A New Dog In Town

I've been sniffing around the 2dogs2000miles blog for a while now -- a writer without a good cause to write about. But as Fate (a small town in Texas) would have it, I was tapped to fill in for The Big Dog when he can't blog himself. So here I am, a puppy at blogging. My part here is to write for Luke when he finds himself beyond the reaches of technology, silent in the wilderness. I hope you will enjoy the adventures I relay to you from Luke and The Boys as they make their way across country. We have many stories already in the works. And, of course, lots of pictures to share.

I come to this project with my own story, of course. I lost two of my own dogs to cancer. Sturm, a beautiful German Shepherd, was the love of my young life, and he saved me from the depths of despair, otherwise known as teenage angst. But at 11 he was stricken with squamous cell carcinoma. In those days (mid-70s), dogs weren't candidates for intervention therapy. He lived two more happy years, despite the cancer, and we made the best of every moment. Many beautiful dogs later, another of my pack, Linga (known to all her friends as Tingles), my sweet little red-haired Collie mix, was diagnosed with leukemia. But she too was a fighter and was a cancer survivor for three more years. We lost her in April 2006. My heart broke again.

And so I find myself here. I can't walk with Luke and The Boys. But I can help him tell their story. I hope you enjoy what we bring to you, together. I dedicate my efforts to Sturmie and Linga, Malcolm and Kubie, and all the dogs who have lost their lives to this disease. And to all the dogs who struggle still, and all the hearts that fill with hope that canine cancer will be a thing of the past. I'm glad to be a part of the 2 dogs 2000 miles team. I invite you to join in their efforts.

Puppy Up!
Erich & His 4 Pack

Q & A with the Big Dog

We've met so many wonderful, warm and generous people along our travels so far with lots of questions, some of which I thought you might have, too.

1. How are Hudson & Murphy? Fantastic! They had their first vet visit Monday the 7th. I've been so worried about weight loss but both actually have been packing some on, 3/4 of a pound for the wee lad and 2 for the old boy (57.7 and 110 respectively). Dr. Hogan was surprised at how good their pads were looking but now that the asphalt is starting to heat up, the boys are sporting their booties!

Some of you have asked if they are happy. Without a doubt, they're having the time of their lives. Sure we've had our share of challenges and it's been rough and tough at times but every day we're greeted with new adventures and the boys have made so many new friends. People stop us on the road just to take their picture, give them hugs & kisses, and even bring them treats.

2. How much progress have you made? To date, we've traveled about 140 miles and still have 220 left to reach Arkansas. I had originally budgeted 45 days to cross Texas but that's looking more like 60. Our goal is to make it to the state line by mid May but now that we're getting good media coverage and doing more community activities, we may have to bump that back some still. Getting the message out is of primary importance and we want to make sure we use this opportunity as best we can.

3. Do you accept rides? Absolutely not. We're in for the full stretch. People offering us a place to stay overnight can pick us up but they have to take us back. Interestingly, they feel like they're kicking us off on the side of the road and that makes some of them a tad uncomfortable but it's part of the deal.

4. You said you weren't going to travel on highways but you are now. True... we've had to make many adjustments since we started and this is the big one. Not only logistically but for me, mentally and emotionally. Six months ago, I would have never walked the boys anywhere near a highway. The onslaught of semis, oversized trucks, and seventy mile an hour traffic can be taxing on the wits but we have a routine which seems to be working. Plus, now that a lot of people know about us, it's amazing how many go out of their way to give us as wide as margin as possible.

5. Where are you sleeping? Of the 28 nights we've been on the road, only six were spent indoors. The rest were on the side of the road or on the occasional propitious night, we're given permission to pitch tent on someone's property.

Three times we've had to sleep alfresco... under the stars and completely unsheltered. I made the premature mistake of shedding my winter clothes last week and have had some extremely uncomfortable nights but the boys were by me and I'd spoon one for 30 minutes then turn over and spoon the other.

6. What do you do about hygiene? These last few weeks, I've been looking bad enough to put the entire grunge movement back underground. I even got the 'suspicious character' phone call and was almost refused service at a restaurant once. At a bare minimum, I try to get a shower and a shave once a week as well as wash my clothes. But I carry a toothbrush & floss, rinse-free antibacterial soap, and even deodorant so I don't get too dirty and stinky.

7. What do you miss most out on the road? Without a doubt, music. Symphonies, concertos, and opera I find myself trying to replay in my head late at night. Adagio for Strings, the Four Seasons, George Winston...

But I've learned to find comfort in the noises of the night... coyote howls, cows grazing nearby (do they ever sleep?), cicadas, junebugs, and bullfrogs and all the other sections of the orchestra. On the flip side, the sound of silence is quite discomforting because that's usually a sign of an impending storm.

