Mutt mit Uns

Loaded up at 3.15 a.m and all ready (?) to go. The pups have figured out that something is afoot which is why they have been unter fuss for days. So though they may be groggy they securely know they are not being left behind and that the us-of-us is going somewhere.

Soon, as we start hauling slowly but steadily through the eastern hills of Lake County, the pups return to doing what they should be doing at this hour.

The sky is clear. A sliver of moon shines in the darkness. I count three shooting stars. By morning we are outside of Redding having beaten -- so far -- the dread heat wave rolling in behind us.

The Ranger has hauled well at a steady 55 mph un-rushed by non-existent traffic. The pups pooped, the truck gassed up, we set off for Mt. Shasta and the climb over to Oregon.

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