Travels With Max

I can't imagine living on the road without my dog, Max.  There are many alone moments traveling and when he's with me, I am never really alone.  The few past years when we lived in a tent, I was a bit afraid in some of the remote places we settled in since rangers were quick to remind us at every step that we were in BEAR COUNTRY!  Max sleeps inside of my sleeping bag (yes, true story), so at times I was a bit afraid that the bears would think I'm hiding a snack for them.  We made it through and now I feel a bit safer sleeping with him in the van.

As much as I think this journey is for me, it's really for Max.  I make decisions on where to go based on how Max would like it and how comfortable he would be.  He LOVES the beach!  It's the only place besides dog parks that I will let him off leash.  When we get to a safe area where there are no roads close to the beach and there really isn't anything for miles, I click him off of the leash.  He knows once he's off, he gets to run as far as he can and dig like a crazy beast in the sand.  I've attached a few videos to prove it.  Once he digs a hole, he likes to lay in it and doesn't mind if I start to bury him in the sand.  He's been relaxed enough a few times to let me bury him.  

On our first getaway with the Van, I keep looking back to make sure that he's comfortable since he doesn't have a "routine" in the van yet like he did in the car.  He quickly found that he likes the back (after I built a throne of pillows and blankets) of the van to hang out in.  Each time I look back and see him there, he makes me smile.  

For those of you who don't know Max, I adopted him three years ago from a rescue group that had him at a farmer's market.  I've never had a small dog as my own before so I wasn't sure.  He has brought so much joy to my life.  Not to sound like a crazy dog lady, I really do love him so much.  He keeps me laughing each day.  It's amazing how a rescue dog can bring so much joy in my life.  If you are thinking of adopting, please rescue a shelter dog.  They will rescue you right back.

Why Max stays on a leash (above)

Learning at the beginning how a freak Max is at the beach

The Virginia Coast to Charleston, South Carolina

Last year I traveled South a few hundred miles from the shore through some national parks and then down to the gulf.  This year I decided to drive along the coast as much as possible.  As you might know, Max and I drove along the coast of Delaware then stopped in Virginia.  From there, I headed West a bit and back down South to Charleston.

I received a tip to go to Folly Beach so that's what I did.  Max and I went on the beach and took a walk after I had a nice lunch at the lost dog cafe.' Of course I had to do another photo shoot of him on the beach.  The best part of our trip is when we are able to get out and enjoy the area together.  Since he's my travel companion, it's important that he gets to do most everything I get to do.  Most beaches allow dogs on them during the winter months.  We took full advantage of that.

Charleston is a great city.  Right on the water, the city mixes culture, history and southern charm.   Here are some photographs I took the past few days in the area.

The last one is taken with my camera phone as we drove across the Charleston bridge.

Art:21, Walks And Lists

Each day I try and get out to take a walk on the beach. Usually, it's when the air is cooler, the sun is setting and I can feel the salty ocean breeze on my face. That is my favorite time. I like to walk where dogs are allowed too. I can't help but smile seeing how happy they are being on the sand,running around and splashing in the water...unlike their owners who are standing up on the bluff, waiting for them to come back.

I don't know if the owners mind that I take pictures of their dogs. I ask sometimes but usually they don't seem to mind.

The birds don't mind. I tend to take a lot pictures of them too, as you may have noticed. I wonder if they think, "oh great, here comes that crazy lady with the camera again."

For me, it's the best way I know how to relax. At least I try to relax. My mind sometimes wanders and I think about lists. You know, the constant "to do" lists that you try to remember to write down so you don't forget and then you check them off and more things come to mind that you have to write on the list that's stuck in your brain because you don't have a pencil? No? Ok, well...maybe it's just me.

One other thing I enjoy doing before I go to bed is watch at least one artist story on the PBS series Art:21. You can watch for free on your computer by clicking HERE

As they describe it, ""Art:21–Art in the Twenty-First Century” is the only series on television to focus exclusively on contemporary visual art and artists in the United States. Fascinating and intimate footage allows the viewer to observe the artists at work, watch their process as they transform inspiration into art, and hear their thoughts as they grapple with the physical and visual challenges of achieving their artistic vision."


