Jacpot Happy To Return To Cold Springs

It is good to back in the mountains, but disappointing there is no snow. The upside is Jacpot and I were able to run a couple of laps around Pinecrest Lake today.

Afterwards Jacpot wanted to take a picture and say... Merry Christmas!!

It's All About The Beach

We originally were headed to Morro Bay this last weekend for the Whites, Hursts, and Jensens to participate in a run in Montana De Oro in Los Osos, CA. Dogs were not allowed at the run and this meant Scruffy and Jacpot would be left back at the cabin in Morro Bay while we spent the day enjoying the beautiful outdoors. The race was cancelled and the dogs couldn't have been happier.

Frank and Piper (dalmatian) also came over to visit from Pismo Beach. We all spent the majority of the time running and playing on the beach and meeting new friends (like Chewy the St. Bernard). Sometimes a change of plans can be a good thing.....


Piper wasn't sure if he was being chased by a dog or a horse.

Post Summer Shock

I must be in shock, the temperature is expected to reach 104 degrees today here in Palmdale, yet it feels like summer is a distant memory. I have been back to work for three weeks and I am just getting over the shock of not having my early morning runs around the lake.

On a side note, Jacpot was placed on a dog magazines website for smiling dogs. Click here and scroll through the dogs to find Jacpot.


Thank you to all family and friends that visited the cabin, and of course Niece Emma lit up the place like she does anywhere she goes. I could write about the trips to Sonora Pass, Cleo's Bath (some said Jacpot couldn't make the steep rock climb but he proved them wrong), God's Bath (Jacpot could have made it, but the task proved too difficult for us... at least we made it to Cherry Lake) and others, but the swimming pool calls my name, and anyone reading this has their own adventures to go on.

Speaking of adventures if you want a good book to read please read my friend Jeff Mitchell's book "Lost In The Shelikof". Jeff wrote this book based on a true story in Alaska all while being a full time school teacher. Go here to purchase the book. Both Cindy and I have read the book and thought it was great, and no you can't borrow it... go buy your own and support Jeff.













Cindy tries to take pictures at Fahey's cabin, but her new friend kept getting in her way.












Jacpot and Cindy enjoy the waterfall after a hike up Herring Creek.











Eric and Cherie on a hike around Pinecrest. Cherie says I walk too fast.














Emma and Grandpa










Jacpot was in a bit of shock as well, as we left to go home.

A Sunrise Isn't A Gift If You Aren't There To Receive It

When the alarm sounds at 3:50 a.m. I am a little confused. I slowly become aware that I am in the mountains on summer vacation, but why is the alarm buzzing in the middle of the night? As I gain some sort of consciousness I am aware I can end this buzzing sound and sleep for another 3 or 4 hours, heck I can sleep another 8 hours if I want, it's VACATION!





After about 10 seconds I pretty much know what is going on, and realize I am the one responsible for setting the wake up call. I have about a half hour to drink my coffee, have a snack, and get dressed to get started on what should be about a 15 mile run. I head into the darkness with my hat that lights up (thanks for the present Lynne) leading me through the darkness for the first part of the run. There is no such thing as street lights in the mountain communities and I like it that way. Eventually the lights on my hat are clicked off as light is slowing appearing in the skies.


There is a strange feeling of running along the mountain roads as your eyes adjust from darkness to light that is difficult to describe. I don’t feel lonely at all, even though the most contact is an occasional scared dear that runs off into the woods. It is more a sense of connectedness with darkness, light, and nature. After a littler over an hour, I turn onto a dirt path that leads me up a meandering mountain trail; this takes me to the top of a mountain where a logging road brings more definition to my direction. A while later I am at the top of the mountain overlooking my destination… Pinecrest Lake.







An hour and a half has passed and the sun has still not shown itself, but the view is spectacular and there is enough light to see the peaceful lake as I start my descent.








Thirty more minutes and I will have made it around most of the lake and run into my wife Cindy, and dog Jacpot. They have taken the saner route of driving to the lake first, and then running before the sun is up. When we cross paths, I reverse my direction and jog back around the lake with them. Upon returning to the other side of the lake, Jacpot fetches a stick in the water for a while before we drive back to pick up a newspaper and then return to the cabin.





I don't know when when it happens, but somewhere during these runs there is a sunrise. I guess it is when the sun just begins to peak over the mountain range. But on these mornings, to me the sunrise is not a distinct moment, rather as one special performance over a couple hours. A gift is how I would describe it, and I am the recipient. My consciousness is able to wrap it all up into one big present and take it in. Those first 10 seconds of rising out of bed have long passed, and I am not confused anymore.

Rains, Stains, and Runs In The Hills

Summer is a great time of year! We are back to our mountain cabin in Cold Springs and enjoying the peace and quiet. Ahhhhhhh. Of course, that is until our neighbors arrive for the fourth of July weekend with thier pre-teen children and blast Justin Bieber songs from their car. Still, life is good, and it is always good to have a little unexpected surpise.


My John Candy movie reference, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles in the Blog Title starts with "rains" and water is abundant everywhere in the Sierras. We had two days the other day of heavy downpour to add to our already wet season. The lake is full, and the rivers are rushing. The rain delayed us about four days before we could begin staining the entire deck. Eventually we accomplished the deck and moved on to clearing the pine needles. The wet year has also caused detours to some morning runs. Cindy, Jacpot and myself run the 4.5 mile circumference of nearly flat Pinecrest Lake each morning, and although runs in the "hills" might be a stretch, I had a hard time coming up with something to rhyme with "automobiles". Occasionally I leave the house at 4:30 a.m. and run to the lake where I meet Cindy and Jacpot for a run around the lake. The detours have occurred due to the bulging river banks leaving me no place to cross and finding alternate routes, I even have to go over a hill.



