poodles are high maintenance...

 

we are back from another trek to Homer. he was in and out of water, mud, sand and lots of wind and rain. slowly working on his coat.  getting tiny matts out of it and making him look poofy again. it's a labor of love for sure. 

the VRBO worked out well. a little added anxiety doing new things for me anytime really.  you gotta just face those anxieties and do new things. 

the lady that owns it has a few others. it's up the hill, does have views. it was nice and the lady clearly was cool with the dogs. there are two larger cabins on her property for rent as well. it was nice to have the dogs have more freedom on a property and more space inside. the bed wasn't the most comfy. but i still slept fine. 

there were two driveways and I couldn't see the little cabin from the first driveway i went up.  i then had to back out a twisted driveway.  the anxiety was up a bit.  i figured i'd just go down to the beach with the dogs and we would all relax and try again. the owner was out at dinner i think anyway. on the way down the hill, i got pulled over for speeding.  

thankfully, i did manage to get out of that ticket like so many others i have gotten out of. i'd guess over 50.  i was always relaxed when pulled over. of course, these past several years i have come to understand that this is actually a form of the privilege that comes with my race and social standing really. for others each of these pull overs would have been a source of anxiety and fear perhaps. i never worried about being pulled over because i really didn't have to. only once was i harassed by a pair of officers that made me get out of the car in my gym clothes.

this cabin is in Talkeetna. 

there was one officer in South Dakota that also was a jerk really.  i had just moved there and within a week this guy was following me trying to find some reason to pull me over. it was cold out and he did pull me over. it was my California plates.  even in '93 there were already those who had a hatred for California. he made me get out of my car and into his.  this was very unusual and creepy.  he was angry as i demanded the passenger side door stay open.  i needed an escape route. 

he followed me a week or two later to find a reason to pull me over again.  he had told me i had to change my plates to South Dakota plates. as it had been below zero. i had only changed the back plate.  he eventually pulled me over after again following me for several miles.  for the front plate not being changed. 

we chilled on the beach in Homer for a bit after being pulled over. there was a second driveway to the vrbo so i took that one when i returned and saw my place. she came out to meet me. showed me around. 

she had done a day trip to Seldovia that day.  after talking to her i decided to just sign up for the day trip.  it sounded like dogs were very welcome. the price is for sure more than what the tourist books said...guessing due to gas prices this summer. i've been wanting to go over there.

i had debated doing a few days.  i'm happy i just did the day trip.  it was enough and very enjoyable. 

the dogs were better than expected on the ferry.  they got tons of attention and affection. 

Tusker never went over there, but Sunny has now been. 

i woke early to get to the low tides.  it was at 8 am.  a bit early, especially having to come down the hill. really it was only like a 10 minute drive.  i just went to the left part of beach and the rocky bits over there.  much closer. not as much cool stuff. 

i was beat that night. leashed dogs nearly all day. over 10 miles walking, new experiences. it also rained off and on over in Seldovia.

i wandered around town a bit then headed to search for the otterbaun trail. it was a little bit of an up and down trail. short though. i should have figured by the walking sticks at the trailhead.  a few times i wished i'd brought mine or grabbed one from the pile. 

you walk through a rain forest to a beach on another section of the town. the trail was pretty popular that day. 

we were at the beach alone but then a couple popped out and started kissing...Sunny ran over barking and that was the end of any sex on the beach plans they may have had on that beach. 

covid cat clearly missed us.  he's been very affectionate since i returned and there were dead shrew bits in the main room when i woke up.  thanks covi. 

that night i just ordered fat olives pizza and salad and brought it up to the cabin. i was beat.  my friend came up and joined me as she has a new chocolate lab puppy.  so it was fun for her to meet Sunny and Sunny to meet Sailor. they ran around and wrestled.  the owner popped out to chat and enjoy the puppy fest.  she has two smaller dogs as well.  she left them inside.  always grateful when i can find safe places to bring the dogs. 

my tickets have changed for the reunion a bit. we shall see what happens.  this stretch i work 3, off 1, back two and then i have vacation time. i leave in the wee hours of the night thurs/friday.  

always so hard to leave the pets behind. Sunny got anxious when i just attempted to tie him up and go in a shop in Seldovia. i gave up.  no shopping for me. 

i crashed pretty early that night. Wednesday was a great low tide and some friends were hoping to join.  we did meet up.  i didn't get too deep into the rocks.  the first section and hundreds and hundreds of sea stars so we mostly just enjoyed that area.  got lots of fun sea star photos. you can never get enough photo's of stuff in Alaska. 

low tide was around 9 am so a bit better. i woke early and packed up the cabin.  down the hill. 

after that i just picked up ice for the cooler and my water bottles and headed out of town. 

i always do the slow trek back. 

we stopped at Deep Creek.  Sunny kept finding and wanting to eat fish crap. so he has to be leashed there. Tusker and Ivy never showed any interest in all the fish guts/bones.  he did get a few small fish parts down i think.  hopefully, no bowel issues will come to pass. so far he's fine.

he did find a 5-6 inch fish in the tide pools yesterday morning. i kept tossing it back and leading him away but he's a smart pup and he would take off and go find it again.  a ranger out there with a group got it from him i think and put it in deeper, only to have some kids come rushing up wanting to see it.  she may have gone and looked for it. 

we were already headed back to the big sea star spot.  my one friend lifted up a huge rock and omg the number of stars on the underside.  very impressive. we eventually flipped it back, really, we probably would have been fine leaving it.  the water was already coming in.  

we also found several of those cool decorator crabs, urchins, anemonies and jellies.  another successful day in the tide pools.  i know these friends will no doubt return again. 

always love the pets interacting with each other.

we stopped again at Tern Lake.  there is a day use area right as you come to the lake.  it's a great spot to toss the ball. 

both dogs completely sacked out after that stop.  i drove straight through to Anchorage.

sunny with a stick before his legs grew.

Ivy takes over the front seat of the Element.  she left Tuskers spot open for a bit but seems to have taken to just being top dog in that spot now. 

she is such a pushover.  she lets the little guy get away with so much.  she did with Tusker as well. so sweet really. 

love them more and more and i really hate leaving them for these trips.  should be a fairly short trip.  debated trying to change tickets but who knows what will happen.  the whole thing could get canceled. take what the powers that be allow and leave it at that. 

better go rest.  they are already texting about lots of hold patients so no on calls getting handed out i suspect. 

thankful for A. new adventures B. safe travels and C. that the vrbo worked out well.