Extended Weekend at Morro Bay

Little water-babies that we are, we wanted to have a fair share of beach relaxation before the night of nail-biting (a.k.a. the US election night). And so, we hopped into the car, and off we went to San Simeon in Central California… But to be honest, it was not as impulsive as I made it sound. Ro and I had planned a beach camping getaway at Morro Bay Strands since a while. And the San Simeon pitstop was just an extension for the Morro Bay camping to follow.

Morro Bay

The sea lapping at the sandy beach was more endearing here at Morro Bay with its gentle calmness. The sheer blueness extending on both sides mentally transported me back to the Mediterranean. It is not just I who was transported there, and the antique shops in the Morro Bay downtown fostered the European sea-life charm further. Whitewashed or pastel colored exterior for the low-rise buildings skirting along the Bay marries the American and European charm.

Naturally formed bay and estuary (and the sand bar) at Morro is a part of eroding volcanic formation from millions of years ago. The iconic Morro Rock is the volcanic outcrop from the oceanic floor that stands tall to this day. Morro Bay is home to many aquatic and amphibian species. Finding varieties of kelp, sand dollar and other aquatic life on the beach, are common things when one takes a casual stroll on the sandy beaches.

Sight of the Morro Rock from T-pier

We camped to the north of Morro Bay downtown, at the Morro Bay Strands. The beachside campsite offered lovely views of the beach and the most coveted spot for sunsets. Incidentally, we were at the site on a full moon night, and the night views were spectacular! Overall, we were surrounded by natural beauty all around – while being at a stone’s throw from the city.

Camping at Morro Bay Strands, overlooking the sea

Morro Bay was a highlight for us for the array of dog-friendly activities. Kuro had a blast running on the beach, playing in the sand, peering down from the pier, and chasing the gulls! Another thing Kuro did for the first time was accompanying us in the canoe! a tiny dog that he is, he smelt the gentle Bay breeze, and gradually warmed up to the idea of having fun in a mobile contraption on water (the canoe). I was impressed by the other dogs who accompanied their humans on the paddle board and maintained their calm composure. That may be the next step to aspire for, for little squirmy Kuro!

Kuro enjoying the view as we paddle forth

And sometimes he snuck up to me with the cutest “mleh” expression

Mammals and birds at Morro Bay

And oh, the birds and aquatic animals at the Bay! I was spoilt – with the sightings of herons, cranes, egrets flying, fishing, and doing their thing as we walked on the beach and then to Morro Rock, and then when we sat by the pier. We didn’t catch a glimpse of any whales, presumably because they all swam to the south to breed around this time of the year. The sea otters were plenty at Morro Bay around this time, and we joked how big they are, as compared to our little 7 lbs pooch.

Whale jaw-bones near the Natural History Museum at Morro Bay

Could we take a moment to express the annoyance about seagulls and geese? I absolutely adore all birds, don’t get me wrong. BUT, yappy seagulls and (entitled) geese that sometimes actively attack humans, have been on my list of annoying birds. And at Morro, seagulls were plenty! Surprisingly, like the sweet humans of Morro Bay, the seagulls there were not too annoying… Maybe the place rubs on you 😉

We named this one Mr. Magoo

With some sporadic shopping, playing boardgames under the moonlight and cup of tea by the fire, we felt at home at Morro Bay. The sky was clear, and gradually we emptied our minds off work-stress et al. Camping also afforded us a sort-of analog life, away from internet and fancy gadgets. This time around, we did not take many pictures as much as capturing mental images of us having a good time, relaxing and soaking upthe sun.

We returned home with our hearts full, and plans for heading back to Morro sometime soon, to unwind 🙂

D.

Amazing backdrop of the sea and the Morro Rock

Melancholy note

The melancholy tune is constantly ringing in the background. It is indeed hard for me to have made the decision of leaving Kuro in the care of dog sitters here in Calgary. Its not a question of their ability to take care of him, but the test of mental strength to pull on without little Kuro trotting around me.

As the day of my travel is fast approaching, I am besieged by hues of excitement, happiness and this aching tug of pain.

