US Hwy 20: "The Longest Road" Preview

On Monday morning, Happy and I will be pulling out of our "winter camp" in Anacortes, WA, to begin our migration to "summer camp" on the east coast. For our route, we've selected US Highway 20, another of the classic trans-continental roads. Spanning 3,365 miles, it is recognized as the longest road in the United States.

Starting on the west coast in Newport, OR, we will cross through the heart of Oregon and Idaho. Passing through Yellowstone Park in northwest Wyoming, the road dips a bit south to traverse northern Nebraska and mid-Iowa. From there it skims northern Illinois and Indiana, then along the Lake Erie coast of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The last leg crosses the Finger Lake region of upstate New York and continues through Massachusetts to Boston.



US 20 is considered one of the best, most interesting cross-country routes in America. I'm looking forward to exploring and experiencing it, especially in context and comparison with my three previous trans-continental drives: US 2, US 30 and US 50.

As usual, Happy has no clue what's about to happen, but she has proven herself to be an excellent "road dog" and will no doubt thoroughly enjoy the journey!

We will take a few days to reposition from Anacortes to Newport, but you can expect to join us on the road in earnest late next week… Stay tuned!

Happy: My First Road Trip!

Hi!… I'm Happy!… I'm always happy!... That's why they call me Happy!

While my friends and former pack mates at SP Kennel were running -- and very nearly winning! -- the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race last week, I went on a journey of my own: My first road trip!

Macgellan's young friend Jake came out to the Pacific Northwest for his spring break from school (whatever that is) and we took a road trip around the Olympic Peninsula. Our first stops were at beaches, where I got to see the ocean for the first time, take nice long walks and pose demurely.




After driving around each day, we spent the nights in different dog houses. Since this was my rookie road trip, the guys did a lot of goofing around with me, including adjusting my new scarf so that they said I looked like a "Babushka Dog"! That didn't bother me at all, though, partly because I'm such a good sport, but also because I got lots of really great lap time!



Jake is learning to drive, so Macgellan let him have plenty of time to practice. I really enjoyed the drives, including when I couldn't keep my eyes open. Road trips are really exhausting!



So, now you can add "Road Trip Veteran" to my rapidly growing list of credentials. Macgellan said I was perfect on the road and that I will have lots more road trips in my future… Stay tuned!