August 17: Home!

August 10-17: Smoke over Ashland

Smoke from forest fires envelopes Ashland, and we are doing our best to have a good time.

Outdoor performances are located to the smaller local high school stage, with long waits for ticketed customers if you want to get in.

Outside, the smoke stings your eyes and makes you want to keep taking showers every time you come in.

Kind of an anti-climactic end to the summer adventure. Climate change--

https://www.dw.com/en/how-climate-change-is-increasing-forest-fires-around-the-world/a-19465490

August 10: Ashland, Oregon

Yesterday, Miss Louise once again slipped her harness under the scariest circumstances imaginable. She tore across a street with traffic to greet a dog on the other side. The young friend I was having coffee with in a sidewalk cafe tore after her, she eluded him, ran back across the street and assumed "naughty puppy" pose at my feet.

For the rest of the trip, she has to wear two harnesses. Her dog walker back home has found something more secure for her to wear on our arrival.

Today, the tenth, we drove through thick woodsmoke, the sun a bright red disk in the sky. Ashland not as bad as it was north of Grants Pass. Here's hoping well for outside shows, though my asthma is definitely feeling the effects.

August 8-9: Lake Oswego, Oregon

Near Portland. A full dance card of friends to see.

I splurged on a room with a beautiful new of the lake.

Eloise in the Water

I spoke too soon. While I went to have dinner with an old friend in Bremerton, Penny took the dogs down to the lake, where Louise once more slipped her harness and proceeded to play in the water, but not swim.

August 4-7: "Cousins at the Lake" in Port Orchard, Washington

A houseful of relations at a rented lake house at Lake Carney. Many young children. Eloise, as it turns out, is just fine with kids, even with young and clueless ones. They have to be told to leave Bobby alone, however.

Eloise has no interest in water, however, while my Washington sister's Jack Russell terrier enjoys swimming and waterboarding. Go figure.

August 3: Missoula, Montana

Across the beautiful state of Montana to Missoula.

The Missoula LaQuinta offers creekside breakfast--a terrace off the breakfast room overlooking the water.

I find Missoula very appealing, but my relations remind me that this is August. If I don't like winter in New England, I sure wouldn't like it in Missoula.