Kuro is very adaptable for a small dog. So maybe I need not worry too much. But he has indeed transformed me into a sensitive care-taker from a carefree post-teen girl.

For the upcoming travels, Kuro will not be in the pictures. And it will be a long 40 day span until I see him again.

If the past months have taught me anything, it’s powering through the myriad of emotions and ebbed spirits, reassuring oneself: “this too, shall pass”.

And I am set to tell myself the same.

D.

Flora and fauna of historic Alberta!

Traveling from Calgary into the mountains was akin to time travel. Leaving behind the concrete jungle, we saw light at the end of the tunnel (quite literally). Driving under the green bridges for the animals to cross over is one of my favorite things on the road to Banff! From mowed lawns and curated gardens, we entered into the designs of tundra vegetation.

Same family- conifers, but very different accross the border. The sea of trees in Alberta, Canada sweeps one off the feet. The road from Banff to Jasper is undoubtedly one of the most scenic drives. The pine and spruce trees appear as waves atop the hills… adorned in hues of green and red. Yes, RED! The insect activity changes the color of the leaves on these trees, I have been told. The dark red coloration of the trees undoubtedly adds to the color galore of the landscape.

Fed by glaciers and moraines, the abundant lakes and healthy foliage is home to mega fauna. Our drive into the woods, as such, soon turned into an exercise of animal spotting. The black bears were many! Large and small, skirting the highways and resting by the lakeside. We would often see them lurk in the depths of the woods…as other Swift animals like elk and caribou. I was anticipating to spot a moose the entire time we were there… but the Mr. Moose’s family chose their privacy over public appearance.

Mountain goat with a pair of fighting rams was a surprise on our way to Jasper one Saturday evening. The herd was chilling by the roadside and some sudden urge caught the better of the rams who put a petite horn-to-horn show for us!

After a brief period of time, they decided to turn their backs and walk away. And that’s when I realized why they are a relatives it easy hunt… the bulls eye target is almost naturally painted on their rear!

Of all the wildlife we managed to spot, the sight of a grizzly was the most awe-inspiring. Partially because of the movie “Reverent”, and because we were told that the grizzly in the area are difficult to spot.

Another rare find was that of a bald eagle nesting close to the Medicine lake near Jasper. Once again, I regretted leaving my camera lens behind for we were headed for a “casual walk” along the lakes.

The trip afforded ample trivia on the wildlife at Banff and Jasper. The black bears in the area are not skilled at fishing (!)… (There goes my stereotypical image of a bear). And that they mainly eat some sort of yellow flowers ubiquitous in the area. Parks Canada is working on bringing back the wild bison with wooly coat, and the numbers are expected to rise to about 100 individuals by 2020! For further details, you could read this story: http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/the-bison-are-back-in-banff-national-park

With a host of other intriguing discussion on birds and resident species, we came back to hoomans in the area! As a tourist fascination, the totem poles were first on our list. And we found ample installations of those in the area and near Canmore and Calgary!

The history of Sunwapta, the area around the falls and the like helped recreate the history of Western Canada. The visit to the Heritage Park in Calgary was the Cherry on top in terms of the living history of the area…

Glimpses from the Heritage Park, Calgary

Piecing together the bits and pieces of natural and human history in southern Alberta, needless to say, it became a part of our historical trip 😉

D.

Lake tours in USA and Canada

Last three weeks we were traveling incessantly… Rohan was on a driving spree with Kuro and I glued to the passenger seat. Finally Kuro’s getting used to the long drives and “moving world” as seen from the windows of the fast pacing car.

The weekend of May at lake Tahoe was a much needed time for unwinding. Gliding on the blue waters of lake Tahoe was an experience our of this world… And again, we regretted not caring our go-pro to save the memories as snapshots for you all…

Parasailing at Tahoe (not endorsing for Hard Rock Cafe)

A clear day on the boat at Tahoe (California, USA)

Later that evening, a quaint dinner by the lake side at the candlelit table was our anniversary celebration.