Have a question? Post it in the comments section & I'll happily answer them.

Update posted by Janet Graham

Hebrews 13:2: "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Luke, Hudson and Murphy have passed the 100 mile mark, what a celebration!! They are now past Hearne, TX and almost to Franklin, TX. Congratulations to all!

It’s been a whirlwind journey; they have made such wonderful friends along the way. Everyone’s kindness and hospitality has amazed Luke. Hudson and Murphy as true Great Pyrenees, just soak up the attention and love every minute of it.

In Gause, TX, Luke and the boys had a wonderful time at the Gause Volunteer Fire Department fundraiser. They welcomed them in and were excited about their journey. Horseshoes and 42 were played. The food was great and the boys enjoyed all the additional attention they received. Thanks to all of you in Gause for inviting Luke and boys along for the festivities of the fundraiser.

Before reaching Hearne, TX, Luke and boys were blessed with a warm welcome from Reverend Swift. Not only did Reverend Swift offer the church for them to spend the night in, his friendship and fellowship will be treasured forever by Luke. Thank you Reverend Swift.

Soon after their visit w/ Reverend Swift, it was time to talk to the media, KBTX from Bryan/College Station, TX ran a feature on their evening newscast about Luke, Hudson and Murphy and their amazing journey. You can check out the interview and video at this link:
http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/17367629.html

It is a wonderful feature segment with resident interviews and a wonderful explanation of the cancer comparison between humans and canines was explained by Dr. Heather Wilson of Texas A&M Small Animal Clinic. Below is a small expert from her interview.

We're using exactly the same drugs and techniques they're using in people. So as advances come out in people, we can also use them for dogs and also dogs serve as a good model. "We can take what we learn from dogs and apply it to people too," Dr. Heather Wilson with the Texas A&M Small Animal Clinic said. "It goes both ways."

In Hearne, TX, Luke and the boys were treated to a pampered day at the Wind Dancer Bed & Breakfast – a wonderful B&B, Texas style! Denise who owns the B&B kindly played chauffeur to Luke and the boys for their journey from the road to the B&B. Murphy was so excited at the prospect of a ‘real’ bed, he jumped up on the bed and Hudson soon joined in w/ the play.
Thanks Denise, Luke and the boys really appreciated a ‘real’ bed and the day of R&R. (http://ww.winddancerbnb.com/)

Back on the road, it was time for Hudson and Murphy to get a vet check, Dr. Hogan was wonderful to visit with and think the boys are doing great! Murphy managed to gain 2 lbs and Hudson maintained his weight. Their feet are looking great! Dr. Hogan did shave the fur on the bottoms of the feet to help them stay dryer. The pavement is getting warmer now, so it’s time for canine booties. Thanks Dr. Hogan!

They are currently heading towards Franklin, where they will meet with elementary aged children and get to tell of their amazing journey.

Keep checking back on their saga and until next time, safe journeys to Luke, Hudson and Murphy!

Until then Puppy Up!!

2dogs2000miles Team

Journal Entry: March 16th - 28th

Colin Fletcher, roundly regarded as the godfather of hiking, used to say that on long walks, the first few weeks are always the hardest. I always assumed he was referring to the physical and mental adjustments one must make but having been on the road for almost a fortnight, I know now he spoke of something much deeper.

But we've gotten through the tough couple of patches together, as a team, and are finally reaching our rhythm. The boys are soldiering on like little Spartans. We're now clearing 7-8 miles a day and since we left Austin, crossed two counties and covered fifty plus miles. Here are some of the stories and encounters we've had along the way:

Crazy Cattle Rancher

While we were hunkered down by the particularly nasty storm system that bore down on us just a day after we launched, we had a whole host of kind and considerate people who stopped to warn us about the weather. And then came Lloyd. I mean this guy must've seen too many episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger and Judge Joe Brown. He drove up in his two ton truck, didn't even bother to get out, and almost immediately told me I was full of s***. No introductions, no niceties, just right out with it he went. I suppose he saw us on Fox News 8 in Austin and got it in his mind I was traveling from town to town taking hard earned money from the innocent.

He said it was because we hadn't made it too far in the two days since we started. Had he heard about the weather I started to ask but this guy was in no mood to listen. Nope. Going at our current rate, it would take us four years to get to Boston. He did the math. That's animal cruelty and he was calling PETA on us. I asked him if he knew the meaning of irony... a farmer with 200 head of cattle calling PETA on me. My guess is he's still scratching his head on that one.

Lloyd then said he'd have us arrested by the Manor police when we reached that town's city limits. I was about to make the wry observation that when making threats, start small then go big not the other way around but it seemed pointless and besides a storm was coming and I had preparations to make. At least he gave us something to laugh about that night ....and good material for the blog!

