AT LAUGHING HEART HOSTEL, HOT SPRINGS, NORTH CAROLINA
(2019)
AT
LAUGHING HEART HOSTEL, HOT SPRINGS, NORTH CAROLINA
March
through July 2019
My
time at the hostel in Hot Springs was HEAVENLY! I loved the cozy cabin that we
lived in.
I loved the freedom I had because the hostel and cabin are on huge grassy
property, and I could stay outside almost all the time. It was very safe there.
I loved that da daddy and da mommy were always home. I loved going for hikes with da mommy.
I loved being around lots
of nice people who were hiking on the Appalachian Trail. I loved sneaking into
the hostel and sniffing around and sometimes finding dog treats or toys that
some hiking dog left behind. I guess da daddy and da mommy didn’t love me
sneaking in there, because a few times they were pretty freaked out because
they couldn’t find me. But I was safe and sound in a corner in a cozy room,
playing with a new toy or chewing on a tasty treat.
The
thing I loved most about my life at the hostel was that every day I made new
hiking friends who petted me and played with me. Lots of times they said that I
made them miss their dogs back home. That made me a little sad.
I
also got to meet hiking dog friends. Lots of hikers take their dogs hiking with
them on the Appalachian Trail. Those dogs were pretty mellow but usually once
they rested up they were ready to play with me. But another thing that made me
sad was that the hiking dog friends kept leaving. They would usually stay for a
day or two, then leave again. Da mommy said they had to go back to their hike. I
sort of wanted to go with them, but really my hostel Heaven was where I wanted
to be. I hated saying good-bye. But hey, pretty soon another hiking dog would hike to the hostel with his or her hiking human, and there was another friend for me!
With my good friend Scott in our cabin at the hostel
Since Daddy was injured, he got beat up twice - once by "Spruce Lee" ...
... and once by another (female) "Chuck Norris"
They put this lovely bandana on me for 4th of July. Don't I look thrilled?
Our good friends from Florida, Chris and Josh, came up to do some hiking.
We took them to a cool place to play in the river.
Cooling off in my pool at the hostel
While
I was in Hot Springs, I fell in love. I knew about falling in love from people
on the big box on the wall in our rv that talks and shows people and sometimes
dogs. This beautiful yellowish dog about my size named Buster came to the
hostel from the Appalachian Trail with his hiker human and I couldn’t stay away
from him. He was perfect. We ran and played and sniffed each other and hung out
together every minute that we could.
One
day da mommy put me on my leash and we headed out for a walk. We heard
something behind us and when we turned around, there was Buster, all by
himself, following us. Da mommy asked, “Where’s Buster’s hiker human?” He
wasn’t with Buster. Just as we were walking back toward Buster to take him back
to the hostel to his human, a truck came around a curve and slammed on its
brakes so it wouldn’t hit Buster. “NO!!!” I was so scared! “Don’t hit Buster!” I
screamed in my head and whimpered out loud. Mommy took in a big deep breath. But
luckily the driver was going slow enough that he was able to stop. Buster was
fine, but I could tell he was scared too. He went running back to the hostel,
and we made sure he found his human.
A
few days later the day finally came when Buster and his hiker human had to
leave to hike some more. It was a sad day for me and for Buster. I never had a
friend like him before, and I’m afraid that maybe I never will. And I don’t
know if I’ll ever see him again. But that’s life at a hiker hostel. I will
always remember Buster. Sometimes da mommy shows me pictures of him on her little
box that she holds in her hand and looks at a lot. It’s always great to see
those pictures and to know he’s having fun hiking.
Buster and me hanging out. I miss him.
When
we’re in Florida, sometimes we visit my “Aunt Debby.” She and her family are
always happy to see me, and they have this brown couch that is soft and the
same color as me. I like to lie on it and see how long it takes for someone to
find me. Sometimes they walk right by me and ask, “Where’s Chigger?” Well,
these awesome folks from Florida, Debby and her husband, came to Hot Springs
for a visit! I was so happy to see my Florida family! We played and played and
they scratched my butt for me ‘cause they know I really like that. They stayed
for a few days and then we had to say good-bye. But da daddy said we’ll see
them again soon.
Mom and Aunt Debbie braided hikers' hair
We took Aunt Debbie and Uncle Kent to the river to swim
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