Badger’s Baths

This is one of the best dogs in the world, travelling in the backseat, amongst all our stuff. Our diligent and loyal protector.

Here’s an updated list of all the bodies of water in which Badger has submerged his furry body during our roadtrip:

1) Missouri River in Great Falls – slimy, insect-filled
2) Missouri River near Craig, Montana – still slimy, fishermen-filled
3) Canyon Lake near Helena, Montana – muddy and shallow
4) Yellowstone River near Reed Point, Montana – fast moving, filled with bathing humans and cattle (yes, together)
5) Goose Creek in Sheridan, Wyoming – inaccessible and odd
6) Angostura Resevoir near Hot Springs, South Dakota – Monika joined him for a refreshing dip in a muddy-bottomed lake
7) Missouri River (yet again), Lake Francis Case near Lucas, South Dakota – wavey and large
8 ) Silver Lake in NE Minneapolis, Minnesota – impossible to find the beach which is segregated from the weirdest and most manicured park on the planet
9) The great Mississippi River in Le Claire, Iowa – beautiful, clear, wide, next to a neat old town
10) Energy Lake, The Land Between the Lakes Nature Reserve, Kentucky – dammed but lovely

Some very cute and concerned people have expressed a complaint that Badger has not had a bath since Kentucky. I hate to confess this, but it’s true. All the bodies of water we have been near have been mucky and mosquito filled. Now that we’re in Florida we hope to remedy the situation in the Gulf of Mexico. Stay posted, we haven’t forgotten about Badger.

11) Gulf of Mexico, off the beach of Honeymoon Island, near Clearwater, Florida – hot! warmer than the pool in the backyard (Monika joined Badger fully clothed )

Now once again apologies are due to those who are concerned about Badger’s cleanliness. Everything is insect-filled and/or alligaor filled so Badger hasn’t been allowed into the southern swamps. Don’t worry, he’s getting lots of walks!

12) Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas: admist all the joggers, barely clothed, Badger had a great swim (at last!)

P.S. Badger had his clothes on, it were the joggers who were mostly naked

13) Lake Travis in Austin, Texas – water levels were low because of the summer drought but Badger had fun anyway
14) Arrowhead Lake near Witchita Falls, Texas – mucky and windy

15) Red Mountain Lake (aka Urban Fishing Program Water) in Mesa, Arizona – nice clear duck-filled water. Badger swam her daily for 3 consecutive days in 97 Fahrenheit degree weather (that’s 35 Celsius!)

As our roadtrip begins to take us back towards wetter areas, we expect Badger’s baths to become more regular. Our apologies to those parties who are concerned for his swimmy-ness, but the desert is DRY!

16) Lake Mead, Arizona in Temple Bar – Badger almost got sucked into quick sand like the horse in the Neverending Story. Luckily he clambered out. The water was lovely though!

17) The Pacific Ocean!! California coastline, at the Mavericks. Crazy windy day on the coast. Water was wet. I didn’t go near it.

18) Again in the Pacific – but paws only. Just north of San Francisco along highway 1