Part One

In The Beginning

Before the loss of Shiloh, I was thinking about our next adventures together in Nature. I was looking at more, and longer trips into the wilderness with Shiloh and I in 2011. I thought the economy would turn around by then, but it didn’t, and then, Shiloh was gone, gone from my life, and those dreams of Shiloh and I roaming the wilderness together disappear. My life felt painfully empty without my good friend, and companion.

The adventures we had in the wilds I would not have been able to do without him. He was my camping partner, my best friend that I loved deeply. We had a deep bond that could not be broken.

That night Shiloh was gone. His head gently laying on my lap, me sitting on a cold tile floor of the Vet’s office, petting Shiloh’s head for our last good-bye. The Vet gave him the shot that would quickly end his life. I was surprised how quickly, and unexpectedly he was gone from my life. I felt the tears running uncontrollably down my cheeks. It was like a faucet was turned on that couldn’t be turned off. I tried to maintain myself, saying, “Control yourself,” but I could not. While I write this I can’t help from tearing up. I can clearly see that night some eleven years go. I will never forget that night or Shiloh.

Driving home on that dark empty freeway, all I could feel is the pain of loss, I was numb, I didn’t care much for life at that point. I drowned in my tears knowing I couldn’t spend anymore time with Shiloh in Nature or any other time for that matter. But I know he will always be with me.

At that point I couldn’t imagine getting another dog, nor could I afford it

at the time. Then after a couple of months I began dreaming about being in Nature once again, and looking at getting two dogs of the same breed, Native American Indian Dogs, when finances looked better.

In 2013, I called the breeder who created the Native American Indian Dogs, Karen Markel, of Majestic View Kennels, in Lowell Michigan, to let Karen know I was ready. She picked out two bundles of fir, sent me a photo and I said yes. The two pups in a litter of eight, born November 13th, 2013.

I needed another person to come with me to Lowell, Michigan to pick up the kids that I called them. The airlines only allowed one dog per person for carry-ons. I talked a good friend into coming with me. I almost had to pull her arm. She had to check with her fiance, and her schedule. Anxiously waiting for an answer from her, she got back to me with a yes. I am sure she was looking forward to meeting the kids, Karen, and visiting the kennel. My friend knew both Shawnee, and Shiloh well. Her dog and mine were best of friends.

It was January 8th, 2014 that we flew to Michigan to pick up the kids. The weather and flights did not cooperate with us arriving and leaving with many cancellations, but it did seem to work out with a bit of frustration. We had a very small window to get back home due to the weather.

Prior to us leaving from the San Francisco bay area, I contacted my sister, Sue who lived in Michigan and being close to Lowell, we made arrangements to meet with her, her husband Ron, and one of their daughters for lunch for my birthday, and then drive to the kennel together. Sue really wanted to meet the kids (pups). I had not seen my sister for about 20 years. After a pleasant lunch, we headed to the kennel, not too far away from town. When we got there Karen, the breeder, took us to a large pen where there must have been 20 plus puppies running around. One of them looked like Shiloh. Karen told me I could take him, but I wanted the two siblings, the twins. My sister was in heaven and she wanted to take a puppy home with her, although she didn’t.

While getting the puppies ready to leave from the kennel to the airport, we had an alert on my friends phone that our flight was cancelled. We left without the puppies and headed back to the hotel, and picked them up the next day, finally making it back home. They were really good on the long flight back, crying just a little. My friend and I couldn’t sit together on the plane, so I had one puppy and my friend had the other. I am sure it would have been better if the brothers were next to each other.

We made it home safely and the boys were sleeping with me that night in their new home. If they only knew what I had in store for them and the adventures they would embark on in Nature.

The photos were taken at the airport in Michigan waiting for departure. They were seven and a half weeks old.

Their New Home

Takota and Nanook adjusted well to their new home. They had a backyard to play in during the day while I was at work. At night they always came in and slept with me. Surprisingly they were really good boys and never got into to much trouble although they loved to dig holes. They were always happy to see me when I got home from work as I was with them. They weren’t much fun taking them for walks. Takota always wanted to attack his brother while we were crossing a street and I had to try and break up the bad behavior. But they were having too much fun and ignored me much of the time until I yelled at them that I meant business.

