Spring at Dupont Falls

A hiking trip to Dupont Falls on April 1st

Rusty and I went hiking today at Dupont Falls in Transylvania County, southwest of Hendersonville. We visited Hooker Falls where Rusty got to take a little dip and we had lunch. Then it was on to Triple Falls to hike and we were able to see kayakers navigate some of the falls right in front of us. It was a great day, April 1st here in the mountains.

Waiting for the Countdown to 2010!

Really?   Is it 2010 already?   I can't believe it!

Christmas in the Smokies!

Christmas by the fire in the Great Smoky Mountains - Santa Paws paid Rusty a very nice visit!

What is all this white stuff?

Having fun in one of the largest snowfalls - 12 inches overnight!

ACCEPTING HIS AWARD!!!!!!

Here Rusty lets out a big "howl" after being named the winner of the 2010 Top Dog Photo Contest for the Asheville Humane Society.  He loves his new trophy!

RUSTY WINS!!!!!!!!!

RUSTY IS THE WINNER!!!

ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY'S PHOTO CONTEST - HE'S THE 2010 SPOKESDOG!

THIS WAS THE WINNING PHOTO!

Halloween Party at Children's Hospital

Rusty and Joe at the PAWS Trick or Treat Party at Children's Hospital. 

Rusty is a finalist in the Asheville Humane Society Photo Contest!

Rusty is one of three finalists for the Asheville Humane Society's Adopt-A-Dog photo contest.  Please go to www.ashevillehumane.org and vote for Rusty!   There is no registration.  Just voting. Rusty needs your help - voting ends October 23rd!   www.ashevillehumane.org

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Rusty found his pumpkin -  He's my Snoopy!

Wait!   I see a better one over there.........got to go check it out!

Are you kidding?

I am not walking to Katahdin Maine - treats or no treats!   No way, its not going to happen!

Dolly Parton and the Great Smokys Mountain Park

Rusty stops by in Pigeon Forge, TN to pay Dolly Parton a visit!   Rusty really likes Dolly!

Dinner in the Great Smoky's - Rusty had to eat fast - we were in Bear Country and he didn't want to share!

A little play time before dinner!

Sunset at Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountain Park, as the fog rolls in.....

Clingmans Dome Observation Point - Yes we climbed all the way up at sunset but the fog

already started to come in and obstruct the view but it was still very nice.

Back Seat Driver!

Backseat driver!

Visiting our Friends in Maryland!

Three of the greatest girls on earth!  My friend Traci, Dani and Sydney and Rusty in Maryland.  Rusty and I got to stay with them on our recent trip to the Capital.  Rusty got to play with Chablis and Joe got to see Sydney ride her bike for the first time!   Happy Birthday Sydney, from Uncle Joe and Rusty!

Watch who you call overweight!

I don't want anyone saying I'm overweight!   I think Fala was given to many treats!!!!  

Our Visit to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum

Here we are at Woodrow Wilson's Presidential Library and Museum in Staunton, VA.   I am sitting on the steps at the rear of President WIlson's home - wow - it was a big house!   The Victorian-like gardens were really neat and I enjoyed relaxing in them!

It was a big trip this Labor Day Weekend!

WOW - Did we have a fun filled-packed weekend!

This was a really big weekend for us.  We traveled the entire Blue Ridge Parkway - all 469 miles thru North Carolina and Virginia and it took us about 21 hours to drive this most scenic route.

We saw lots of animals, over 250 deer, and three bears!  Momma bear and her two cubs were playing in the road one evening (she needs to keep her kids off the road)!  We even saw a fox.  We got to end of the Parkway and found the Shenandoah Skyline Drive and decided to travel that as well.  That was another 3 hours. It was a very long drive but very scenic and fun and I recommend it to everyone.

We stopped over in Staunton VA and visited the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library where I got to relax in the Victorian-style terraced gardens.  A nice man came outside and took pictures of me and Dad. We then drove over to Washington DC to see the sites. I got my picture taken at the Tidal Basin at the FDR Memorial Park - this was a very nice park and I got to have my picture taken with President Roosevelt - they welcomed dogs like me and it was full of fountains and nice places to sit and relax.

A visit to the nation's capital - Washington, DC

On our trip to the nation's captial......

Resting after walking around the entire Tidal Basin

Rusty at the FDR Memorial with President Roosevelt and Fala

With FDR

One of the many fountains at the FDR Memorial

Overlooking the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial

Dusk at the Lincoln Memorial overlooking the Washington Monument and Capital Building

Rusty visiting with Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt at the FDR Memorial.

WE DID IT - ALL 469 Miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway

We did it! 21 hours later we drove the entire Blue Ridge Parkway, from Cherokee, NC to Waynesboro, VA. All 469 miles. It was fun and we decided to drive the Shenandoah Skyline Drive as well - whats another 105 miles! Here are some pictures of us along the way! I was able to climb big rocks, see some most unsual things, and meet some interesting friends. Today was football Saturday and I wass wearing my Ohio State scarf - we were playing Navy that day and while we couldn't hear the game a friend of Dad's was texting us the score! We did win! Yeah! Go Buckeyes!

Another Road Trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway!

Another road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway heading to Cherokee, NC.....The Blue Ridge Parkway is a stop over place for migrating butterfly's.

A visit with the President of the United States....

A Presidential visit........................

Rusty traveled to Greeneville, TN to visit the home of the 16th President of the United States, Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Abraham Lincoln upon his assassination. Here is a statue of the President overlooking his home. He began as a simple tailor and moved all the way up to the White House!