Going West-from Georgia to California!

“You must go on adventures to find out where you truly belong.“ –
Sue Fitzmaurice

I am Magic, the American Fox Hound, writing another entry in my travel blog. My humans, Big Dog and Momma Dog are taking me on a long trip and I hope you enjoy going along with us. Our first stop on June 27, 2021 was the National Indoor RV Center in Lawrenceville, Georgia to have some service on Tana, our 39 foot Newmar Ventana LE. Tana is a 2012 model, so we are trying to take good care of her.

There is a separation in the wall so we went for repair before leaving.

This is me sleeping between the wall and the bed in the RV bedroom. I like to sleep here so I do not hear all the scary sounds. Momma Dog’s pillow fell to the ground so I put it to good use.

Our first stop was in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. We had stayed at this RV park before, and it’s nothing to really bark about. But it was fine for one night and we moved on to Vicksburg, Mississippi. We stayed at the Ameristar RV park which is next to the casino. We had stayed here before also and again nothing to bark about but it worked great for one night. Our third night on the road took us to Shreveport, Louisiana. This was a KOA and Momma Dog said we would not go back here again. It was very muddy and the sites were very close together and our next-door neighbor had pulled his pick up camper in between his RV and our RV. It was just a bit too cozy for us!

Welcome to Louisiana! Big dog complained about very bumpy roads in this state!

Our view of a huge river bridge from inside the RV.

I posed by this alligator who had eaten a fake arm and just for fun I licked my chops. and just so you know this alligator was fake also.

Finally we made it to Arlington, Texas. This stop was a KOA that we had stayed at before also. We did go to a s’more party and had giant pancakes for breakfast on the Fourth of July there. I actually did not get to eat any of these treats at the KOA, but the humans seemed to like them a lot.

I was forced to pose by this miniature covered wagon at the Arlington KOA.

The humans were invited to the Cleworth home on the Fourth of July. I stayed home to guard the RV and generally speaking I do not like to be out in the fireworks. Momma Dog gave me half of a trazodone and I had a really nice long nap. When they came home I was forced to go outside and felt like I was in a war zone with fireworks popping in the sky all around me. I quickly finished my “business”and dragged Momma Dog back to our home.

The humans had a delicious meal with the Cleworth‘s.

Glenna and Aspen with big smiles in the garden!

On July 5 the humans went to their 10 x 10 storage space. It was very hot and not very fun but they found a few items that they had been looking for. That evening they were invited to the Nus family home for another delicious meal.

We left Texas and headed to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Since this is our return tour, we again stayed in a familiar RV park. This park had been destroyed by a tornado a few years ago so there are no trees but they do have tornado shelters. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed inside the below ground shelters!

In Amarillo, Texas we stayed at the BigTexan RV Ranch which was recommended by a fellow RV friend. The first thing that Big Dog and Momma Dog noticed were the Longhorns on the front of the escort golf cart. And no we did not go to the big Texan Steak House although my humans said they have been there in the past.

Our escort to our site in a large gravel parking lot with lots of other motorhomes.

These limos leave at the top of each hour beginning at 5 PM to take guess to the big Texan Steak House.

We saw lots of cowboy related items at this RV Ranch. Since my humans lived in Amarillo for two years in the past they were not too excited about all of these things.

There were three dog parks to enjoy! And of course the obligatory posted sign about cleaning up after your canine.

After just a one night stay in Amarillo, we were off to New Mexico. We saw lots of people visiting the Cadillac Ranch west of Amarillo.

My humans enjoyed seeing these numerous wind turbines west of Amarillo.

We drove into New Mexico with beautiful scenery and mountains. I had a great nap and we arrived at the home of Carolyn and Gordon Berry in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. They do not have any dogs, but their backyard was full of bunnies and quail and doves and even a road runner. The humans had a wonderful time eating and chatting and enjoying the lovely home of Carolyn and Gordon. Carolyn‘s mother and Big Dog’s father were siblings. And we really enjoyed seeing all of Carolyn‘s artwork.

Carolyn and Gordon welcomed me into their home.

We loved their beautiful Southwest home and Rio Rancho.

Big dog backed Tana into the driveway for the night. This is called mooch docking.

My obligatory photography pose by the native plants of the area.

This is where Momma Dog took me to go to the bathroom. I kept looking for green grass!?

Sandia Mountains. These are also known as the Watermelon Mountains and they turn pink at dusk.

A road runner visited while we were eating breakfast.

Mama dog spotted this hot air balloon out the bathroom window. She loves seeing so many different things out this window wherever we are!

