Camping with Tucker
September 13th, 2009 01:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pandasheartAfter getting a much later start than we had planned yesterday evening, we set off for the campground. It seemed to take us a long time to get there (plus we had to stop along the way to get something to eat for Brian - he gets very grouchy when hungry).
After getting Tucker fixed up, while Brian sat at the fire to eat, I pitched the tent in the dark and then finally plopped down to eat some something. We set Tucker's crate up next to the tent (since learning he could make his own doors this was our insurance policy). After some chit chat with Dick and Darla, we made our final visits to the outhouse and turned in for the night.
Tucker wasn't happy in the crate & every noise seemed to wake him (and me by default) up. Finally I said the heck with it and let him in the tent. What a happy camper he was! << wry grin >> Fortunately he curled up at our feet and slept most of the night.
Darla made breakfast for everyone in the morning which was yummy (not to mention my swan song to bacon). Brian went fishing in the river for a bit before the guys got started on their project for the day. I spent the morning getting Tucker acquainted with the three camp dogs.
We were getting ready to turn him loose since he had settled down a good bit when he lunged on his line and broke the snapper from his leash. Loose Tucker. Once again though he was a good boy and stayed around camp. He made fast friends with one of the camp dogs - a small brindle and white Boxer named Lilly. They had great fun playing with sticks and generally being silly.
While the guys got started installing a tin roof on top of a raised porch for the camp, I alternated between daydreaming in my chair, stitching up the window of the tent and watching the dogs romp. It was not long before Tucker discovered the river.
While his swimming skills are still not the best, he had a blast. At first Lilly the Boxer looked at him like he had lost his mind. For her, the river was a water bowl and nothing more. For Tucker it was a great watery playground. He would run back and forth in the shallow water making huge splashes. It was funny to see him run out into the deeper water where he had to swim. He seems to prefer splashing to swimming.
Darla and I grilled hotdogs over the fire while the guys hammered away. After lunch, the guys went back to work. Once they were done, Brian went fishing again while Dick stapled screening to the porch. This will give them a nice covered and relatively bug-free place to hang out while still getting to enjoy the outdoors.
Much to my surprise, Brian stayed out on the river until it was pretty late. By the time he came back though I had mostly everything packed. Hey! Wait a minute! Why am I the one doing all the work while he is having fun?
Anyhow, we warmed up some leftover hotdogs and had a quick dinner before heading out. All in all, Tucker's first camping trip was a success.
After getting Tucker fixed up, while Brian sat at the fire to eat, I pitched the tent in the dark and then finally plopped down to eat some something. We set Tucker's crate up next to the tent (since learning he could make his own doors this was our insurance policy). After some chit chat with Dick and Darla, we made our final visits to the outhouse and turned in for the night.
Tucker wasn't happy in the crate & every noise seemed to wake him (and me by default) up. Finally I said the heck with it and let him in the tent. What a happy camper he was! << wry grin >> Fortunately he curled up at our feet and slept most of the night.
Darla made breakfast for everyone in the morning which was yummy (not to mention my swan song to bacon). Brian went fishing in the river for a bit before the guys got started on their project for the day. I spent the morning getting Tucker acquainted with the three camp dogs.
We were getting ready to turn him loose since he had settled down a good bit when he lunged on his line and broke the snapper from his leash. Loose Tucker. Once again though he was a good boy and stayed around camp. He made fast friends with one of the camp dogs - a small brindle and white Boxer named Lilly. They had great fun playing with sticks and generally being silly.
While the guys got started installing a tin roof on top of a raised porch for the camp, I alternated between daydreaming in my chair, stitching up the window of the tent and watching the dogs romp. It was not long before Tucker discovered the river.
While his swimming skills are still not the best, he had a blast. At first Lilly the Boxer looked at him like he had lost his mind. For her, the river was a water bowl and nothing more. For Tucker it was a great watery playground. He would run back and forth in the shallow water making huge splashes. It was funny to see him run out into the deeper water where he had to swim. He seems to prefer splashing to swimming.
Darla and I grilled hotdogs over the fire while the guys hammered away. After lunch, the guys went back to work. Once they were done, Brian went fishing again while Dick stapled screening to the porch. This will give them a nice covered and relatively bug-free place to hang out while still getting to enjoy the outdoors.
Much to my surprise, Brian stayed out on the river until it was pretty late. By the time he came back though I had mostly everything packed. Hey! Wait a minute! Why am I the one doing all the work while he is having fun?
Anyhow, we warmed up some leftover hotdogs and had a quick dinner before heading out. All in all, Tucker's first camping trip was a success.