***

Following weekend was another segment of “lake hopping” in Canadian Rockies. Lake Louise stood still in all its glory with fresh blue hue of water slightly tucked under the sheet of ice. That’s when I realized that full summer was yet to arrive at Banff!

Posing at the backwaters of lake Louise (Banff, Canada)

‘Winter’s still here’ at lake Louise

Medicine and Maligne lakes in Jasper had however welcomed summer and had cast their icy coldness. Black bear grazing on yellow flowers by the lakeside was an omnious start of the day in Jasper.

Kuro by the breathtaking view at Maligne lake

Maligne lake ❤

Medicine lake (but the bear’s not in the frame)

My little black bear (Kuro) frolicking by the lake was a sight worth a thousand words. And he’s a certified water baby; now that I am convinced that this little furry baby leaps at water in any form and depth. Walk by the waterfalls henceis a dread now!

The epitome of our “lake tour” was the trail at five lakes. The petite five kilometer loop took us along the five lakes (duh!), standing at the pinnacle of nature’s beauty and bounty.

The second lake (first lake was average looking 😉 )

Third lake

The fourth lake

Long bridge at the beginning of the trail loop

At the fifth lake! Finally…

Kuro the amateur hiker accompanied us all through. And I can safely say that he’s a dog “who has tasted the water of eight lakes” (or more) ;). Also, we have discovered his strange hangup for wooden bridges and stairways. He squats still on seeing either and beds to be picked up. Little tantrums!

Oh, there’s much more from these there weeks to post.More updates soon after I find some time to breathe between my next trip 🙂

D.

Hills and beaches

Berkeley is spoiling us with choices for food, cultural events, activities for Kuro and evening getaways. Hills and beaches are never too far, sitting in Berkeley…

Kuro is getting used to the car rides… And being sassy about it

Stroll by the waterfront in Berkeley is a perfect recipe to unwind after a long day

Even on the cloudiest of the days, the beach is like an immersion into a different sensorium

Like water, we cascade from the hills to the beach… Every week

Standing at the brink where the beach meets the hill, we tune into the best of both the worlds

This week was once again being close to the nature. It was kuro’s first visit to the beach, and a feeling of ” happy feet” for myself and Rohan. Bundled up in Calgary cold all this while, my feet thanked me for the promenade by the beach and my mind for building castles of air as we soaked the sun on the hills.

Kuro was ecstatic at the beach! (Hardly surprising)… He made some new friends, and the furry friends frolicked in the sand together (sometimes resembling the wrestlers in a sand pit).

Kuro is now a confirmed water baby! It seemed like he wanted to walk into the salty water lunging at him as he tried to stay still on the slipping sand. Tiniest of the waves were too big for him, and I won’t lie that I was a little apprehensive to let him wade into the waters. After a brief “wave-game”, Kuro was drenched and looked like a smaller version of himself – the fluff sticking to his bony limbs and a cute little snout showing through the dripping fur…

Beaches near the Golden Gate bridge brought home the feeling of being on a holiday. We discussed that this feeling is worth every cent we pay as the exorbitant taxes to the state of California 😉

After the weekend at the sea and the hills, we continue this fling with nature, sun and the sand.

D.

Finally home!

After a mountain of work, Kuro and I were very eager to fly to San Francisco. Yes, the journey was splendid!

I was oscillating between anxiety and happiness as Kuro and I got into a taxi for the airport on the first day of May… Calgary airport staff was welcoming as usual, and Kuro’s cuteness melted all the hearts- from the airline kiosk, line up for the security, gazillion shops in the duty free area to the gate!

We had a small house set up for Kuro near the gate…as we had reached three entire hours before the boarding time (thanks to my paranoia). And Kuro loved everybody’s attention as he trotted around wagging his tail. He made friends with many babies, grandmas and two swaggy teens.

Getting onto the plane was breeze, with pre-boarding. Settling into the seats was a bit of a wrestle; with Kuro’s backpack, my seatbelt and our combined comfort. However, once we settled in, we were all set for the haul.

