Mystery Rooms

May 29, 2018
Escapade
Sedalia, Mo

Every rally comes with entertainment.  My entertainment centers around all the people who think I am soooo cute and the new friends that I have made at the dog social time.  This is my new friend Cocoa who just turned 1 year old.

As you can see, our tongues are hanging out after all our romping in the 85 degree temps this morning. 

Momma and Dad's entertainment centered around watching everyone around them winning great door prizes

including several $250 cash prize envelopes;  a storyteller captivating the audience with his exaggerated, humorous tales; and on the following night, an illusionist who performed the unbelievable right in front of everyone's eyes....including those from the audience whom he invited on stage for a closer look.  

I performed a bit of illusion myself today.  When you climb up the outside steps, open the door and enter our home on wheels, you enter the kitchen area which expands into the dining, entertainment and living room area.  If you enter the door and turn right, you will go up 3 steps.... a great place to park your rear and view what's happening outside. Notice that my hind feet no longer dangle when I sit on the bottom step.  I'm a big girl now!!

The stairs take you to a landing that has two closed doors.  These doors ALWAYS remain closed.... yep, it's a mystery and a secret as to what is behind each door.   I can just get my paw and my nose under the doors. I can't feel anything besides more floor but I can sure smell an assortment of smells....everything from nasty, unpleasant smells to refreshing soap smells under the first door on the left.  It's still all a mystery to me.  The second door has carpeting on the floor but no new smells to intrigue me. Well, today I made myself invisible and I just slid right thru the doorway when Momma stepped inside the mystery room.  Guess what I found out?  Once you enter one of the mystery doors, you can have access to TWO rooms.  Now, I really don't know why the big bed should be kept a secret.  After all, I spent a whole week in a motel room where the bed was the largest piece of furniture in the room.  And the other room has lots of faucets similar to the one Dad uses in the kitchen to fill my water bowl.   What a disappointment!  I just knew I was going to unveil some big, secret, important discovery today when I made myself invisible.  

I'm Chloe 

I LOVE food

Saturday, May 26, 2018
Escapees Rally early bird day

Let's face it ....I LOVE FOOD!!  Yes, I could be a real, all- American foody.  My vet told Momma that I would be easy to train because I loved treats.  Well, I'm trying to broaden my exposure to food beyond the ho-hum nibbets and treats that are provided for me daily.  I have taken it upon myself to scour the rig floor for any traces of crumbs or food particles that may need to be cleaned up.  Not much luck there.  So I have expanded my search technique.  I can just get my front paws up to the top edge of the counter if I stand on tip toes so.... I have been trying to stand at Dad or Momma's side when I smell food being prepped on the counter.  Take this afternoon when Momma was gathering 'happy hour' treats to take out of the rig and over by Jan and Bill's rig for a gathering.  Mmm...is that some of that goat cheese that they had picked up at the Side Hill Goat Farm in NY? And those chocolate topped oatmeal squares.  Oh I think I might want to salivate.   What does 'Off' mean anyway?  I'm getting so I hear that quite a bit lately.  Hey, I'm just trying to lend a helping paw.  Don't they need someone to taste test?

Well, so far I haven't had a bit of success but you know what they say,   "try, try and try again"  or is it "the squeaky wheel gets the attention"  Yep, I have even added a small, weak whine to see if that would produce my desired results. I think I sound very needy😞  But alas, my parents are just downright stubborn to the point of being mean.  After all, I'm their baby and should be spoiled and pampered.  I think someone needs to have a talk with them!!

I could have enjoyed a slice of that homemade bread that Momma was slicing.  I'm sure bread must be delicious because Dad smacks his lips.  How will I ever find out for myself?  And those plates came back from the happy hour cleaned off...I mean totally empty!!  If I can just grow a bit taller, maybe I can reach more than the edge of the counter seeing as no one is volunteering to share with me.  Hey, I'd even take it to my carpet to gobble down like they make me do when I'm grinding on a chew bone.

I'm Chloe

Lost the sparkle

May 25, 2018
Escapade Rally
Sedalia, MO

Man do we sparkle and shine.  Yesterday we found a really nice campground with the best dog park.  That made me smile.  The campground let Dad wash our rig for $7.  That made him smile.  And after washing the truck and the rig, I got in line and to shine up my coat. And that made everyone smile....and squint because I'm so white!!

I guess I'd better fix that first sentence.  Man DID we sparkle and shine.  We hitched up this morning and headed further west only to run into rain 25 miles down the road.  That added a bit of road grime but nothing can top the MUD.  

