Trip to Rocky

First of all - Rocky Mountain National Park is awesome! There aren't adequate words to describe it.

RMNP is only about an hour from our house, but the drive is hard. It's twisty, narrow mountain roads the whole way - but the scenery is gorgeous. The road follows the Big Thompson River through a deep ravine most of the way, and you're surrounded by hills, boulders, and sometimes aspen/pine forest.

Before we'd been inside the park for five minutes we saw our first elk. Actually, three of them. They were grazing a few hundred yards away from the road, right along the border of a meadow. And - as if that weren't enough - there was a coyote too! It seemed like it was just wandering around aimlessly, since it would walk for fifty yards one way, then circle back, and then do it again. Then we realized that there were actually three coyotes, all circling the elk. I don't think they would have dared to attack, because coyotes are so small, but they looked like they wanted to. After about fifteen minutes one of the elk finally had enough and chased away the coyotes.

We didn't do much hiking (quarter mile, at most) but we went to a really scenic place. It was called an "alluvial fan" - a place where a flood had gone through, basically. There was a lot of branches piled up in places, and small boulders spread all over the place. Right above the fan (the place where the floodwaters spread out) was a waterfall. It was a really small one, but it was still breathtaking. Pics soon.

On the way back we saw a couple of bighorn sheep and a whole herd of elk, but we weren't allowed to stop. Saw two more coyotes on the way back.

Stopped by the Stanley Hotel on the way back, too. I haven't seen the movie or read the book, but it was interesting all the same. It was very majestic on the inside, with lots of fancy woodwork, spacious rooms, etc. Unfortunately, it was starting to rain outside and we needed to get home before the roads got slick, so we didn't get to explore as much as we'd have liked.

I think we're going back to Rocky in a few days or so, this time to do some more serious hiking. I'm hoping that we get to go on one of the more difficult trails, but Dad's not sure. I'd like to go up to Sky Pond, see the Lake of Glass, and do all that - but Dad gets altitude sickness, so maybe not. But I think that, no matter what we do, it'll be fun!

Kodi update

Okay...

We've had Kodi for three whole weeks now, and he's almost three months old. Just in the three weeks that we've had him, he has doubled his weight (he was eight pounds at nine weeks, and now at twelve weeks he's sixteen pounds) and is very noticeably bigger. Here is what he looked like when we first got him:

And this is what he looks like now:

Yeah, it's not the greatest pic (he had just gotten up from a nap... tired pup) but it's the best one I have. Anywho... he sleeps better than any three month old puppy I've met (or had) yet. Last night I only had to take him outside once! Usually at this age, they can only go for about three hours at max. Maybe it's how hyper he is during the day... he hardly takes any naps, and he's always GO GO GO PLAY PLAY PLAY! - That is, when he isn't eating. He eats like a horse! Matter of fact... at the moment, he's sitting on my feet, begging for my food.

I'm starting to leash-train him now... at first I just walked him around the house, then yesterday he went all the way around the cul-de-sac, and this morning I took him a few blocks. He's great on the leash, except when other dogs start barking - then he gets scared and tries to bolt. I need to socialize him to other dogs a little bit more, get him used to it.

House-breaking.... bleh. Don't talk to me about house-breaking. Let's just say... he's still working on it. Starting to get it, but he's got a ways to go.

O-K! So, obviously, Kodi is taking up my life. But heck - what's wrong with that? Whoever said that a dog is man's best friend was absolutely correct. I can't go anywhere without Kodi following me. If he can't follow... he sits down, points his nose at the ceiling, and howls. And - typical me - I'm such a softy that I can't listen to it for more than two minutes.

I suppose I should post an update on moi, but I'm too dang lazy. Maybe tomorrow. Or the day after... I don't know. But soon!

So, til whenever -

~Sam

PUPPY JOY!

Aaaah I have a new puppy! I am so thrilled! We brought Kodi home just two days ago from a rescue down in Aurora. Kodi is just nine weeks old, so he's only about eight pounds - but he'll get way bigger! He's a border collie/aussie shepherd mix, so he'll probably be about fifty-sixty pounds or so. Border collies and australian shepherds are very similar - born to herd, extremely smart, very hyper, and they love to be with their owners as much as possible. So, basically, he's a high-maintenance dog - but that's okay with me! I can't wait until he's old enough to go on hikes/runs with me, play frisbee, and all that. Anywho... I hope to get some pics up soon, because he's absolutely adorable!