Mission: good times, time to leave and doggie mayhem

Photos

By Billy Harris

Each season I bounce out of my warm winter spot for home. Talk of 30 foot
high levels we haven’t seen in years at home on the Ottawa and the longing
for some family time push us north once again. Its hard living out of a
bag. You have a hard time with change once you settle in to a routine.
Especially at Clay Wrights house. Paddling heaven, play all the time,
creeking all around, paddlers coming in and out.. All this however I just
need the routine of making breakfast and paddling in a spot I know so I can
work on the latest and greatest new trick. That routine means making coffee
for Clay, walking the dogs. alas it ends. Into the unknown again. New
people new place no home.

I dropped by to see how the Jackson’s house was doing they are all away and
left their herd of 7 dogs with a very capable Jonathan Shale’s and his
redneck sidekick and my good friend Justine Owen. I stopped in to make sure
the house was still standing and that the boys are well. On arrival I found
they declared Marshal law on the dogs, the puppies seem to have a problem
going one or 2 out side and leaving the garbage alone and as such have been
banished from the house until the evenings. The doors stay locked because
one of the Dalmatians can open the doors and tends to feed herself with
whatever is in the cupboards tables etc. The French Bull dog despite never
missing a meal is in the best shape of his life playing tag with the Pony on
the front field. I drove by one day and the pony was chasing the dog in a
full out pursuit across the field. I almost wet myself with laughter. One
ugly midget chasing another. I am however hedging my bets that the owner of
the ugly bulldog won’t read this but it’s a French bulldog so I am hoping
the owner will have a sense of humor if she reads this.

I picked up Owen for the last paddle with him this season. We hit up brave
wave again for a surf session and here the pictures we took while we were
there. It’s sad to go, leaving rock island without even so much as a good
bye to the JK crew. They take such good care of the whole team, shirts
goodies, emails, letters, boats I will miss the whole lot.

Billy Harris