Cashmere's log - Day 74

Happy new year! It was happy as we stayed somewhere with a big rock and I could run free on the big beach and we even went for walks in the dunes at night. I am glad I got to run and play because now we are in yet another "rv park" which is short for "rv parking lot." It is all cement with big signs on the very few small patches of grass that say "no dogs!." But of course there is a "dog walk" which stands for "small barbed-wire fenced in area with mulch pit next to the train tracks and rv storage area that was too small to use for another campsite." As if I will stoop so low as to go there. No... I held it about 18 hours until mom and dad took me near the beach and we found the only patch of grass without the no dogs sign on it. I am not allowed on the beach here at all! And people actually sneered as they walked past me... humph... I usually make people smile?!? Even the ducks in the so-called "creek" behind our site are laughing at me. But I am not the one living in a cement drainage ditch fooling myself that is is a creek. So there!

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Cashmere's log - Day 69

Why do they call that big thing "golden" when it is more like terracotta or the color of my milkbone biscuits? Oh well, at least I am out of that urine scented hotel room where mom & dad had to pay $23 a night for me to stay and I didn't even get my own bed!

I love this beach and can even run around off the leash again. Dad & I played stick with a five pound block of wood and he thought I couldn't carry it but I did... Yippee!

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Cashmere's log - Day 62

Wow! I finally got out and got to watch dad surf in santa cruz... it must be safe here as they allow us dogs to walk around and I got to see the surfing museum in the lighthouse, dude. I am having a good time with my uncle wes. Although I was not sure about him at first ever since that party when I was just a young girl and he gave me the embarrassing gas-causing pepperoni. I think throughout the years I am finally over it. Let bygones be bygones as I always say. And he plays my favorite game with me although the camper is so tight he has to let me out, then back in, then out again... I love it! I am sharing my king sized bed with him and no matter what they put between us I am convinced that the grass is greener on the other side and I have to lay on his pillows.

I think we are going to his house soon to celebrate something?

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No dogs allowed? No dogs allowed! I am surrounded by the biggest trees I have ever seen in my entire life and I am not allowed near them. As if these trees have been around for 1,000 - 2,000 years and suddenly my presence will make them feel small and they will die? I don't think so.

Hey wait, according to the other signs I am not allowed on the wharf, beaches, sidewalk or in the trash cans. I guess this place is considered "dog friendly" because I do not have to be subjected to the pesky "outdoors", gigantic red wooded trees blocking the warm sunshine, hippy and bum-lined boardwalks along the beach (really, you can't tell who is homeless and who is just an eccentric). So all these restrictions are just to protect me? Hmmmmm... poor humans.

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Cashmere's log - Day 56

Who taught these californians to drive? They must hand out drivers licenses for free at the "medical" marijuana dispenseries. Three people have swerved into our lane without even noticing. This one time? Dad had to slam on the breaks and I fell off the seat. There are some really crazy curvy mountain roads too and mom takes them really slow while other people fly by. We got a flat tire on the camper on one of these roads, but I wasn't worried. Mom has been carrying a spare around her for the past few weeks just in case we needed it. So we were on our way in no time (although oddly enough she still has the spare?).

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Cashmere's log - Day 50

Bunnies... big bunnies! There were bunnies everywhere in new mexico and they were all named "jack". I have been chasing them in my sleep. We got to stay in a house and I got to visit with my grandmom and she played my favorite game with me - I stood by the door and she let me outside, then I stood at the door and she let me back inside, then back outside... we played this for hours. But we had to leave and ended up in a place called "sunny southern california" where it rained. People kept telling mom "it never rains here" and "we went 165 days without rain" but I don't believe them. And it expensive to live here - it was $20 for me to stay in the hotel room and $3 a day for me to stay at the campground. As if I take up that much space!

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Cashmere's log - day 44

Yummmmm... texas smells like barbeque! And apparently everything is big in texas so people have stopped calling me a "big boy." The mosquitos biting mom and me when we arrived in galveston sure were big. And the sand burrs stuck in my paws were big too. And the distance between our camper and the bathhouse was really big so one night mom had to drive drive there in fear of not making it..

Then it started raining and the wind started blowing and it was soooo loud I could only sleep 23 vs 24 hours that day. I was exhausted. I thought briefly that dad got his wish of living on a house boat as the next day the camper was surrounded by so much water I thought it was going to sail away. But mom and I do not like boats so we would have have to take the car and go home... where is that again?

