Northern CA Tripawds Party November 2016
Those dawgs know how to party!!! What an amazing weekend … re-connecting with old friends, meeting some new ones and celebrating life, love and joy! We had the BEST time, as we always do. Jasper (well mostly me) loves to get out of the city. I love to escape LA for greener (literally) pastures, cleaner air, nicer people and silence. The meeting with the tripawds group is icing on the cake for sure!
Jasper and I usually make the drive up on Friday and it takes us about 5 – 5 1/2 hours (and it’s an ugly drive – straight through farm country). But once we hit our destination, greenery, clean air, blue skies! Perfect! It was actually warm when we arrived which was surprising since I thought we were going to escape the heat.
We did a quick search of a park and did a few miles there. The first thing I noticed was the smells; literally, clean air and trees smells good and different. LA smells like smog – 90% of the time. I rarely am able to take a deep breath of air here without feeling like I am going to cough.
Saturday, Jasper and I get up bright and early to hit the road to meet our friends. We like to arrive a little early to get out some of Jasper’s energy. And after our brief little walk, we headed to the party and like usual, we saw Shelby and her pack! And their new puppy, Dusty. OMG … those ears!!!
Then the rest of the crew showed up and it was like no time had passed since last spring. We laughed, we shared stories, Diane gave cookies to the lucky dogs (Jasper over-indulged this time for sure), and we finally got a group shot!
I would say this is the largest gathering I’ve seen since we’ve been driving up – it was great to meet Grace and Chance, two new friends to our family. Their owners were pretty special too! 🙂
All in all … a great day with great friends and great dogs!
Then Jasper and I took a detour across the Golden Gate Bridge for a few photo opps before heading back to our hotel.
Sunday was overcast, misty and a bit damp but that didn’t stop us (me) from making a trip to a Redwoods Forest before the long drive back to LA. The Redwoods calm me; soothe and nurture the soul. I firmly believe the trees have healing powers. Jasper – tuckered out from the day before – refused to walk about 15 min into the hike (and by hike, I mean easy stroll on a flat trail) so I carried her since I wasn’t ready to leave the forest. Don’t you know, the second we turned around to go back, she basically sprinted back to the car. Still not ready to leave, I grabbed a notebook and spent some time with my thoughts in the forest.
And then the long soul-crushing (the 5 freeway is super ugly) back to LA. A quick stop for a puppy latte and it was homeward bound. Jasper promptly ate dinner and crashed for the night. She doesn’t sleep in the car which I think is part of the problem why by day 3 she is so exhausted. I suspect she will sleep most of today as well.
Austin, Shelby and Dusty
Austin Rae!
Chance!
A meeting of the ears club! So proud of Jasper sitting next to Austin like that.
Grace (new friend)
It was chilly when we got there!
Ellie (Austin the background). Random other dog.
Dusty and Shelby!
Very windy day!
We love the forest (really, both of us do) …
Our Family!
Sounds like so much fun! Wish Gator and I could have been there!
November 7th, 2016 at 7:32 pmALISON!!! THANK. YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR CHRONICLING THE DAY FOR US!”As always, the pictures are SPECTACULAR!! 🙂
Such a handsome crew…two leggers…three leggers…four leggers!! And it looks like a beautiful location.
And then we get to Jasper Lily’s photos and videos…Such a HAPPY, HAPPY DOG!! The videomofnher digging in the sand soooo joyously is price! She absolutely cannot contain her excitement at just being able to “be dog”! And she KNIWS shesw making you smile too while egging her on!! That’s what she does…make people happy!
CANNW believe how dainty she is with her Puppy Latte! There’s not a hint of slobber in sight and not a drop spilled in your car! And yeah, the focus and excitement in those eyes says it all!
I love the photo of Jasper Lily next to Austin in her semi frog leg positw. She’s so cute!
To be able to meet the “old timers”, along with the newbies…Chanceypants, Ellie, Dusty,Grace and, of course, the “Random Dog”
Seeing Jasper so happy hugging with you…And you with her…makes us all so happy!
CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU IN MAY IN VIRGINIA (or somewhere close!)
Lots of love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
November 8th, 2016 at 1:01 amI love it. Thank you for sharing the wonderful Tripawd Pawty. 🙂 I can’t wait to meet you this next Spring. It will be so much fun
xoxoxox
November 8th, 2016 at 1:09 amMichelle & Angel Sassy
This looks like such a wonderful day. Thanks for posting all the pics, gives a good sense of the occasion to those of us who sadly couldn’t be there in person. We are absolutely with you all in spirit!
November 8th, 2016 at 7:32 amSending love,
Meg and Clare (and Elsie Pie) xxx
Wheeeeeee! Oh how jealous we all are, what a fantastic gathering! We are thrilled that you have become part of the NorCal pack, they’re quite special aren’t they? Thanks for being there and sharing these magical photos.
P.S. Totally agree, that part of CA is wonderful (as long as you don’t have to pay rent there…ouch!)
November 8th, 2016 at 7:57 pmAwesome pics Alison, thanks for sharing. Sure hope we get to meet up in May!
Paula and Nitro
November 8th, 2016 at 11:56 pmIt was such a fun day and Gracie had a blast! Lovely meeting everyone and thank you for putting this together!
Cecily and Daniel and Gracie
November 11th, 2016 at 1:56 am