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7/16/2021—Sedona to Joshua Tree City
Wow, what a busy few days. It's been a while since I've been able to update this blog. But let me tell you….Sedona is where it's at. Snack Guy's mom, grand-snack-lady, would love it here; it's all crystals and vortexes, and pretentious hippies. I believe I heard Food Lady mention that we were halfway through this trip. I'm not really sure how to measure that, but OK. Anyhow, we moved on from Snowflake, AZ down to Sedona on the 13th. We went through a town called Winslow, where Snack Guy needed to stop at a statue and take a picture. I don't really get it, but he kept singing a song by the Eagles, called Take It Easy. Something about standing on a corner, a flatbed Ford…I don't know what was going on. I do know it was crazy hot. They had to put wax on my paws just to walk around, and I'm not a fan. At least, I didn't make it easy for them, but actually, just between you and me, dear reader, that stuff tastes pretty good and I lick it off when we're done walking around. It's hot. Like, for real hot. Not like Charlotte hot where it sticks to you and you can't breathe, but oven hot, dry and dusty, and makes your nose itch. That makes me think of Charlotte. I miss it. As cool as all of this is, my backyard is still best. I miss Archie, my BFF. He's the only other dog except for Luna, my neighbor, who knows how to play properly. And his Humans who always remember to bring me a treat. I miss my neighbors, Em and Everette, Back Up Food People, who always have a good scratching for my ears. But Mint Hill is a long way away. And if you're not where you are, you're nowhere; that's why I like to stay in the moment. We followed along rt 66 and stopped at a few attractions, somewhere called Jack Rabbit's with a lot of pictures of rabbits. It was totally baffling to me, and the heat was unbelievable, but my Humans wanted photos, so we had to stop and take them. They keep looking for shot glasses to add to their collection. I keep looking for other dogs to paly with. But we made our way through the Coconino National Forest, and it was mesmerizing. The windy road was full of switchbacks and cut throughs and snaked its way up to more than 6000 ft and back down as we landed in Sedona. We saw the signs change from Deer crossing to Elk crossing, and then to Ram crossing, so I guess the topography changed considerably.
It was a nice place we stayed at. Comfortable, right in the center of Sedona. There was a dog that stayed up stairs from us, and he was nice enough, but he didn't really know how to play. I feel a bit bad for him. I followed him upstairs once and went in the house where he lived, but it was no use. He just came out to pee and go back in. I don't think he knew how to live in the moment. We took some pretty incredible hikes here, ones that supposedly passed though natural vortexes in the earth that are supposed to balance your energies and stimulate healing, and peace and whatever….I don't know; I say it again, Humans can be strange. But it was high up in the mountains, red rocks, hot, dry weather, needed a lot of water after those hikes. There were all kinds of new and interesting smells. Snack Guy and I actually stumbled upon some Elk, hiding in the trees. They ran away loudly, and I won't say it was scary, but I may have barked, growled, and tried to pull Snack Guy in the other direction. Sometimes he just doesn't know how to read the situation.
The best part about Sedona, by far, was the dog park. Best one yet. And so close to the house where we stayed. First time we went there, only a couple of other dogs were around, and of course they didn't really know how to play correctly, but I taught them how. Best is when they chase me because I may be smaller, but I'm quick and agile. I get them running after me, then turn fast and throw my shoulder into them or just change directions and they go running off in another direction while I skip away laughing.
Apparently, it was the start of monsoon season in Sedona. Who knew AZ had a monsoon season? But our fist day there we played under the threat of big storm, but I didn't mind. It cooled things down and didn't rain long. After a long couple of days of hiking and checking out the town it was time to move on. This time to Joshua Tree City. If you're a U2 fan you know it. That's from Snack Guy. Again, not something I understand all that well. But before we left, we spent one last morning at the dog park. More dogs this time, and I ran that place like I owned it. Mostly….I admit after I got them all chasing me, and after dodging and tricking them all, all those other, bigger dogs started to get mad at me. I can't help it if these Arizona dogs are all fat and slow…but they kind of got aggressive, started ganging up on me….and well, if you've been reading these you know that Athena is my protector and supporter, and well…I was a bit scared for a little while….all those dogs chasing me…but then something happened, Athena's spirit rose within me, and all that fear left like tumble weed across rt 66. It was replaced with a white-hot rage. It roiled inside me, red toothed and hungry. Athena spoke to me and told me to stand my ground. I stopped and backed myself into a corner, turned on all those other guys and gave them my most fierce bark flowed by several quick snaps of my sharpest canines. They pulled up sharp, confused. I kept coming at them like an AZ monsoon thunderstorm. They didn't know which end was up. Let's just say I pretty much put them in their place. No, sir, Athena doesn't do submissive, and although I like to run and be chased, I don't do submissive either. I was holding my own pretty well when my Humans snatched me up and put the leash back on. The dog park there has a separate place when you can actually go hike off-leash, walk some trails with your humans freely. They dragged me up to that section where I kind of sat in the shade and panted for a while. Food Lady produced my water bottle, and I had a good long drink and tried to calm my agitation. Hahaha….I guess I showed those guys. I could hear Athena giggle in the passing storm.
When we went back through to leave, those other dogs left me alone sure enough. Another human tried to get down in my face and shake hands, and I didn't want to bite him, but I didn't like it either, so I lunged at him and, very gently, let my teeth graze his face, just enough to let him know what I could do. He backed off. My Humans seemed a bit embarrassed, and we left after that. I had a good long sleep most of the way to Joshua Tree City. Which is where we wound up by that evening. It was an impossibly long drive. Good thing I can sleep anywhere now. Sometimes it's not even really "a sleep"; it's more a deep, reflective zone out, a kind of mystical state of in between consciousness and unconsciousness. Maybe I learned something from those vortex hikes after all! Anyhow, I didn't think this drive would ever end. Food Lady said something about 8 hours, but I think she misspoke. It must have been a year. And somehow when it did end, we found ourselves even deeper in the desert. I mean there was nothing around. Mountains, sand, heat, and dry air that makes me sneeze and makes my eyes gunk up. I don't know what U2 found so special about this place. So far it just seems hot and dusty. We were only here a little while, just long enough for my Humans to unpack, and they put me back in the car! I was totally confused, but as it happens, there is some kind of movie set or something here. It's called Pioneer Town. Some famous cowboy actors in the 50s bought a bunch of land here and made a whole town a set to film their TV shows and movies. We went there and walked around, and it was interesting. Lots to see and sniff, some chickens and goats. Then another dog came walking through the center of the town, without a leash! Well, not really a dog. I thought it was at first, and for a split second I thought about going up to it to teach it to play, but Snack Guy said something like: COYOTE! And it just didn't seem right, so we all sat there and watched this dog-not-a-dog walk through the town and leave. It was strange. But anyhow, we're here now, and there is a private back yard, no grass just rocks and sticks, but it's all enclosed and private, so that makes it easier to poop!
I'll keep you posted,
Risa
PS They still haven't found the Jeep. Very strange. I really can't figure out why they'd trade it for this car, but hopefully it all works out.
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