Master John is cheap and wouldn't spring for kennel cough shots and a kennel for the weekend, so we got to go in the car with him to Utah. He wore us out on the way by stopping at various desert and mountain spots for us to run around.
At Rabbit Valley on the Colorado-Utah border we really got to tear up and down the hills and rocks. Cooper, of course, being a water dog, found the only "water" in 100 miles. It was a mud pond with the consistency of maple syrup. But it looked wet so Cooper waded in. He barely got out - sort of like quick sand - and then he went back in again. He was completely coated from the neck down in black desert mud. So, John stopped again in Green River where Cooper got to rinse off in the - Green River.
We spent Saturday afternoon in Annelise and Erik's backyard and then John took us up to the Red Cliff Ranch for our first there. John's mom was relieved that we didn't stay at her proper home in Salt Lake.
We got to the ranch about 9 pm and got to run around for about an hour before it got dark. The 3 dogs that live there- Kramer the Brown Lab and two small cattle dogs, woofed a lot at us, but gradually accepted us.
We were too noisy barking at the wild noises so John took us down to the bunk house where we got to sleep on the cool cement floor. But first, we found some MANURE to roll in and eat! Boy did we stink the place up!
On Sunday morning we drove with John to Annelise's house for Owen's baby blessing. We got to spend an hour or so in the yard during church but then we got put in the basement for the duration of the party. And did we ever stink that room up!
On the way back to Colorado we stopped between Price and Green River on the dinosaur quarry road. Even though we wanted to take off when we got let out but we stuck close to the Jeep. There was something funny in the air and we didn't want to go too far. We were frankly nervous. And not without cause - a big bolt of lightning flashed and boomed overhead and we then knew that our unease was caused by our sensing the build up of static electricity in the area. We hopped right back in the Jeep and drove on.
Next stop - Rabbit Valley again. But this time John avoided the mud hole that Cooper was so fond off. We had dinner in the wild and then settled in for the next 2 1/2 hour ride to Ridgway.
We crashed when we got home and although we had a great trip, we really enjoyed plopping down on the floor at home again.
Benny
PS I still have a manure smell on me - cool!
