Travels & Adventures with three Siberian Huskies
(quick links to each adventure)
May 19
Asheville/North Carolina Arboretum
Not all adventures are 5 star. Sometimes a trip doesn’t quite even reach 2 stars. We woke up today and decided to head out to Asheville and the NC Arboretum. What should have been a nice cool relaxing day under an overcast sky turned out to be too warm with Canela being way too hyper to control. Cabela did her rebellious routine of refusing to walk any further. I was hot and tired and did not have the patience needed to walk 3 huskies who each wanted to go in a different direction.
We had breakfast at Another Broken Egg but they were “out” of the breakfast I was in the mood for. OK, I went for the back up choice. After, we walked over to Barnes & Noble only to find them closed for maintenance. I’m not sure if maybe someone alerted them to 3 irritated looking huskies and a cranky old man on their way over and they quickly turned the lights out and locked the door.
Ok girls let’s go over to the Arboretum and have a nice relaxing walk around the grounds. Only Canela was not in a relaxing mood. She was over the top in hyper-ness. Almost uncontrollable. I had them on leashes that were way too long for the small paths through the arboretum and I spent most of the time untangling myself from them. The few folks walking around were finding that watching us was more entertaining than the grounds of the arboretum.
I went inside the cafe to get them some water and ended up with 2 small bottles of water that cost almost as much as my breakfast did. But we sat in the shade and drank and cooled off. After our break Cabela decided she didn’t want to walk anymore. I told her she couldn’t just stay here and we had to go back to the car. She just turned her back on me and sat down. I could tell that some of the folks around were trying very hard not to laugh. I told them that huskies can be quite rebellious. Their smiles turned to sympathetic frowns. But I’m not sure if their sympathies were for the huskies or for me.
At that point I started thinking about the tiny bowl of goldfish at the pet store when i was a kid. 39 cents you got a tiny bowl, water and a goldfish in a small plastic bag. It was easy. There really wasn’t much time to form any real bonds with the fish before it decided to transfer to a different world.
But 3 full grown huskies on a warm day 2 hours away from home was starting to press me closer to a few frayed strands that were unraveling more and more quickly. I told the huskies I had enough. We’re going home. Cabela was still in her rebellious ‘sit in’ phase, so i started towards her to pick her up and carry her towards the car. She knew exactly what was coming so she quickly got up and started toward the parking lot.
We all got in the car without speaking and drove most of the way home that way.
Lake City, South Carolina – Artfields art festival
A note about Lake City from the old man – I’m not sure how the friendliest people I have ever met have all converged on the town the same time Cabela, Ravyn, Canela and I have visited here. From the very young here to the very old we have been met with absolute kindness, hospitality and warmth. The young people here have the kind of manners and respect that I seldom see today. Everyone in town is always filled with smiles, joy and a welcoming heart. If you feel like there is no hope in today’s world, come and visit Lake City, SC. You will not feel that way long.
May 3
It looks like both Cabela & Canela are hoping for breakfast in bed this morning…
“It’s Saturday old man, can’t you make an exception one time and spoil us even more than you do normally?”
“Ok, if you two make the bed, I’ll give you breakfast in bed.”
“Cabela, looks like were both going to go hungry today!”
“Well, it’s not breakfast in bed but at least I will not be going hungry.”
May 1 & 2
In the evening my brother, the 3 huskies and I walked around the slowly deserting streets of town. It was cooling down nicely while most of the folks were moving from a hectic day in all the art galleries to a fun time in the small pubs, cafes and music venues. With the cooling breeze of the evening it was a nice walk around the streets.
Cabela, Ravyn and Canela at the Bean Market for a Friday night concert.
The Bean Market history:
Built in 1936 by the Public Works Administration (PWA) as part of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “New Deal,” the Lake City Bean Market rose to acclaim as the world’s largest truck auction of green beans in Lake City’s agricultural prime. Farmers drove to centrally located Lake City from all over the South to bring their bean crops to market; traders would then ship the beans north on one of the many freight trains that rolled through Lake City each day.
During the 1930s when most of the nation was devastated by the Great Depression, the Lake City community gained economic stability through the success of ‘The Bean Market.’ Farmers from area communities lined up for miles to sell their produce hoping for a good day at the market. The life of the market spanned for three decades and placed Lake City on the map of commerce in South Carolina.
