This is ALWAYS how I start a trip when I need to get on the big bird in the sky.  While I wait to board the big bird, a gin martini is in order.  Explicitly,  straight up with Sapphire, dirty please.  Oh…and I did eat a healthy salad too.  I needed something to celebrate and calm me down a bit since I was on the way to see my baby.

The flight went with out a hitch.

Before I knew it I was celebrating again Mexican style.

Best of all I was celebrating with one of my favorite people in the world.   My baby girl who has grown into a woman.  It is hard for me to call my baby, or my daughter, a woman.  But she is a woman now who I am very proud of.  Sorry about the blur in this photo but Andrea has a habit of evading the camera.  I had to quickly snatch my camera out of my purse and snap a shot of her smiling face. I told her she better start liking the camera for two big reasons.  #1 Her mom is a photographer and blogger. AND # 2 She is WAY too pretty not to be noticed.

I also told Andrea besides all the shopping, eating and laying around we usually do when I come to visit we needed to get out and be active too.  So we got out daily to hike to high places.

I see Mexico.

Meet Benzi, the Blue Nosed Pit Bull.  The love of Andrea’s life….or one of the love’s I should say.  Andrea was raised from a young girl with Labs and Golden Retrievers. She is the reason we have Golden Retrievers at Sundog.  She begged for our first one over 16 years ago (rest in peace Kelsey) and the rest is history.  Nonetheless Andrea being the maverick she is bucked this family trend and adopted a puppy pit bull irregardless of their reputation.  If anyone should raise a pit bull it should be Andrea or someone like her.  Benzi, believe it or not,  is a sweetheart.  She is my daughters friend and protector when walking down those sometimes rough city streets.  I think this photo above sums up their relationship.

We took Benzi on a few of our runs and outings.  This outing I feel sorry to say kinda kicked Benzi’s butt.  The hike was longer, tougher and hotter than we thought.  Tough on her tender city paws.  Andrea unbelievably flew up the mountain with a smile from ear to ear.  Becoming a woman has changed her attitude.   She faces MOST obstacles with determination.

Once we reached the top of the mountain a long rest in the cool breeze was in order.  Can you tell who loves who?

We could see all the way to Mexico again

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Even though the way back was all down hill Benzi was pooped to say the least.  We stopped every so often to let her rest in the shade.  NO SHE IS NOT DEAD IN THIS PHOTO.

This is how dedicated Andrea is to Benzi.  She lifted all 55 lbs of Benzi to give her a break going down the trail.  That dog does not know how good she has it.

By this time I was REALLY worried.  I will never head out on a hike again without water.  I’m  not used to the arid Southern California climate.  And Benzi is more used to lounging than hiking

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FINALLY we make it to the trail head and water faucet!!

Benzi was very happy to be back in the car for the drive home.

Besides the view at the top of the mountain we saw lots of beautiful desert like fauna.

You don’t see many tree’s like this in Northern California.  This was some kind of pink trumpet tree.  Does any one know what it is called?  I doubt it would grow at Sundog.

To be nice to Benzi we took her to the beach on our last outing.  It was cool, breezy and soft on tender paws….and feet.

Loving arms and lots of licks.

Alex is Andrea’s other love.  Between Benzi and Alex,  Andrea’s got all her bases covered.

I had a great trip but hated to leave my baby, my daughter….that woman.

She’s getting better at smiling for the camera don’t you think?

Adios Amigo’s.  Signing off until back at Sundog.