Freddy Talks About the Beach

The beach. What can I say about the beach. It is the best place on earth probably. You can get dirty and smelly and there is always something to investigate. It's just plain wonderful.

Our first trip to the beach was probably the best. There weren't many people there because it was windy and people don't like it when it's windy. Our people unhooked us from their leashes and Kaede and I ran like the wind, jumping up and down, bumping chests and sniffing and smelling and running wild. She even ran into the water but not me, no siree, not this boy. I  don't like the water!!

After that first time we went to the beach nearly every day. We weren't allowed to be free anymore because the people were there. Lots of them. Lots of dogs too, walking along with their people, and lots of birds flying low. I don't bother much with birds but Kaede likes to chase them if she can. I kind of walk along at a nice leisurely pace with my man while Kaede and her lady go ahead of us and put their feet in the water.

 One day we met some fishermen. My man is interested in doing that so he talked to the fishermen and he was told they catch something called a Pompano. That's a fish. This person is sitting staring at the water hoping a fish will  jump up into her lap.

Here is a picture of the beach where we walked and walked.Don't you think it is just super?


I know Kaede thought I would talk about the beach a lot but no. I really want to tell you about the squirrels. There were millions in our backyard. That was the most fun thing in the world. The beach was good but the squirrels? Nothing better than chasing a squirrel up a tree and barking at him with my deep voice and scaring him to pieces. Nothing!!



Here I am on the back deck keeping an eye out for squirrels.

It didn't matter where I was or what I was doing (except eating of course) I knew when there was a squirrel around. I would rush outside barking my head off and chase that squirrel up a tree and sit under that tree to make sure he didn't come back down. Sometimes I almost climbed the tree myself. I did this six or seven times a day sometimes. I never got tired of treeing squirrels. Sometimes my people would try to make me stop but nothing could stop me. -people sure do make a fuss about being woken up in the middle of the night!! Even people who love you.



The best tree in the whole world.

I love, love, love this tree. Want to know why? Because it is in the backyard of the Florida house and the squirrels eat this. That's right they EAT THIS fruit. If they want to EAT THIS fruit they have to come into the BACKYARD, into MY backyard. Then I  get to bark and chase them. So, you can understand why I Love, Love, Love this tree. 

St Augustine loves Freddy and Kaede

It's true. St. Augustine loved us. We, Freddy and me, were treated like, well...like people.



We are on the bridge looking at the 'old' town of St. Augustine.



Almost every day this is what we did. First, our people would talk to us and say stuff like, "Walk? Kaede want to go for a walk?" "What about you Freddy? Freddy want to go for a walk?" Well, it was kind of embarrassing so Freddy and I would jump around all excited and they would leash us up. We figured that's what they expected so we did it every time. Danced the 'happy' dance for them.

Off we'd go through the streets where our house was and then over a bridge. The bridge was very long. My lady and I were both a little bit nervous about the bridge because it had a part where we could look down and see the water and I thought my paws would go through. They never did. One day some bells rang very loudly and we had to stop while that scary part of the bridge went up and some boats floated under. We just sat and waited.

On the other side of the bridge was the old part of St. Augustine. The streets are very narrow and there were always lots of people walking around. Lots of them stroked us and made a fuss about my blue eye. I like that. Freddy was popular because everyone seemed to know  that he was Rhodesian Ridgeback and I guess people in St. Augustine like those kinds of dogs. I like him too but, jeez, I'm very cute.

Walking through those skinny streets was lots of fun. There was lots to look at and see and so many really fabulous smells. After walking for a long time our people would take us somewhere they could sit down and drink or eat and Freddy and I would wait patiently at their side. Oops, ha ha. You know I meant to say that Freddy would wait patiently at their side. There was always too much going on for me to do that. I had to look around and check everything and everybody out.

Here is a picture of a restaurant we went to a lot. One of the people who brings food and wears a uniform said we were her favourite regulars. Ha! Regulars. Pretty cool.



This is the restaurant where we were 'regulars'.



While our people eat and drink the uniformed people bring us our own bowl of water. There were other doggies sitting at tables with their people but I was not allowed to go over to them and play. I could only look.



