Dear Isaac and Maia,

Last year, I titled my first post from my February “Unstuck” because most of my hobblies hybernate in the winter months. I feel stuck at home. Well, last year it backfired. COVID hit and stopped spring break from happening at all. It kept me much closer to home for hikes (initially, even Grand Junction was off limits). When we could finally camp, I stayed within 100 miles of home most of the summer. And, then it was winter, again.

A rhapsody is an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling. My basset hound’s official name was Red Rocks Rhapsody. Seeing the red rock makes me feel ecstatic because I just got my second vaccine and I am feeling optimistic that 2021 will be a more normal year and the trip to Moab is always the kick-off. A my birthday celebration.

We got a late start because we always get a late start. Trying to pack for three dogs, two with disabilities, is like traveling with a bunch of toddlers. Diapers, heated blankets, medication, treats, potty pads and a million carriers. Eventually, we were on the road and over to Utah on our annual adventure. Montrose has a lot of snow now, but not much once we got started. It feels good to be out of the cold for a couple of days.

First adventure was the Birthing Rock, again. Seriously, I should rename it the birthday rock because it is an easy stop with dogs that can’t walk very far. Maizzy likes to sniff the ground, but the old gal can’t walk on a leash at all anymore because of her failing vision. I decided this trip would be a barrometer of how long I should let her go on . . . I dread putting her down.

The Birthing Rock is a Fremont Indian petroglyph. The birth scene is a favorite of mine – people have said that it is a midwife (the big figure that looks also like an alien) next to the baby. It is just a rock in a field, except now there is a fence and signs. None of that was there when I went with you mom to see it the first time 30 years ago.

Kachina and Sazi were glad to be out of the car. Sazi has been hiking some without her wheels so I decided to pull off at another stop we saw along the way – called Moonflower Canyon. Maizzy was sacked out and the temperature was OK, so we left her in the car and took a short hike up the canyon. It was pretty flat, which is good because Sazi can’t do steps or climbing anymore because of her IVDD. It was pretty, but getting chilly, so we headed back after a mile or so. I would like to go back – it is hard to find flatter trails around Moab.

Tomorrow, I think we will do Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands. I am not sure how to carry Maizzy – I finally found a carrier that I think will work for her but I had to order it from New Zealand and it isn’t here yet. Sazi will give out on the hike and need to be carried, too. Sazi butt scoots when she is too tired to walk further – it is king of hillarious but when she is done, she is done. I will likely use the old Outward Hound backpack for Maizzy that I got used for $20 four years ago. I have been packing that dog around for four years! The K-9 sportsack was my favorite backpack but Maizzy is uncomfortable in it now and whines. I can put Sazi in the pocket of my roo shirt if she gets tired. What a strange time, carrying dogs around on hikes. I don’t know anyone else who carries two dogs with them on adventures.

More tomorrow.

Love, GMH