We arrived at the fairgrounds and literally 'slid' into our parking spot.  There was just enough rain to turn the grass into the most slippery mud that made parking a challenge for everyone.  You had one shot at getting parked due to the slick surface.  What really floored Momma was the way they were parking the row we were in.  Rather than having us drive around the block so we could approach and back in from the driver's side, we had to back in from the blind side....and nail it in one try.  Needless to say, not everyone was successful.  They had a tow truck on site and they left a couple of rigs parked at an angle and figured they would worry about getting them out at the close of the rally.  Welcome to the Missouri Fair Grounds.  

That's what Momma and Dad's friends from Arizona said when they gave everyone hugs....even me and they hadn't met me before.  I  guess I really shouldn't have gotten so excited and tried to jump on them with my muddy paws.  Sometimes I just can't help myself.  Maybe if they had taken me with them when they went out for lunch I would have had a full belly and wouldn't have been able to jump.  Just saying...... I love food too!!

I'm Chloe...stuck with plain old dogfood

Check it out!

Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Spring Creek Campground
Montrose, Illinois

Just check it out.  Here we are at this quiet campground with about 25 sites, a pond

and electric only.....but you can't complain about the price!  There were several rigs on the other side of the campground

but we were by ourselves with a field behind us.  There was a 10 foot wide mowed path running along the field.  Momma said it was a super place for me to run off lead.  The campground owner is very friendly, laid back and aims to please.  All I had to do was come when she called.  Notice the rope tied to my collar?  

I guess I was only using 3 of my senses.....  I was so focused I forgot about using my hearing.....nope, didn't pay any attention when Momma called me....just tooo many super smells, sights and things to bury my nose in here in Illinois.   I guess you could say my stay wasn't as good as it could have been.  Oh well, at least I was outside enjoying the gorgeous weather.

Now Momma and Dad, on the other hand, had a very pleasant, unexpected experience.  The group of 7 rigs on the other side of the pavilion from us were a camping group....Chapter 51 Escapees from Indiana.  Dad was grilling dinner and they came over and invited Momma and Dad to join them....which they did.  What a FUN group.  Momma said she just expected to chat a bit but instead they were entertained.  The hosts had extra door prizes that they shared with them.  They even included them in the trash/treasure activity.  They also played a game that is kind of like Taboo and charades.  There were two teams.  Each team had a 'guesser' and the team members gave one word cues trying to get the guesser to say the word.  Then they played using charades ...no verbal cues.  OH MY GOSH.  What a fun loving group full of laughs.  RVers are the friendliest people.  Here's a shot of a few of the new friends.

As it turns out,  a few of them are heading for the same Escapade Rally that we are going to.  We hope to see them in Sedalia, Missouri on Friday.

I'm Chloe

Dreaming

Monday, May 21, 2018

I really don't think I like Indiana....well, maybe Indiana is okay...but I know this weather is not to my liking.  Take Saturday.  We were all loaded in the Ram and headed for the dog park when the skies opened up once again.  More rain.  And then Sunday....more rain.  I tried to tell Dad that we could still go to the dog park in the rain as I was sure my coat wouldn't shrink.  After all, I didn't shrink with my tubby.  And that's all it took to remind him of how dirty I would be if I romped in the dog park in the rain.  Maybe I shouldn't have all this white fur on my legs?

Today is Monday.  The techs finished this set of repairs and we got hitched up and on the road and wouldn't you know, more rain just a mile down the road.  Momma said that rain is a good thing because the tulips and grass are lovin' it.  Dad commented that the Amish farms ALWAYS look trim, neat and tidy.

Things looked promising when we arrived here in Fort Wayne this afternoon.  Momma even paid for a dog park key card but......

Yep, that's me...sitting on the inside step looking out the door window watching the rain.  B_O_R_I_N_G

I'm Chloe...dreaming about sunny days....

In my 5er

May 18, 2018
Service Center site #1

I'm not the only one doing the happy dance today.  Momma and Dad moved us back into our rig this afternoon.....just before the skies opened up to drop a deluge of more rain on us.  Reminds me of last weekend!  

Now I didn't have to change my bed this week as we took my crate and mat with us to the motel, but Momma and Dad didn't take their sleep number with them. They even changed from a King to a Queen.  Dad said he was looking forward to climbing into his OWN bed tonight.