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Cashmere's log - Day 31

What is going on?!? Why are we in a hotel room? Where is the camper?

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Cashmere's log - Day 30

Key West is my kinda town! It is beautiful and laid back, which is what mom says about me. My "Wobbly" nature also seems to fit in just fine as it appears that everyone else here stumbles as well. I could get used to this. The drive down here was nice except I read a sign that said "SPEED KILLS KEY DEER" and I want to know who is selling methamphetamine to these already endangered creatures.

After a few days and a few too many drinks for mom and dad we moved north to key largo. It was not as nice and it was way too hot and the red swampy water behind us smelled like hard boiled eggs gone bad. But I still laid outside as the camper broke even more and I don't want to be in there.... although the air conditioning is pretty nice.

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Cashmere's log - Day 26

What a long and eventful week this has been! It started out very bad. Mom & dad were so excited to visit a place called "Coco Beach" and we traveled there to stay at jetty park and we pulled into the campground, the guy took one look at me at me and said "NO WAY!" we do not allow dogs in campers. I guess that was to protect the hundreds of cats running around. That place was no good anyway, so we kept going to Sebastian Inlet. Things took a turn for the worse when we arrived late at night and as they were putting up the camper one of the cables snapped. They managed to set it up with that magical stuff dad calls duck tape. The next morning the ranger came by saying that someone complained about me. As she walked up I lifted my head from the grass and said "woof" before laying back down. I have never been so offended! So we left.

Next stop was a place called Lake Worth. I loved the new spot as I had plenty of grass to lay in. I also discovered the inner huntress in me as I chased two raccoons up a tree. My only regret is that I didn't ask them first how they can open the cooler with my food and treats as that is a skill I would like to learn. A bunch of people showed up and dad made friends with all of them as usual. mom stumbled into the camper late sat night and I hope that she did not embarrass herself by falling asleep in her chair by the fire in front of strangers. I like it here but I was not allowed on the beach and I was invited to dinner by my friend Riley's grandmom but mom and dad did not take me. I was so looking forward to checking out the night life at delray beach, but again I have been left out of the fun.

Well we are off again to a new location although I am worried the camper might not make it. Good thing I am used to being outside and quite frankly prefer it now.

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Cashmere's log - Day 22

Home feels really far away. But I am discovering new things. For example we stayed at a campground in a place called "flagler" that was right on the beach at a and it was soooo windy that the camper rocked and creaked and flapped all night. I could barely get my 14 hours of sleep in with all the racket and rocking and then realized I was in the midst of a history lesson... this is what it was like for the early settler's dogs traveling across the country in a stagecoach! Then I guess Mom didn't appreciate the stagecoach as much as I did, even though it was her idea to spend $10 more a night to be able to see the ocean from the camper vs being across the street where the view was less but so was the wind. So we packed up and left and this time I had only a faint glimmer of hope that this time we were going home. But instead we ended up in a nice spot in st augustine in a lovely park with lots of trees and space to roam and no wind. A disturbing lack of wind given the temperature of 82.6 and I am not sure what "humidity" is but I would rate it at about 116.7%. My paws are sweaty. And the water here tastes like a plastic hose. And there are lots of "critters" waiting to eat my food and based on the signs throughout the camp this somehow causes them to die. I don't understand the logic just the bottom line.

So I am getting used to being a "hippie" dog and going with the flow and just to prove it the other night I went and laid in the brush vs the rug or neatsheet they insist on laying out for me (when will they learn I don't want to be neat!). I starting dreaming and heard a noise in the backyard and immediately imagined it was my chaise lounge running away from me so I growled and chased it as fast as I could. Well Dad nearly wet his pants thinking that I was protecting us as he had just told Mom that was why was "hiding" waiting to attack. Mom said I was sitting there because I was "pouting" so I am glad Dad thinks he is right for once.

Dad is working on his "patience" this trip and from the looks of it Mom is working on "outgrowing" all her clothes so she can get bigger ones. In order to make Dad think that is not true she has taken up running and refuses to take me with her... but I could outrun her any day! Maybe after my 9th nap and when my paws stop sweating I will prove it.

