Delightful Days with Dauphnie

This American Bulldog is the best traveling buddy a person could ask for. I think my dog has been on more holidays and been to more places than most people I know.
For example:

The Salt Lake City, Utah Capitol

A wonderful chocolate shop in the city Creek Mall in Salt Lake City, Utah.
(They also make treats for dogs as well)

Our favorite coffee shop in Salt Lake City, Utah Raw Bean.
(Yes "well behaved" dogs are welcome)

We have stayed in a great many hotels. officialpethotels.com is my go to website for booking dog-friend hotels all across the country. She is a very polite dog and I try to be polite as an owner whenever we are hotel guests.
(My main tip is bringing a blanket for you dog so doggie hair clean up is minimal for the hotel staff)

The Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah

The beaches of Lake Havasu City, Arizona

On a boat tour to Copper Basin, Arizona.

To the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show in Phoenix, Arizona
(Well behaved dogs are allowed in all buildings)

To the Alamo,in San Antonio, Texas
(No dogs allowed inside however)

Stay tune for our next delight day with Dauphnie...

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

This was an interesting place. If you are looking for a warm weekend get-a-away then this is the place for you. It's a vacation town which means those who visit here really like it, those who live here don't really like it. The lake and famous London Bridge across the channel are awesome.

This weather here is hot in the winter and roasting in the summer. I'm talking 80's at night 115 during th day. It's a dry heat at that. Because of the hot weather and holiday feel of this town, it attracts a lot of Snowbirds. There are an amazing number of older folks in this town. Because of this the flu seemed to be particularly bad this past season. Pune products are everywhere and by 8:00pm the town is deserted. But the large population of older people isn't the only unusual things about this town. Everything is rock. The beaches, the yards, the mountains... everything.

All the plants here are also quite harsh. Cactus and other various thorns plants. If you are suffering from allergies this is the place for you. Nature here is limited. However, the hiking is fun. Lots of outdoor terrain to play in. This is a RV camper friendly town all year round.

In my personal opinion, the beach atmosphere is the best part. The are parks and palms trees along water are numerous and relaxing.

Cafés, hotdog stands and little window shops everywhere. All kinds of toys are for rent: kayaks, paddle boards, jet-skis, razors, ATVs and many other things to keep the masses entertained.

It's not my favorite place but this is why I'm a traveler, to visit all kinds of places. As a vacation spot I highly recommend Lake Havasu City. The wild donkeys, little cottontail bunnies running along the sailboat lined beaches.

It's beautiful and fun, that's for sure.

Meet the Traveling Crew... SuperFly

SuperFly had a rough start but is doing awesome now. He is polite and has to introduce to himself to everyone, human and horse alike. He is a 6 year Arabian gelding. We are currently in training to learn dressage, jumping and maybe someday cross-country.

Here's his story:

“Hi Rox, how are things going?” I ask over the phone.

            “Things are good. Jackie brought home another stray yesterday,” Roxanne replies.

            “Of course she did. What did she bring home this time?” I ask not surprised.

            “A cute little 2-year-old chestnut. She found him in a dog kennel. He’s not in the greatest shape but she’s brought home worse… I think,” Roxanne replies.

            “Um, did you say a dog kennel?” I ask.

            “Yeah, he’s never been handled, still a stud and is a few hundred pounds under weight,” she answers. “I guess she saw him on the internet and he looked so sad she just had to rescue him. Paid $150 dollars for him. After she bought him, it then occurred to her she had no idea how to load in into the trailer. He’s never been handled. However, when she opened the trailer door, he jumped right in like get-me-out-of-here,” she says with a laugh through.

            “Well he sounds smart at least,” I reply laughing with her.

Later that day on Facebook

            “Holy crap, poor guy. No wonder she felt like she needed to rescue him. He’s skeleton skinny, no muscle tone, stringy hair and horrible feet. He’s got pretty coloring though and he’s put together nicely,” I comment to the laptop in front of me.