Riding out the Storm

Fortunately, we were spared most of the stark predictions like flooding, hail, and tornadoes, but fierce northwestern winds came howling down upon us and more than once almost collapsed the tent. The boys were beside themselves so I put my hands on the two sides of the tent hit the worst, leaned back, and pretended I was asleep. Within minutes, Hudson and Murphy curled up next to me and slept through it all. It's an important lesson I'll recall throughout our travels.

That True Texas Spirit

After a tough start, it was truly a delight to have a home cooked meal and a warm bed at the Wilton's home. Carolyn is a most excellent cook (don't forget to email me your recipe for Tomato Gravy) and Wilton, a generous, big hearted man. They took me into town to resupply and replace the sleeping bag I lost somewhere on 473. They're everything I will miss about the Great State of Texas when I return to New England. Thanks again for your hospitality.

Granger Lake

There is truth to the saying that a fire warms the soul of a traveler and Easter night, we were fortunate enough to find a site at Taylor Park and have our first campfire. It's a small but pleasant place where we met some endearing characters including a pair of twelve year old paranormal detectives, Alice and Bella.

Hudson and Murphy took to them instantly and we joined them for some sightseeing. One of the most curious sights was Hoxie Bridge, cranky, completely out of place, and yet reputedly haunted by the headless ghost of a murdered convict who helped build it. Hudson peed on it.


Pancho and Lefty's

From there we headed east towards a jerkwater town of fifty or so people called Hare which is unremarkable and not unlike so many in Texas except for a little dive of a bar and restaurant owned by Mike and Lynda, who graciously allowed us to pitch our tent in the back.


I'm telling ya, everyone in that place was kind and giving from the waitstaff down to the patrons. Mike, a very capable grill man, fixed a special plate for the boys and treated me to a warm dinner and sandwiches for the next day. Every Monday night a group of guitarist gather to share songs and work on chords. So I kicked back and drank a few beers to some blue grass and gospel music. Quite a splendid way to spend an evening on the road. Thanks also to Christina, Christie, Dan, Lucas, Clayton and everyone else at Pancho & Lefty's!

Life on the Road

Not every night's been quite that ideal but we're learning to weather the hard times, too. It helps to have mates like I do and I don't just mean Hudson and Murphy but all of the volunteers who are devoted to seeing this succeed. Until next time my friends... puppy up!

Traveling Tails

It must've been fate to reconnect with Malcolm's former veterinarian in San Antonio, Dr. Tracy Tommack. I was first turned on to her by a friend in 2003 because she had this really cool mobile vet unit which was convenient for my 7 day work week.

Truthfully, I had forgotten about Traveling Tails and was searching for a clinic nearby to weigh the boys and administer their vaccines before we left. Then I saw them in the directory and not only did they still have the van but had grown into a clinic, too.

It came of little surprise to me, though, as I was always impressed with Dr. Tommack's bedside manner and she has a Pyrenees, too! I emailed her about the walk and she drove right up curbside Thursday the 13th, gave the boys a physical examination and vaccinations, and even clipped their toenails, too. Teresa, holding Hudson in the photo, is her technician and she handled the boys expertly.

Murphy's weight - 108 pounds, Hudson clocked in at 57. Both were given a clean bill of health although the wee lad did have an infection around his groin area. I got off without his antibiotics which created some chaos during the first days of the walk but it has since healed up just fine. Thank you for everything Teresa & Dr. Tommack...

Taking Malcolm With Us

For reasons which still remain unclear to me, I put off trying to find a company willing to donate cremation jewelry for Malcolm's ashes until almost the last moment. I knew what I wanted and why.

Then I came across Everlasting Memories and their message of family and friendship spoke to me. I immediately called, talked with Donna and after pitching the walk to her, she said she would forward the information to the owners.

Within just two days, I received a kind and heartfelt letter from the founders and proprietors, Casey Doran and Brandon Jurasek, and in it they offered to donate a necklace so that I could carry Malcolm with us on our journey. I selected the sterling silver eternity keepsake shown in the photograph nearby (taken by Jennifer Hayes with the Best Friends Animal Society)

It's absolutely lovely and it hangs next to Malcolm's toenail (long story) and the Saint Francis my mother gave him years ago. Now that we're on the road, not a day passes without my 'Malcolm' moment. I place the keepsake in the palm of my hand, thank Malcolm for that spirit which was his and the mission he has given us. Thanks to Ever Memories for making that possible.

Update from Luke who is in Taylor, TX and heading toward San Gabriel

I wanted to give everyone who visits this forum an update of this week so far since the guys sat out the first half weathering some serious Mother Nature! It would seem that the Austin area was hit this week with some of it's worst weather in years-typical, eh?

