Pony Express II: First Stint Recap

Like clockwork, Sam and Kelsie had the horse trailer outfitted and Slammer loaded aboard for our departure last night at exactly the planned time of 9pm.

We pulled into the horse barn B&B west of St. Louis at 3pm today, capping off a perfect 18 hour first stint on the Pony Express II.

In between, our expedition was almost exactly like last year's:

Our basic system was to drive 2-3 hours and stop for human comfort and to check on Slammer, then drive another 2-3 hours and stop to let Slammer out for exercise, put fuel in the truck as well as human purposes.

At every stop, Slammer at least got his door opened so he could look around. He traveled very well, and even seemed to be having a good time being the star of the show!



At our stop this morning, Slammer took the opportunity to decorate the parking lot. As always, Kelsie and Sam were quick to clean up, and we left every stop looking like it did when we arrived.



Happy was a perfect traveling companion as usual, spending almost all the time curled up and asleep. She took care of business during some of our stops, but mostly just partnered up with whoever was in the back seat for sleep. Is this the sweetest photo of the first stint? I think so!

Pony Express II

You may recall that last summer I helped my young friend Samantha move her horse Charlie from Pennsylvania to Colorado. I'm happy to report that both of them are doing very well together in their new home.

I'm also happy to report that we're doing it again… This time to help her sister Kelsie move her horse Slammer out to join them!

Our plan worked so well last time that we're repeating it almost exactly this time:

We leave PA tomorrow and drive overnight to a horse barn near St. Louis. We will spend Thursday night at the horse barn, then leave on Friday and drive overnight to arrive in Fort Collins on Saturday.

I will be making the return drive with only my permanent co-pilot Happy, planning to arrive back in PA on Tuesday... Stay tuned!


(Click map to embiggen)

Happy: Ice Cream!

Hi!... I'm Happy... I'm always Happy... Tonight I'm really happy!

I gotta be honest: There's not much to do in Dillsburg, PA. I've been here for almost two months, and the only thing I've gotten to do when we go to "town" is wait in the truck... Until tonight!

Tonight we went to town and met a friend at a place where there were lots of people and even a few dogs. The next thing I know, I'm eating ice cream out of a cup. It was really tasty, and there was even a cookie on top! Maybe this town isn't so bad after all!

Happy: My First Presentation!

Hi!... I'm Happy... I'm always Happy... Today I'm happy I went to my first presentation!

Macgellan recently did a presentation to a big room full of humans. He took me along as something he calls a "prop" (whatever that is) and I had a really good time.

First of all, I got to wear my fancy sled dog outfit! That includes a nice new racing harness and my Iditarod ID tag (the special red jewelry you see hanging below my "everyday" baubles in the photo).

I mostly sat with a really nice lady who patted me, while Macgellan stood at the front of the room and talked about me and my former pack mates at SP Kennel.

He must be a pretty good speaker, because all the humans were paying really close attention. I did too, especially when he played videos in which I could hear my old friends talking. For once I knew what someone was saying!


I kept my eye on all the humans in the room, especially on anyone who looked like they could use a little extra attention.

This one lady looked like she could really use a hug, so I wandered over to give her one and let her lean on me for a few minutes.

Maybe that's what being a "prop" means, that I have to prop them up from time to time? If so, that's a really good job for me!

I must have dozed off at one point, because I suddenly woke up when the room erupted in applause. That startled me a little, but soon everything was better when the presentation ended and so many people gave me pats!

Macgellan says he's glad I had a good time, because we'll be doing lots more of these presentations together in the future. What's not to like? Fancy outfits, lots of pats and tons of attention is what I'm all about!

Happy: A Swimming Pool?

Hi!... I'm Happy... I'm always Happy... Today I learned another thing that's totally new to me!

Macgellan and I visited some friends who have what's called a "swimming pool" in their backyard. I've never heard of -- and certainly never seen -- such a thing. To me it was just a big expanse of what I know of as "open water."

Sled dogs like me always stay away from open water because it can be very dangerous, but one of their black dogs just jumped right into it. I was worried for a minute, until she climbed out… and then she jumped right back in!

She tried to get me to follow her, but I wasn't having any of that nonsense... That canine is crazy!



Macgellan says that maybe one day he'll go in the swimming pool. If he does, I might give it a try… But don't count on it!

Happy: I'm A Cover Girl!

Hi!... I'm Happy... I'm always Happy... Today I'm happy to be a cover girl!

You may recall that I recently went to a two-day conference in Philadelphia with Macgellan.