We have been here a week and have five more to go. The weather is back to normal and the peace and tranquility is welcomed. A few nights ago, Cindy put out the garbage on the deck to be taken to the garage the next day, upon exiting the cabin the next morning at 4:30, two beady eyes stared back at me enjoying a nice breakfast. It was quite an unexpected surprise and I enjoyed it even more than having to listen to Justin Bieber.

Jacpot Comes Out Of Retirement

If Brett Favre can do it then I guess Jacpot can also. Good friend Ann gave me permission to write other things on AdventuresWithJacpot even if Jacpot is not always the main focus.



So Emma... "The Licker" returns. If you aren't sure what that means you may read the comment on previous post and/or go here or here.

The End of Adventures With Jacpot

Jacpot is doing great, but his master (and biographer) is realising that there are only so many times one can write about running at sunrise or playing frisbee at the park.

A little over three years ago I started this blog to keep me on task. I made a promise to Jacpot that if he followed through on one request I had, he would partake in many adventures. I did not ask for him to be perfect, that one request was that he get along with other dogs. I wanted to be able to take him many places without fear of aggression. I wanted to take him to climb summits, go snow mobiling, snow skiing, 4 wheelling, lakes, oceans, have play dates, go kayaking, play at parks, amongst many other outings. I enjoyed running before Jacpot came along, but he has taken the pleasure of running to a whole new level. We run mostly in the hills near our home, and around Pinecrest lake. It's even okay that he has not kept his good looks from his younger days, and we even took the time to have a DNA test done.

My mom has been a blogger for the last 50 years, chronicling our families lives, she just uses the phrase scrapbook, and she hasn't stopped yet. I am pleased to see my niece Emma has her own blog, this bodes well for her future as my brother and sister in law continue to plan her adventures. Many families blog (including our friends the Whites) , many families scrapbook, whatever the process to record history it is all about the focus and the promise that says... get along with others and great things happen. On the return from our sunrise run in the hills this morning we passed a couple walking on the path. While Jacpot was striding along beside me off leash the lady responded, 'What a good dog", I pleasantly replied, "No, he's a Great dog".

I had another talk with Jacpot and let him know that even though the blog adventureswithjacpot.com would stop, the adventures would not. I think he understood.

Signed,

Jacpot's Master

Jacpot Loves Runs At Sunrise

Since the weather is warming up we were up before dawn. By the time the sun was rising, the five (Teresa, Cindy H., Amanda, myself, and of course Jacpot) of us were already up in the hills overlooking the Antelope Valley. Jacpot always loves starting his day watching the sun rise... but who doesn't.

Jacpot Enjoys Having Scruffy Visit for the Weekend

Scruffy stayed with us this weekend while his parents went out of town. We had a nice time going to the park a couple of times.

Jacopt Plays Poker With Emma

After Emma bets two chips.

Jacpot sees those chips and raises a kiss.

Jacpot Always Smiles When he is in Morro Bay

We were expecting to be in the mountains for spring break. When the electricity was out and we had some business to take care of, we decided to leave. Jacpot was very sad on the trip out of the hills. After we got to Morro Bay, he was upset no more, and just smiled.

Jacpot likes Cindy's New Blog

We continue to have a good time running in the hills, playing frisbee at the park and go for walks in the neighborhood. Jacpot has been enjoying looking at Cindy's new blog she started the other day. The link can be found at the top of links to the right.

Jacpot Meets A New Running Buddy

Jacpot, Teresa, and myself ran with Jennifer today. We got in a good 8.65 miles running up and over Bunny Hill and back in the foothills.

Jacpot Has Highs and Lows in Morro Bay

Of course the entire weekend was a high in terms of fun and excitement, the title refers to altitude.

On our way to Morro Bay Friday night we stopped in Arroyo Grande at Frank and Kims for a nice visit and had Frank's homemade beer and Kim's blue cheese hamburgers. Both were delicious.... Jacpot had dog food.

Kim and Frank joined us in Morro Bay the next day where the fun continued along with Steve, Teresa, and Scruffy. Teresa, Chris, and Jacpot had a great run on the beach on Saturday along the beach to Cayucus and everyone else stayed back and walked the beach and took pictures. The picture below was from our walk down to the beach at sunset.

Monday morning Cindy, Teresa, Chris, Scruffy, and Jacpot took a hike up to Bishop's Peak in San Luis Obispo for a great view of both Morro Bay and SLO.

Jacpot Meets His Cousin Emma

We went to Channel Islands this weekend to spend some time with Emma who had her 1st birthday last week. This was the first time they have gotten together, and they hit it off as seen in the picture below. Picture taken from Emma's Blog.

Jacpot Loves Cool Cloudy Days

I guess 70 degree days full of sunshine are pretty nice. According to Jacpot when the weather is cloudy, very cool and miles of trails partially covered with snow, it's about as good as it gets!

Jacpot and Chris Have A Summit Meeting

A big thank you for the new Life Is Good shirt from the Labrenz family. Below is a picture of the shirt.

Today's run had a little extra excitement because of the recent snow fall. When we got to the top of the hills we decided to have a little fun and tried to strike the pose similar to my new shirt. How'd we do?

Jacpot And The Whole Group At The Cabin

The top picture is missing David, Scruffy, and Jacpot and the bottom picture is missing the White Family, put the two together and it covers everyone.