Much like when I went back home to NJ (from FL) to visit family in 2003 only to get blasted with the infamous "Presidents' Day Blizzard".

My own personal thoughts on this is that whenever something really special is planned such as this walk (and my visit home in 2003 was my first in a few years) -Mother Nature decides to test you right off to make sure you're worthy, and good old "Murphy's Law" takes up residence.

Well~ the guys weathered the storms and the challenges of Murphy's Law just fine and were able to finally start putting some miles behind them -YAY! :)

Bootie Check (Or Hudson and Murphy Try on Socks and Shoes)

I just had to share this video. If you've haven't seen a dog's first reaction to booties, it's an absolute riot. That is unless putting them on is a daily ritual.

It's quickly become apparent that half an hour each morning will be spent 'dressing the boys'. I hadn't budgeted that much time but I'm tellin' ya, they're just like kids. After I put socks and shoes on Hudson and I turn my attention to Murphy, he's pulling them right off.

Just got some great advice last week from Jody with the New England Pyrenees Rescue about using vet tape to keep the booties in place. I was thinking duct tape will work just fine but the ASPCA might have something to say about that.

In doing some cursory research into why dogs don't care for footwear I couldn't find anyone who could say definitively. Unlike people who use the heels and balls of the feet, dogs walk on their toes. This is something I'll have to study on the road.

Meet Marilyn (and Crockett, too!)

She has generously volunteered to take over the technology aspect of the walk and that's no small order - the website, the Flickr Memorial Wall, Blog, and our new mapping system which should launch soon. Boy are we glad our paths crossed but not only because of her help but because she has vast experience with working with volunteers and for dog causes, too!

Marilyn is a retired federal webmaster and was recommended to me for her work coordinating a large group called The Stealth Volunteers that reunited over 1,000 Katrina animals with their missing families. She's also an incredibly dynamic person often taking trips that included a Shakespeare play, Prague before the Velvet Revolution, and a safari to Tanzania where she heard a lion roar while camping in a tent. In her youth she rode her bicycle from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Marilyn in person, but I can tell she is pretty laidback with a good sense of humor and she attacks the projects she cares about with great zest and zeal. Marilyn says she spent roughly her first 25 years in Indiana, the next 25 in Chicago and at present she lives in the Texas Hill Country where she follows the San Antonio Silver Stars and the Indiana Hoosier basketball. GO IU! (She made me put that in here).

Marilyn recently conscripted the help of a volunteer friend of hers, Aaron, who has always been an animal lover, actively campaigning for pets since 2000, locally and online. His household consists of 2 dogs (Noel is in the photo), one of which is a shelter rescue, one rescue cat, and 10 birds, 4 of which are rescues. He's also the volunteer coordinator for the non-profit, Missing Pet Partnership and hopes soon to help start disaster relief for pets in his area. Aaron lives in Maple Valley, Washington - just 35 miles south of Seattle. Thanks for your help, mate!

If you'd like to help Marilyn and Aaron with any of the tech stuff you can contact her at petcancermemorial@yahoo.com . Thanks to both of you for generously giving up your time and energy. Our success will be due in no small part to your efforts.

Whole Earth Provision

Whole Earth Provision was kind enough to donate a backpack to our journey. But they didn't just donate a backpack. This is the 'James Bond Aston Martin' of packs: the Osprey. "Q" himself could've designed it. As I learn all it's secrets and mysteries on the road, I'll share them in a series of Gear Check videos.

I got my first tutorial, however, from Ted, the Gear Lead at Whole Earth's San Antonio store. Not only did he custom fit the Osprey pack on me but was a fount of information about all the many ways we can use and adapt it for our purposes. Ted even showed me how I could carry my seven iron (the only golf club I know how to hit) with me. That's him and the backpack on the right.

Pictured below are Max (left) and Mike (right). These guys know all things socks and shoes and they helped me understand how to protect what Colin Fletcher referred to as the foundation of walking. I'm no good to myself or my boys with injured feet so their input was invaluable.

Max also regaled me with a story about a journey he recently took, circumnavigating all of Ireland on foot - that's 1450 kilometers or approximately 900 miles of coastline for the S.I. impaired.

I learned a lot from all the folks at Whole Earth Provision and feel very fortunate that they have made Hudson, Murphy, and me a part of their family. Thanks also to Randall (Assistant Manager pictured top left in front of their very stylish San Antonio store) and David, too. And to Tanis Jones who also gave the boys a rocket launcher for the walk!

Tripawds Heroes and Tributes Book

Jim and Rene recently published a book celebrating three-legged dogs, 22 of them actually including Malcolm, and I just received my copy yesterday. Because my mother was there during his last days, they graciously sent me a copy to give her before I left.