Not long after I got them, one of them, I think it may have been Takota, would wake me up early in the morning for attention. After giving him a little rub and scratch, I told him to go bug his brother. I don’t understand how he understood what I was saying, but he went and started bugging his brother. He still does it and Nanook will do the same.

At that time I was staying with some friends who were kind enough to take me in during the economic meltdown. Unfortunately they too would lose their home to the corruption of our wonderful capitalistic society controlled by the banking system where greed reined.

We all had to leave by October 1st, 2014. I had no where to go with two large 10 month old pups, so I thought it would be a good time breaking them into their first camping experience. We went to Del Valle Reservoir campground, the same place Shiloh and I stayed for a month.

We packed up our camping gear, put the rest of our stuff in storage, and headed for another new adventure. I had no idea how they would do camping and sleeping in a tent.

I figured I should have time within a month to find a place for us to live, but it turned out, it wasn’t so easy. I was working in a small part of an office I rented, and took the boys to a doggy day care close to my office. I would then pick them up after work and headed home to our campsite. I actually liked returning to a home in Nature vs. a house. In camp I would cook dinner for us and after we ate and went for a walk, the boys relaxed in camp and I would read next to a nice campfire. Takota developed this behavior where when it got dark he wanted to go into the tent to bed. Nanook liked hanging outside listening to all the new noises and watching for critters.

They did great in the tent, but did manage to sneak out a couple of times in the middle of the night. Luckily they stayed in our camp, and close to the tent. When I realized they weren’t where they were suppose to be, and that was the tent, I would call them, and they came right in when I called them. It was a joy camping with them and they quickly learned to protect the camp from people and other dogs.

Our month stay ended up being three months camping in the winter months. I was waiting for the campground officials to kick us out, but they didn’t. You are only allowed one month per year. They must have liked us. I also had a second cousin who worked for the park district that may have had something to do with it.

Each day was the same during the week. I would drop them off at doggy day care, I would go to the office, and at the end of the day I would pick them up and we would head back to camp. On the weekends we would relax. When we reached the end of the three month period, we finally found a place to stay at a ranch I use to board my horses. It was a studio apartment above the garage, and consisting of a very small bath, and a bar area with a hot plate for cooking. I felt we just got under the wire to leave, although we did not receive any notices to vacate the campground.

I enjoyed our time in Nature with the boys and I believed they liked it as well.

While we were breaking camp to go to our new home. I told the boys we needed to tear down the tent, and I then walked to the restroom. They usually howled when I was gone, but this time no howling and I was wondering what was up. It was too quiet in camp. I did hear some commotion, and when I got back to camp, the boys were all excited about helping tear down the tent. There was a huge 6 foot rip in the side of the tent and it was a brand new tent. I couldn’t help but laugh. They thought they did such a great job.

We were able to stay at the same campsite for the whole three months, so it was nice not having to change campsites, especially in the winter months.

I couldn’t remember if I kept a journal of those three months or not. Or if I just misplaced it. There was really not that much to write on, and if I do find it, I will decide if it is worth adding onto this.

Some of the things that come to me are the amazing beauty of the oak studded foothills, and abundance of wildlife of the Del Valle area. Watching the tree squirrels sneaking of with the cache of Acorns the Acorn woodpeckers would busily stash in the many holes they made in the trunks of the pine trees, and oaks. The many birds that came to visit the area, and visit us in camp, with their greeting in song, and their chattering and squawks every morning. The hawks gliding through the air catching the current waves, looking for a meal down below. The beautiful calls to their mates. The many turkeys that one could hear waking, and clumsily falling from their tree perches, with a chorus of gobbling echos through the oaks, then gather down to the campground to the lush grasses they would feed. During dusk many of the animals would come, the deer, rabbits, skunks, and raccoons, the owls perched on branches for a meal. Nanook would always keep a careful eye on the deer, and rabbits.

On our nightly walks, I would shine my head lamp into the trees and these glowing eyes would be looking down upon us. It seemed every tree had raccoon’s in them, waiting to come down to see what tidbits the campers would leave out. We could always hear them come through our camp, but would never find anything.

One night we had a close call with Mr. skunk, when the boys wanted to go outside in the middle of the night to pee. I put their leashes on, and had a tight grip on them, and I saw a black shadowy figure close to the tent. The boys wanted to go after it, I was able to hold them back. Luckily the skunk didn’t spray. It would have made a stinky night in the camp. For a time a skunk would come walking by our tent, and we could smell his presence. He or she was a stinky one – reminds me of the cartoon character, Peppy La Pew.

