Adventures in LuLu

David Dreher. Just turned 40 and still can’t believe it. Has carried a knife in his pocket for years and looks at this road trip as a chance to use it legitimately every day. His nickname is Fancy Montana for his outwardly outdoorsy look and persona mixed with his love of very fancy cured meats. He asked if he should pack slippers in the trailer. Cute. He professes to fish. He has a lot of gear. Kristen (see below) has seen him get ready for fishing which takes upwards of 90 minutes and involves a necklace of fishing type instruments. Rarely seen him actually fish. Apparently the prep takes it all out of him. His goals for the trip: actually fish.

Kristen Grimm. Not an outdoorsy person. In recent outdoor-type adventures has managed to get a concussion after rolling an ATV, stared down a mountain lion for which the head of Defenders of Wildlife told her “she was out of her mind” and has a long-standing vendetta going with the mocking jays on S Street in Dupont Circle which results in her and the dogs running down the street trying not to get dive-bombed. Superpower for this trip: not allergic to poison ivy. Can roll in it and nothing happens. Goals for the trip: not utter “I can’t believe there is no cell signal.”

Hudson. Hound mix. Nickname: Mr. Man. Loves to chase a ball. Hates labradoodles with a passion. Plans to stretch out in the bed so that David must sleep in the lounge area in the Airstream. David swears he is not falling for this, but experience shows more nights where Hudson is up on the pillow next to Kristen and David is on the couch because “he has no room.” Hudson hears the phrase “may the odds be ever in your favor,” and knows they are talking about him. His leash is embroidered with the words evil genius. Goals for this trip: finally catch up to a deer he is chasing.

Lola. Also, a mixed hound. She is certainly one mixed up hound. Nickname: super suge (play video above). Had puppy trauma around a spinal injury that meant every time a person touched her it was excruciatingly painful. She is very nervous around people and in fact her leash says “nervous.” She and David have a game where he sees how far he can move away from the kitchen counter that holds a side of salmon before she gets it. She sees how fast she can be getting it off the counter and back to her lair (aka dog bed). An often heard refrain in the house “Lola is getting really fast.” She seems to be eating more and more salmon. David and I are ordering more and more pizza. A smaller trailer with a lower counter top is like a gift from the gods to this hound. Goals for the trip: have someone say “nice dog” and have Lola take the compliment rather than give them a look that clearly says “Are you talking to me” and you can almost hear DeNiro.