September 21, 2009 – Benbow, CA

Notice the location? Do we have a winner in the “Where are we?” battle? Looks like it. Like I said, I don’t care, I like it here; just wish it wasn’t quite so hot in the afternoon. I have to tell you about the morning walk that Don and I took. As he frequently does, he let me choose where we went, with only occasional direction to keep me out of real trouble. After noodling about the RV Park, I decided to follow a road up a hill next to the doggy amusement area; it led to a big storage area where equipment and building materials were stored, which I investigated thoroughly. I heard some quail taunting me with their chuckling, so I had to charge them and send them flying. Then Don pointed out to me a path that led down a steep hill back toward the RV Park, and I ran past him, hurtling down the path. At the bottom of the hill was a patch of the prettiest grass I had seen all during the trip; I noticed that there was a spindly flag pole in the middle of it, planted in a hole in the grass, but that meant nothing to me. I hit the grass and broke into a fabulous display of crazy dog running, turning, twisting, feinting, cutting, all at breakneck speed. Don was still making his way down the hill, yelling at me. I stopped to try to hear what he was saying, and noticed a group of humans off in the distance who were standing next to a electric cart and watching me with more than curiosity. Well, I knew that they wanted some more crazy dog show, so I indulged them with some more superlative running. Don finally got down the hill and ordered me to follow him, while he lectured me on not disturbing golfers when they were trying to chip onto the green. I had no idea what he was talking about. I thought it was a very good walk.

When Geri was ready to go, we got in the truck and headed north until we got to the end of the Avenue of the Giants, just short of Scotia. We got off the 101 and turned south to immerse ourselves in redwoods. We stopped to get another look at a tree that had survived lightning, lumberjacks, and other problems, and still stood tall. We met some Texans with an irrepressible Pommie, who was jumping up the back of the truck to try to meet me properly. I think she liked me. We continued down to the Founder’s Grove, only to find out that dogs were not allowed on the trail. Tough Luck, I was told, as Geri and Don wandered off to see the trees. They were only gone for a little while, and I had a good nap while waiting for them. They told me about a giant tree that had fallen down during a storm, and that it was a lot taller than they were even while laying on the ground. We met another family who had a really cute Schnauzer, who had a lot to say until she was picked up by her human and properly introduced to me, face to face. She got really quiet. We stopped at some other places where I could walk the trails, but I thought it was safer to stay close to Don during these walks, as I didn’t know what the dangers were in this environment. We stopped for lunch at a little restaurant that had a big redwood stump in back of it that had been hollowed out to make a shelter, or house. I inspected it, and found it barely adequate to serve as a dog house. But the trees were beautiful and huge, the shade they provided was cool and welcome, and it was quite an enjoyable afternoon. Don says that I have to mention that we went to a grove of trees that was preserved by the California Women’s Clubs Federation, that featured a monument that was designed by Julia Morgan, one of his favorite architects. He says that she did the Hearst Castle job on the central California coast. OK, whatever.

When we got home, Geri fixed up some BLT sandwiches, which don’t leave much for me, but I got some leftover salmon anyway. Not a bad deal. We went to bed fairly early, as we have a big travel day tomorrow. Talk to you then!