The Facebook Comments:

Jackie Hafla – “Firefly. My latest rescue. Something about this guy told me to pick him up… found out he can be registered (and will) and is a Magnum Chall son. Just give me some time and I’ll have a stunning top notch kiddo for you all to see!

Alexis Butts -  Firefly is a cool name… he will be gorgeous soon. I know the miracles you work!

Diane Nicaise Shand – good for u he will be handsome when you are finished… where did you find him?

Jackie Halfa – Thanks Diane Shand. Found him on Craig’s List (Rexburg Area).

Two Weeks Later

            After being in the Jackie-Rehab-Program he’s starting to look more like a horse and Firefly slowly turned into SuperFly.

One day we were all out riding and had to rearrange the horse and rider situation so I ended up on SuperFly. Well, let's just say I've been riding him ever since.

Meet the Traveling Crew... Dauphnie

Dauphnie is an 87 pound American Bulldog. I got her when she was a puppy and has been with me for the last 5 years. She is the ultimate loyal companion. She is literally always by my side and goes everywhere with me. She is great with people, better than I am. She makes me laugh everyday. She is so innocent yet I've seen her take on many threats. She is a giant marshmallow most of the time but can be a super awesome guard dog when needed. Couldn't ask for a better pup.

Dauphnie the first day I brought her home

Dauphnie at 8 months old

Dauphnie today

"So don't freak out but..."

"So don't freak out but..." this is the opening line I have use several times when I'm telling my parents I'm about to do something crazy. For example "... I'm going to put everything I own into storage, move into a travel trailer and every three months move to a different state." I decided I was going to become a traveling nurse. But I didn't want to go on this adventure alone so I brought along my faithful dog and horse.

I got a lot of various replies to this idea: "You can't work in a different hospital every three months, can you? (Yes, that is what we traveling nurses do. We fill in spaces like maternity leave, hospital expansion, military oversea assignments, employment gaps and new employee residency training.) "You can't live in a travel trailer? (Sure I can. It's just a small house on wheels. There are RV resorts all over this country. A lot more people live full-time in RV's than most people realize.) You can't take your horse with you. Where will you put him? (At boarding facilities. Bringing my horse is part of the adventure. Riding in the redwoods, gallop on along an ocean beach, trotting through the Appalachian mountains, wandering into the bayou and so many other places.) What are you going to do with your dog while you are working? (Uh, the same thing I did with her when I was working a permanent job, leave her at home.) Won't you be lonely? (Sometimes but I'll mange by keeping myself entertained with all the new places to see.) Won't that be scary traveling to all those places you don't know? (Terrifying but everything new is only scary at first.)

So off I went with my dog, horse and house in tow. The an adventure of a lifetime and freedom of wherever I wish to go.
Let me introduce my traveling crew over the next few days and post some of the adventures I've had so far.
Stay tune...

Salt Lake City, Utah



The Bonneville Salt Flats

I just visited one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Just outside the town of Wendover Utah there is 40 square mile salt pan called the Bonneville Salt Flats. This place is awesome. It use to be the Pleistocene Lake but all that remains now is a valley of salt. In the summer it is a dry, extremely flat landmass but in the winter there is a layer of water resting on top of the salt. This water does something amazing. It creates a mirror like effect which creates one of the most natural, beautiful sceneries I've ever witnessed. The mirror of water reflects a perfect image of the mountains and sky.

I can now say I've walked across the sky. It was crazy. The reflection totally screwed with my depth perception creating an incredible illusion.

I had my dog Dauphnie with me and the reflection messed with her as well. It took her a second to realize she was walking on solid ground but when she figured it out she was dashing back and forth playing the water.

The salt flats are just that, flat. There isn't a hill, a bump or a dent in the entire place. It was so cool.

This place was the perfect atmosphere to take some pretty neat photos.

 

 

 

Nature is so beautiful.