#cooyens

[cooyensabroad]

In our last days in San Diego, poor Molly picked up a pretty bad limp so we figured we’d rest it for a while. Still no better by the morning she had to fly out, we managed to find an emergency Vet to take a look at hoping she might still be well enough to fly home that evening (otherwise Vy was staying in LA for another week)..

This is when we found out what a foxtail was and had to have it surgically removed from the op of her paw. Most likely she picked it up while I was dragging her up to the Hollywood sign in the scorching sun... Sorry Molls! But after some good painkillers and hefty Vet bill, she came out with a clean bill of health and so as to distract American Customs with cuteness, she even got a custom tri-colour bandage!

So with the bandage we took her to the Qantas Freight Terminal where she commenced probably the longest 11 days of her dog life, another day in a box in cargo on a plane and then another 10 days in quarantine. But all in all, I think she’s been a pretty lucky dog that has got to see a lot of things most dogs when never dream of seeing (is dog a euphemism  for Matt?). I’m sure she’ll miss the hiking, the snow and all the friends she’s made but it time to get back to the Sydney life...

As with everything Vy turns her mind to, she achieved all sorts of success on this trip from going to Harvard, to getting a serious job in BC, finding her passion for community housing to managing an insane dog logistics program to get Molly home. I’m worried she will be bored when she gets home, so when and where is this next trip to?

[cooyensabroad]

Enjoying the desert and heat 50′s style. We probably should have gone out and done more around town, but with the temperature at nearly 40 and a pool like this, it was hard to fight the desire to be lazy and lounge around in water. Even Molly liked the pool deck.

[cooyensabroad]

Hard to leave Rancho Del Roosevelt when you’ve things like your own BBQ, bar, some peace and quiet and a starry sky backdrop. Finally motivated me to play with some star trails. Great AirBNB pick by Vy. And I want that Bronco

[cooyensabroad]

Looking for a change from the usual hotel fare, Vy took us off the highway, and onto the dirt roads of Surprise Valley to find Rancho Del Roosevelt. Possibly one of the best escapes we’ve had to be removed from the rest of the world. No TV, just some books and records. Ohh, and whole lot of coals and lighter fluid.

We even got to adopt Bodie the pitbull for a few hours as he was smitten by Molly’s playing hard to get.

I think I could nearly describe it with three Rs, Refined Redneck Retreat. Hoping we get the chance to come back, there is something about this side of America. All I was missing was a quad bick, an esky and some Buds.

[cooyensabroad]

A summary of the more sunnier days we spent at Whistler in 2014/15. There is a lot of me holding a gopro and not much in the way of pow, I was too busy enjoying those days for what they were.