He calmly sat in my lap, occasionally looking up at me as if asking: “what’s all this? When will it end?” (Clearly the thoughts in my head, more than his). And he seemed confused with the moving clouds outside the window- a view quite new for him. I was imagining if he thinks those to be the fluff from his chewed soft toys 😉

His heart raced as the plane took off. I was unsure if he would settle after that. But he did extremely well! A couple in the next seat was intrigued with Kuro’s silent charm and snuggles. We spent a great deal of flight time discussing the miracle of having dogs.

And then came a tough moment. One and a half hour in, I became weary if Kuro will need to go. So, with the paraphernalia of wee wee pads, tissues, wet wipes, Kuro, hand sanitizer, and Kuro… (Oh, he’s in there already) we made it to the tiny airplane restroom. As I latched the door, blue lights came on and made the room frightening and probably claustrophobic for Kuro. I laid the pad down, and put him on it. The look of horror on his face is still fresh in my mind. Seeing his expression, I quickly gathered all the things, and we were back in our seat, all buckled up.

He let out a big sigh of relief, and clung onto me. He did not stir till the pilot announced that we were ready to land.

Landing ushered in another small moment of panic, as he dug his paws into my jacket… probably wishing me to promise him that I would never let go… As I held him tightly, he seemed relived.

We disembarked the plane, and the airport appeared busier than ever. Kuro eyed the people suspiciously and looked at me as if begging to go out…

After a serpentine queue to the pet relief area, a long wait at the baggage claim, we we finally jumped into the taxi with Rohan.

And then, I let out a sigh of relief… As if I were traveling for days together!

We were home at last!

D.

Little cuddy bug’s difficult day

Today has been an emotional rollercoaster for Kuro and me… He got fixed today and his wiggly-worm self was transformed into a silent mopy faced fluff the whole day.

The doctors absolutely loved him at the hospital! They were all praise for him as a silent, cuddly pooch on the table. I felt very proud hearing all the nice things they had to say. Once again, my love for my cuddle bug was renewed again!

We went in today in the morning and dropped him off. The wait till 2pm was nerve wracking for me. Not that this was the first time, as Osiris had gone through the same before. But I was quite worried today given Kuro’s tiny size…

At 3pm, we were back home, groggy Kuro in his red onesie. The feeling of driving home from Westerose with Kuro on the first day enveloped me today as Kuro snuggled against me on the car ride today.

And with his Nanuq (the polar bear stuffy) he snuggled and cuddled all afternoon. After the day of being anxious, sleepy and not himself; Kuro slowly started trotting around, climbing into my lap for cuddles.

And by night, he’s almost his usual self, claiming his spot on my bed!

D.

Snuggling with Nanuq in his onesie

“Chota packet, Bada dhamaka”

I am often tempted to recount each day with Kuro, penning down the shades of his personality. Akin to all dog parents, my days go by following Kuro, discovering his big personality cuddled up in his tiny body. A constant whirlwind, I often wonder where he gets all good energy from. However his zoomies are manageable because of his tiny 2 kilogram body…

An energetic walk-mate, he has become my companion comforting me when I feel blue. I almost see a tiny person in him when he tries to communicate with his soulful eyes and tilted head. He demands cuddles, throws tantrums and someone’s argues with me! Especially when I feel the chilling cold to my bones and take him inside from our long walks in snow.

I pride myself over teaching him a few tricks and “training” him to do some useful tasks… But he has trained me even more! He nudges me to move, play with him and go on long walks to clear my head. He has disciplined me to have my meals on time (and give him his), set a routine for bedtime et al, and most importantly, to have a home in our house in Calgary.

Kuro listens intently as Rohan talks over the phone, occasionally pricking his ears as we discuss him. And I am sure that he knows he’s the centre of attention, as he hops around when I talk over video calls. Often making sure that he sees the moving and talking people on screen and that they see his activities in turn.

From an tiny pup almost as big as my palm, to a smart and cuddly furball, Kuro is slowly outgrowing his small jackets and sweaters, filling up our hearts. A bunny trotting in the snow, a hockey puck when cuddled up, an acrobat as he climbs onto me and a bird perched on my shoulder… he’s my tiny superhero.