Words couldn't begin to express how deeply moved I am by the gesture and by their beautiful book . As is often the case when I find myself at a loss for something to say, I look to those who can. It's only fitting that I quote from the preface of their book.

"Dogs do not feel shame over the loss of a limb. When faced with adversity, they persevere. For them, once the pain is gone, life goes on. And they live it to the fullest.

In our continuing efforts to raise awareness about cancer in dogs, and educate pet guardians about the resilience of animal amputees, we are proud to present this first edition of Tripawd Heroes and Tributes, a collection of personal stories about how beloved tripawd dogs have forever changed the lives of their human companions.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to anyone who has lost a beloved pet to cancer or faced the difficult decision of amputation. We extend our greatest gratitude to everyone who has shared their stories with us. With their help and yours, we can prove to the world that it's better to hop on three legs than to limp on four."

Indeed it is, my friends. You can order a copy of Jerry's First Tripawds Book on their site and for $10 more you can customize it with a photo of your own three-legged loved one on the cover and their story printed on page one. Jim and Rene are generously donating $5 per book to the Morris Animal Foundation's Canine Cancer Campaign.

Cookout!

We had to postpone the cookout til Sunday due to decidedly dreadful conditions but boy, was it worth the wait. We couldn't have asked for a more auspicious day not only from the sunny, sixty degree weather but the turnout was great, too. We had four 3-legged beauties show up, three of which are in the photo left (Becky & Cassidy, Jim & Jerry, and Kathy & Rocky).

In addition to all of the wonderful people and pets we had there, the very righteous Bare Naked Family showed up. I can't say enough about them. The father, Greg, was an exec with Dell back in the day working out of Microsoft's Redmond campus, an ideal life he and his lovely wife, Jenn, decided to trade in for a more idyllic one. The sold their stuff, bought an RV, and roamed the roads of this great country of ours until recently settling back in Austin.

Their son Austin and his friend, James, came a'packin their guitars and graced our cookout with a couple of tunes. They even dedicated a song to the walk entitled quite appropriately, "Walking Down the Line". I captured most of it on my camera. Quite an unplugged performance, mates! Not sure what Murphy was doing - maybe he thought he was part of the show? Or perhaps he just wants to be their roadie...

Janet and Brian (and their baby, Bella pictured right bottom), the folks at Living Arts Bakery, brought delicious scones and pastries.

Jim, Rene, and Jerry from Tripawds also came bearing gifts. Prior to traveling to Austin, they were in Florida and visited the manufacturer of Syn-Flex, who generously donated two bottles of their liquid glucosamine which were raffled. They also sent bandanas which the boys wore with pride.

Kicking back and reflecting afterwards, I couldn't help but feel that we drew the finest crowd to the cookout. Thank you to everyone who joined us, brought their lovely dogs, shared their stories, helped out, came out to show their support, cooked and contributed food.

From left: Eric, James, Austin, Shiva (poking her big ole Great Dane head into the frame), next to an even Bigger Dog, Kesley, Jenn, Trixie, Greg, Jerry, and Sunny!

Saying Goodbye to Mom

The boys and I traveled to Temple last Saturday to spend some time with my parents. I had hoped for more than a day together but weather conditions dictated otherwise making us move the cookout to Sunday which cut short my visit.

My Mom has Alzheimer's so it was especially tough for me. She doesn't understand what I'm doing or why and I'm worried that her condition will worsen while we're on the road. The Aricept seems to have slowed the progression though there isn't really a diagnostic test to confirm that.

What makes it particularly hard is that she's always been such a proud and independent woman. She raised four sons while running her own business and, ironically, once received a 'Man of the Year' Award for her civic activities and work in the community. In a town run by good ole boys, that was quite an accompishment. We couldn't have asked for more in a mother.

That she still retains the sweetness and generosity she's always been most known for is a blessing. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Fiat Lux

"Let There Be Light"

We're finally getting around to shooting some Gear Checks. In this Episode, we're testing two products donated by Princeton Tec, the Pilot and the Eco Flare. You can't fully appreciate the power of the Pilot from the video but it's a fraction of the size of a Maglite and packs more of a wallop. Thanks to Rob Cash and the people at Princeton Tec!

Animal Cancer Foundation

It's humbling the outpouring of support for our journey but we're only walking 2,300 miles. Some of history's greatest travelers are scientists and their quest never ends.

Dr. Geral Post, a veterinarian oncologist of national repute, began a similar quest when he started the Animal Cancer Foundation in 1998. Their mission is developing and funding research that advances the prevention and treatment of cancer for people and pets.

When we had the good fortune to meet back in December, I asked him to put together a list of five of the most pressing areas of research needed right now. Epidemiological studies was one such topic and on a conference call, we discussed it further. No one knows exactly what types of canine cancers are occuring around the country, how common they are, and how fast they're growing.

