



With all my love, my friend, I remember your support with Coco.



No work done today, maybe not tomorrow...



Later, my friend.