I wonder what's at the end of this trail?

Man, this is a long hike.

Are we going anywhere in particular?

I mean, what's at the end of this trail (and how much further is it)?


Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

A glacial pond and I got to get cooled off again.

This time straight for the grass -- who needs a towel.

So is there anything else cool up here?


Holy mackeral, there's a herd of cows up here.

And they seem to be a little territorial.

They are chasing Mom back down the trail.

Way to go Mom, thanks for creating a diversion for us!

We owe you one (hee, hee).

Is this the right trail?

There was a fork in the "road" back there.

We took the low road, but aren't entirely sure if we are on the right trail. Oops


Phew! This is the right trail.

Says so, right here.

Getting a little hot

So like I said, it's getting a little hot.

Being up at this elevation also means we feel the sun more (less atmosphere).

And I'm basically a solar collector on paws. So I can get really toasty.


So this looks like a good time for a watering hole.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Very refreshing.

Taking a break

It's pretty toasty out here, and we are doing a lot of hiking (OK, more like walking)

But we're between 1700-2000 meters elevation (up to around 6000 feet), so it's a little bit harder than just a stroll in the park.


So that's why we stop for a picnic every so often.

Allows everyone to grab a snack.

And I can get at least a brief respite in.

These guys are working my butt off!

Come on you guys, follow me

Isn't this a cool trail?

Right on the side of an Alpine hill, with wild flowers growing everywhere.

And off in the distance, more Alps and glaciers too!


I'm leading my pack.

Mom is close behind.

But Alpha? Who knows where that guy is.

Probably taking a picture somewhere ;-)

Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving!

Yes, indeed. Alpha seems to be calendar-challenged. Alpha, last Thursday in November. It's Christmas that is always on the 25th. Anywho ...

Since Alpha is posting this so late, a day after Thanksgiving, we thought it would be appropriate to show you how thankful I can be.

First I'm thankful that I got dunked in cool glacial water when it was really hot outside.


Next I'm thankful that Alpha schlepped a towel for me on this hike so I would be able to go rollin', rollin', rollin'

'Cause nobody likes a grassy dog which would be the alternative ;-)


And finally, I'm showing you just how happy I can get.

Woopie!!!!

Let's go on an adventure -- c'mon

See how excited I look?

Well who wouldn't be -- check out that view!

I got to go on vacation to Switzerland again this summer with Mom and Alpha.

And if you can believe that slacker -- Alpha is only posting the pictures now.

Oh well, better late than never.

So keep tuning in to see all the cool views and places we get to go over the next few posts.

C'mon, let's go!

Paint-by-numbers

Now you may have to look closely to see it.

You can double click on the photo.

Can you see this is a paint-by-numbers painting of moi?

I bet you want your own copy doncha?

Well, I fooled you -- just Alpha playing with iPhoto.

Kinda cool though.

I need an artist to paint this up.

Alpha, that leaves you out (hee, hee)

See if you can keep up

'Cause I'm really fast.

I run like the wind.

Need a haircut

At least to keep the hair out of my eyes.

Don't you think?

Just a blur

Try to catch me if you can.

I'm so fast I out run the camera shutter.

Blurringly fast!

Come on Alpha

I don't know what's taking you so long, Alpha.

Mom and I are cranking up the hill.

Come on, Alpha, put it into gear.

Big and Scary

You guys and your shadows.

You look like King Kong and Godzilla.

And no, I'm not saying who's who ;-)

I'm a magician

No really.

Can you see my magic trick?

I turned my shadow into that of a baby carriage.

Really -- take a closer look (click on the photo).

I know, I know, very impressive. Thank you. You may stop applauding now.

Ursa Major and Ursa Minor?

Oh, come on.

It's a better title than Big Dipper and Little Dipper.

At least, it is more accurate ;-)

Alli-gator?

Whadya think?

Did I find an Alli-gator in Bärenschlössle?

Sure looks like one to me.

