The three of us lounge around the campsite enjoying the desert.
What a pretty day. Oh, look! There’s another hummingbird. I really should tidy up the BLT. Maybe I’ll try out the new windshield squeegie. . . later. Gee, what a nice breeeze. I wonder if there are any sheep on that mountain. Hmm . . . What am I going to have for lunch? And so it goes . . .
Peace reigns at the campsite.
Bridget, of course, is close by. She relaxes in the doggie bed with her face tucked in to block out the desert sunshine. She’s thinking her own lazy thoughts, no doubt.
Spike, as is his custom, lies in the dirt under the BLT where I can’t see him. No telling what he’s thinking.
Periodically, I glance under there to check on him.
“Son of a . . . He’s gone!”
Darn that dog! I scan the desert and see the four-legged devil trotting down the lane toward the highway.
I’m glad we’re camped far from the road. It’ll take him quite a while to get that far.
I scramble for my sandals and hustle after him with Bridget trailing behind me.
No sense calling him as he can’t hear me and wouldn’t respond if he could. He’s picking up speed. Eventually the lane curves around the bushes which gives him the cover he needs for his plan.
I have slip-on sandals on, not the lace-up walking shoes I usually wear when traipsing the desert.
The heavy, coarse sand gets into the sandals, making a fast chase difficult.
I don’t want Bridget to run too fast and hurt her leg again. Yet my mind foresees a terrible outcome and at the same time I get madder and madder at Spike’s repeated recklessness.
Bridget sits down, panting.
A big ol’ hauling truck rumbles down the highway. Well, at least he knows to stay away from traffic.
Slowly I turn 360 degrees, eyes scanning like radar. No sign of him! He could be behind any one of the million creosote bushes around here, not knowing which way to go, what with his poor eyesight.
Panic grabs me by the throat.
Stupid me! I should have looked for his tracks. Now when we backtrack on this lane, I’ll see Bridget’s tracks and my own. I stop to think: WWSD? What WOULD he do? I put my devil cap on, so to speak.
He’d make me think he’s going down the lane. Then as soon as he figured he’s out of our view, he’d make a sharp right. Why? To go over to that group of RVs and socialize with the folks. That’s it!
Bridget sits in the sand.
“C’mon, Honey. Let’s go and get Spike.”
The two of us trudge through the creosote bushes and other thorny desert plants. As we approach the RVs, a group of people sitting in a circle comes into view. My hope increases.
“Hello! I’m sorry to interrupt. I’m Sue from the Casita over there. I have another dog that looks like this one. Have you seen him?”
Someone replies, “He was here about five minutes ago.” I can see from the smiles that Spike made himself well-acquainted with everyone.
Another voice, “Has a short tail.”
Still another, “He went that-a-way.” She points in the direction of our campsite. It’s a little dot of white against the mountain backdrop.
“Thank you!”
As I turn to head that way, I have a sudden urge to make a remark to the people, like “I’m really 27 years old. I look this way because of THAT DOG!” No time for jokes. We need to get going.
Oh no, not now. Bridget is playing the group for attention. “C’mon, Bridget. Let’s GO!” She ignores me. I go over, pick her up, and carry her away from the RVers who call out cheerily, “Good luck!”
We make a beeline to the BLT.
“Hi, guys! What took you so long? Heh-heh.”
All the way back, two scenarios alternately play in my mind:
1) I frantically search around the campsite in tears, looking under the BLT, screaming his name, or. . .
2) Spike greet us with a devilish expression of “Where have you two been?”
Thank God, it turns out to be the latter.
rvsue
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Note: To see a brief summary of where we camped and what we spent during November, click on the drop-down menu under Financial Reports in the header.
The look on his face tells all. He truly is a devil dog. I can imagine your frustration, fear, and most of all relief to find him. Bridget, you really need to talk some sense into that naughty, naughty, Spike.
Boys will be boys.