We left beautiful Rio Rancho, New Mexico and headed to Raton, New Mexico. We stayed at a small KOA and it was adequate for our needs. We all took a nap and worked on eating all the food in our refrigerator. We are going to be parking Tana for one week and staying in a sticks and bricks vacation home in the YMCA Camp Of The Rockies in Estes Park.

This sign was spotted at the KOA in Raton, New Mexico. moma dog tried to make me pose here, but I was not feeling very compliant.

The home of Jesse, Daniel and Elli Weiner in Laporte, Colorado. We spent a night mooch docking here before and after our journey to Estes Park.

We left Tana in Laporte and rode with our new friend Zara to pick up our minivan rental in Estes Park. The humans dropped me and their stuff at the Smith cabin and I enjoyed a nap on their couch!

After a drive in the new minivan to Arvada, we picked everyone up and headed back to Estes Park. The Kansas City Smiths provided a delicious dinner for us that night. And Annie loved beets for the first time!

Big Dog, Annie and Momma Dog sitting at the YMCA of the Rockies.

Annie received a good report on her first airplane trip. As a canine, I have never had this opportunity. But I’m sure I would like the snacks!

Annie flew with her parents into the Denver airport. She loves to hold her Daddy’s paw!

Two of the four days during the visit the humans ventured into Rocky Mountain National Park. they had to obtain a timed entry pass and joined in with lots of other humans to see all the beauty. I stayed behind to guard the cabin and catch up on my sleep.

Jennie was the driver to the Alpine Visitor Center.

This is one of those awkward family photos at Bear Lake.

Joanna was so excited to receive her junior ranger badge!

This pink sunset was due to smoke from fires in the west.

The humans were at the Alpine Visitor Center right before an afternoon rain storm blew in!

Life at the cabin was filled with meals, games, naps and excursions.

The humans enjoyed activities in Estes Park and at the YMCA Camp of the Rockies, such as a night walk, a massage for Momma Dog, horseback riding, a Harry Potter escape room, white water rafting, frisbee golf, a concert, crafts, a farmer’s market and probably some I cannot remember! I went on daily walks, snatched food when I could, and enjoyed seeing deer and birds. And of course-napping there was so nice.

All the humans managed to eat together at a restaurant where some had a Yak burger.

Rachel, Abbie, Reid and Ben in downtown EP.

All the humans loved the McDonald Book Shop!

Joanna and Jennie made baskets at the craft center.

Rachel, Annie and Steve enjoying the music.

And after the rained-out concert there was a beautiful double rainbow.

I spotted a dear and wanted to chase it, but Momma Dog held me back! I was so excited my ear flipped backwards.

The humans loved their time together. And yes, Life Is Good! Even for me, as the family dog, life seems pretty sweet as I try to blend in with the humans.

Steve, Annie and Claudia Aguilar have sweet smiles on the porch of Pika cabin.

Momma Dog took this picture as we were leaving to go back to Laporte.

Goodbye Estes Park! It was great to meet up with the Kansas City Smith Family and be with Joanna, Zach, Jennie, Steve and little Annie (who loves to pet me)! We will see our family again in September.

The next time the RV door was opened I learned we were in Wyoming at the Escapees national gathering known as Escapade. There were were about 700+ RVs in attendance along with their humans and dogs.

The land was dusty and we felt lots of wind!

This was the first RV Rally for Big Dog and Momma Dog. I think they had fun and will go next year when Escapade will be in Tennessee.

My humans spent many hours on “The Row” which is a place where smaller groups of Escapees share about their adventures.

They attended some educational events, shopped for RV related products, and enjoyed evening entertainment. Also they loved being with so many other human RVers. And Momma Dog loved practicing yoga with other people instead of alone. And she rode an E-bike for the first time!

This is a side view of the table for the Georgia Azaleas on “The Row.”

My humans represented the Georgia Azaleas, Chapter 16!

This was my favorite place and I met SO MANY DOGS!

The evening entertainment was a band called Status Crowes.

After almost a week in Wyoming, we packed up and headed for the Great Salt Lake in Magna, Utah. The first thing we noticed was a not so pleasant smell and many small flying bugs. We learned that brine shrimp, brine fly larvae and algae thrive in the lake. Also, many migratory birds love to visit and they eat the brine shrimp. We also saw many large spiders moving on thick white string-like webs all over the rocks.???

Tana at the Great Salt Lake State Park. The tower in the photo was across the road. This was part of a copper refinery.

There was a beautiful sunset the first night. The other days and nights were very hazy.

