Heading West - Day 5 - Moab, Utah (June 30, 2021) - biking and hiking

By Finnegan

My mom and dad say that one of the many great things about traveling with these teen and tween-agers, is that we could head out for an early ride, and me and the kids can hang out, go for walks, and cuddle.  

Some photos from my parent's bike ride:

Once they got back, we headed out for a hike to a waterfall and swimming hole. They won't let me on the trails in the Arches National Park, but I think this was better anyway.  It was pretty warm, so being able to take frequent dips as we walked was wonderful!

The waterfall and swimming hole were glorious!

We next hiked to the top of the waterfall.  I found a few lizards to chase along the way.  I would have had them too if it weren't for the darn leash!

Lizard watching...

Petroglyphs along the way.

The sand was too hot for my toes on the way back.  I let my people know by stopping, and alternating picking up my paws.  They finally caught on and carried me.

Mango sorbet after the walk - no vanilla ice cream?!?  Where's the justice?  We then went to the food truck park. So hot!  We took the food to go.

Later that night we drove into Arches National Park to watch the sunset - from the car and parking lots!  We need to end the discrimination against dogs on trails!  Send donations - money, peanut butter, bacon or cheese sticks, to me in South Bend to help fund the cause.

My kids ordered takeout sushi which we picked up on our way back to the hotel.  I don't like sushi.

Heading West - Day 4 - from Denver, Colorado to Moab, Utah (June 29, 2021)

By Finnegan

 I took my family on a stroll around Bub and Stephanie's beautiful neighborhood.  There were a lot of great smells here!

I take turns sitting on the floor and on people's laps.  I even let Lily share a pillow with me for a bit on our way to Vail.

I liked walking around Vail.  A lot of dogs!  My people drank honey, lavender lattes.  Lily declared she will spend her winters here when she's older.  I think I will go with her.

Nothing like the sound of a rushing stream while cuddling someone you love!

After Vail we headed on to Palisade, Colorado.  My mom and dad's friend Bub said it was a must see for the peaches.  We sat outside at a little brewery.  Lily and I shared a salad.  I had the ham, she had the other stuff.  Next we drove through the peach orchards with the windows down to a pie bakery.

The pie was good.  I preferred the peach ice cream.

On we drove to Moab...

I enjoyed some "dog-casts" along the way.

It was beautiful to watch the storms role in, but it was HOT!

My kids did a little reading in the lobby, followed by some swimming in the 100-degree weather.  I kept the perimeter secure and my people safe.

Heading West - Day 3 - from Lincoln, Nebraska to Denver, Colorado (June 28, 2021)

Next stop - Denver, Colorado to visit our dear friends Bub and Stephanie.  We were so busy catching up, I didn't capture any photos other than these two of Caden using the cool pens from the Badertschers for some sketching along the way.

Heading West - Day 2 - from Iowa City to Lincoln, Nebraska (June 27, 2021)

By Finnegan 

The Highlander had a cool vibe.  A refurbed supper club from back in the day with a great lobby full of a great selection of records.  Although due to my lack of opposable thumbs, I didn't up playing any of them!

My adorable kids.  I love them a lot.  And I think they love me a lot too!

We had breakfast at Hamburg No. 2 in downtown Iowa City (thanks for the recommendation Badertschers!)  I think I ate my weight in bacon scraps!

We stopped off at a little town for gas, only to find it was closed!  Luckily, the town had a creamery that was open.  And really, it was the only store in town!  So I stopped for a scoop of my favorite - vanilla ice cream.  Yum!

My kids also had some ice cream.

We continued on through the farms of crops and windmills.  Nothing like feeling the wind through your fur!

We checked into they Hyatt in Lincoln, Nebraska.  It is HOT!  We took a walk through the Haymarket District and found a cute Mexican restaurant with plenty of ice water, where I kept watch under the shade of the table and my family played Uno.

My kids were bummed that our hotel pool was broken, so I walked them over the the one at the Marriott up the block.  I dropped them there and went back to the hotel with dad, but I hear my kids worked hard on their synchronized jumping for what seemed like hours.  They took it very seriously.

Until this - perfection!  :)

The kids and mom explored the town a bit more in the cool evening.  They scootered around and happened to find a 24-hour donut shop - Hurts Donut, including a "donut ambulance".  My mom says she is moving to Lincoln, Nebraska so that all her donut emergencies can be addressed.

Donuts are not as good as ice cream.  Enough said.

Heading West - Day 1 - from South Bend to Iowa City (June 26, 2021) - by Finn

Guest Blogger - Finnegan

My family LOVES to travel, and so do I!  Due to COVID, and me joining the family last March, we decided to drive west this summer.  We packed up, and we were off!

First stop - Iowa City, Iowa.  You could almost smell the corn growing!

We had lunch at Big Grove Brewery, as I was allowed a to be at the table, and from what I heard, the beer was good too!  We were luckily under the overhang as a big rain shower came through.  Afterwards I took my people on a walk to get some exercise.  We spent a little time at a nearby park my kids seemed to enjoy.

There was a reunion happening at our hotel, The Highlander, with some of the nicest most friendly people - and dogs! - we have ever met.  The family said the key to their successful multi-generational reunion was having the exact same weekend each year.  I am going to suggest this to Riddick and Nezzie.  Okay, and Remy.  Such a large group made the pool extra busy, but it was till fun to enjoy watching my kids swim.

The view from our window...with a crazy number of bikes piled on :)