DAY 3: Austin to Las Cruces, NM

Headed out at 7am in fog and rain from Austin. Drove through Dripping Springs and Fredericksburg...Texas Hill Country / Wine Country / Rum Country / Vodka, Whiskey...seems like theres a distillery or winery on just about every corner...if theres not a bbq joint! Those smokers smell goooood! Eventually, we wound up back on Hwy 10, heading west!

"Hey Dad, are we there yet?"

We stopped for a pee in Fort Stockton and Dad had to pull a thorn out of my toe! I guess it's true what they say...Everything in West Texas either Sticks, Stings or Stinks! Judging from the dust storm we drove through by Fort Hancock, West Texas blows too. (Did I say that out loud?)

So this is pretty much what we stared at all day...

BBBOOORRRIIINNNGGG...

Aaaahhh...this is more like it...I'm beginning to like these REST AREAS.

FINALLY! Las Cruces, here we come...just in time for dinner!

DAY 2: Baton Rouge to Austin

So, we left Louisiana this morning at 5:00 am. I'm soooo tired! Whyyyyy do we have to leave when it's still dark outside?

Ok, now I'm seeing stars everywhere I look...I'm either in Texas, or someone thumped my melon!

EEE-HAH! Bar-B-Que at Slow-Poke's...we are DEFINITELY in Tejas now...PUT ME DOWN DAD, or you'll get a hernia!

Now I get to play with my ol' buddy, Lone Star. We remember each other from last time!

Austin sure hasn't changed much...let me guess, we're getting another early start tomorrow for New Mexico "to beat the traffic."

DAY 1 - Bradenton to Baton Rouge

We left our home in Lakewood Ranch this morning at 0530. As we traveled north up I-75 we had barely made it past Tampa when "BOOM" Blowout! It took an hour for roadside assistance to show up, but we were back on the road in no time.




We had our lunch on the road thanks to Uncle Gus' Smoked ribs and Chicken Jerky! Yummers!




















I think I had a little too much to drink tho, cuz I had to pull over and pee. Ahem! Some PRIVACY PLEASE??

 Crossing the Florida panhandle took FOR-EV-ER! So this familiar sign made my tail wag a little. -Just a little.

 Looked for Forrest Gump's shrimp boat, but no such luck.

YAAAAY! We finally made it from A-L to L-A! Now if Dad can locate the hotel in Baton Rouge sometime before midnight we can get a good night's sleep...we've been up since 0-dark-thirty, and I'm yawnin'. Hey Dad...ever hear of a GPS??? SHEESH!

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Once again, Dad and I are hitting the road. It's a one-way ticket to Arizona this time. A new life and new adventures await in the desert, but we gotta get there first! Pulling out Friday morning at the crack of dawn bound for our first stop: Baton Rouge, LA—Population: 225, 374...Saaaaaalute!
I said goodbye to all my dogpark friends, and got to splish-splash in the k9 Guzzler fountain one last time...awesummmmm!

Soooo, last time we made a beeline for TX in one day...this time, we are taking our own sweet time. Mostly because Dad is hauling a big trailer behind the Grand Cherokee. "On the road again...Sing it Willie!"

Thank you to all of our friends and family who are keeping us in your thoughts and praying for our safe journey. We will keep ya posted along the way. Who knows what we will see, or who we will meet along the way. STAY TUNED!

Welcome to "NACHO RIDES SHOTGUN"!

Nacho catching a cool breeze in Lakewood Ranch, FL

In the 1960's, John Steinbeck wrote the epic travelogue, "Travels with Charley" recalling the details of  his incognito road trip  to "discover America", while sharing his experience with his trusty canine co-pilot, "Charley."

In the same tradition, it is my pleasure to present a similar journey—with a more modern spin—that you can experience in real-time, through the eyes and vivid expressions of my 9-month-old Yellow Labrador companion, Nacho.

As a small puppy, Nacho was rescued from a shelter somewhere in Georgia, along with his two sisters and his mom by volunteers at Nate's Honor Animal Rescue in Bradenton, Florida. It didn't take long before Nacho and his family all wound up in good homes!

Gathering gear, packing up lots of dog food, and other preparations are currently underway, so you still have time to enter your email above, or click the "FOLLOWERS" link for daily updates, as we plan our road trip from the palms and sandy shores of Sarasota, Florida to the saguaros and desert dunes of Scottsdale, Arizona...and back again!

We depart on June 13th, 2016 and we look forward to having you along for the ride!

The LONG drive home.

We were out the door at 4am, leaving Aunt Su and Uncle Heffie's place in Austin. LoneStar barked from their room and said 'Adios'. Lexi was in the bushes waiting to see us off.

It seemed like forever but we finally saw the sun come up in Houston, then we gassed up at Buc-ees...the biggest gas station Ive ever seen.

I posed with Buc-ee the Beaver after a pee on his lawn. 

Once in Louisiana, Dad realized that he left my food in Texas...OH NOOOOO! What am I gonna eat??

Um, yech, no thanks. That kid looks like hes about to yack!

Before we knew it, we were passing over the great Mississippi River. Wont be long now!

OMG...are we there yet? This is getting old. Can I drive for a while??

After nearly 20 hours on the road, we finally made it home, safe and sound! 

Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts and supportive texts and emails during my adventure out West! We had a blast!!!

See y'all at the Bark Park at 4p.

                -Nacho Muchacho

Good day Austin!

Whew! Its pretty hot here in Texas too. I met a new friend last night, and we became buddies right away. He barks with a long Texas drawl, y'all. His name is LoneStar.

We slept in a little bit this morning. And then went for a nice long hike through Mary Searight park with Uncle Heffie.

After breakfast and a long nap we went to the Crown and Anchor Pub to meet Dads friend and Sailing buddy, Brett for a pint or three. I just had water.

After that, dad surprised me with a nice long walk down Colorado Avenue near U.T., Moms alma mader. Then I got to poop on the lawn at the state capitol.

I met two nice groups of students who were on a scavenger hunt. They needed a photo of a live animal. So, since Dad is camera shy, I decided to pose for them instead. 

It was a great day.