The three of us went on a moonwalk the first night there. The ground was a little bit squishy as we learned about the area and waited for the moon to rise.

More moon watching. I was a bit bored and wanted to run away with the other canines…

This is me on a mound of crystallized salt.

My humans took a pontoon boat ride onto the Great Salt Lake.

And they saw people floating in the water!

The next day I stayed home while the humans went to investigate Salt Lake City, Utah. They experienced Temple Square with a guided tour by young ministry sisters and an organ concert in the place where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings.

The temple is going under some reconstruction to improve its safety, especially in the event of an earthquake. This will be completed in another three years.

Unfortunately the Family Search Center was closed on Sunday when the humans arrived. I think they were hoping to find my Foxhound birth parents?

Another beautiful building on Temple Square.

maThis is a beautiful painting that Momma Dog saw in the conference center at Temple Square.

This is the description of the painting above.

Next stop on our trip was Hagerman, Idaho.

Everything we saw in Idaho looked very dry, unless it had been watered frequently. Big Dog told me this was called a drought, and all I know is I prefer green grass to do my business.

My humans enjoyed some caffeinated drinks at this interesting place in Hagerman.

Of course Momma Dog made me pose at this sheep monument.

On our last night in Hagerman, Idaho, Big Dog read all about the fossils that had been found there. If you notice in the left-hand corner of the sign there is a small dinosaur, known as the Hagerman horse (Equus simplicidens)-which is also the state fossil of Idaho. I wish I could run with him!

We crossed into Oregon the next day and landed in Baker City. Gold was discovered here in 1861. The humans explored the downtown.

Momma Dog loved this painting inside the museum.

The humans had beer and a delicious corn beef sandwich for lunch. Momma Dog drank a beer called “Very Small Guitar.”

Did you know lemon in beer is a Portland thing?

The Oregon Trail map on the side of a store.

The fire danger level was very high while we were in Oregon! This made Momma Dog kind of nervous.

Momma Dog and Big Dog pose on the Oregon Trail near Baker City, Oregon.

We were the only canine and humans here.

I really wanted to ride in one of these!

If you look really close you can see the wagon wheel ruts.

We left Oregon and headed to Stevenson, Washington.

Timberlake Campground had beautiful hydrangeas blooming in July.

Our camping neighbor (who was missing her canine) gave me a bag of steak!

We had to cross the Bridge of the Gods over the Columbia River to get to and from our campground.

We went back to Oregon to stay in Roseburg.

I loved the river in this campground! And I took a little swim here.

Our next stop was Coos Bay, Oregon. We were on the water at Bay Landing Campground and had lots of sandy walks at both low and high tides. Most of the days were pretty hazy and gray except for one beautiful clear day with the blue sky!

I am happy at the beach with so much to sniff.

A hazy but beautiful sunset in Coos Bay, Oregon.

There was not a fire ban in Oregon so we enjoyed a fire one night.

The humans rented a U-Haul pick up and traveled to see a beautiful lighthouse. The humans had work camping friends (Cindy and Al Miller) who had worked at this lighthouse so it was extra fun to see where they had been.

This was a peek into the top of the lighthouse to see the beautiful glass from France and the Fresnel lens.

Even though I wasn’t invited on this field trip I can appreciate that the humans found some delicious seafood in Coos Bay and also visited an interesting museum.

The small blue building is where they had lunch.

While in Coos Bay the humans discovered lots of water on the floor and ended up having a repair on the mid bath toilet. our next stop was Yreka, California.

Another sign about using the facilities we saw in CA.

The sun had this funny pink glow for many of the days we were there. This is from Redding, California. The fires in the west have certainly changed the views.

Our final stop on this leg of the trip out west was in Sacramento, California. Kendall entered a research study at the Mind Institute on the University of California at the Davis campus. On our last exit off the freeway a truck hit our driver side mirror and broke it.

Our home for the week in the parking lot of the Kiwanis Family House. I remember it being at least 104°.

Probably the best part of the week was having lunch with Big Dog’s cousin, David Troup, who lives in San Francisco, California. Well, I didn’t really get to go to lunch with the humans but I did get a lot of pets from David. And the humans thought it was pretty fun to ride in his hydrogen powered Hyundai Nexo.

After having a new mirror shipped to them and trying their human best to install it-unfortunately within about 10 minutes of leaving Sacramento it fell off and broke. So we taped on a mirror we had and moved on.

This is the end of our travel blog for now. This leg of the trip began on June 27 and ended on September 2, 2021. Thank you for reading to the end. We have more adventures to come and I will show you our future route.