Spike being Spike………….makes your heart drop………….something tells me he knows that!
That look on his face is priceless!
Stick him in the pen when you’re outside. He’ll learn…yeah right! 🙂
Spike must of been bored……love ya Spike.
That is scary!!! Glad he went back to the BLT. I am cracking up over your “I look this way because of that dog” thought. lol
I’d be tempted to put him out on a long lead that is attached to the trailer for a spell. Yep he’d pout and hopefully get the message. Shame on you Spikey! Why Sue you look 27 to me!!
Put Spike on a lead? He’d scoff at it and be out of his harness in two seconds!
Love the comment ‘You need a Spike Bike for chasing after….’ Sounds like a good idea…with a little carrier basket for Bridget when she gets tired. If I don’t play fetch the ball or take them on walks, my terriers they bored & naughty like Spike. But, I have to say I love them the way they are just like I like Spike exactly the way he is….full of mischief…he is so adorable.
Yup, you got yourself a true “rat”. Took one on a trip with me one time to Calif. I traipsed all over the deserts look’n for that little critter….only to find him back at camp. You go Spike!!!
You might want to put some bells on his collar/harness…that way when he decides to take a trip you’ll hear him before he gets to far. Whew…so glad he was back at the BLT when you returned!
Spike…Spike…Spike…not nice ta scare Mom half ta death or make Bridget have ta chase after you!!!!
He’d learn how to walk and not jingle the bells! hah
Spike can slip a collar faster than you can say jingle bells.
Yep…thats our Spikey!!!
Sounds like Spike is trying to keep you on your toes (literally). Never a dull moment.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaaaaa! Spikey….. you are just making sure Sue gets her exercise for the day, I know! Hahahahahahahahaaa!
Gosh, scares you half to death. Had a human child do that an appear back at the cabin sitting on the trash can..was relieved but wanted to say mean things like nothing happened to you thank God but …hehe stay away from me for a few more moments. Just kidding…
Glad this story ended so well.
Whew, please tell Spike that I have a grey hair on my head with HIS name on it!
♫♪…boys just wanna have fun…♫♪
Oh Lordy lordy Spike…………….my heart too was in my mouth as I read the story of his latest escapade. Naughty boy Sipke…………if only they knew how we die a thousand deaths!! Alls well that ends well!!
Dear Spike,
The offer still stands to join the Herd but if you keep this up, it may not be YOUR choice…..
the Hound Herd.
Dear HH . . . Better not make deals with the devil…
Goodness Sue , I know how scarry that can be when one of the furries goes missing. So glad he came back . I guess he knows what he is doing.
what a little brat!! Guess you just can’t keep such a social devil dog from going visiting! And, once you see that cute little face, you have to forgive him.
Sounds as if Spikey gets bored after a while. I wonder…..just thinkin…..What if you had little flags around your campsites perimeter. While Spike is on a lead, you walk him around and when approaching a flag you say loudly NO!, jerk him back. The invisible fence people say to do that for 3 days then try him off lead. And if he does not cross the flag line, you say good Spikey and give him a treat….I dunno, just trying to help you find a safe alternative. Lots of luck
Oh Dear my heart was in my stomach. Does he not know there are coyotes out there? I have had two Jacks that got it by coyotes here in our desert. One made it and the other didn’t, neither did the neighbors dogs. Oh my he scared me and I am not there!
That Spike, got a love him.
Well Spikey, that was my scare for this week-u had me going boy! I’m so glad ur back home. And Sue, ur so right about walking without jingling the bells-my little beagle/dachshaund (sp) mix has two tags on his collar and my husband used to listen for them when he got out of sight…..he has since learned to walk in a way that they don’t jingle. lol Our canine companions are not only sweet, they r smart too!
Willie E. Coyote can hear that dinner bell ringing from way far off.