Huey Cooper was a fixture in downtown Lake City for as long as anyone could remember, according to a 1964 article in the Florence Morning News. He lived rent-free in a small building behind the Dairy Queen that was built and paid for by the police department. He was always cheerful, and spent most days on a low, cement wall at the corner of Acline and Main Streets, where passers-by could rub his lucky rabbit’s foot for a nickel. Huey would use his income to buy cigars and bottled Coke at the nearby train depot.
Huey claimed to have been born in 1873, which would have made him 105 when he died in 1978.
Outside of Piggyback’s BBQ and Catfish restaurant is a metal pig. As we walked by in the evening Canela stopped and started to growl at it and started to cautiously lunge at it. She did this several times before she realized it was not going to take her bait and come after her to play. She finally gave up and we continued our way though town.
In the heat of the day the huskies will look for anyplace to get away from the heat of the afternoon sun. A small cafe table was the only place they could find right at that moment.
We stopped at one of the food trucks and they each got a small “doggie cup” of whipped cream. I think they enjoyed it as they each had a whipped cream smile.
The evening before we had dinner at SipCo. We sat outside in the cool breeze and they each got a slice of bacon for a treat.
We spent the last two days at Lake City, South Carolina at the Artfields art festival. Lake City is a great place to visit during this awesome art event. We walked the sidewalks lined with great antique stores, small cafes and unique small shops. With 2 huskies we could have gone into all the small shops to see the incredible artwork on display. But with 3 huskies i was very hesitant to go into the shops. I don’t think they shop owners would really appreciate that many dogs wandering around in their specialty shops. So we hung out on the benches and met all the really nice folks of the town as well as the visitors from all over the east coast. Everyone was so nice and beyond dog friendly. Just supper kind folks.
April 30
A rough night and a slow start to the morning. Canela didn’t really get to sleep until almost 3:00 AM. I guess all the new sights and smells had her all hyper. But this didn’t stop them from waking up at the first sign of light. We rolled around in bed for a while as I wan’t about to get up early. Eventually we did go for a pre-breakfast walk. It was going to be a beautiful day but I could tell it was going to be hot as the sun was already sending its heat our way.
April 29
A trip to South Carolina to go to the Artfields art show in Lake City. This morning we woke up and discussed whether to spend the day doing chores around the house or grab the camper and go down to South Carolina to go to the art festival. It was unanimous… to the art festival!! So off we went.
By 7:00 PM we landed at Santee State Park. Everybody had a quick dinner and now it’s off to sleep we go. Cabela made a mad dash to the bed in order to get the best spot in the bed. Now Canela and I have to fight over the next best spot.
Ravyn & Canela enjoying a stream near the house. (35 seconds)
3 nights at Chatuge Lake
April 3
A warm afternoon and a walk across the dam at Chatuge Lake.
Early morning on Chatuge Lake …
We’re waking up late today. The old man is moving at a 3 legged armadillos pace. It’s almost 8:30. Breakfast hasn’t been started. The suns not having an easy time poking through the clouds. Even the geese sound weary.
A fisherman on the lake is just drifting aimlessly as if even his boat doesn’t want to wake up this morning. Other than the haunting call of a solitary loon echoing across the lake and the occasional squawk of the geese, all is quiet and peaceful. The morning belongs to the sleepy; almost as if everything on the lake – even the lake itself has agreed to sleep late today.
The girls are looking at me for their breakfast. I told them breakfast is going to be late this morning. If you have a problem with that call your lawyer. Ravyn picked her sleepy face up to me and said, “That’s ok old man, we’re happy to just sit here together and just chill.” Even Canela is sitting against the screen door quietly watching the lake sleep late.
April 2
This is our second night on Chatuge Lake and Canela’s first trip in the Punkhuskies camper. Yesterday, our first trip this year was an absolutely gorgeous day. We arrived just after lunch to sunny skies, warm breezes off the lake and no one else was here, except for the camp hosts. Today was their first day of opening for the 2025 season.
This morning we woke up early to a beautiful morning sky. The lake was calm and the geese were already squawking.
We all had a fairly good nights sleep considering there were two huskies and an old man in the small camper bed with one more husky in her bed on the floor. It took some maneuvering at first for each of us to figure out the best way we could all fit in the bed. At one point Canela decided she would just sleep on top of me spread out over half the bed. It took some effort to get her to move off of me. She finally did and we all eventually settled into comfortable spots in the bed and we all drifted off to a peaceful nights sleep.