I would also wake in the middle of the night hearing interesting sounds, some blood curtailing of death. I was told later, it was probably a rabbit that made for a late night dinner for some critter.

Del Valle was a great place for observing, and listening to Nature – until people came. Because we were camping in the winter, few people were there that made it a perfect experience for us. To bad most days we were gone to go to work.

April 4, 2016 – Monday

I wanted to take the boys camping for about a week or so, so we headed back to our favorite spot, Del Valle.

We came into camp in the morning, and the sky was overcast. It clouds began clearing and warming in the early afternoon to around the mid 70’s. We stayed at the main campground and a site we really liked.

I got everything unloaded, then set up the Cabela’s Big Horn tent. I got this tent for our planned journey into the wilderness, and wanted to see how easy it was to set up, as with placing the wood burning stove in it, my air mattress, and the boy’s beds to get a feel for the space we would have. I thought the tent would be a good summer tent, but thought it was too small for spending a winter in it. I also had a vestibule for the tent that I didn’t bring. Overall the tent was pretty easy to set up for one person. After getting the tent up, we headed for the store for some groceries and even bought a beer after not drinking for 81/2 months. It did taste good. Beer of preference, Heineken.

It seems the boys were happy to be back and enjoyed laying in the lush coolness of the green grass on their body. As for me, I was a bit sore from lifting the heavy camping gear.

The cute gal at the front kiosk that we got to know on our three month stay wasn’t there when we checked in this time, but left a welcome back note that I thought was very sweet.

April 5, 2016 – Tuesday

We got up at 7:00 AM to a chilly morning as it was at night, but stayed warm during the night, and slept pretty well. Once I got the boys linked up to their tie lines, I got a fire going, made some coffee, and bacon and eggs for me and the boys.

The birds were chirping early this morning and it was nice waking up too their calls. I have seen so far the Blacked eyed Junco, Doves, Acorn woodpeckers, and the Scrub jays. It was nice listening to our feathered friends again. I also heard the irritating whining sounds of a drone flying around the camp from a near by camper. I hate those things. They should not be allowed in a campground.

Today is a beautiful day with a pleasant breeze and not to warm. For dinner we are having sockeye salmon, and I am also having a salad.

Afternoon entry

I did a little bit of reading, and I felt a little uneasy for some odd reason, and decided to take a nap. After the nap I was rejuvenated and motivated to put the wood burning stove together for the tent. I ran into a glitch with the protective roof cover, I didn’t have it tight enough at the top of the tent and touched the flue pipe. Tried a couple of things to tighten it, but nothing worked. I was also concerned about the front of the stove being too close to the tent floor where any amber, small or big chucks of wood falling out of the stove with the door open and could easily fall on the floor covering, burning a big hole in it. The tent does have a flap in the floor that can be unzipped where the stove legs could be standing on the raw ground. But I did not think that would be enough protection. I saw a video where a guy chose to use a fire resistant mat in front of the stove and also having the stove legs resting on it. The floor flap would stay zipped closed preventing creepy crawlers from coming in. I thought that would be the best approach, so it was put on the shopping list. So placing the stove in the tent with the flue pipe connected gave me a good idea what might need adjusting. No fire in the tent.

When darkness arrived Takota was telling me it was time for bed, and both Takota and Nanook headed for the tent dragging me into the tent with them.

April 6, 2016 – Wednesday

Me and the boys slept pretty well, not too cold throughout the night. Had a few bad thoughts during the night.

Thinking about the wood stove this morning while laying in bed, I decided to burn the stove outside to season it and it would be much safer. I wouldn’t have to worry about burning the tent down.

It was a beautiful morning, the birds started singing at 6:00 AM. I saw a couple of Yellow-billed Magpies, and two Robins this morning.

Wrestling with some uncomfortable thoughts, I focused on my purpose, and enjoying being out in Nature with the boys.

An idea I got from another camper, I decided to put up a high line so the boys wouldn’t get so tangled up, and they still got tangled up. But I still thought it was a great idea and continued using it. I made sure I used a line that was highly visible so I would not hang myself with it.

One thing I expected with my pace of setting up camp was, it usually takes about a day and a half to completely set up camp. I very seldom cook the first night so the stove doesn’t have to be set up, unless I don’t want to wait for coffee in the morning.