Losing his baby teeth one by one, he’s getting older and wiser with each day. And by the time he has his adult set of teeth, he would have learnt to fly!

D.

Morning motivation! Being more lazy 😉

That’s the puck! 🙂

Finding Kuro

Not that he was lost, but finding him; I found new definitions. Canine companionship has not felt this fulfilling. Calgary also has a role to play in this bond. I have been fortunate to have great resources for canine aid at a stone’s throw, a group of helpful and resourceful friends and ofcourse, Rohan’s support.

A little dark ball of fur that he is, in but a week he mastered stealth and sneaking up in the darkness. I almost think that I have a cat in a dog’s body! With almost a fortnight with him now, I am beginning to see Kuro’s personality, understand his likes ans dislikes, and getting slobbered with kisses. We chill out in the drawing room, I peering at the laptop screen and he cuddled in my lap, for hours on end. Our walks to the dog park and the pet store have earned us new friends and we’re slowly discovering the friendliness of the city for furry friends.

I was told, he’s a canine Superman. And within a week, I did discover his superpowers! Tireless, swift and smart, he compensates the energy spent, by cuddling and snuggling with me.

Coming home from a long day of work is now not the same. I can’t wait to get back home to a tiny wagging tail waiting for me… Now my house is adorned with plants and books, peopled by me and Kuro… and we wait eagerly for Rohan.

D.

Kuro! (Finally caught still)

Kuro’s friend- Ruby (where’s Kuro in this picture?)

Snuggle time is never enough

 

November 18th, 2017

And finally he was home! The car ride from Westerose seemed like a flash with Kuro. I was waiting with bated breath for this day!

Writing about the “homecoming” day after three days would indeed catch your attention. And rightly so, for I was on the cleaning patrol, unaware of the days mixing into the night. With water and white vinegar mixture and baking soda, I was chasing down Kuro as he ran around his play pen and later on the carpet in the drawing room…

Ah, I have been waiting for this moment!

Rohan was distraught, seeing me upset after Mia was gone. We knew I needed a fido at home. Back in Pune or Baroda, I always had street canine friends who were as much my pets as Osiris. Suddenly having no pair of eyes greeting you when you come home was a sorry sight. How selfish, you might think. Well yes, that’s my canine-company quotient!

Moreover, transitioning from a big dog person to a small dog person seemed like a Herculean task (although ‘dogs are dogs’ afterall). However, after meeting several well-behaved small pooches, and taking my limited ability in purview, a small dog was what I could have!

My first family in Calgary, Chokulingams have a small Maltese, Teddy. He became my instant favorite and my love for small dogs escalated. Ruby, a Shih-Poo, robbed my heart with her well-behaved yet very playful demeanor. Chloe’s Louis, Brittany’s Toffee and Jeff’s Scarlet were just more names to add to my strong case for a small dog! And then the deal was sealed! I called up Eve to see if she has any litters coming in, and viola, Kuro’s was the perfect one for me… and the rest is history!

We had several names shortlisted… and the agreement was to pick one when we actually meet the pup. “Kuro” was on my mind since I saw the tiny dark coat pups in the picture. “Kuro” in Japanese stands for valour, dark or black in color (associated with depth or fearful appearance, and nowhere close to a derogatory word) and ninth son. I counted my pets so far (including the females too, to get at number nine): Skippy, Jolly, Blackie, Devil, Angel, Chikoo, Sky and Osiris. If I would’ve included my street pets, I think I would’ve crossed nine long ago… And so here it was, Kuro! The name is also a reminiscent of the director Akira Kurosawa and my Japanese teacher Kurosawa sensei. Akira’s films – often dark and deep, and sensei’s opening of the doors to “Japanese exposure” seems befitting in the way I see myself treading various paths since the turning point of Japanese learning in my sophomore year.

Kuro lay on my lap putting in all his faith and trust. I could feel his heart beats as I cuddled him. Mine was sure to have paced fast like his. We had chosen each other that day.

D.

P.S: Oh yes, much more to come on Kuro!

Cuddles!

Just a wriggly black speckle!