Marla Truex Jr and Piper have their own unique walking styles unrelated to how long or how straight the path(s) are we hike on.  Marla will always hug the left side of the path and will not relent if there are oncoming hikers, bikes or cars coming our way.  We have to pull her like a mule to the right side of the road to avoid collisions. She is unbelievably rude ha ha.  Piper, on the other hand, is not bound by any sort of walking conventions and will just meander right to left, left to right, backwards, then stage dive into something disgusting smelly, go around Marla like she's on an obstacle course.  John and I are constantly unwinding the leashes from her bobbing and weaving.  

Made it to Eureka, Missouri.  Missouri interstates are horrible. All the rumble strips are right on the white lines on the right of the lanes. There is no way around them unless you want to risk flat tire after flat tire. Between Meatloaf blaring at 70 dB on the stereo and the rumble strips, the dogs were toast. Marla even threw up for dramatic flair effect.  Now that we are all tucked in, Pipes is in her favorite seat watching dog TV and Marla was watching John barbecuing in the dark. They are going to sleep like babies. John too. 

Hannibal, Missouri, childhood home of Mark Twain.  

​We found a diamond in the rough this morning. Thanks to the AllTrails App. Out in the middle of nowhere we found this beautiful park with trails and art work on the Lay Center for Education and the Arts campus. Oh yeah, sunny and 60’s today. 

We keep saying: "One day the pups will get used to the RV while John is driving."  No.  It seems that will never happen.  They are totally freaked out as soon as he starts the engine until the engine is completely shut off. Like FREAKED OUT.  Panting, tongues out, staring at us and imploring us to get them out of the bus immediately.  Here's how they look the whole time: 

This morning Piper was hanging out on the footstool with John when she heard me get her harness out.  She shot WEEEEEE right off the footstool in my direction! BUT! Marla had been snoring soft snores while snoozing on the floor right at the end of the footstool.  Piper did not know she was there and then OOOOOFFF landed right on Marla's back.  Marla was so annoyed. 

Woke up to 6 degrees in Altoona, IA.  The pups didn't seem to care much either way.  Upon buttoning up the RV, John pulled the slides in and WHOA! Blocks and sheets of ice were flying off the top of the slides CRASH onto the ground. It was quite impressive! Like watching an iceberg calve lol! That was a first for us! Now onto sunnier and balmier destinations! 

Snow in Ankeny, Iowa today.  For like hours. Dammit. Winter is coming after all.