Wind Assisted traveling

April 15 - We got up early and we're on the road to Las Vegas. We decided to stop for breakfast on top of a summit. It started to snow while we were eating. What a surprise! As we left the snow kept coming down and we passed some windmills on a snow covered hillside. The wind was still blowing behind us. All around us it was dark and snowing; we could see a light through the darkness and then we were under blue skies.

We set up the trailer in Las Vegas and were able to see the town. We quickly went from casino to casino looking at all the bright lights and water fountains. Enough of Vegas.

Olivia has allowed us space to share our own story.

Libby Lou

1994-2009

Our beloved companion is resting in peace. Prior to our departure Lou experienced some medical concerns. Shelly and Scott offered to keep her while we were away. On April 15 Shelly called to say that Libby was not doing well. They took her to their Vet and he told us she was very ill. As difficult as it was we didn’t want her to suffer any longer. Scott stayed with her to the end. We are so grateful to Shelly and Scott for all the love and compassion they showed in our absence.


SOME OF OUR FONDEST MEMORIES

The day we went to see Libby for the first time at a foster care home for pets she was so excited she jumped the full length of an 8FT sofa only touching down once. Terry said “Are you sure this is the one you want?” We packed up this one and a half year old black terrier mix for a new and eventful journey.

She loved the challenge of escaping, most likely the reason she ended up in a shelter. And of course she wouldn’t come when we called her so we would ask a neighbor, any neighbor to call her. She would come to them. One day I asked a new neighbor if she would go on the other side of the barricade and retrieve her. “She is a black dog and her name is Libby.” The neighbor returned with a dog. The neighbor was pleased with her accomplishment. The only problem was it was the wrong black dog. “But she came when I called Libby.” “Would you try one more time, please?”

Terry installed invisible fencing around the backyard to keep her home. While Terry was installing the wire on one side of the yard Libby dug out under the fence on the other side and she was gone within minutes.

She was a great hunter. She loved to hunt squirrels, mountain beaver, possum and mice.

On a camping trip in Montana she wanted to sleep outside at night to look for critters. With her persistence we gave in and tied her up by the trailer. She wrapped the rope around the stabilizer jacks and began to bark. Terry got up and pulled on her rope. In his frustration he clinched his teeth so hard he had to go in for dental work the next morning.

Nelda was away on a trip for two and a half weeks. Libby made the point that the trip was too long. Upon returning late one evening Nelda went straight to bed, laying her head her pillow she was shocked to discover that Libby had wet on her pillow.

When guests sat at the dinner table Libby would lie on someone’s feet. We said, “They were the chosen one.” There was also a down side. She was known to stand and bark at the guests if they stayed too late. They would ask why Libby was barking and we would have to tell them that she wanted them to go home because she wanted to go to bed.

Our fondest memory of Libby was in the morning when Terry would leave for work. She would come up to him and stand up, wrap her front legs around his legs and lay her head against him and give him a big hug.

Libby we will miss your hugs and your love of life. All of these memories will continue to keep a smile on our face and a warm place in our heart. We love you.

April 14 - We are on our way to Bakersfield, CA. The wind was pushing behind us which helped us go even faster. Poppie said it might help with the gas mileage, too. Along the way I spied fields of grapes and Gram said they would be turned into raisins - Yummers! Poppie said it was a waste of good grapes. Well we arrived at Bakersfield and set up the trailer just in time to see the sunset.