* * *COUNTDOWN: 58 DAYS TO LA/XC-6 * * * Hey, I know everyone’s all revved up about Beagle Man’s so-called “Epilogue Trip,” less than two months away.  But Kemba, my young Duck Dog friend, I haven’t heard much out of you . . . other than surprise.  Now I know this ain’t your first rodeo.  In fact, you’ll be tied with me at three cross-country road trips apiece when you’ve finished.  But dude, if I were you, there’s a few things...

* * *COUNTDOWN: 77 DAYS TO LA/XC-6 * * * You thought my days of cross-country-road-tripping-with-dog were finished, right? Me too. The fifth and final journey — or so I assumed at the time — was LA/XC-5, back in the fall of 2016.  I figured it was a wrap after Matt, Greg, Geiger: Separate or in combinations, this crew will co-pilot a bunch of key stretches. (Sorry, Ryan, not you this time.) that one, for a bunch of reasons.  1.) I no longer had a son out in Cali who needed to see...

I heard Matt ask Beagle Man last weekend if he was throwing a beach birthday party for me next month — and Beagle Man said probably not.  That would be two years straight It’s true: I’m about to turn 5. with no party!  All because Mom made fun of him for spending days and days planning and preparing and inviting everyone he saw on the beach those first three years, and then a lot of the people and dogs who said they’d be there didn’t show.  So what?  I...

I have to tell you about the new girl who moved in next door.  Her name is Grace, and she’s really, really good looking.  She’s a Vizsla.  I’ve always liked Vizslas.  She has a short, super-smooth coat, We’re even the same color . . . almost. and a great tan.  And we’re the same age — we’re both turning five next month.  All right, I’m like two weeks older.  Big deal.  John, her dad, says usually Vizslas don’t like to swim, but...

Big dogs and little dogs. Big dogs and little dogs Black and white dogs. Don’t get too wet, black-and-white dog! Four dogs down in the water. One dog up on a paddle board. Dogs at work. Dogs at work: Come on, red dog, fetch! Work, dogs, work! Dogs at play.   Play, dogs, play! There they go. Dogs at play: Paddle, brown dog, paddle! Look at those dogs go! What are they going to do? Where are those dogs going? To the beach! To the jetty at Soundview! Will they work there? Will...

“Your name is Kemba? My name is Kemba! You’re named after Kemba Walker? I’m named after Kemba Walker!”  (Winslow Park, Westport CT;  Vizsla “Kemba Walker” owner wearing UConn tee)    🙂   

Beagle Man started making fun of me with his “duck” jokes back in April of 2015, when I was just an 8-month-old pup.  It was during my first cross-country road trip, and we’d stopped for a walk through the grounds of the Marin County Civic Center.  The park was kind of fancy, with DOGS MUST BE LEASHED signs everywhere.  Of course we cheated, Me with my stick, ducks swimming behind me, at Lake Mohegan just a little:  Beagle Man would roll the ball, and I’d go...

                                                                The Best Beagle Ever would be Sweet Sixteen today 🙂   #rickythebeagle

You all remember, Joe, right?  Beagle Man’s friend who’s not, um, all that crazy about dogs? (You can take a look at what Ricky the Beagle wrote about him in “The Odd Couple.”)  So what Joe’s been up to lately doesn’t really surprise me.  But his wife, Pam — Owl after hit-and-run incident . . . who I thought was my friend?  Who loves all dogs?  Who baby-sits her kids’ dogs?  Honestly — I’m shocked!!  This strange behavior started back...

Beagle Man and Kemba:  A grown man using a poor little dog as an excuse for his own outdoors/exercise fetish.  Why am I not surprised?  In my days with the B-Man, he used to drag me out all the time, too — whether I wanted to go or not.  Sure, I enjoyed chasing the odd squirrel on a sunny spring morning —I am a hound, after all — or bounding around in Hey, it’s not like I never went on a hike . . . some snout-high snow on a crisp January afternoon.  But a long leash-walk in...