Freddy lounging, me not lounging. outside a restaurant.



When our people had finished their food it was time to walk back over the bridge to our Florida house. After a rest our people would put Freddy and me in the back of the car and we  would go to the BEACH!! I loved the beach. More about that later. Or,  perhaps Freddy can tell you about the beach when he writes. He's right beside me itching to get his paws on the computer. :)

Kaede Went on a Trip Too

Hi, it's me Kaede. I'll just continue where Freddy left off. Except for one thing. The reason I squish up in a small corner in the crowded car is because Freddy stretches out his very long body and takes all the room!! There, I said it.

Anyway, my trip was pretty much the same as his so I won't tell you about that. I'll start where he left off.

We are on the beach. The beach is really beautiful. There is so much sand and the smells. You can't keep up with the smells. They are everywhere. Lovely smells. Smells of birds and bird poop, feathers, bits of human food, fish, everything all in one spot. My nose was going crazy. My lady and I are pretty good friends, you know, so she is always with me. I keep myself close to her and make sure she holds on tight to my leash so she doesn't get lost. We like the water. The water moves in and then it moves away. It was hard to tell where it was going to be. Suddenly your feet are covered in water, then they aren't, then splash, the water was up to my face almost. We ran and laughed (yes, I laugh!!) and kicked up the sand. 

We watched the birds fly away in fright of me and got wet and ran some more in the sand. It was the best thing I had ever done, I think. There weren't many other people there so our people let us loose and Freddy and I ran as fast as our legs could carry us and jumped up in the air and down again and up and down and bumped chests. When we do that my lady always says that I play just like a Ridgeback. Well, I could have told her that. My mom was half Ridgeback after all.

Then we walked all the way back to the car and Freddy and I were wet and sandy but our people didn't care. They drove us to a place called a Taco Stand where they sat outside and had tacos and beer while Freddy and I laid at their feet and watched the world go by.

This was our first day in the magic place called St. Augustine. I think Freddy and I are going to like this place. There's nothing like snoozing at your ladies feet in the hot sun, your best friend, Freddy, snoozing at his man's feet next to you while the world just goes on by.

Pictures coming as soon as my human person shows me how to put them into the computer without any thumbs.

Until next time,
Kaede

Freddy Goes On a Trip

It's been such a long time since Kaede, my brown mutt friend, or I have written anything I hardly know where to start.

I know. I will tell you about our trip we took to Florida. Our people (who we love madly) packed up the car one day with suitcases. I was getting kind of nervous because I thought we would be left behind. But no. As soon as I saw them open the magic cupboard where our food is kept and put our food in the car I knew. Whereever they were going, we were going too. It was pretty squishy back there with all the luggage and the food containers but we didn't care. Kaede and I hopped up there and laid on our soft comfy beds and had a bit of a snooze.

It's easy to sleep in a car. I just stretch out and get really comfy. Kaede not so much. For some reason she squishes up in a small space.

We drove and drove and drove. We stopped and our people walked us around a bit and then they sat in the car and ate things. We got water. We drove and drove and drove some more until we stopped and went into a room. It was okay because our beds and food went into the room too. Our lady took us for a walk and when we got back to the room she and our man ate their food.

The next day was pretty much the same except I did notice it was getting warmer and our people weren't wearing as many clothes. We all slept in a different room that night.

The next day was glorious. We were in a place called Florida!! We didn't just have a room. We had a whole house with a backyard. Kaede and I ran around the house smelling and sniffing everything and our people made sure our beds were in the perfect spot. They brought all the stuff in and then we went for a walk. It was the best walk of my life!!


This is part of  the backyard. I'll tell you about the squirrels I got to chase later on.


We went to a place called a beach. There was sand as far as I could see. There was also water that I don't like and my man kept trying to get me to put my feet in it but I just wasn't going to do that. Kaede did.



Here we are walking along the beach. Isn't it just beautiful!!

 We walked and walked and walked and walked. It was so nice. The sun was shining on us and the sand was warm on my feet. It was wonderful not being in the car.

We were there such a long time. I think I will have to continue this story because my paws are getting tired from all this typing.