Ribfest

Ribsy had the day of days on Saturday, the first day of yet another three day road foray into America. This time the pack ventured down through Buffalo and the Seaway Trail, and spent two nights in Pennsylvania, driving the scenic byways to delight in natural wonders, all-American towns and plenty of sun.

Anyway, Ribsy really wants to tell you all about that Saturday! After a boring drive through Canada and the border, he started to get excited because he saw Lake Erie alongside the road. Lake means water and water usually means fun.

So first they stopped off at a small fishing river in NY, and he had a refreshing soak in the water. He suspects he earned this soak from having rolled in a dead mouse on the trail.

Squeaky clean, Ribsy accompanied Boy and Girl as they strolled along Erie, Pennsylvania's waterfront.

And then the real fun started. Still in Erie, Boy zipped off to Presque Isle State Park, with almost a dozen beaches! Oh boy oh boy oh boy. Ribsy paced frantically in the car as Boy finally found a dog-friendly section. Let the fur flyin'...

...and the fur slickin' begin! Lake Erie's warm temperatures and hot sand were enough to send this whippet whippin' - and swimming! - gleefully through the water.

When it was all over, Ribsy got cold as he always does. Doesn't matter the temperature or how much everything else is roasting under the sun. Note awkward hunkered position.

The pack headed inland to the Pennsylvania Wilds along a picturesque, windy byway and wound up in the beautiful town of Warren. Pretty or not, Ribsy was sold the second he caught a whiff of something fragrant in the air...RIBS!

Yes, Ribs. As in Ribsy. As in a delectable, dreamy, deliriously delicious all-American Ribfest! Five competing rib stands were in battle with each other to see who could serve up this year's top ribs and take home the coveted trophy. Boy and Girl were stuffed after chomping on two half-racks from Team Australia and Ohio's Sgt. Oink's BBQ crew. Ribsy also had his fair share (and why shouldn't he, it's not everyday there's a festival named after him), including his own special chunk from a generous griller at Sgt. Oink's.

Ribsy worked it off while walking along the Allegheny River, sniffing goose poo and scaring ducks.

But this Saturday was still not over, incredibly enough! As the sun bade farewell, the pack checked in at Hickory Creek Wilderness Ranch. Ribsy's eyes bulged at sight of the scary horses and the bull riding arena before he finally settled for the night in a cozy cabin in the woods.

The rest of the trip wasn't as eventful, at least for Ribsy. He spent a lot of time waiting, or wondering as Boy and Girl dashed into places like aviation museums and porcelain dining car restaurants.   

"Um, excuse me!" said Girl. "How about the hike along the Pine Creek Rail Trail? Or the peanut butter donut of mine you sampled in Ridgway? Or the visit to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon in Colton Point State Park? Did you not have tons of fun?"

Oh right, thought Ribsy. I guess that Boy and Girl do love me after all.