Keys Stories, Part 2 - Crazy SUP PUP Maneuvers and the Wayward Husky

Our second day in Key Largo began with a morning walk to the other side of the island to see the ocean.

GOOOOOOD Morning, Key Largo

Then we went to Mrs. Mac's Kitchen for breakfast -- and more photos.  

Posing in front of the Mrs. Mac's sign

After breakfast, I took a nap while mom and dad went snorkeling, so I was all rested up for our afternoon pack adventure.

After lunch, mom, dad and I went on a paddleboard ecotour with PADDLE! The Florida Keys (who we highly recommend, by the way - check out mom's Trip Advisor review).  Our guide took us to a place we never would have found on our own, Dove Sound and Dove Creek in Tavernier.

We paddled around Dove Sound, then we went down Dove Creek, a tiny creek through the mangroves.  We saw parrotfish and mangrove snappers and nurse sharks, and dad even saw a sea turtle but it swam away before mom and I could see it.  (Which was okay with me.  You never know when a sea turtle is gonna' decide to add labrador to its diet.)

Exploring the mangroves

Dad was rocking a super-fast board,
leaving us behind

When we got to a nice, deep canal, we took a break. 

It was a warm day, so mom decided to take a (voluntary) swim to cool off.  This provided me with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate my paddleboarding skills without a human in the way.

I can stand at the far back on the board, no problem

Surveying the area for creatures who might want to eat me

What's THAT?  Oh, just mom's foot.

Mom says there are no hungry sea creatures here,
but I'm not buying it

Mom said the water felt good, so she tried to "encourage" me to join her, but I was determined to stay on the board, and I did.  (This is amazing, by the way.)

Nope.  Not going in.

When break time was over, we headed back down the canal.  Mom was trying to get yet another photo of me, so she backed up a bit, and she toppled right off the back of the board, thus taking a second (involuntary) swim.  Did I fall off?  Nope.  (Daddy dog says it is important to note that he didn't fall off his board either.  Mom fell off and he didn't.)

Still on the lookout for sea creatures

We paddled back through the mangroves

One of the many advantages of being short

How many pups get to go on an adventure like this?


On our way back from the put-in place, we were stopped at a stop sign, and we saw a husky slip through a gate and take off running down the road, with a human running after him and calling to him.  The husky was paying no attention to the human -- he just kept running.  (Sometimes huskies do that, we've been told.)

We watched as several cars drove by, and the husky just kept running.  So mom told dad to drive past the husky, then stop.  Dad drove a little ways past the husky (who was still running) and pulled over.  Mom opened the door and got out, and a few seconds later the husky ran between our car and the thick brush at the side of the road, and mom grabbed him by the collar.  Mom said to him, "It's okay sweetie.  I know you're afraid because I'm a strange person grabbing you, but your mom will be here in a minute and it will be okay."   

A man on a bicycle who had been trying to help catch the dog and the woman who had been chasing him both came up and put a harness and leash on the dog, and thanked momma over and over.  The man said they needed to rename the husky Houdini, and the woman was thanking mom and crying and said she was afraid the husky was going to make it to Route 1 (the busy major road that runs the length of the Keys).  

We were so glad we were driving by at that particular time and that momma's timing was perfect and she was able to grab the husky.  I'm not a Houdini-dog, and I have no interest in running from mom and dad (after all, they have the treats), but if I did, mom and dad sure hope someone driving by would help. 

We went back to the hotel with a good feeling because the Houdini-husky doggy was safe at home that night.  We had a wonderful adventure, then we were able to help out someone who needed it.  What more could you want out of a day?