When I woke up I couldn’t find Ravyn. She was not in her bed or anywhere in the camper. I started to panic. The camper door was shut so she had to be somewhere in the camper! Then I noticed in a very small space alongside the bed I thought I saw a tiny white paw sticking out of the darkness. I got a light and put it on the floor near the space and there impossibly tucked away in the space was Ravyn. I have no idea how she was able to get into the space and was concerned if she would be able to get out. A few minutes later she walked into the kitchen so all was fine again.
The really nice thing about this trip was it is Canela’s first camper trip with the 3 of us. I was very concerned if Canela woubld be ok in the camper and if the 3 of them would get along in such a small space as the camper. But as it turned out the 3 of them got along perfectly. I was amazed at how well they did get along and how well Canela took to cramped camper life.
Ravyn loves to sit outside and watch all the goings on around the place. Especially when there are small groups of geese swimming in the lake just off of the camper space.
I’m still amazed that the 3 of them are getting along so well considering that Canela has only been with us for less than 2 months. But then Canela has a very loving, kind and giving personality. She is filled with energy, happiness and a joy to be with the 3 of us and the 3 of us couldn’t be any more lucky to have found Canela. The husky gods along with Canela’s ‘mom’ worked a miracle in placing Canela here with Cabela, Ravyn and the old man. The 3 of us absolutely love Canela and she seems to feel the same way about us.
Every once in a while I notice Canela gazing off into a distant place and I know she is probably remembering her previous family and thinking about them. I know she probably misses them but then Cabela or Ravyn pops up near her and reminds her that she is also loved by her new family too.
Good night Cabela. Good night Ravyn. Good night Canela.
Good night old man…..
March 23 – A day at the North Carolina Arboretum
Today we took a day trip to the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the arboretum was bustling with folks out for a Sunday walk. This was Canela’s first visit to the arboretum and she had a great time. Probably half the folks walking around had their dogs with them and Canela wanted to play with every one of them.
We spent most of our visit exploring the Bent Creek Road trail which travels alongside the Creekside trail which runs along Bent Creek. The trail was beautiful and we met a lot of very friendly folks with their dogs. Though we had to keep a safe distance as Canela gets very hyper with other dogs and I never want to risk an altercation with someone else’s dog.
Most of my day was keeping myself from getting totally tangled in leashes, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching Cabela, Ravyn and Canela’s excitement exploring all the trails.
All in all it was a beautiful spring day and a great time was had by all.
March 11 – a walk along the Oconalufte River trail.
One of the trails that Cabela and Ravyn have always enjoyed taking is the Oconalufte River trail from Cherokee to the Oconalufte visitors center in the Great Smokey Mountains. We usually park at the Cherokee visitors center just before the park entrance. The trail starts right across the street and goes for 1 1/2 miles to the visitor center. It runs right alongside the Oconalufte River which flows from the Smokey Mountains towards Cherokee. –
The day was supposed to be up near 70 degrees, so we all piled into the truck and headed to Cherokee just outside the Smokey Mountain National Park. We took the 3 mile round trip walk up to the Oconaluftee Visitors Center. It turned into an absolutely beautiful day. The first chance Ravyn got she strolled into the Oconaluftee River. The day was so nice that even Cabela hopped into the river and splashed around.
A little ways further up the trail we came across a group of elk lounging in the woods on the side of the trail.
We ended up sitting on the visitors center porch in the warm sunlight watching out over field and river. It was truly a real nice day after such a frigidly cold January. Ravyn kept stopping and sitting on the trail enjoying the warm sunshine and taking in all the smells and sights.
Cabela, Ravyn and Canela always enjoy meeting other people and never tire of hearing the compliments of how really well behaved they are. It was always nice for me to see the smiles on their faces as they met other people, until I started to notice the smiles on other peoples faces who stopped to meet the girls. Cabela, Ravyn and Canela always seem to be great ambassadors of good will to the Husky breed.
A morning walk with our neighbors –
Our awesome neighbor with she and her husband’s dogs (Baloo & Button) with Cabela & Ravyn.
For the first time in almost a month, the temperature has been above freezing. So we decided to do a group walk with our neighbors Baloo, Button and Diane…
At home with Cabela and Ravyn
January 10 brought the first winter’s snowfall to the mountains of western North Carolina – six inches of beautiful white slippery powder. Cabela and Ravyn were both sitting by the door gazing impatiently out at the layer of white powder that had blanketed the forest floor. When the old man finally got ready, “geeeesh old man!!! ….what’s with all the layers of clothes?” “Hey! I don’t have the fur you girls have”, the three of us bounded out the door and off they went, dragging me behind.
