Day 2: Sparkplugs to Santa Rosa

I left Sparkplugs around 8:00 AM and headed for Crescent City, CA. Unlike the day before, the weather didn't cooperate today. Drizzly rain off and on from the start. I had breakfast in Crescent City and headed south. Except for the showers, this ride is what it's all about.

I've often said that riding a motorcycle is an assault on your senses. Today was really the definition of that. The scenery in this part of the state is really awe inspiring With the Pacific Ocean on one side and thick towering redwoods on the other. The scent of sea air mixed with the smell of redwoods and evergreen, tarnished occasionally by the odor of a dead skunk or an ill maintained diesel truck spewing partially burned fuel. All of this accompanied by the rhythmic rumble of a harley davidson motor tooling down the road. Yep, this is why I ride.

But, By the time I reached Leggit I had had enough of the rain. I get plenty of that at home and didn't need it this week so I took 101 and headed inland to warmer and sunnier weather. heading south from leggit still offers plenty of beautiful redwood groves before opening up to vineyards that start to dot the landscape as you approach marin county.

Day 1: Duvall to Sparkplugs

Day one was really a pretty boring day. I left Duvall around 9:00 AM and headed for I-5. Flew down the slab stopping for gas and fast food.

I got to Sparkplugs motorcycle camp around 8:00 PM and was greeted by Brian, aka "Sparkplug". Brian is really quite a character. He and his wife Tracy run the camp that provides campsites for motorcyclists only. No cars allowed. Nice setup they have, a real throw back to the old days.

The Tee Pees were all taken by the time I got there but Sparkplug provided me with this tent with a real bed inside!! Worked quite well, except I had a dream that I got snowed on!!!

Qualicum Beach, BC

We went up to Qualicum Beach, BC for our 27th anniversery. Qualicum Beach is on the eastern shore of Vancouver Island about 100 miles north of Victoria.

The weather was absoutely perfect so it was a really nice trip going up there. Plenty of "top down" time! We took I-5 up to the border and crossed at the peace arch the went to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to catch the ferry to Nanaimo, BC. From Nanaimo it's just a short 30 miles up to Qualicum.

We stayed at the "Old Dutch Inn", a place we've stayed before that's right across from the beach. The price is right and they accept pets. We discovered the place five years ago when we took a motorcycle trip up the sunsine coast and down Vancouver Island.

We spent Saturday on Salt Spring Island. Salt Spring is one of the Gulf Islands and I had heard that it's one of the most visited. It's a really nice place but next time I'll take a good map of the island. The brochures all had interesting places to visit but no maps. I figured that it's an island, how hard can it be? Pretty hard, it turns out. A lot of the roads just turn into dead ends and many don't even have road signs to tell you the name of the road. Still, it was a nice adventure and we got to see new things. It was quite an adventure for Romeo too. There was a craft fair in the park and Romeo got to meet a lot of new people and a few new canine friends as well. It was a good socialization event for him. He was quite popular, I couldn't take three steps without someone wanting to pet him and ask about him.

On the way home Sunday we decided to take a little side trip to Lummi Island. Lummi is one of the San Juan Islands in the US. Sunset Magazine had an article about it some time ago that praised it as an excellent destination. Very nice place with spectacular views of Mt. Baker and the other islands. We had a nice dinner at the Beach Store Cafe then cruised around the island before heading home.

Here's a slide show with some of the photos I took.

Qualicum Beach 2009

First haircut

Romeo got his first haircut yesterday. He was really getting bushy and Carole was reluctant to take him to a groomer. Ever since she first took Buster to the groomer and got back a completely different dog than she took in she's been a little gunshy of groomers.

Personally, I'd have had her trim Romeo a little more than she did, but he looks quite cute. before the grooming he was beginning to look like one of those things you keep by the door to clean your shoes before coming in the house!

His ears are taking on an interesting look now. His right ear is always up and his left ear is always down. It's more pronounced now that he's had a haircut. It's really cute so I hope it stays that way permanently.

R.I.P. Rosie

We lost our beloved Rosie last night.  She died of congested heart failure at the very young age of seven.  We knew Thursday night that she wasn't feeling well so Carole took her to the vet Friday.  He told us then that she probably had no more than six months.  Obviously, he didn't know what he was talking about because she died less than twelve hours later.

I know that I've never loved a dog as much as I loved Rosie.  She was the sweetest thing in the whole world and the perfect lap dog.  She loved everyone and everything.  I remember when we got her, the breeder told us that she would probably go up to a mountain lion with her tail wagging.  

 

Needless to say, I'm having the worst day I've had in a very long time.  I'm really going to miss that little girl for a long time.  Romeo is a wonderful, sweet little dog and I'm very glad we have him right now.   To me, a house without a pet is a very empty place and while our house is very much emptier than it was yesterday, Romeo keeps it from being totally empty.  He's not at all like Rosie, but then there aren't many like her.  Someday I hope I find another Shih Tzu as sweet as she was.

Romeo is getting big. Well, relatively speaking. I think he's over four pounds now, maybe even five pounds. Big for him. Rosie is still twice his weight but side by side they look about the same size. That's because Romeo is all fur. Time for a grooming but Carole is hesitating. She's not sure she wants to see what he looks like without all the cute, soft, fur. I've seen him soaking wet and he looks like a chihuahua!!!

He started school last week and so far he's doing quite well. He almost always comes when called, sits politely to wait for his treat, and is getting close to being housebroken. He is still rather aggressive where Rosie is concerned though. He just won't let her be most of the time. You would think he'd learn because he gets his ass whooped every time. Rosie doesn't take any crap from him but he still keeps trying to give it.

He's four months old now and is in need of a great deal of socialization. It's difficult because he still needs to be kept away from most dogs until he's had all of his puppy shots. We need to get him around people a lot more, especially new people that he's never met before. Since we're taking Rosie and Romeo with us up to Qualicum Beach next month I figured he'll get to meet a lot of new people on that trip.