Nothing like being lulled to sleep by the sound of a pounding ocean! that is "so wonderful" they say- I don't get it. Once Carol shut the door last night, I was so relieved-it was cold AND noisy! But then, when she pulled the drapes, a small wooden door appeared from behind them-when she opened it, she discovered a handmade screened door to allow the sound of the ocean to blow into the room-oh great! they say "so special".
Once we got on the road, it was stop and go all over again-Carol was driving today and she really knows how to handle that wheel, but the new Kia is a smooth machine. Up and down and around these sharp curves-fog rolling all over the place-you know the waves are down there but where?
Then we started into the Jedediah Smith Redwood Forest-the most enormous trees I have ever seen.
We stopped for lunch at a picnic area-it is always shady in these woods. It would take me forever to pee all around those wooden towers.
I slept most of the way. I flipped my nose up to the chicken and carrots this morning and what-do-you-know? I got a subway chicken dinner!!!!this afternoon.
We arrived in Arcata about 5-the earliest we have gotten anywhere. Barney took me to the park across the street from the Arcata Hotel, while Carol checked us in. Moments later, we were all walking across these super slick floors and then into an elevator-that was really cool, but kinda scary. When we got to our room, Carol noticed Barney flipping up his nose and forgot how it isn't "old" things he likes, but "ancient" things and wished she had gone for the Best Western up the road-oh well-he says he likes it and it is pretty cool. The reservationist upgraded us up to a suite, so I can run back and forth between the bedroom and the sitting area. They said the view "sucked-but it IS quiet". That is good, because Humboldt College is here and there are alot of newly graduated kido's roaming about.
They went out for "food" again and returned with a sumptuous plate for yours truly. It made me feel so good, I wore the both of them out in two games of "throw the Eddie".
Barney says the computer is ready and Carol is about to put the memory card into the computer-a sudden gasp from her tells me something is different. Seems they left the memory card in the computer last night and all their pictures from today is on the camera's memory not the memory card, so they will have to wait till they get home to download them. So, I am going to share some of the ones from the last two weeks and catch up soon.
We are headed for Napa Valley tomorrow. A little place called Calistoga. We are staying at a countryside bed and breakfast called the Hillside. The owner has a pit bull that loves poodles-I really don't know how to take that, I'll be curious to see how it turns out. I hear she also has a bottomless wine tasting room-ummm their room has a jacuzzi tub-this could be an interesting night-Oh and a full moon-Look out!!!!
Till I write again from the Shangrila cottage......Jackson

Today was really hard....Carol and Barney both woke up busy....I got to go outside, but never no one ever harnessed me up for a walk!! I was really getting used to that and then I didn't get to do one last one...well..."I do what I want and I don't care"...I just pooped on Nathan's nice mowed lawn!! We all sat for one last picture (Jenny cuddled me and I snarled at Barney when I thought he wanted to hold my paw) Everyone was hugging and taking photos, Jenny was teary and Nathan said "it was such a long, nice visit..but now next weekend I can go mountain biking" then Carol said "yes it has been a nice, long visit and now I get to go to Napa Valley and the Grand Canyon", they hugged again and smiled so I guess they understood each other. After that, it was back in the car, I really got the hang of the car thing, so I just went back to my cozy little crate and went to sleep, while they managed to find their way to the Oregon coast.
I felt the car pull to a stop awhile later and found myself getting harnessed up to go eat lunch, right at the ocean side....again, the place was full of dogs (I really like this new life!!) Carol and I walked over to this huge steel sculpture of fish. At the same time this dog came by and I just didn't like the way his coat was hanging, so I had to snarl, too bad Barney decided to snap a photo at the same time..oh well.
Back in the car with a full stomach, I crawled into my den, where I sleep till the car stops
again...are we there?? no...we are turning around, seems this place is tucked down on the beach loop road. I am finally a little thirsty so to get to our room and have a nice cold beverage will be good. WOW this place is nice and the balcony looks right over the Pacific....it was nice to have a little bit of sun left when we got here. I sniffed this place out good.....it was a really nice room, the sound of the ocean is sending me to sleep but I am so cold, "will you two close the door??" Oh right, put a hoodie on me.....tomorrow-a walk on the beach then off to Arcata, California to visit the Redwood forest......big trees I hear....really big.

