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Dog Diary

The ride of life with a dog
  • Surf Dog Diaries - dog blog
  • The ride of life with a dog
  • HANG 20 - DOG BEACH, CA
  • HANG 20 - DOG RIVER, OR
  • ABOUT US
  • BarbAyers.com
  • GIVING BACK
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Dogs ride the ups and downs with us. Real life Surf Dog Diaries

Meet writer dogs. Rider dogs. Best dog friends. Surf the couch, the www, or a wave. Wave back at us!

It's all about the ride. The ride of life with a dog.

My Elvis.     Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org.

My Elvis. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org.

Wooly Mammoth of a Dog-Man. My basset hound. My Elvis.

Barbara Ayers June 26, 2020

He is a Wooly Mammoth of a dog-man.

My basset hound, My Elvis.

He bulges everywhere.

He oozes everything.

Every follicle, every pore,

every Hush Puppy red rimmed blood shot

stare down happy-sad expression.

His outline - so not a sliver,        catches a sliver.

First light.

His scent is all night rain and fresh cut grass at daybreak.

Elvis is mostly slow and steady, like his shape.

Except when his 65 pound nose explodes awake!!

Like he’s suddenly giving birth!!

Like he’s standing guard for a long and lazy pregnancy!!

That massive nose drags the rest of him along like Raggedy Andy bobbing along behind.


Mammoth Man inches along    creaky old-soul kitchen floors,

Scent hound, mining for gold.   Last night’s pot roast.

Foot-long velvet ears drag dust bunnies on the Oregon Trail of our 113 year old farmhouse.

Elvis’ farmhouse.      Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org.

Elvis’ farmhouse. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org.

Elvis wobbles and rambles

like a cowboy in a spaghetti western.

His Elizabethan neck collar       

flops side to side like a Brahma bull.

Backlit by warpy western windows,  

he’s a shadow puppet.

He’s expanding to fill the room!

The Elephant Man…    In a good way!

He’s huge and he’s a dwarf.

His warpy 3-foot spine rides long and low over 2 inch legs.

Bulging double layered ankles

were nick-named Skankles

by my other baby, my Katie.

And all of Elvis’ life and love and good intentions

bears down on those split-open cowboy boots.

Splayed out toenails are black.             

No, some are white.

And some, like the rest of him, are both.

Wooly Mammoth Man fills up all the empty space in the creaky old farmhouse and all of us in it.

Even the cat.

Even though she acts indifferent.

And the ground squirrels nesting under the floorboards.

And the quail family commuting through the yard, looking for meaningful work.

And the hummingbird buzzing around the creaky old porch

that’s sagging down in places like some spaghetti western.

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org.

Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org.

Tags basset hound, Columbia River Gorge, small town life, dog diary, Elvis the basset, dog mom Barb Ayers, Surf Dog Diary, I love my dog, dog blog, Hood River Oregon, Mosier history
Double dog windsurf day. Elvis, Dude and I at Hood River Event Site, circa 2009. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Double dog windsurf day. Elvis, Dude and I at Hood River Event Site, circa 2009. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Feeling wistful. Sentimental. About life with dogs.

Barbara Ayers June 30, 2019

I’ve been feeling sentimental lately. Windsurfing season is back in the Gorge.

All those years - and trips - and dogs, starting in 1987. Then, my dogs and I took the plunge, and moved here, 12 years ago.

Sum- sum - summertime. Here it is, all over again! Time for windsurfing, BBQ’s, hiking, stand up paddle boarding and camping. As if for the first time, only way better. Because you have memories and moments. Like this one. And that one.

Then….

Howdy was Number One. My first surf dog. Circa 1998 on San Diego’s Mission Bay. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Howdy was Number One. My first surf dog. Circa 1998 on San Diego’s Mission Bay. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Two dog jibe - surf bassets #2 and #3 at Hood River Event Site, circa 2009. Photo (c): Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Two dog jibe - surf bassets #2 and #3 at Hood River Event Site, circa 2009. Photo (c): Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

And now….

Big Wind day at Mosier’s Rock Creek beach. Sailing over powered on a 3.2 last weekend. Wind is too big for Doodle, so he’s hanging on shore. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Big Wind day at Mosier’s Rock Creek beach. Sailing over powered on a 3.2 last weekend. Wind is too big for Doodle, so he’s hanging on shore. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

My 4th surf dog, doxie Doodle, on a parade float honoring his windsurfing basset brothers. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

My 4th surf dog, doxie Doodle, on a parade float honoring his windsurfing basset brothers. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Same place (Hood River.)

Different dog. Different day, different year.

Different rig - now, a Honda Element named Gidget, parks in the driveway. For decades, old Silver the Nissan Pathfinder took us all on so many grand adventures.

It’s not that moment after we came out of the frost and snow of winter into the joy and light of spring.

Now, after that annual rite, came a series of sun-drenched endless summer days. Days we windsurfers, standup paddle boarders, OC-6’ers and other outdoor dogs, live for - all year.

This season, and sun, make me thankful. For every moment and friendship and family moment along the way. Every life adventure - massive, or minuscule; glad or sad.

These moments between moments along the way.

Like going back home to San Diego and seeing mom and dad, now married nearly 65 years!!!

I love my folks. With Doodle, June 2019. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

I love my folks. With Doodle, June 2019. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Dad had a rough year last year. We all did. Whatever life brings, we’re in it together.

Yep… older, greyer. This was 2 weeks ago. Still family. Always family. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Yep… older, greyer. This was 2 weeks ago. Still family. Always family. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Like old friends with old photo albums - like my old bestie, weather woman Pat Brown, back in San Diego.