Wow! With possibility of snakes, coyotes, and strangers, I believe I’d either put him in a harness or a Martingale collar. Just reading your account of Spike’s little escapade made a lump in my throat. He definitely loves to go ‘cruising’, but obviously doesn’t know what peril he may find. Most people have never heard of the Martingale collars, but greyhound and whippet owners swear by them!
Hugs,
Becky
You need to keep him in one of those kinds that goes behind the front legs as well as around the chest. We never had our “escape artist” get out of one. It is not good for the adrenaline to get wasted that way as we age!! Hopefully Bridgit is ok and you too. Sure a difference in dog personalities, isn’t there?
Sue, this is what we finally had to use on our Jack Russell! She would scare us half to death! After the first day wearing it she was used to it. She can’t slip out of it and if she gets a little to big for her britches, she get attached to a lead on the bumper of the trailer. When she found out she could still move around and get under the trailer she became used to that also.
Oh that little snot! This is what I am worried about when we take onto the road, We have one deaf border terrier, just wonders outside of our sight and the panic gets all of us. And the two Italian greyhounds, one of them would likely not go too far, but the other one would just keep on going even if she hears you calling… The faster I move, the faster she moves too… and there is no way outrunning her. We still haven’t figured out how to make it possible for them all to be off the leash, but safe… some sort of portable fence will be must for us.
I am just glad you all are safe, some maybe a tad annoyed, but all are safe! 😀
SPIKE!!! STOP THE SHENANIGANS!! Geez, talk about a heart attack. Are there coyotes there? I’d really be fearful of them if there are.
You were very lucky this time, you really need to put him on a lease or something or your luck may run out. There are too many dangers where you camp.
What a GREAT post in a GREAT blog. Cletus
Thank you, Cletus!
So glad all is well. Think Spikey needs a little jail time. Love the picture of your feet in the sand. :))
Oh, naughty, naughty Spike.
Hi Sue,
You think Bridget is an angel and Spike is… well, Spike isn’t. I have a suggestion… Instead of checking on Spike every 15 minutes, why not check on him every half hour. That will give him enough time to do what he feels compelled to do and get back before he’s missed. Then you can view him as the sweetheart you may wish him to be…
Good luck!
Barrie
Give Spike a half-hour and he’d take an hour! In truth I think Spike’s a sweetheart exactly how he is.
Hey RV Sue, Just wanted you to know I appreciated you stopping by, and the “tracks” you left (smile).
Box Canyon Mark
Hi Sue, Just love how you tell a story. You had me gripped to your words and photos throughout the entire reading. Thanks to all three of you for my daily entertainment and smiles. Bev from Venice, FL and Manitowish Waters, WI
You’re welcome, Beverly! Nice to hear from you . . . and I like how you mentioned your locations. I’ve been to Venice, Florida… but not Wisconsin.
We have a summer place in northern Wisconsin on a 500 acre lake. The area is called “The Northwoods”, center of the state near the northern border. It’s a vacationer’s paradise for outdoorsy folks like myself. Thousands of lakes nestled in beautiful forests. Water sports, such as kayaking, along with hiking, cycling, fishing are all the draw here. The winters brings the skiers and snowmobilers to play. I have organized a weekly kayaking group for ten years, where we are still exploring the endless lakes and rivers. It may be somewhere you’d like to see someday. I’d recommend September once the kids are back in school, and stay until the fall color gives you it’s show. My two Labs love the hiking off leash and swimming throughout the day in the lake.
Too bad you can’t put a guilt trip on a dog. Spike may have a guilty expression on his face, but he’s not fooling anyone.
So glad you found Spike. With so much wide-open space out there, I was worried about the outcome.
that’s why th eyre called RAT terriers, cause they’re dirty rats,gives Bridge a chance to be “goody-two-shoes”,her calling in life.Our Indie Has siezures, and if she disappears at three in the morn,,I panic.We tel Skeeze to “go find Indie”, and she always comes back with Indie.Always a relief!