So we went on our first several hours from home, hotel staying, eating out vacation with Rory. We drove So Cali to a town near Yosemite, went to Yosemite, went to San Francisco, then went to Carmel. We were gone 4 nites, 5 days. I had no idea how she would do before we went but it was wonderful!!! She still doesnt like the car, but she finally calmed enough to lay down and not pant and soak the backseat. She did soooo good in the hotels. No messes, never had to wip out the petzyme. She always waited til we took her out. She never chewed anything. A few times she started to bay/bark when she heard something weird, but we'd just thank her and tell her it was okay and she'd chill out. She was super friendly with everyone we came across (except one lady, I'll get to that later). We ate out at a few different restaurants in the patio areas and I don't think anyone would have known she was there if they didnt see her walk in or out. I was soooooo proud!!! She was a little confused in the first hotel room, I think we thought we were trapped in the bedroom because I swear she kept wanted out the door, like there should be a living room out there. So we kept walking around the balcony of the hotel, without ever finding the living room...LOL! By the 2nd hotel, she figured it out. And the third did have a living room, so she really liked that place, rubbing her back all over the furniture...LOL.
She had fun in Yosemite, after reading reviews, I was nervous about bringing a dog there since they have to stay on paved areas, but I thought it worked out just fine. We had plenty of areas to go, hike around, things to see. She was very well behaved the whole time. She did not like San Francisco, too many people, buses, noises. I haven't been there since i was a kid and I really don't see myself ever going back anyway, it's such a pit. But from SF we drove down to Fort Funston (where Cassidysmom takes her dogs), OMG it was soooo amazing! She had a ball. Soooo many other dogs there, all off leash. At first on the top (its cliffs overlooking the ocean), we let her just drag her long line, but after we got down to the beach, where there was no where for her to go, we let her off leash!! OMG she had a ball. She ran and played with other dogs, chased her tennis ball. It was awesome! I sooooo wish we had a place like that here. I was so excited because while off leash, she would come to us when we called or would stop and wait for us if we asked. I couldnt believe it!
After we left there, we went down to Carmel, which is a fancy town on the ocean, that is very dog friendly. We found an awesome dog store, got her a new collar, toy, treats. Then we went down to the beach, she wanted off leash again, but since she could have easily gotten to the parking lot, we had her on her long line again. I think she thought beach means off leash...haha! But she had so much fun with other dogs, chasing seaweed that we would throw, she was run out to the surf and then run back in when it started to get her. Tooooooo cute!!! We wore her butt out everyday! I think she really enjoyed it. (other than the car rides).
The funniest thing the whole time was the number of people that came up to us everyday to talk to her, pet her, gawk over her. I can't tell you how many times we were told how beautiful she is, how well behaved she is, that she was the most beautiful beagle they had ever seen. I swear no less than 100 people came up to use to fawn over her over the few days. The only bad moment was when we were sitting at an outdoor table and she was sitting under us watching everyone and she barked at this lady passing by (the only lady in all of the thousands of people we must have passed in those days), the lady freaked out and was like, can you restrain her so I can walk by? (she was on a leash right next to us but we pulled her in even more) The lady walked by and said usually dogs love me, I was like sure. So she goes on, all dogs love me, again I said sure. She walks away and then turns around and says you know you really shouldnt bring that dog out in public if you cant control her! I was like OMG, this is the first lady shes barked at all this time, she only barked like 3 times and stopped. So I yelled back an obscenity...hehe. So she started yelling other stuff and we just ignored her. I was a little pissed. Obviously it was this lady who was creepy or Rory would not have barked at her. it was funny because after she left, a man with walker came by, nothing from Rory, then a lady carrying a giant box, nothing again, then a man with a jacket slung over his left shoulder, still nothing. So I wasnt gonna worry about her stupid comment. But other than that incident (and getting rearended by a irish guy in a rental car), we had an awesome time.
I am still just shocked at how many people came up to her or fussed over her. Makes me laugh, especially the number of men that did it. LOL! Anyway, just thought I'd share about out little vacation trip and what a proud momma I was!
I'll post some pics in the pic section when I get them uploaded!