Dogs on the Road Interview~ Sora of Long Haul Trekkers

Today’s interview is with another truly inspiring pup. Not only is Sora a worldwide traveler, but she does much of it on her  own four paws!!! Her parents are biking from Patagonia home to Portland, Oregon, after having already biked around Europe. Wow, I’m tired just thinking of that!  Enjoy my interview with this inspiring dog, whom I can’t wait to meet on the road.

Hi Aspen!

Thanks so much for interviewing me for the Black Dog Chronicles! I first want to start out by telling you how sorry I am to hear about your brother Porter. I lost my brother Maxwell last year and we still miss him terribly.

A bit about me: I am an 11-year-old Australian Shepherd. I found my human Dave when I was three at New Dog Family Life shelter in Portland, Oregon. Several years ago, he met Jen, who is now my Mommaz.

I bounced around homes for the first few years of my life. People didn’t treat me well, so I was really scared of people until I found Dave. He worked with me patiently until I learned to trust people.

I love sheep, sheep poop, llamas, food, more food, treats, and BREAD. I also love to run. Dave and Jen take me on really long runs in the woods and I love it. I never get tired!!

Tell us a little bit about where you have traveled with your family. Have you traveled internationally? Within the US?

Before convincing my humans to take me on a bicycle tour around the world, we traveled throughout the US West Coast and Canada.

I saw how unhappy they were at their jobs, plus I was bored at home with the CATS all day long, so I sat them down for a chat and talked them into taking me on a world cycle tour.

We started the adventure in Europe, cycling from Oslo to Athens via the Barkans (she means Balkans) and Gobble Gobble (Turkey). I wasn’t ready to go home, so I suggested that we ride back to Portland from Pet Dog-onia (Patagonia).

1. What is your favorite place to travel? Do you like hiking the mountains? Running on the beach?

I prefer the gravel roads in the mountains. My humans complain about them, but gravel means fewer cars and it makes it really hard for the bicycles, so Dave boots me from the trailer and I get to run alongside while they bike. When it’s really hilly, I run even more.

I also LOVE the beach. There are SO MANY DEAD THINGS. I sniff around like a feral dog and then roll around in all the wonderful smells before my humans can yell at me to stop.

2. When you’re traveling do you camp? Stay at hotels? Rent houses?

We do a combination. Most of the time we camp, which is my favorite because sometimes we camp where sheep graze and you know what that means? MILK DUDS (er, sheep poop).

When it gets cold at night, I creep up between Dave and Jen and keep them warm, then in the morning, I lick their faces to let them know I’m ready to get up and go.

Sometimes, we stay in hotels or hostels, but it’s been tough to find places recently that allow dogs inside. I don’t understand, they always ask if I’m dirty or if I’ll wander the hallways by myself.

3. Do you have a hard time finding good quality food and water on the road?

We do. I can’t find the quality Canadian food we buy at home in Portland in South America. Ever since we left Western Europe, the quality has gone down significantly.

I find a lot of bones on the sidewalk, but Dave and Jen never let me eat them. It’s so annoying.

Sometimes, though, we stay at places that give leftover human dinner to their dogs and they include me. If Dave and Jen have already fed me dinner, then it might mean SECOND DINNER.

4. Have you had any problems with other dogs, either playing at dog parks, or street dogs when traveling?

I used to kinda bully dogs because I have a very dominant personality, but since seeing the conditions other dogs live in, I’ve decided to be nicer to the street dogs. Most of them don’t have homes and have to search through the trash to find food. I’m so lucky to have found Jen and Dave.

And you know what? I’ve learned that they are mostly really friendly. They’re well-socialized, always want to play, and often follow us around town. Sometimes I get jealous when Jen and Dave talk about how cute all the dogs are or that they want to bring them along on tour. I tell them that my trailer only fits one dog, thank you very much.

5. What don’t you like about traveling? A different bed? Strange water?

Well, we have to go to the vet all the time to get paperwork for border crossings all the time, especially in Chile and Argentina, since we switch back and forth so often. Usually the vet doesn’t bother with me, so it’s OK.

I also don’t like when people stick their face in my trailer and make high-pitched noises. It’s scary and sometimes I just have to bark at them to make them go away.

I mostly love traveling. I get to be with Dave and Jen all the time, smell all the amazing scents as we bike, and eat all the milk duds!

Thank you so much Sora! Looking forward to meeting you along the way.

Happy Tails ~ Aspen