It wasn’t but 5 minutes out and Ravyn already had her face buried in the snow searching for whatever was moving below the white surface.
Her head popping up with icy snow stuck to face and a wonderfully content smile. One thing huskies love is digging for anything living small enough to chase. Mostly moles burrowing underneath the powdery surface.
Cabela was having fun maneuvering through the tangles of grape vines along the edge of the trail.
We continued up the trail along the edge of the National Forest Service property, me hanging on for dear life hoping they would not pull me down the steep slope. I have always loved watching the two of them maneuver the narrow trails side by side.
We reached the far corner of the property and stopped a while to enjoy the view. Cabela sat for a while in the snow while Ravyn did her usual digging for anything that moved.
We had a really great walk in the woods on the first snowy day of the year. It always puts a huge smile on my face to watch Cabela and Ravyn running and jumping and playing in the snow. It’s even better when we get to meet my neighbor on the trails with her dog Baloo (an Aussie) and her husband’s dog Button (a Pomeranian). At first there were a lot of growls and lunging, but after several walks the four of them have gotten along very well and are cautiously playful together.
An overnight trip to Asheville
The last couple of days of the year we took Cabela and Ravyn to Asheville for an overnight trip. We wanted to see the Christmas lights at the North Carolina Arboretum. Though dogs were not allowed to enter the actual Christmas exhibit of lights, I did walk them around the perimeter that still had a pretty impressive display of lights.
I was pretty impressed with the display of lights. It was hard to believe that anyone could actually put something like this together. Lucky for us it was a delightfully mild evening out. Fairly crowded but still able to get around to all the displays. I was kinda sad that the dogs were not allowed to wander around with us. I know they would have really enjoyed it. The arboretum is generally a very dog friendly place and Cabela and Ravyn have been to it several times, so I could not get too worked up about it so I made sure they had a good walk around the perimeter.
We booked a room at the Hilton Biltmore Park hotel in the Baltimore Plaza for the 4 of us (my brother was with us). The Hilton is a pretty fancy place but they actually allow you to bring dogs to stay with them which I was pretty impressed about. Of all the places we have been, Asheville is on of the most dog friendly places to visit.
My brother rushed up to the room so he could get first pick of the two beds before Cabela rushed into the room and took the one she wanted. Quickly we all settled into the room. Cabela took her spot on the bed and Ravyn wanted to see what was on TV. This was the first time Cabela and Ravyn stayed at a fancy hotel which they seemed to like, except when it was time to go out and pee. We had to take an elevator down to the lobby which they did not like one bit!!!!!
At 3:00 AM they decided they had to go out and pee. Both of them!! At 3:05 we were standing in front of the elevator door, Cabela refusing to get on the elevator. As the elevator door kept opening and closing they kept running out of the elevator refusing to take it to the lobby. So off we went around the halls to find the stairs. But Cabela decided she didn’t want to pee that bad that she needed to walk down this creepy stairwell. After convincing her that she needed to walk down we went out the door only to end up in the basement with all the washing machines, maintenance rooms and boiler rooms. We took a tour of the basement trying to find the exit door. When finally we found our way out onto the street both Cabela and Ravyn realized they needed to pee really bad. The first shrub we came to worked just fine for them.
So at 3:30 AM we decided to walk around Biltmore Plaza with all its high end stores and beautifully manicure streets. The only one out at this time was a lone security guard who looked at us and decided he was better off to just drive away and not tangle with two freshly peed huskies.
In the morning the old man got his wish and got to go to Another Broken Egg for a deluxe breakfast. A fine payoff for a night of little sleep.
After breakfast we headed over to Barnes & Noble bookstores where Cabela just started to get all excited…. WOW!! Look at all these books I could eat!! (Cabela has eaten several of my books when she gets mad at me.). After that my brother decided it was time for him to drive back home to South Carolina as the 3 of us went off to REI outdoor store.
My hats off to the staff of the Hilton Biltmore Park in the Biltmore Plaza in Asheville. They do an awesome job there, are very pet friendly and have super nice accommodations. When we went to check out in the morning Cabela and Ravyn jumped into the elevator and as we descended to the lobby Ravyn looked at Cabela as if to say, “Cabela, isn’t this much better than taking the stairs?”