This will be our 'campsite' for the weekend as the techs still need to do some 'tweeking' on Monday such as adjusting the slide to assure that the top and bottom are in alignment as they changed out our cable for us.  We are happy that they didn't just rush us off and do a shoddy job.  They asked if we could stay so they can spend some extra time on the rig to give us a quality outcome.  Our schedule is pretty flexible so it's no issue for us.  Dad said he wanted to go to Hopper's Restaurant on Saturday anyway for their Prime Rib Special.  We don't have any firm reservations until May 26 when we need to be in Sedalia, Mo for the Escapees Rally.  Dad also likes the rate$$ at this 'campground'.  50 amp for free!!  So when you run the numbers and average the cost of our motel stay adding in the free weekend stay, it wasn't a very expensive week at all.  

We'll be able to afford another Chewy order for me!!  Super news!!

I'm Chloe

Clean Coats

May 16, 2018

Today began like the prior days.  I woke up full of energy, made my 'duty' call in the grass with Dad and then returned to our motel room to play snatch the piggy

 and tear it up racing around the room.  I'm so glad we have running room and only one bed in our room.  Makes for plenty of room for my crate, dog rug and dog mat...plus some burning off steam room. Then it was crate time for me while Momma and Dad headed to the office lobby for their breakfast that comes with the stay.  

They loaded up my crate with me in it in the back seat of the truck and we were off for the day's adventures. Our first stop was simply amazing....at least it began that way.  We entered this large room with super smells.  Hey Dad, over here.  This smells like my dog food bag. Mmmm!  Smell over here.  Hey, Momma is giving the lady some money.  Can I pick out something?  Wait a minute.  WHY are we going into this back room?  Whoa there.  This is a steel tub with high walls and ..... ouh oh...that's water!!  At least Momma and Dad are in control of the water....and the shampoo.  I'm really not sure I'm going to like this.  I know Dad told me last night that I stink ... but I didn't think he was THIS serious!  I sure hope my coat doesn't shrink. After all, I'm a growing girl and I'll need all my coat and not a smidgen less.

Well, I have to admit...it wasn't my favorite activity but I sure do feel good and my white is so white...it is almost blinding!! No, I'm not napping.  It's just that bright white making my eyes close.  Well, Okay Momma, I'll wait in the crate and take a nap while you do some laundry.  I guess it's cleaning day....my coat in the dog tub and your coat in the washing machine.😜


I'm Chloe

Life in a Motel

May 13 - 15, 2018
Der Ruhe Blatz Motel, Shipshewana, Indiana

I am enchanted with that clip clop sound that I keep hearing.  I perked my ears and then I spotted the source.....a horse a buggy zipping down the road. Every time I go out to potty, I can hear the clip clop.  It can be so distracting that I forget why I am standing in the grass.  Momma tells me to refocus....which I do....until I hear the clip clop of another horse and buggy.  Man, they are all over the place!  Hey, they get to poop in the road.  What's up with that?  They need a bigger bag than Momma carries to pick up that load!!

Nala Grace told me I had to make sure I was quiet while I am staying in the motel.  I guess she must have told Dad as well because he didn't bring along any of my favorite 'noisy' toys.  I do have some of my squeakers with me that I can play with during the day but even they get put up in the evening.  At least I still have my crate, rug and my floor mat to make me feel 'at home'.  

So I have been noticing some different smells on Dad's breath.  

Especially after we stopped at Rise N Roll.  Dad is in love with that place!  I wish I could have gone inside.  A bus pulled up and all these ladies kept getting off the bus and filing in the door.  If I could have just gotten the truck door open, I could have gotten right in line with them and checked out the offerings first hand.

I could tell by Dad's breath that they had some sweet smelling treats.  All I ever get is nuggets of dry dog food and if I'm real good....some freeze dried liver treats or mini bones.  Hey Dad, they are MINI bones already.  You don't have to break them in half any more. I'm getting to be a big girl.  

Check me out.....with my noisy milk jug (with pebbles inside) toy.  We went to The Depot Dog Park and I got to run...and run.... and I wore myself out!!

I'm not quite sure what happened to Momma today.  She just doesn't look quite the same.  Even Dad ...who never says anything said,  "Wow, you sure are blonde!",  when we picked her up today.  She told Dad she even shared the color formula that her stylist at home uses.  It must be something in the northern air.  Maybe if I get her to roll in the mud at the dog park it will tone it down a bit.  I wonder if she will glow tonight when the lights go out?  

I just heard that we are coming back here.  Michele and Eric from HIghland Ridge Service Center told Momma and Dad that the repair on the driver's side of the rig can be done this week BUT they decided that the door side, to be repaired properly, needs a WHOLE NEW WALL.  It takes 5 weeks to make a wall so....we will be back June 25th for 2-3 weeks for repair of that side,  Something about the flexing in the nose causing delamination of the wall and......well...anyway.   To fix it right, the wall needs to be replaced to properly complete the repairs. Dad is pleased they decided not to 'cut corners' and will do the job the right way.  I guess there is another motel stay in my future. 