Well, he just received a thing called a "report" and look who's on the cover!

That's me!

I thought all I did for the two days was sleep and offer an occasional hug.

Based on the facts that I'm on the cover and that I got a really special "mention" inside, I guess I did a lot more than I thought!

Maybe going to meetings is worth it, even if they are exhausting!

Who knew?

Happy: My First Polo Match!

Hi!... I'm Happy... I'm always Happy... Today I'm happy because I went to my first polo match!

First of all, we drove to a really big field which was surrounded by lots of families having picnics. Macgellan and our friend Lisa set up table for us, with lots of yummy treats on it. I didn't get to try everything they ate, but what I got to sample of it was pretty darn tasty!



After we'd eaten and I'd settled down for a little nap, a whole herd of horses suddenly trotted onto the field. That struck me as more than a little weird, because for me and my sled dog pack mates up in the wilds of Alaska horses are… Well… To be totally honest, horses are usually just food!



Nobody else seemed to be bothered by the horses running around. People just kept clapping and cheering while the horses chased a little white ball all over the field. I gotta tell you, sometimes I just don't understand humans! (And when that happens, I usually just take a nap!)

During a break in the action, Macgellan woke me up and we walked around the field for a while. A few kids came up to us and asked to give me pats. You know I'm all about the patting, so I said "You betcha! Get after it!"

On the way back to our table, Macgellan handed one of my souvenir cards to the announcer and said, "If the kids are looking for something to do, you can tell them Happy The Sled Dog is here."

The next thing I know, the announcer is talking about me and a whole swarm of kids from all over the field are gathering around me, giving me pats, talking to me and even asking me questions!



After the initial rush, Macgellan led me out of the crowd and we posed for photos with some smaller groups and individuals. All I had to do was just stand there and enjoy the pats, but sometimes I gave them my special smile just for fun!



After a while, the horses came back onto the field and all the kids returned to their families. Being a celebrity sometimes makes me sleepy, so I settled down for a little nap. I slept until the end of the match, then slept in my truck all the way back to our dog house. What a great day!

Happy: My Boyfriend Gus!

Hi!... I'm Happy... I'm always Happy... Today I'm happy for you to meet my boyfriend Gus!

You may think he's just a short, fat guy who's missing most of his teeth, but to me he's dreamy!

If you think I don't know how to play, this will show you I'm very good at playing hard to get!

Happy: Meetings Are Exhausting!

Hi!... I'm Happy... I'm always Happy... Today I went to a meeting... Again!

Today was the second day of Macgellan's meeting in Philadelphia, and everybody asked me to attend again. So I did!

There wasn't really very much I could do there: I don't talk, so I couldn't say anything. I don't have opposable thumbs, so I couldn't use the markers to write anything.

I don't really even get the whole "word" thing, so it was pretty much a mystery to me.

All I could do was make the rounds from time to time and get pats. Everyone seemed to like that, so I guess I was helpful after all.

The meeting wrapped up after lunch, which somehow didn't include me. I didn't even get a snack. What's up with that, huh?


This afternoon, Macgellan and I loaded up in my truck and headed home.

I had fun in Philly, but I was glad to be on the road again.

I've learned that meetings are exhausting, so I was pretty happy to curl up in my co-pilot seat and get some sleep!

It's funny to me how humans think it must be so hard to be a sled dog and mush all those miles in the Alaskan winter.

I'd rather do that any time than sit in a room with no windows all day!

Whatever will my next adventure be?

Happy: I'm The Princess of Monaco!

Hi!... I'm Happy... I'm always Happy... Today I'm the Princess of Monaco!

Macgellan is attending a two-day meeting in downtown Philadelphia, and of course I'm with him.

We're staying at the Hotel Monaco and I gotta tell you: They're treating me like royalty!

First of all, when we checked in they gave me treats!

Then, when we got to our room I saw that they had a nice big, fluffy bed and water bowl all set up for me.

Everybody is really nice to me, and I'm very popular.

Here you can see me with a nice lady in the foyer, and with Kristin (she's my favorite) in reception:



The people in Macgellan's meeting invited me to attend, so I did! They did a lot of talking and thinking while I did a lot of sleeping under the table. Meetings are so exhausting!

We went outside during all the breaks, and I had a great time chillin' with the guys at the door. They love me, too, and said I'm the Princess of Monaco! While we were walking in the park I met a dude who didn't look quite right, so I wasn't too sure about having my picture taken with him.



So far this is one of my best trips ever, and the Hotel Monaco totally rocks!