As stunning as it may seem in this Age of Information, such a comprehensive nationwide study has never been conducted mainly because it's expensive. I think I can help out with that was my response. Since then I've spent some time with him and his right hand, Charlotte Lee, and recently they invited me to participate in ACF's last board meeting. Though it seemed more like I 'bribed' them with the cookies and creme cake I had delivered for the occasion.

No doubt about it, they're perfect partners for us and we've taken that one step further. On the Contributions page on our website, you can now make donations directly to ACF on behalf of 2 Dogs 2,000 Miles and they'll keep those funds restricted for this monumental study we're all working towards.

We look forward towards a long and successful relationship with Dr. Post, Charlotte, and the Animal Cancer Foundation.

The Big Dog Goes to School..

Yesterday, I attended a Pet CPR and First Aid class and I can't tell you how happy I am I did. No matter how much you think you can learn by watching youtube videos, it helps to have hands on practice and that we did. Over and over again. We started with the Primary Pet Assessment and worked our way through a whole host of critical situations we might encounter on the walk.

In the photo above are our volunteers for the day who generously allowed us to practice procedures on them. The curriculum was developed by a company called Pet Tech and the 40 + page book you get is quite comprehensive covering everything from Emergency Situations to Snout-to-Tail Wellness Assessment. Even if you're not planning on a cross country hike with your babies, it's just good common sense to take this course.

Bastrop State Park: January 30th 2008

The boys and I were able to steal away for a day to this little garden of Eden, east of Austin known as Lost Pines. The name comes from the loblolly, a towering conifer with deeply furrowed, reddish-brown bark one of our volunteers cleverly described as cracked brownies. Mine was nerdier, referring to its trunk as having saurian like scales or techtonic plates.

Aside from getting a little training in plus much needed rejuvination, the trip served another purpose. I wanted to shoot some sample video to give everyone an idea of what my video feeds and podcasts will be like on the road. It's a bit rough but I published it on youtube anyway.

One of the dominant themes was Hudson gnawing on bark and pine combs. A little roughage in the diet never hurts, but given the dangerous and deadly vegetation we'll be encountering - some I know about, some I won't; it's a behavior I must discourage.

Another of his pecadillos is digging (photo above). I started to shut him down this time but a thought occured to me. One of the issues we'll have to deal with is waste disposal and the most common procedure is burying it. Why expend my energy on the task when I have a much younger, much more effective digging implement in my team. Have at it, my boy.

At the end of the day, this is what it's all about. Midnight with me mates. I forgot to affix the tarp so were awakened by raindrops about fifteen of five. Thunderstorms came, too, completing the overature and the system stayed with us well past my 8am tee time. It would have been nice to get a round in before we had to leave but we had a heck of a time nonetheless.

puppy up! spokesgirls!

Meet our new spokesgirls for our puppy up! brand.

On the left is Caroline, age two and Avery who's seven.

Aren't they adorable? Unfortunately, either their Uncle Luke is a mindless git who can't operate a digital recorder or my camera has gone blinky. For some odd reason, the clips had split frames.

Life's about improvising so I used them all in a series of outakes. I like the way it came together and anyway, I couldn't think of editing my nieces.

Meet Allison Reed

One of the cornerstones of this great country is scientific curiosity. When Sassy, her Golden Retriever, passed away from bladder cancer at age three, Allison wanted to know why. She then spent a year analyzing DNA from the tumor and isolated and cloned the suspect cancer genes.

That in of itself would be quite a story. But Allison is only thirteen years old and her research project was for a science fair. This awesome California junior high student is one of three finalists for the Outstanding Young Scientist Award selected from over 6,500 submissions statewide. You can read more about her story and watch a TV interview here.

That she turned her tragic loss into hope for a cure for cancer is truly inspirational and it embodies the spirit of 2 Dogs 2000 Miles perfectly. We look forward to following your journey, Allison. Safe travels.

The Honest Kitchen Journal - Entry One

This morning was Hudson & Murphy's first Honest Kitchen meal! I've listened to both schools of thought on 'transitioning' dogs to new foods. Some say it can cause bloat. Some say it won't. For me, why risk it? So I gave them each a cup of their old food with 3 Tbs of 'Verve'.

As soon as I opened the pouch my senses were aroused by the aroma of fresh herbs. For this batch, I used a 1 to 1 mixture and let it sit for about 10 minutes or so. The consistency was similar to porridge, perfect for my purposes.

To say they loved it would be an understatement. Poor Murphy, long after his meal was gone, he kept licking the bowl. And licking. And licking. For 42 seconds. I timed him. I'm going to chronicle this new experience over the next week or so.