I'm Chloe 

Almost made new friends

I'm sure glad I have my fur coat today with 50 degree temp at noon. Brrr!!  It was 25 degrees warmer this time yesterday when Momma and Dad took me to the Canine Park in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  We are staying at Johnny Appleseed Campground...part of the Parks and Recreation facilities here in Fort Wayne.  At $22 a night for 50 amp and water, it's a gem. Somehow we even scored a long pull thru rather than back in.   Momma got excited when she took her shower last night.  It's the best water pressure we have had in a while!!  I guess it's the little things that keep her smiling.😉

We made a stop in Shepherdsville, Kentucky on our way here from Nashville.  Nashville wasn't as exciting for me as it was for Momma and Dad.  THEY got to go to a dinner show just down the street called Nashville Nightlife.  It's a family run AYCE (all you can eat) buffet with entertainment.  The bass player was the emcee and one of the vocalists while his wife sang backup.  The brother played drums and his college aged son shared his marvelous voice on several songs in the first set.  I guess you could call the rest of the band 'family in music' although they were not blood related.  But they sure had talent.  The fiddle player was outstanding...his rendition of Orange Blossom Special was one of the best.  Momma said they had already been to the Grand Ole Opry a couple of times on previous visits and this talent was equal in quality!

Dad tried to introduce me to some new friends while we were camped at Grandma's in Kentucky.

 

 

 I really wasn't so sure about meeting them.  I guess they could tell.

 Wait, I changed my mind.....stay and play.

Tomorrow we head further north and Dad said they are hoping to 'camp' in the Open Range/Highland Ridge Service Center parking lot so our rig will be ready to turn over to the techs by 6:30 am on Monday morning.  I sure hope they remember to take my toys, treats and food with us to the motel as well as my bed.

I'm Chloe

Failed to negotiate

Sunday morning we departed the Georgia mountain area and traveled the farm country roads that had some twists and turns and a few bumps as we headed up and over the mountain.  I was riding in my crate in the back seat of the Ram wishing I hadn't had such a large breakfast early in the morning.  My stomach was beginning to get queasy and unsettled.  We had just traded the farm country roads for the bumpy I-59 highway when......I failed to negotiate the morning ride.  Yep, I tossed my breakfast.  Dad was happy that I had balled up my crate mat and was able dump my breakfast in the corner of my crate, missing my mat.  It was an easy cleanup when we pulled off the road. (no picture here....tooo gross💦😓)

Momma said she really enjoyed the band Monroe Crossing yesterday. Not only did they have a great sound but they played some interesting arrangements ... a bluegrass twist on some old favorites.  On top of that, the bass player was a hoot to watch!  Top it all off with their on stage presence/showmanship and they became one of the favorites of the weekend.

 

The pink glow is the stage lighting.

We are now in Nashville for a couple of nights as we continue our northern trek toward Indiana.  I'm told I will be left home once again while Momma and Dad enjoy dinner and music tonight at a dinner show.  At least I got in a game of moose on a rope with Dad.

I'm Chloe

Lovin' it here

Everyone LOVES Mountain Cove Farms Resort in Chickamauga, Ga.  No, it's not because of the beautiful scenery..mountains and farmland

or the great weather with lows in the low 60's and highs in the high 70's,

although those are pleasing qualities.

I am in LOVE with this place because my Chewy package arrived.

My larger sized bed arrived ..for a growing girl......along with delicious treats.  And then Momma and Dad went to the store near here and they found my newest friend/toy.....a stuffed hedgehog with a great squeaker.  We have had hours of fun playing together. 

Now you may think my parents are spoiling me with my latest toy, but you see, a 4 legged friend named Marty was told by his parents that everyone in the family had to downsize so he passed along his duck for me to enjoy.  Well, it seems ducky isn't as tough as I am rough and Momma has gotten out the needle with thread for surgery several times.  The last operation failed and ducky is gone....so hedgehog arrived. 

Now if you ask my parents, they are lovin' this area because of the Bluegrass Festival being held.  The music begins at 1 pm daily with a different band taking the stage every hour.  Great toe tapping music.

 including some young musicians from the Fiddle School.

The Band Tour buses must have been warned to arrive from the north to avoid all those hairpin switchbacks to the south.

Our neighbors in the next campsite failed to read the warning in the paperwork and they said once they were committed, they really didn't have any choice as there is no way to turn around.  Even though they have a short tow behind trailer, they still didn't arrive unscathed.  They bent their hitch.  Needless to say, they are departing to the north on Sunday.  Lesson learned, READ the paperwork!!  It's a good thing Momma reads to me 'cuz I haven't learned to read yet.  Heck, I'm still learning that carpet and molding are NOT permissible chew items.