Albums, you say? What the heck are those? With actual printed photos?

1991 - Howdy, my first basset, and my first tandem surf partner. Photo: (c) Pat Brown, DogDiary.org

1991 - Howdy, my first basset, and my first tandem surf partner. Photo: (c) Pat Brown, DogDiary.org

Like this one….

Pat had a photo in her album of my first surf basset, Howdy Doody, back in Ocean Beach’s Dog Beach, right after I rescued him.

Of course we were both smiling.

Howdy went on to become Co-Chair of Ocean Beach Town Council’s Dog Beach Committee. We spent every moment at Dog Beach. Like all San Diego dog lovers!

Top pic: Howdy was a rogue runaway for years. He finally found himself through surfing. Bottom pic: Pat and I get photo bombed by Howdy. Photo: (c) Pat Brown, DogDiary.org

Top pic: Howdy was a rogue runaway for years. He finally found himself through surfing. Bottom pic: Pat and I get photo bombed by Howdy. Photo: (c) Pat Brown, DogDiary.org

I’ll never forget the day my kitty adopted me, at San Diego County Animal Control. Of course, Pat was there, too.

Kihei and me, 1991. Photo: (c) Pat Brown, DogDiary.org

Kihei and me, 1991. Photo: (c) Pat Brown, DogDiary.org

After that first shoulder mount by Kihei at the shelter, this became our normal way of hanging out.

Here’s a cat blog she later “wrote" about life with dogs in OB.

One dog and one cat later, Elvis, Howdy’s step son, picked out our next kitty. Of course, she wrote about life with dogs, too.

Three dogs later, Elvis and Dude picked out Doodle, a doxie at the shelter in Oregon.

He was destined to become a surf dog. He learned from the best - the basset brothers. He worked his way from the back of the board to the nose in record time.

Today, Doodle carries the name, and the heart, of Dude, basset #3 and Howdy Doody, numero uno.

My 3 sons sidewalk surf, after Doodle came to town in 2012. Photo (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

My 3 sons sidewalk surf, after Doodle came to town in 2012. Photo (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Nature renews - every day. We can, too.

Sunrise - sunset. Here’s a look at the remarkable syncline on our front porch today in Mosier:

And here’s that view on a day that seemed so terribly soft-focus: the morning after Elvis crossed the rainbow bridge.

One month later, here in Mosier we had the Oil Train derailment. That winter was Snowmeggadon. Then Dude died. A year later, the Eagle Creek Fire torched out beautiful Columbia River Gorge. What a crappy year.

I remember when we first moved here to the Gorge - building the dog run was my first home improvement project. Elvis and Dude cemented the deal, with their paws - to make this new place feel like home:

Elvis’ paw prints on the left ; Dude’s on the right. This morning. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Elvis’ paw prints on the left ; Dude’s on the right. This morning. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

This morning, sprinklers in the yard filled up those empty paws on the porch - of my dearly departed basset sons.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit, I am a little teary. My face is happy/sad - I look just like a basset hound.

Wistful moments add depth to life - and brightness to sunny days.

Those are big shoes to fill - Elvis, surf basset #2. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org

Those are big shoes to fill - Elvis, surf basset #2. Photo: (c) Barb Ayers, DogDiary.org


These are moments and memories I’d never give back.

These are paw prints on our souls. Of those, the few, who help us through the tougher times.

Of those who sometimes make life tough, when they go away.


Hold close to those, to them, to these.

Mosier-Fest-2019-Poster-DRAFT.jpg

MosierFest was yesterday in our tiny town - an all-day celebration. As renowned blues performer Curtis Salgado sang, “I Want My Dog To Live Longer."

Oh yes I do.

Funny that he sang that song the same day I was already feeling it.

Then again, all of us who love dogs, feel it.

OK, OK - all you kitties - I’m sure he was singing for you, too.

Together, forever.

People and pets. One family. One species.

Sharing the ups and downs - the ride of life.

- Barb and Doodle Ayers

Tags dog diary, dog blog, heart of a dog, I love my dog, Hood RIver, Dog beach in Ocean Beach, dog Howdy Doody, Elvis the basset, Doodle the surf doxie, small town diaries, small town dog, Columbia River Gorge national scenic area, windsurfing dog, Mosier OR, basset hound rescue, doxie, dachshund resuce
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Doxie cam - Doodle surfs the streets - we love small town USA

Barbara Ayers April 27, 2019

Today is the NW Cherry Festival parade. Here’s a doxie- eye- view of small town America from a prior year. Cowabunga, dude!

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Tags Surf Dog Diaries, surf dogs, Doodle the doxie, dog person, dog friends, dog book, cute animal story, GoPro dog video, Gorge surf dog, Columbia River Gorge, Hood River OR, Historic Columbia River Highway, heartfelt story, I heart dogs, I love dogs, I love kids, dog lover, dog diary, www.dogdiary.org, Dogdiary.org, surf dog mom Barb Ayers, Barbara Ayers, doxie wawa, surfing doxie, doxie wa wa, basset hound, coping with pet loss, surf basset, Elvis the basset, Dog Beach, dog blog, The Dalles Chamber of Commerce, the ride of life with a dog, diaries by dogs, kids and dogs, Mosier OR, NW Cherry Festival
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Surf Dog Diaries  |  Barb Ayers, San Diego, CA and Mosier OR.  |   All content and images (c) Barb Ayers, copyrighted, all rights reserved