Here I am again-that Barney is SO darn smart! Our computer would not cooperate for the last two nights!!! and he has been working on it endlessly for two days so I had to write my blog on Jenny's notebook but could not get my pictures uploaded. Now I can...so here goes!!
We went to the rose garden today-wow-again-so many dogs!! One Pomeranian wanted me BAD!! I really love to smell roses-and there were so many to chose from.Sensory overload!!
Then we went to the store and then another outdoor brew pub-there we had a raspberry ale and it was pink-well, I didn't have ale but I did get to sit at the table again and eat a few chips!!
Now we are all home, Jenny and Nathan are both off work on Sundays and Mondays-so it is good to have them home.
They all went to Zell's for brunch today, incredible was the main word when they spoke of their experience-and something about "gingerbread pancakes and mimosa's".
Memorial day will find all of us "chilling" here and Nathan fixing a halibut dinner with fresh lettuce from his garden, Carol is fixing food for me and re-packing, as we leave Tuesday for Bandon, Oregon to stay at the Sunset Inn-right on the ocean I hear. I hate to leave here, they are both so sweet to me-and I like to wake up Jenny-it puts her in a good mood!!!
I am really pooped!! I have never walked as much as I have in the last week and NO! I don't want to wear those boots!!
sighning out- Jackson

JUST A NOTE-WE ARE HAVING COMPUTER PROBLEMS AND ARE UNABLE TO SEND PICTURES-Oh sorry, my paw was resting on the keyboard.....
But it is true, and they are really piling up. We are going to an internet cafe tomorrow to see if we can come up with a solution. But we are having perfect weather and not a cloud in the sky!!
We are having a great time, enjoying Nathan and Jenny.
Have a great weekend...Jackson

Today has started out better than yesterday-I knew something was up when Carol and Barney both got up early and got dressed. We were out the door by 9:15!! not supposed to do that on vacation!! Then I remembered-GROOMING day! Some strange person rearranging all the hairs on my body and poking my privates! and then we were there. It turned out to be a really nice place, cute girls all listening to rock and roll-they had a very soft touch, their clippers were all nice a sharp-and the best treats!! They were done in no time-before I knew it, Carol was here and we went home. Seems they found the Russian Social Services and Barney spoke to some Russian women about volunteering possibilities in the future and they were real excited-they gave him some information and he gave them his contact information-he got to speak in Russian and he was real excited that he remembered so much and that he understood what she was saying to him!!
I rested a while, grooming takes alot out of you!! Later, I fully expected to be left alone again while they went out for "food", but I got to go too! Barney put on a back-pack and we started walking-and we walked some more, all the way down to the New Seasons store for more bread and strawberries. Barney and I sat at a store-side table and people watched (girl watch, really-I mean I am a serious chick magnet!!-especially right after I am groomed) until Carol came out with the backpack totally loaded-seems she forgot we were on foot!! Barney got to carry the pack now-he is so darn strong!! I love walking in this neighborhood, people and dogs everywhere-we were headed for a sidewalk cafe to have a cocktail and appetizer and we encountered all these dogs! It was a sensory overload-there were poodles, english bulldogs and a little black pugg-all trying to check me out! One of the bulldogs wound herself all around Carol's legs (she looked a little scared) until the dog's owner realized what was happening and regained control. We decided against the cocktail and hurried on our way. The beauty along the walkways beckoned us to take more pictures so I'm sharing those with you today.
We are off once again-to another cafe for breakfast and then to the dog park-where I can run,run,run-and chase that purple thing!!
This is the last night Nathan and Jenny have to work-they will be home the next two days!! We go to the Rose garden and Japanese gardens tomorrow-so get ready for more flower pictures!!
Oh, goody, Jenny is awake!! I'm off to cuddle..........Jack, the much loved puppy!!

Today started very slowly-Carol got up first, then we went for a walk. It is so great to just up and do that! Dogs of every size and color-out front and center,( I prefer to saunter to the side, taking a microscopic view.) Twice as many people, everywhere-walking, biking and driving, all together-all in unison-it just seems to flow.Add to it all the colors lining the sidewalks and the smells!!!!! don't get me started-Thai, Indian, Mexican, Hamburgers!!! And because there is so much humidity in the air, the aroma just hangs in the strangest places.
We got back and everyone was moving around drinking the dark drink-they seemed to organize, eat and get going in no time.
Nathan drove us to an address Barney was interested in visiting tomorrow-it is the Russian Oregon Social Service, he is interested in volunteering in the Russian to English classes, plus I hear chattering that I am to be groomed and pampered tomorrow (I can't wait, these groomers give massages!) We decided on a small outdoor cafe near the house and once again, I got to sit with everyone (on the floor this time-but Carol did bring my mat). The food must of been bad-Carol always gives me a bite but I guess today it wasn't good enough for me....they DID look happy when they finished, so I don't know.
Carol and Barney are getting ready to go to Lauro's, another eatery owned by Nathan's boss-mostly vegetarian (it COULDN'T be good!) but Jenny says they have "these thin little pizzas-and the fresh mango cocktails-that are to die for". As for me, the reason Carol got up early was to cook some fresh chicken for "yours truly"-think I saw fresh carrots and golden potatoes go in that mix as well.
I guess I will just kick back and wait for everyone to return and play with me-Wait a minute, here she comes with the leash-something about "dog park"-"in walking distance"-"get the purple squeaky thing so Jackson can fetch it"- this sounds like NOT kicking back.
Gotta go-
hear there is going to be a cookout this weekend and a trip to the rose gardens
Jack

