Dixie’s Mountain‑River Adventure

  A cold dip, warm company, and a simple day well spent

The drive out to visit my in‑laws didn’t start perfectly — Kim headed out before me and was a little upset that I wasn’t driving with her. But by the time we all got together, the mood had shifted and the day settled into something good. The dog definitely won the day with an extra‑long walk, tail up and happy the whole time. I didn’t track the distance, but it didn’t matter; it was one of those walks where the company and the moment mattered more than the numbers. In the end, it turned into a simple, solid visit that felt worth the effort.

Dixie got her big moment at the river today — the second she saw the water, she pulled straight down the bank like it was calling her by name. She jumped right in and even dunked her whole head under, completely fearless. The mountain river was definitely cold for late May, but she didn’t care; if anything, it cooled her right down and made her even happier. She stayed in for a decent stretch, then came bursting back out like she’d just done a polar dip. Watching her enjoy it that much made the whole stop feel worth it.

Vince and Diane put together a great dinner for the four of us — chicken, rice, and vegetables, simple but perfect. I got to visit with Vince while the ladies cooked, and even though I offered to do the dishes afterward, Kim waved me off and took care of them herself. I even tried to help dry, but she wasn’t having it. She was in a good mood out at the trailer, even if we didn’t quite agree on the timing of when we each headed out there. I brought the chairs, the dog, and her sunglasses after I left — the ones she forgot — and even swapped the batteries in our property cameras while she was already on the road. All in all, it turned into a really solid visit, a pleasure to sit with Vince and enjoy a meal made by Diane and Kim. And of course, Dixie scored some leftover chicken afterward. That’s a dog’s life — treats whenever she can charm her way into them.

I didn’t track the walk this time, but it was roughly twenty minutes of easy strolling — more of a relaxed wander than anything serious. We took our time, looked around at the scenery, and just enjoyed being out there. It was the kind of walk where the conversation drifts toward the next adventure, the next plan, the next place to explore. Simple, light, and exactly what the moment needed.