 Before I (Penny dog) left on The Great Loop I had no idea how many people did it so this graph was pretty cool to see. There are quite a few dogs on The Loop but I have no idea how many. Maybe one day they will count us. |
Hi. It is me – Penny. I was supposed to submit this post a few months ago but I've been busy. OK, I really have just been napping and procrastinating.
I'll try to keep this brief but a lot has happened since last September when I found out I was moving onto a boat. Practically every day I am in a new place and seeing new things. There are some places I like better than others but overall I think I've adjusted pretty well to living in a small space.
Highlights:
I get to swim right off the boat.
I get to walk a lot of beaches, cities and even hike in some pretty beautiful areas.
I get a lot of attention when I am off the boat. Not to brag but adults and kids always want to pet me when I am tied up outside a grocery store, shop etc. Some people even take selfies with me. I also get to go into a lot of dog friendly restaurants and bars which is nice.
I have met some really cool Loopers. You know who you are but every time I see some of you I know I am going to get a bunch of petting, some treats and a lot of attention. You know me by name and I know you by name.
Not Highlights:
Getting sprayed by a skunk in Kentucky. Let me explain – I was trying to chase it because it was fuzzy and running. Before I knew what happened my eyes, nose, mouth and face burned and I smelled a horrible smell. I was not allowed inside the boat for several days.
Having to go to the urgent care vet in Baltimore for an allergy. Let me explain – my face was itching so I kept scratching it. My people put socks on my feet and gave me Benedryl but I kept scratching because it felt good to scratch. I scratched so much I got a big sore, it got infected and I ended up with a giant cone around my neck for a few weeks. The cone was not a highlight.
My people telling me over and over and over and over to "go potty" on the boat. I will not pee where I walk and live, that is gross to me.
Rough seas. Yes my people figured out to put out a yoga mat so I do not slide back and forth on the floor but it is hard to walk around the boat and do anything when the boat is moving all over the place. I have not gotten sea sick but it is just not much fun when it is rough. I'd rather be on shore chasing a ball.
Things I miss:
I miss my large yard with places to roam on my own. I guess it is OK though because figured out pretty quick on this trip though that my people will take me everywhere they are allowed to take me which is nice.
I miss my large house where I would sneak up on the couch and bed when my people were at work. The bed is too high on the boat for me to get on and I have decided the couch is not comfortable enough for me to want to get on. I do not miss getting yelled at for being on the furniture at the old house.
I miss hiking at my neighborhood park. I get to do a lot of city walking and beach walking but I miss the evergreen trees and trails in the Pacific NW.
Below are some of my favorite things/places from this past year. There were so many to choose from as every day is a new adventure so this is just a few quick pictures of me.
 Here I am over a year ago at my old house. I am sure glad my people did not make me ride across the country in this trailer to meet up with Heartbeat. Instead I got to sit in the car with them for a week to go from Oregon to Kentucky. |
 I learned that I can find just about anywhere on the boat to sleep. |
 Despite being told to move all of the time I like to lay right underneath the helm. This way I am close to the person driving. |
 This is another one of my favorite places to be while we are underway. |
 I have been able to see some pretty cool cities on this trip. Here I am looking at the NYC skyline. |
 I even got to go to Canada and sit in several of the Parcs Canada red chairs. |
 One of my favorite things to do is to swim. Here I am in Canada somewhere. The water here is nice, it does not taste salty. |
 I have to admit though that the water in the Bahamas was warmer and it was so clear that I could always see the ball or stick I was fetching. |
 There are some pretty nice beaches to walk out there on The Great Loop. I have lost count of how many beaches I have been on. |
 I get driven from Heartbeat to shore in MY dingy. I am very good about getting in/out of the dingy when I am supposed to. Think I’ve only fallen in the water a few times and that was because I was not listening to what my people were telling me to do. |
 My people have accepted that I will just “hold it” for 36 hrs when I need to. They thought this picture was funny because I refuse to go potty on the boat despite them trying turf, pee pads and a dozen other ideas. |
 When people ask me how I feel about The Great Loop I say I am one lucky dog. |