I got the wood stove burning quickly using pine, and a lot of smoke coming out of the flue stack. With most of the pine at a smolder, I added oak to the mixed and lit up quickly with very little smoke. I also used a spark arrested that worked well to minimize any fire hazards from the stove.

I had a fire wood supplier that I got good hard wood from, usually buying a few wheel barrels from, to an eighth of a cord of wood. He was expensive though, but worth it for good fire wood. I would only buy the over priced pine bundles at the store for kindling.

April 7, 2016 – Thursday

I slept the best night so far, waking in the morning to the chattering birds that gives me such a calming feeling of being in nature.

This morning it was cooler than the morning before. The skies are overcast. A storm is brewing, and is suppose to be bringing in rain on Friday, and Saturday. I am hoping just a little, because I am not really prepared for a heavy rain.

I started a camp fire first thing this morning, appreciating that moment it took flame, and being grateful for everything this fire provides too us. There is nothing like having a nice small fire on a cool morning.

For the past few days I thought I heard a quacking sound like a duck next to camp. Maybe it is a bird that is pretending to be a duck, maybe a crow? Three Acorn woodpeckers flew onto a pine tree, and a moment later a hawk joined them. The woodpeckers wanted no part of this intruder’s company, and scattered in an uproar, voicing their dismay of this uninvited hawk!

Today I plan on doing some reading, and putting the wood stove away before the rains.

I was thinking how in a relatively short period of time, the human race has moved from living a primitive way of life to living in the modern age, and forgetting how to truly live with nature, beside nature in harmony. We have forgotten our deep connection with the natural world. A world we need to survive in, and can’t do it without what nature provides to us.

Our friend Kevin should be coming in today, unless he changes his mind due to the weather. But knowing Kevin, a little storm won’t stop him from his ritual four days of camping.

Four boys and their Mom moved in to the site next to us. They were very loud, and nonstop talking. We went to bed around 9:00 PM. I wanted to stay up longer to enjoy the nice evening, but it was just too noisy from our new neighbors next door. This can be a common occurrence at campgrounds. People just don’t know how to be quiet or talk in a low voice in nature. They bring their city mentality into nature.

April 10, 2016 – Sunday

For the past few days we have been visiting with our friend Kevin, our Del Valle camping buddy at his camp and ours, since his arrival late Thursday afternoon.

On Friday we got a little bit of rain, and Friday night it rained all night.

We were able to extend our stay till Monday and maybe push it to Wednesday to allow the tent to dry out. It rained off and on Saturday, and throughout Saturday night, and into Sunday morning. A chance we will get rain throughout the day Sunday. After this cold and wetness, me and the boys are ready for warmth and sunshine. On Saturday we did go to our storage unit that was close by to pick up our canopy. What a difference it made. We can enjoy the rain outside, and I can cook without getting wet. Well, sometimes.

The tent performed well in the rain with the exception of a lot of condensation inside from me, and the boys, and my clothes being all wet. The wood stove would have been nice to dry things out in the tent for sure. It can be hard on the psyche when it rains continuously with everything being all wet and not being able to dry off. And on the other hand, we needed the rain, it is also a beautiful time to be in nature, and it brings a scent of freshness in the air. It is something we will have to get use when we leave for our Journey into Nature.

Kevin left early this morning. He must have had enough of the rain. We were still in bed when he left. It was nice seeing him again and the boys enjoyed his company as well. Kevin shared some helpful hints tent camping. Using baking soda in the tent will help absorb moisture, and adding moisture when having a stove, by placing a container of water out.

The key to staying warm in wet weather is staying dry and one should always bring extra clothing to change into.

We were told more rain is coming back on Wednesday.

Sunday, most of the campers cleared out. The campground was back to being peaceful again.

April 13, 2016 – Wednesday

We packed up today to go back home.

Some thoughts about our camping trip.

It was nice being back to Del Valle and sharing the experience with the boys. They did great. We met up with our friend, Kevin who Shiloh and I first met in 2009 at Del Valle. He is a great guy and enjoyed spending some time with him. We also met Kevin and his wife, Joy who ran the campground store, and the boat rentals. Although it wasn’t the best weather, it was still a beautiful week just being in nature. I also learned a few things about our tent, the wood stove, as with a few other things. I also got a fire going by feathering a stick and lighting it by some embers from the night before. It was a good week.