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Cashmere's log - Day 17

I am confused. We had "halloween" at the last campground and this new one has "christmas" lights everywhere along the park road. Miles of lights. Did I oversleep? No wonder I have been so hungry. But then today we went to the beach and it was hot and sunny. Dad and Mom went swimming. Then of course Dad dragged me in the ocean... twice. Saying something about getting rid of the "dog" smell although I still don't smell it! But all of the seasons have mixed and I have no idea if it is fall, winter or summer. At least I know it is not spring.

This place is like nothing I have every seen. It's real purty and I like it. We are next to a pond though and I am leery about the creatures that live in it. There is a sign warning about the alligators and I know they don't know I can read but I can and frankly I am a bit nervous. The weather is hot during the day and cold at night. As if they don't know me they keep trying to get me next to those giant fires Dad makes with all the sparks and flames shooting out. I was hoping the fires would stop, but then Dad came home one day with the entire back of Mom's car filled with wood for $40 and he was soooo proud. Ugh.

I tried something new last night - fried tilapia tacos - and I liked it. I also like Dad's new beard but not Mom's new mustache. Well, I have to go. I don't know what "grits" are but Dad is making some now and I need to try them!

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Cashmere's log - Day 12

I think I could get used to this. This is the nicest campground I have ever seen. Our site backs up to a playground and all of the kids stop by to pet me. There is a soft, sandy, sunny spot right under the swings that I like to lay in. I can keep my eye on mom and dad as they walk over to a nearby building to wash dishes, take a shower in what mom says is like a hotel bathroom, or walk over to get their free coffee every morning. They even washed all my bedding over there (which I thought smelled just fine). And ever since I had that little "accident" when they left me in the camper for a few hours and my tummy hurt they started obsessively taking me for walks. I think I counted 246 the evening of the "incident" as they kept telling me to "go potty" but I was done with that for days. So we just keep walking... and walking... and walking...

The only downfall is they now leave me tied up outside when they go out. Yesterday they went to go exploring the beach but ended up spending all day at the Chevy place getting the car fixed. Then they tried to got to the beach but it started raining so they went bowling instead and then brought home some Chinese food and sat on the bed eating it and watching movies. I don't understand why they are no longer sharing food with me? Mom had an accident the same night that I did which involved trying to open a window in the camper, a pitcher getting knocked over and then spilling a wine glass all over the floor that she had just cleaned 697 times after what I did. But she is still allowed to stay in the camper and eat fun food. Life is not fair sometimes!

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Cashmere's log - Day Six

Things are looking up. Still in "Frisco" but the rain stopped last night and I have counted 26 walks that I have taken today. At home I would be lucky to get one. I was only left alone for about two hours this morning after walk #3 so they could go find something called "The wifi Chai". This sounded weird to me because when Mom returned she said they paid $9.00 for a cappuccino and a coffee so they could get "free" wifi at a cafe.

Then the wind picked up and I thought that the camper was going to blow away. Dad went to check the surf and Mom was holding on to the awning of the camper awaiting his return but she is not strong enough and it totally blew away and bent over the camper. Then she just stood there holding on to the bent, still half attached awning not knowing what to do. I felt bad for her. After that I thought that we were moving to a less windy spot but Dad started pulling the camper still popped up and then yelled at Mom and started driving away. OMG there goes my last indoor bed option i was so scared I ran after it and Mom just walked. Then I realized we were just relocating to a better, safer, less windy spot and I like it. There are lots of trees and no other people so can run free. Walk #19 was to find wood for the fire pit that Dad "relocated" from another site. I heard BBQ chicken is for dinner and am very excited. Still not sure when we are going home.

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Cashmere's log - Day Five

OMG. This is hell. Everytime we pack up the camper and get in the car I think that we are going home but we just keep getting further and further away from my chaise lounge and my couch. I thought that the sand burrs were bad and the wild cats in Rodanthe that ate my food every night. I also was weirded-out by the gravestones right behind our site while Mom and Dad went to the beach for three hours. Then, Dad made me swim in the bay while Mom paddled around on the surfboard. But now, we are in a place called "Frisco" in the outer banks and it has been raining on and off all day. The rain stopped briefly and we got to play "stick" and I jumped over a pile of seagrass and sprained my already weak ankle. I am too old for this. I tried to eat my dinner and the awning on the camper is blowing and banging and Dad made a fire in a random old grill that he "borrowed" from a neighboring campsite and it is so windy the smoke keeps blowing in my face. What was that?!? Was that lightning?!? Thunder?!? Ohhhh nooooooo......

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