Finally, a morning to sleep! Everyone did-then out the door to a great outdoor cafe. I got to sit at the table with everyone and eat chicken out of a plate like everyone else!!! I even tried avocado-it was ok, but I didn't want that next bite. The waitress brought me a bowl of cold water-never had that happen in Springtown!!!
Then we went to Home Depot for Nathan to get a hammer-I got to ride in the cart, down all the isles. Carol bought a potty seat and we all went home.
After Jenny and Nathan left for work, we went looking for flowers. It didn't take long, every house has some kind of happy plants, gracing their walkways,encircling the fences. Roses the colors of sherbert, lavenders of all varieties, showing off their different styles of blooms. Some areas had no flowers at all, just long rows of every shade of green imaginable.
There must be a million dogs in this town-at least I have counted at least 1000 different ones in this neighborhood alone!! They must really rule, because I see people picking up their poo and throwing it away! It must be contagious, because Carol has started doing it too.
I was quite grateful to finally get back to my cozy quilt-a nap was in order. When I woke up, Carol and Barney were out the door-Carol always tells me she is going for "food" and, well she always brings some back!! Tonight my chicken was laced with Tandoor pork and was extra special! She was especially happy because Nathan fixed special little plates of different foods for her and Barney to eat, while they sat at the bar and drank a really good Reisling.
Finally, Jenny came through the door-I was so glad to see her, I just love her so much, I couldn't get enough of her, I chased her all around the house. I was so pooped out I couldn't run much when Nathan came a few minutes later, but I was happy to see him too.
I hear we are going for another drive tomorrow, something about the Russians! Whatever, as long as I can sit on Jennys lap-it will be all good!
lovin it up in Portland-Jackson

Hi, there!!! Just ate a piece of grass in the forest and lost my lunch!! Really though, I am doing OK, just too much moving around, I will be glad when we can just stay in one place for awhile and I think I heard Carol say to Nathan that we will be here for another week-that seemed to make him very happy!
We are back at Nathan's home and he and Jenny hurried around here for a bit and then they got on their bikes and rode off to work. Barney and Carol are going to walk down to Nuestra Cocina, the restaurant to eat chili rellenos-the peppers are steamed, not fried!!! I guess I'll hang out here while they are gone.
The drive back from the beach was peaceful, we saw a whole field of red clover!! We went on a hike down to another part of the beach and I saw the biggest ferns and slugs-the slug was so big, Jenny had to take a picture of it!! Seems as though she has a collection of huge slug pictures!!!
Well, Carol has put my quilt on the sofa, for me to be at home on, so I'm going to stretch out and watch the fish tank for awhile-tomorrow we walk down to a sidewalk cafe for breakfast, maybe I'll be able to catch sight of this cute Boston terrier that I've seen around here- in fact, I have never seen so many dogs walking around one area in my life!!
Later-J-

The drive to the beach was so nice...I sat between Jenny and Carol in the back seat and petted me at the same time--I was in heaven!!! Nathan drove and Barney kept the rock and roll going on the cd player. We all had something at Subway and drove through the rain all the way there, no one even minded that it was cloudy and cool-they were just happy to be together.
When we arrived at the house, we immediately went to the decks to check out the view-the tide was in and a small storm was on the horizon, making the waves roar. It all looked so big and bright, I was amazed. After a few hours, the clouds parted and the deck got all sunny. That must of been a good thing because everyone came out of the house and began dancing and slapping their palms-they were smiling while their cameras clicked away. Carol put my doggles on me so I could see how much nicer the world can look through tinted plastic, but I just don't get it!! but she got a photo-you'll see.
The sleeping was great, no one wanted to get up because their beds were so comfortable, but we had to, the tide was out and according to Jenny, THAT was a good thing! They all had a quick cup of that dark liquid they seem to have to consume every morning and we all went out to the beach. NOW I know what a beach is! I already knew that I loved sand and now I know I really, really love the beach! It had the strangest smells-almost drove me crazy. The water kept coming up around my feet and it was very cold, but it did not taste good.
Later, we all drove into town and we walked all over-at one store, I got to go in and Carol bought me a peanut butter treat, which I ate while they went to a brew pub. Afterwards, Jenny and Nathan went back to the beach and flew their kites. We watched them from the deck. Jenny's kite had a colorful lizard on it with a 6ft. tail-it went all over the place!!
I slept for a long time because now the sun is near the water again. They are all going to another pub for dinner, so I guess I'll try the chicken Nathan cooked for me-he does rice just right!!
We return to Portland tomorrow and already Carol knows where she wants to eat dinner-some place called Nuestra Cocina, where Jenny works. After that, who knows.....probably more chicken, hugs and tummy rubs......
Later
Jackson