I'm Chloe 

Water Woes

Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Mountain Cove Farms Resort

Momma and Dad left me home to guard the rig...but I fell asleep and napped instead.  They said they wanted to see what the lower end of Dougherty Gap Road was like.  The sign said, "No 18 wheelers; switch backs."  After navigating the switchbacks with built in curves in our truck, it was obvious that Class A rigs and our 5th wheel in tow would be in serious trouble trying to navigate the short section of road.  The scrapes and gouges on the road told the story of vehicles that should never have been on the road.

After my nap, I was pampered with a tubby.....complete with full body scrub.  Dad hooked up the outside shower with a long hose that would reach the truck tailgate.  Nice warm water and my Oatmeal shampoo not only turned my coat snow white, it made it silky, soft.  Momma said that my shower had more water pressure than her shower last night.  Dad spent the rest of the afternoon trying to troubleshoot the issue with the poor water pressure inside the rig.  Pressure gauge failure...nope; kink in hose....nope; and lots of additional trouble shooting checks.  I told Momma she could use my shower...on the tailgate of the truck and I'd even help scrub her hair.  Heeehee  Hey, if it's good enough her 'princess'......

But Dad came up with a temporary fix......he added more water to the fresh water tank and using the water pump is providing nice water pressure.  So.....the issue still remains to be solved.

Dad and I talked it over....well, I was his sounding board 'cuz I really don't know much about water pressure.

But I do know how to empty my water dish.  All it takes is a few nudges and if that doesn't flip it over, I latch onto it with my new adult teeth.

I'm Chloe

Challenges of the day

We bumped up the road today.....I-59 is not a very smooth highway.  Our destination is Mountain Cove Farms Resort.  According to the website, they turned a farm in Chickamauga, Georgia into an event destination using the show barn for events such as  the bluegrass festival this weekend, the worker's houses into rental cabins, another building into a store and some land into rv sites.

We found the day just a tad challenging.  Getting here was interesting enough and could have been REAL exciting if we hadn't be pre-warned.  DO NOT APPROACH THE FARM USING hwy 157.  That meant we bumped our way further north on I-59 to Trenton and hwy 136 to double back south.  Our GPS tried to route us to Hwy 157 but we entered a permanent AVOID and so it took us on to hwy 193 which was the recommended route.  Momma was running Google navigation on her phone as well as the Rand GPS and there seemed to be a disagreement.  Google said turn right on W Cove Rd and you will arrive in 10 miles.  Rand said continue around the mountain and you'll arrive in 44 miles.  Hmmm!!  What to do?  Rand usually helps us avoid low underpasses and smaller roads.  We were definitely in farmland and W. Cove Rd looked like a back country farm road, but it looked okay...and 10 miles sure sounded better than 44 miles so....Dad took the right turn.  As it turned out, it was the right decision.  Dad was talking to one of the workers later today and he was telling him about a tour bus that didn't come in the way we did.  They used 157 and had to negotiate some severe switchbacks.  The bus was too long, the switchbacks too tight and the driver had so much trouble negotiating the road that he got out of the driver's seat and said, "I'm parking this bus and they can come and get it unless there is another way out of here!"  Whew!  Glad we dodged that one!

Our arrival wasn't smooth either as the sign said 'RV guests must register at the store."  The store sign said,  "Closed Tuesday and Wednesday'.  Momma tried calling the Resort number but only got voicemail.  Momma said we could sit and rock in the rocking chairs on the porch until Thursday, but they knew we were arriving today.  Just then, a pickup truck appeared with a kind gentleman who knew the cell number to call to make things happen.....namely....make Jenna appear with our site number.  We had that all alone feeling until much later in the day when one other rig pulled in.  They also had arrived early for the Bluegrass that will begin at noon on Thursday.

So here we are enjoying beautiful weather surrounded by beautiful views and a beautiful fire in the fire pit when the sun dipped below the horizon.  Yep, they delivered a cart of wood to us earlier today.  

I even got to run off lead for a bit today until I got so distracted that I failed to respond to the "come" command.  Well, I did look over my shoulder at Momma and Dad, and I could see Momma with my favorite treats...... but there was just too much exploring to do and I chose not to respond and kept on exploring.  Well, let me tell you, THAT was a BIG mistake!!  Out came the rope and snap went my collar.  Now I only get to explore when someone is on the other end of my lead.  Geewhiz!  So I made a bad choice.  What can I say...I'm just a pup after all.   

I'm Chloe