I've just returned from three weeks of traveling from Iowa to California and then on to Arizona. I'm taking a new Born Free to big Dog Shows in different states, showing it off and trying to get people interested. My first show was Del Mar California, a beautiful part of the world, but I didn't really get to see too much of it because I was stuck at the fairgrounds most of the time. I'm not really complaining because leaving Iowa for Southern California in February is not a bad thing. The weather was beautiful, I got to people watch and to dog watch for that matter. Dogs of all kinds, sizes, colors. Strange "dog" people, dog merchandise, dog talk, dog dog dog.
I brought Angie along, she pulled the people in with her natural puppie cuteness and then I took over----telling them about this wonderful RV, half people half dog. People in the front, dogs in the back. Most liked it, they came and came and came and came, I didn't have a moment to think. I was tired by the end of the three days there. I left Del Mar at the end of the day and drove out route 8 towards Arizona, stopping one time to camp--but never found the campground so turned around and headed back onto the main road, saw another sign for a campground, drove five miles, couldn't find it, turned around and while driving back toward the main road was stopped by the border patrol. "Are you really from Iowa?" the cop, who was all business, asked me, I had to turn off my RV, give him my license and allow them to search the vehicle. I guess my eastern accent made him wonder. But, all the while I was thinking what a great story this was going to make. Ha! When they were finished checking me out I asked them where the campground actually was, they told me and I arrived at ten that night. But the campground/retreat ended up being very nice, very calm, very quiet. Just what I needed. The people working there were a married couple, an ex nun and ex priest who are full timers who work as they see the country, one state at a time, each state taking years for them to see!!! I also met an indian woman who worked as a massage therapist at the Indian Casino, she was a "healer" and an interesting soul. She told me to make tea out of strawberry leaves and drink it to cure my dry patches on my hands. I'll have to give it a try.
I had one day to relax, do my laundry, clean things up, then I headed to Scottsdale and West World where I camped out on the polo grounds from Wednesday until Monday. More dogs, more dog people, and again they came and came and came and came, from eight in the morning until five at night. I had to close things up tight to get any rest. I made friends with a woman vendor who sat across from me and sold dog collars and clothing. She was a huge woman, could hardly stand up. She knew the answer to everything, was very matter of fact and I kind of liked her. We decided to go to dinner on Sunday at the casino up the road, we had a lovely dinner then went to gamble. It was so crowded I had trouble finding a place to sit and gamble. I like the one arm bandits, I finally found one, it took DOLLARS, I went through $80 in about 20 minutes, so I got up and went to a lounge area and read the paper until she was ready to leave. I usually enjoy the casinos, I guess I should have tried to find a quarter machine. Angie got a job while we were at the dog show, she was a model for a woman who had up-scale dog clothing. Angie looked so cute, everybody stopped to see her. She was given an cute pink coat for her time and trouble.
I was glad to leave West World on Monday when things were finally over. It had been a long six days. I came home with over 50 names of people who were "more than generally interested in the rv."
Once I left Scottsdale I headed north to Prescott, stopped to see my cousin Donna for the day and then headed over the mountains to Sedona. What a beautiful drive, what a beautiful place. I really do need to go back there. I think Phil and I will plan a trip there for our next vacation. I want to get off the road and see it up close and personal, I want to spend more time there. Sedona is a place I want to know more about. The weather wasn't great the day I crossed the mountains, in fact it was snowing most of the way, I had to be careful. The road twisted and turned, but when I got to Sedona it was so worth it. I can't put in words how beautiful the mountains were.
The rest of my trip was non-eventful, I was worn out from working so most of it past in a blur. It was good to be back in Iowa, the snow was gone and the neatly plowed fields were showing again. It was good to see my house and Pandy, Phil was in Pennsylvania so he wasn't home to greet me. My tulips, fooled by a few days of warm weather, were popping through the dirt. A sure sign of spring on it's way. There is nothing like being home, sitting in your comfy chair reading the mail that had piled up over the weeks you were gone. Angie was over the moon being home, running through the rooms, wrestling with Pandy.
We are back, and it's good to be home.
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