It has been almost a year since I posted but…

what a year it has been. Soon after we got back in town from Colorado Dad started having knee pain, yes in the leg that I ran into and broke his fibula.  I still feel really bad but he says he hurt his knee in high school and that is what caused the problems not me running into him.

In October Dad had an operation and his doctor but in a whole new knee.   After he came home from the hospital he had to stay upstairs and most of the time in bed.  I just lay near him and he kept petting me.  I hope I helped him feel better. Here is  the x rays of his new knee.

As Dad got better he was able to walk with a cane and we walked real slowly to the park.    It reminded me of when I first came to live with Mom and Dad. Dad had just had heart surgery and I walked slowly with him then too.

I have been doing all kinds of fun stuff this year.

Dad takes me shopping at Macy’s

Shopping at Macy’s at Biltmore Fashion

And hang out at a restaurants while Mom and Dad have lunch or dinner.

Hanging at Paradise Cafe while Mom and Dad eat

Dad and I were part of the American Heart Association Heart Walk with some of Dad’s friends.

AHA Heart Walk

Mom and Dad sometimes take me to Doggie Day Care at Tailwinds Pet Resort.  Boy is that fun!

The people are really nice and I like them I get to play with other dogs and in the water.

The “Yard” at Tailwinds

But a lot of time I just sleep while Dad is working

Nap time in Dad’s office

Dad and I left Steamboat springs pretty early and headed south.

We drove a while until we turned off the main road to a trailhead we had hiked last year, Avalanche Creek Trail.

 The trail head is between Glenwood Springs and Redstone, Colorado and we hiked 2.7 miles from the trailhead to the bridge over Hell Roaring Creek for an out and back of 5.4 miles. The altitude at the trail head is 7200 feet and the bridge crossing was at an altitude of 8269 feet.  This year it took Dad and I 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to the bridge.  It took a lot longer than that last year, wonder if Mom held us up??  Just kidding, Dogs do have a sense of humor you know.

Time to leave and head back to the heat of Arizona.  Dad and I are driving back and Mom is headed to Montana to attend a wedding with Christina.  She is going to get to hike in Yellowstone Park, not sure why I can’t go with her and have to ride in the car back to Arizona.  Dogs don’t always get a say in decisions like this.

Dad and took a bit of a detour and drove through Rocky Mountain National Park.  Not really on the way to Phoenix but we were delaying the heat as long as possible.

We entered at the Fall River gate and drove along the Old Fall River Road.  It is a one way dirt road that runs parallel to the Trail Ridge Road.  Our first stop was at the Alluvial Fan.  It is formed by a flood of the Lawn Lake.  The boulders were really slippery and Dad had to help be a couple of times as we climbed up.

I did get to swim near the bottom of the waterfall.

The scenery from Old Fall River Road was wonderful!

We saw a Marmot

And stopped along the way and walked down to a creek for a quick swim.

We stopped again at the Alpine Visitor’s Center.  11,796 feet

And a nice man took our picture.

We drove down Trail Ridge Road to exit the park and headed for Steamboat springs.

Dad stopped along the way several times to let me stretch my legs.

We checked into the Steamboat Hotel and headed off to Fish Creek Falls.  It was two short hikes, one up to an observation area:

and the other to the bottom of the falls.

The search and rescue teams were there helping a 60 year old women who was hiking on Rabbit Ears Pass trail who broke here ankle.  We were going to hike that trail too but it began to rain.

I did get a swim at the bottom of the falls.  Had to stay on the leash with all the police men around.

We stopped by Blue Sage Pizza  and took a pizza back to the hotel.  A good day with Dad!

After we left Glacier Lake Mom wanted to show Alex Mt Evans.  The road to Mt. Evans is the highest paved auto road in the United States.  Mt Evans is 145 feet higher than Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs.  I was so tired from playing in the lake and snow I slept most of the way.  I am glad I did, when I looked out the road look dangerous.  No railings along the edge and a long way down if Dad should drive off the edge.

Along the way Fizz stared to bark and woke me up.  There was a family of goats on the road.  Why she has to bark at everything I don’t understand, a goat can’t hurt you unless you make them mad by barking.

This must be daddy goat.

It felt cold and windy on Mt. Evans.  Perfect for me, I sure like the cool weather here  more than summers  in Phoenix.

We were over 14,000 feet in altitude.  I guess that can be dangerous.  I have never  thought about it before, the  goats  looked  like they were ok.

The views  were spectacular.

Dad wanted a picture with me.  Not sure I understand humans, just enjoy the view, why do you need a picture to remember  it.  You can see how windy it was, my ears are flapping like the Singing Nun.

How about this little fella? A Marmot (Large Ground Squirrel)

We loaded into the car and headed off up Flagstaff Road. It is the road that was closed during the Flagstaff Fire.  Fizz and I share the back of the  car and I don’t really like all the curves. I would like to look out but if I stand or sit I get knocked over. It was a good trip though because  we  got to swim twice and even went in a restaurant with Mom and Dad while they had  lunch. Along the  way we  stopped and Dad  took a picture of Boulder. It was really hazy out.

Boulder from Flagstaff Road

We stopped along the way and explored South Boulder Creek.

We walked down to the creek. Fizz has to be on a leash most of the time because she has not learned to come every time she is called and sometimes chases rabbits. I don’t know why she doesn’t come when Mom or Dad call her, maybe because they are not her Mom and Dad or maybe she is still a puppy. I know it is the easy way to get a treat so I come when Mom calls or Dad whistles.

Fizz was off the leash for a  little  swim.  I keep a close watch and she  was really good.  It is the only way she is going to learn.

I got to explore a little  and even swim. I love the water!

Our  next stop was  near  Rollinsville. There is a creek that runs  along the East Portal road from Rollinsville to the East Moffet Tunnel. It is really beautiful.  Dad and I were there last year when we hiked  to Yankee  Doodle Lake.

Got a little swim in.  Did I tell you I love the water?

Fizz got a chance to be off the leash and swim, she behaved  great.

After all that swimming and running around Mom and Dad were hungry.  I don’t understand, Fizz and I did all the swimming and playing!  We stopped at the Stage Stop in Rollinsville. They were  nice and let Fizz and  inside to a enclosed patio when Mom and Dad ate lunch.  We were tired from all the swimming and both lay right down.  Some people even petted us.

Getting a bath is not my favorite thing to do.  I like to swim and splash in the  water not have it sprayed on me but all the pets  I get while Dad is rubbing in the soap and drying me off is great.  Well I heard Mom and Dad say Fizz and  I stink and they were  going to take  us to the dog wash.  We went to the Struttin’ Puppy

Fizz went first. I think this might have been one of her first baths  in a tub. She was scared.

I waited like a good dog.  

Mom wanted  to hike with a group of people Anu knows so we headed out early one morning to meet them near Sugarloaf Mountain.  Mom went with her  friends and Dad took us for  a  walk on the Switzerland Trail.

Fizz found  a bone to chew on. She did not run off with it but would not come when Dad called her.  I think she thought  he would take the bone away.  This is why she is stuck on the leash all the time. She will learn.