This blog would be woefully incomplete if I did not acknowledge the contributions of my traveling buddy and master escape artist, Moe. He lives to hike, kayak, and just generally be with me in all I do. His passion for sharing my adventures is matched only by his passion to NOT MISS any of my adventures (or, for that matter, trips to the bathroom, pizza pickups, shopping, etc.)

During our cross-country trip in 2022 he single-handedly destroyed both side window screens in the camper, and finally managed to eliminate the screen door entirely by bending the frame in his enthusiasm to be with me. Mind you, he weighs about 14 pounds soaking wet.

We’ve returned from getting dinner to find him running up the road toward us. I’ve headed to the camp bathhouse, only to find him trotting beside me even before I get there.

Sunday was his best ever. I stopped at a Kroger’s Supermarket on my way to the new campground and, to keep him comfortable (and prying busybodies away), I left the car running and the AC on. I locked the car and headed into the store, and was nearly done with my shopping when I heard the loudspeaker: “Would the owner of a dog named Moe please come to the Customer Service counter.” I thought “What the heck?!? He’s fine!” and grumbled my way to the counter, ready to chew out some over-eager do-gooder, when I come around the corner to see Moe in the arms of a store employee.

Apparently, I didn’t lock the windows. He opened one, leapt out of the car, ran across the entire parking lot, entered the automatic doors all on his own, and was searching for me INSIDE THE STORE when he was apprehended. I apologized to the store employee, who was looking down at her shirt, for all the white hairs he’d left, but it turned out he’d excitement-peed on her!

As I did the walk of shame back to the car, I heard shouts of “Yay Moe!” behind me. I returned Moe to the car, debated whether those groceries were worth it, decided they were (sigh), locked the doors AND windows, and headed back to get them. Moe was excited to see me when I got back.