The Honest Kitchen

It is with great pride that we formally announce our pet food sponsor - The Honest Kitchen, though I'm hesitant to label their products just for pets. Not only are they 100% human-food-grade, their meals are produced in an FDA approved, human-food-producing facility in Southern California, that makes the very same foods you eat. Isn't that incredible?

And so are the ingredients they use. Let's take a look at just one of their five entrees for dogs, Force: Hormone-free chicken, organic flaxseed, potatoes, celery, sweet potatoes, apples, alfalfa, organic kelp, honey, zucchini, green beans, cabbage, bananas, papayas, yogurt, basil, garlic and rosemary.

Perhaps the greatest appeal to me though is that the meals are prepared fresh and raw and then dehydrated so all I'll have to do is add water and voila, gourmet cuisine back country style.

The Honest Kitchen also offers cookies and ice treats and supplements, too, and they were honored with the 2006 Puplife Food of the Year Award.

The first shipment of food went out yesterday so I can't wait to share more with you. Thanks again to Lucy, Cami, and the rest of the people at The Honest Kitchen for sponsoring our hike.

Rescuing Sprite Part Two

The holidays are particularly tough for me because it was around this time two years ago that Malcolm's health began failing and so today was spent in reflection and contemplation.

I finally made it past page 146 of Rescuing Sprite and finished this wonderful book. I did so sitting under a giant Maple tree which offered me not only seclusion but comfort from its majestic timber. Murphy and Hudson weren't with me, a wise decision I made since there wasn't a tearless moment throughout and they hate to see me get all weepy.

My heart goes out to Dr. Levin not only for his loss but because he only had Sprite for 26 months. Along my trails, I've met parents whose pets were diagnosed with cancer as early as 12 months and as old 16 years and what I've learned is that when you love someone eternally, having them in your life even one day short of that is not long enough.

But that didn't stop them from adopting another dog, Griffin. It was Dr. Levin's wife, Kendall, who goaded him into it really because he was reticent to take the leap and open himself up again. Like Sprite, Giffin is an older dog with health problems, too, so Dr. Levin's hesitations were understandable. But while you never know just how long it will last, the journey's the thing. Thank you to the Levin family for sharing such an endearing and heartwarming story and godspeed on your new journey.

Dogs as Models

I received a heartfelt email from Pam, who recently learned about the Hike and is in school to become a pediatric oncology nurse. She suggested taking Hudson and Murphy to visit cancer patients after we reach Boston to share our story with kids who are hit particularly hard.

That got me thinking - dogs are ideal models for studying cancer in people as we've learned but they serve a much greater role for us than that. Especially in adversity. Their instinct for survival is so great that they're unaffected by self doubt or discouraged by uncertain outcomes or the opinions of others.

Perhaps even more importantly, they teach us self worth. A dog will never knowingly do anything to harm or hinder itself or its pack. In training and our travels, I often find myself learning even more from my relationships with my boys like abiding by the laws of nature and the importance of working as a team. Thanks, Pam, for reminding me that our dogs provide us with a much greater model for life and living.

Home for the Holidays

And for me, that's Belton, Texas where I spent (or mispent depending upon who you ask) my youth. Incidentally, it is also the hometown of George Eads of CSI fame, a factoid I only mention because I'm a fan of the show and Billy Peterson.

Sunday we set camp at Cedar Ridge Park, a coozy campground on the northern side of Belton Lake which is one of the largest bodies of water in Central Texas and perhaps best known for its hidden coves and steep white-rocked cliffs, many of which I've dived off of.

After we pitched our tent, we joined my family for dinner, Christmas carolling around the neighborhood, and a friendly (Hah!) game of Scrabble. The boys and I got back to our site just before midnight and were greeted by the most spectacular sight. The Moon and Mars hoovered right above us emitting a reddish glow. I tried to capture it with my camera and this photo was the best I could do with it. Still, you can make out Mars. Quite a terrific way to wind down a day.

And then the temperature dropped. And dropped. I don't know just how far down it went but it was well below freezing out at the lake. I had set the boys' collapsable waterbowl outside the tent and by the time I awoke, it was frozen solid. Ambient heat from Hudson and Murphy kept me from the same fate as did my puppy up! hoodie. I just can't help plugging our apparel any chance I can get.


When I returned to my parent's house, my father could tell I was still shuffling off the morning frost so he greeted me with a cup of hot cocoa. It was one of the most peaceful and pleasant holidays anyone in our family could recall. We wish the same for you and yours.

A Christmas Carol For You

A few weeks back, I took the boys out to a Christmas tree farm to cut down ours and, of course, plant a seed in its place. It's quite a handsome Virginia Pine, perfectly shaped and fragrant, too. The boys helped me decorate.

