Are We There Yet?
Our boy proved to be an absolute champ throughout the trip...why don't you come along with us on the journey and see for yourselves?
We were a bit apprehensive about embarking on a road trip with a heat-sensitive English Bulldog, but since it was mid-April when we began what would turn out to be a three-week odyssey, temperatures were still cool enough for us to take the chance. As long as he had air conditioning, favorite toys, (like his soccer ball, orange ball, garbage man, alligator and new monkey wearing a tee-shirt) his velour bed to snuggle in and a place to rest his heavy head...
Broughlin was a happy traveler.
We were off! Nevada, Utah and Wyoming proved to be a breeze. We did stop for a roadside moment in Wyoming, so Broughlin could see a real live calf, 
because after all he is a Bull-dog...we thought there might be a relationship...but it was just a stare-off. We continued through Nebraska and Iowa without incident and easily found pet-friendly hotels all along the way.
Our first official stop was Chicago and The National Antique Doll Dealer's Association show. Broughlin was fairly well-behaved at the Sheraton Gateway Suites, the host hotel for the weekend show. He made many new antique doll dealer friends over the weekend, while being expertly attended to by his English nanny, Auntie Lynne, who flew over from London to see to his needs.
After the show, we headed straight to coastal Maine for a few days of visiting friends, plus some much needed rest and relaxation. We finally arrived at our seaside destination at two o'clock in the morning, and awoke to a spectacular sight. 
For the next few days, Broughlin had found a beach to call his own...but we called it Lucy's Beach in honor of our generous hostess.
Here, he wandered the pebble beach with joy and wild abandon 
...and so did we. A more serene spot cannot be imagined.
Broughlin also had a cool green lawn in Maine 
to stretch out on in between hours of wading in the gentle surf and hunting for beach glass 
with his masters.
Before we knew it, it was time to start the long journey home to California, but with a few special stops planned to make the trip more interesting.
From Maine we drove south, directly to Baltimore to visit one of Broughlin's distant relatives – Oscar, 
a French Bulldog. Broughlin and Oscar did not exactly play together as planned, as Oscar's toys proved more interesting to Broughlin. We did manage to get Bro to sit still for a moment - we thought the tulips 
in front of Oscar's house would be a very nice background...Bro did not even attempt to tiptoe through them!
After leaving our friends in Baltimore, four and two-footed alike, we planned a stop in St. Louis, where Bro would make the acquaintance of a new furry friend, Beignet. 
They hit it off quite nicely, as Beignet is still a puppy. Here, they pose like long lost buddies 
on the lawn of Oakland House, an historic home in suburban St. Louis.
We three experienced a wonderful visit with special friends in St. Louis, but soon we just had to hit the long and winding road if we were ever to get home.
Our next stop was an impromptu visit to a very pretty park somewhere in western Kansas. We enjoyed a rendezvous with some fellow road warriors - friends who were also traveling cross country with their dog Roxie, 
a Norwich Terrier.
Roxie and Broughlin are old friends, as Broughlin met Rox when she was just a baby, and during their first meeting, he endured hours of chasing and gnawing and was exhausted and as wet as a dish towel when Roxie was finished with him!
During our afternoon in the park, they ran the banks of the river, 
sniffed the reeds and watched the fish that swam near the bank. Meanwhile, we dog-parents all sat around, simply savoring the warm gentle breeze and toasted our friendship and theirs.
Upon leaving Kansas, we pretty much made a bee-line for California. Three weeks on the road is a long time to be away from home. Besides, Broughlin's favorite spot was waiting for him....
...a cozy, warm place on the sofa....what could be better?