Yummy water

I'm on a restricted water intake diet, per the vet.

Something to do with too much water washing out the effects of my medicine.

So boy-oy-boy do I like it when they let me drink out of the pond.

They can't measure how much water I drink (hee, hee)

Ummm, Mom?

Ummm, Mom?

I can't breathe with your choke hold.

Howsabout you lower your arm justabit?


Oh yes, that's much better.

Now everyone can see just how adorably cute I really am.

Your welcome everybody ;-)

Kinda scary

Check out ol' punkin head.

He's lookin' kinda scary.

As he'srotting, er, aging, his facial features are getting more menacing.

But that's OK -- I'm pretty brave.

Pretty fluffy

I'm just sayin' ;-)

Grass appears to be a tad wet

Hey Mom?

I think the grass might be just a tad-bit wet.

And a wee-bit long.


May not be the best combo.

I dunno -- just sayin'!

A little flat

Yo guys!

You're looking a little flat these days.

Not to mention dark and kinda one dimensional.

You really could stand to get some color.


Wowsa.

OK, Alpha, I guess you certainly found some color.

This is in Christiania, a "free-spirit" place near Copenhagen, Denmark.


Woah. Mom too?

OK, I take it back.

You guys really do get out sometimes.

Time Machine?

Whadya think?

A little Back to the Future?

A portal into the space-time continuum?


Ahhh, maybe not.

Perhaps it is just an elevated walkway from one part of the base to another.

Pretty cool looking though.

Hugs with Mom and Alpha

Out for a nice walk today with Mom and Alpha.

We took one of the long routes, and for just about all of it, I was able to be off-leash.

But as you can see, every once in a while, I got picked up by Mom to keep me safe (from a car on the trail, or some big dog).

I don't mind -- it's nice to get a hug from Mom.


Now in the case of Alpha, he's just glamming for a photo op.

Lucky for him I'm in the picture.

Otherwise -- straight into the bit bucket, if you know what I mean ;-)

Running in the woods

Here I come, running though the leaves.

I'm so fast, I'm almost a blur.

You can almost hear the leaves crunching under my paws.


And such a beautiful trail through the woods.

Lovely fall in Germany. Woo hoo!

Count Chocula

So we are past Halloween now, but that doesn't mean I can't be in character.

Here I am wearing a very brown cape, er vest, with a turned up collar, just like a vampire (cue devilish laugh).

Since it's brown, and not the traditional black, I'm more like Count Chocula than Count Dracula ;-)


And as you can see, we have some other Halloween leftovers in the yard.

So my character is still welcome.

Almost forgot ...

I should have known ...

You probably wanted a close-up of my really spectacularly long tongue ...

Didncha?

Too hot to walk

This was one of those late summer, really beautiful days.

OK, well actually pretty hot.

And Alpha had the bright idea that we take the looooong walk.

Where there is no water.


So anywho ... let's just say my walkers stopped walking.

Actually, I told my parents to turn around.

But that was after we had covered about 4/5th of the loop.

(So that would have been a bad idea ;-)

So instead, my parents decided to carry me until we could find some water.

Wasn't that awfully nice of them?

Still need to air dry

Here I am after a nice bath.

Everything's been done; I just need some more time to air dry.

Let me show you what I have to go through for my bath.

OK, maybe what my parents have to go through ...


First I have to get all wet, and then shampoo'd.

My parents really love this part, especially if I shake off my soapy wet body and splatter them in the face (hee, hee).

Then I get rinsed with nice warm water.

This is pretty fun, except when they try to clean off my chops.

That means the water comes precariously close to my eyes and nosie.

But my parents are experts at this point.

Then I get the towel.

Actually, two. Double wrapped and all warm after my bath.

I really like just setting for a spell with Alpha.

Then of course all the rollin', rollin', rollin', which you have seen many times before.

And when all is said and done, I look extraordinarily clean and cute -- just like this!