Or it can be described..."You think you're crazy? Take a look at these artists! You'll feel completely sane after watching their process." Maybe it's that I feel at home with some of their stories. This one woman focused solely on water. She loved taking pictures of water.

That's it.

Someone who likes what I like! There must be others out there in the world that love to look at and take pictures of some obscure things as much as I do! It's a great place to go to if you are in a rut and want a new way of looking at things. Just like looking at art, these short stories take me through the process with them and I start to believe that whatever they are talking about is genius! Perhaps I watch it late at night in the hopes that the creativity will seep into my brain as I sleep. In any case, it's a great show. I would recommend a look.

Here are some things I saw on my walk of list making.

A Walk On The Beach

Ahhhh, there is nothing like being next to the ocean, especially on a crisp sunny day. I took a long walk (camera in tow) on Huntington Beach yesterday stopping to take a few pictures of what I saw that looked interesting.

At one moment, I did exactly what this man was doing (well, ALMOST exactly) and laid down on the sand to feel the sunshine on my face and listen to the waves crash. I think that could be one of my favorite things to do. All of your cares seem to slip away in one moment as you lay still to feel what's around you.

Not many beaches allow dogs, but there is a section here in Huntington Beach that is dedicated to let dogs be themselves. This is the part I took a walk on. I love how excited and happy the dogs look as they get to run around and do whatever they want.

They take time to play.

There are times that we forget what it's like to go out and just play. I remember each school day and how I looked forward to just running out during recess to jump around and swing on the bars or kick a ball around.

Sometimes I pass by a school during recess and think back to those times and then get envious that those kids can wake up and play all day in the same clothes. If only we adults could do that. Wouldn't it be nice to get up, go to work, play, go out and wear the same outfit the entire time?

For me, I find the most peace being in nature. If I am having a rough time I know that all I have to do is get outside and walk in an open field, the beach, or the mountains and any worry I might have had just seems to disappear. It's the same feeling I get watching dogs at play on the beach.

Get outside.
Play.


Here are more dogs I've photographed throughout my travels. Click HERE to view.

Mornings And The Sunrise

I am not a morning person. I admit it. I am not one to jump out of bed, sing a song, welcome the day and whistle while a bird sings along with me on my shoulder.

I wish I were. Well..I would like to be.

I have never been.


I have always been a heavy sleeper and a night person. My mother was the one singing songs to welcome the day, ripping off the covers so I would freeze and turn the light switch on and off over and over until she woke the dead (me). Even when I was a child, the waking up part was hell. Then it was even worse when I had to sit next to my father for breakfast and he would eat grape nuts. I don't think there is a reason to eat that cereal unless you want to annoy the person sitting next to you with all of the crunching going on. In fact, I don't think you are able to hear anything when you eat that cereal. Maybe that was the point. There is nothing like two "morning haters" sitting next to each other annoyed by everything while my mother would sing away, skipping around the house.

Things haven't changed much. Well, my mother isn't around to turn the lights on and off, but people close to me know to wait until I have been up for a while to speak to me...ok, that sounds horrible. I am not painting a good picture here. I am not THAT bad, really.

My former boss and I had a deal that he wasn't allowed to call me before 8am (for his own sake, really). I would get a phone call most mornings at 8am on the dot. Maybe it's a problem when I have to tell my boss not to call me before a certain time.

It's not that I can't do it. I did a fitness bootcamp class at 5:30am for six months before work each morning. I don't really know how I accomplished that, but I did. I think I was tired of the voices in my head debating on weather or not I was going to work out that night all day during work, or if I would be too tired...or fill in the blank for another good reason. At least when I worked out in the morning, I didn't have to think about it all day.

I've been telling myself lately that I need to get up to see the sunrise. I suppose my mind told my body that it was about time for me to get out of bed and get out of the house to see it this morning. After the head debate...I went out. It was beautiful. Peaceful. I walked along the shore and took pictures of the birds, the pier and then took a stroll to the dog beach to watch the pups play in the ocean for a while.

I am glad I did.