What a lovely time of year and Hudson and Murphy wanted us to share it with you in song. It only took us 26 takes but we hope you enjoy. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

The Road from Austin to Boston

Travel plans are starting to come together. Our best estimate is a total distance of 2,235 miles and 264 days of walking. That's more than our original estimates because we decided to travel in a more northern direction to avoid hurricane season in the Gulf States.

We've broken the hike down into 7 Stages which are (1) Austin, (2) Texarkana, (3) Memphis, (4), Akron, (5) Syracuse, (6) New York City, and (7) Boston.

Thanks to all who've emailed and offered the boys and me a place to park it for the night.

Rescuing Sprite

Part 1 of 2:

If you haven't read the heartwarming and inspiring and book, Rescuing Sprite, put it at the top of your holiday wish list. Isn't he lovely? Truthfully, I haven't been able to make it past page 146 yet, which is why this is a two part series. I was reading it at my niece's State Championship soccer match today and a voice boomed, "Stop. Read no further."

There are few things more pathetic than a grown man getting all weepy at a non-betting sports event. No, this isn't an 'outside' book by any means but I will share with you some of the poignant and insightful passages in part 2. Hopefully, I can puppy up this week and finish this wonderful story.

The Dog Whisperer

Wow! What a thoroughly entertaining and informative seminar Cesar put on this past Saturday. I've only seen a few episodes of his show and had no idea he was more than just a dog trainer but profound philosopher, too.

His Effective Fulfillment Formula for a balanced and healthy relationship is a model that can be applied to our lives as well. Exercising with your dog establishes trust, discipline builds respect, and giving affection breeds love and loyalty. If I'd only known that in my last relationship... jeez.

Another bit of information I found fascinating is that puppies don't open their eyes for two weeks after birth and can't hear until day 21 but they smell from the moment they're born. And it's their powerful sense of smell that enables them to detect our energy. Cesar recommends achieving a 'calm assertive' state prior to interacting with them.

He also says the first thing we should do in the morning is stretch with them. I knew I was doing something right - is there any other way to start the day? It's a great seminar and I couldn't recommend it more passionately.

South Padre Island

What a gorgeous Thanksgiving Day! A storm from the Northeast blew in late Wednesday night. The boys were loving it and I was grateful to have a breath of New England. The Atlantic Ocean has an aged smell to it quite unlike the brininess of the Gulf Coast.

Hudsy, Murphy and I took a break from training this week to fill our gullets full, do a little cutting up and spend some time with the family. Thankfully, everyone made it down for the holiday. Also, if you haven't seen Hudson's first day on the beach I posted last year, it's too cute! Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Garner State Park

This weekend we're in the absolutely stunning Garner State Park which is in the Southwestern expanse of the Edwards Plateau, a range of limestone mesas known colloquially as Texas' Hill Country. The crystal blue waters of the Frio River cut its eastern front and are accented by the majestic Bald Cypress. Some of them are believed to be more than 700 years old like the one Murphy is rooting around in the photo nearby.

Aside from the splendor, it is densely populated with peaks some of which reach 2,000 feet, and that is the primary reason I chose Garner this weekend. The boys and I needed to do some elevation training and this is one of the most ideal locations in Texas. Crystal Cave was our first adventure and while it's only a mile roundtrip, the grade ranges from between 45 and 60 degrees and the narrow, rock ridden path added to the challenge.

Hudson was full throttle all the way and although Murphy had difficulty with footing from time to time, he was a true champion! That I kept reminding him his breed hails from the Pyrenees Mountain Range might have had something to do with it... heh!

Still, I was so proud of the ole boy for firing on all pistons but he was so spent when we returned to base camp, he conked out on his new collapsable water bowl. His big wedge shaped head plopped right down on it, nevermind that it was full of water. My sniggering must have stirred him because by the time I got the camera, he had moved. I couldn't stop laughing...

The temperature dropped to just above freezing as the first cold front moved in a day before our arrival. In our hasty departure I forgot to pack extra blankets and probably would've frozen my bollocks off if they weren't with me! They made perfect bunkmates. When I awoke Sunday morning, Murphy was spooning me on my left and Hudson sprawled out atop me to my right. Ah, what a glorious way to awaken!

In addition to training, we spent some time studying the indigenous ecosystem. For those of you who have never seen Little Blue Stem grass, it's really quite something. You can't really tell it from the photo but it is stalked like bamboo, bearded like wheat and it has a full palette of colors, too. Some of the other native flora at the park we learned about; Mexican Buckeye, Flaming Leaf Sumac, Escarpment Cherry Tree, Mountain Laurels, and the many, many species of oaks that are a staple of the Lonestar State's landscape. Not to mention the native fauna, too. Hudsy had his first encounter with an armadillo. Hehe... I'll save that story for another time. Quite a special place this is.... And, Hey, if you ever do come here, get to know Frank. He's one of the parks most endearing features.