Last days of summer

 

As summer was winding down, we packed up our little hatchback and drove over to Virginia Beach with Momo and Fig. We haven't been there in a few years ((2013, 2014))and so it was incredibly nostalgic to be back. 

We wanted make a trip to Virginia Beach an annual thing that falls our anniversary but we decided that going off season works better for us and the dogs as we have complete access to the beach at all hours and it is slightly cooler as well. 

We stayed at the Sheraton Hotel. I don't know why we chose the Sheraton. I think it's because we always stayed there and so it was just something we were familiar with. We unfortunately didn't find our room all that appealing and felt it was a bit dirty and worn - there were dents on the walls and the door didn't shut well and it was just overall not the most ideal space to stay. I don't remember our past stays with Piri to be this way, I actually remember it to very clean and comfortable. So next time we decide to go to Virginia Beach, we decided to try other lodging near the beach. 

This was the first time Momo and Fig stayed at a hotel. We have gone away with Momo before and stayed in a little cottage on a working farm and also a tiny home rental and the four of us recently stayed at Getaway House. But something about staying at a hotel made me a little uneasy but they both ended up doing really well. And getting outside for bathroom breaks wasn't difficult as I had imagined (with Piri I never worried about staying at hotels, but Momo has arthritis and so long treks are hard on her and so long hallways and elevators, I thought, would make bathroom breaks a bit of a nightmare situation for all of us - Momo also gets up really early in the morning to pee which just added to the worry- and Fig I just didn't know how he would do walking indoors for a long time. He is completely house trained but I wasn't sure how he would do - we even brought male wraps just in case -  in a new setting but he did great. I felt bad for doubting him!)

Momo and Fig also did ok on the beach as well. Momo tends to be anxious and scared but with the help of medication and calming supplements and Fig by her side, it looked like she enjoyed trotting about. Fig just continues to amaze us with how well he adjusts to new settings. As long as we're by his side he just chilled while we ate at restaurants or when we were just relaxing on the beach.

We had planned on visiting a few places while we were in Virginia Beach but we mainly ended up resting in the hotel room, walking on the boardwalk and relaxing at the beach. The main reason for this was that the day we drove down to Virginia Beach, we had actually driven a bit further to spend the afternoon at Cape Charles. Unfortunately as soon as we got there Momo hurt herself near the beach. She stepped on a burr and it lodged deep in her paw and there was also one stuck to her side. She barked and collapsed and for a split second I thought she got bit by a snake (wild dog mom thoughts). Momo also never barks and so her making a noise signaled that she was really in a lot of distress. We were able to safely get the burr off her paw and her side but afterwards we began to notice so many things that can get lodged in dog's paws (foxtails, burrs and other thorny plants - Piri once had to have surgery because he had foxtails lodged in his paw - the doctor had to go in blindly as the foxtails did not show up on x-rays and the whole situation just made us began to be aware of foxtails) that we decided to play it safe and not go to a lot of the parks we had wanted to visit. It actually ended up being the better plan for us as the days went by quickly and it was a nice mix of relaxing and exploring right on the strip. 

We always take the Burley Tail Wagon with us for the dogs. It is mainly for Momo as she has bad arthritis and she'll start to limp after a while. But Fig also uses it when he needs to rest in-between walking and exploring. He first used it on an outing to DC and after that he just kind of got that this ride is for him to use to recharge when he gets tired. Just one of the many moments when Fig amazed us with how well he caught on to things. It's only been 7 months since he's come home to us but sometimes it feels like he's been with us for years. Yangkyu often comments how if we had found Fig as a puppy then he would have matured into the most loyal dog. That is how much he follows us, watches us and catches on to everything. 

Momo and Fig have been overlooked their entire lives and spent numerous years at privately run shelters in Korea without a single adoption inquiry. And so it always makes me happy when we are out and about with them and they catch a lot of attention from people. Kids always seem to find Momo adorable, perhaps because she looks like a teddy bear, and everyone loves Fig and his short legs and immediately asks if he is a corgi mix. A funny story - while eating lunch, a couple seated directly behind us  asked what breed Momo was. They thought she was a Golden Retriever puppy, but soon realized that she was a full grown super mutt. That one made me smile for a few days. 

 

This trip really was the perfect end to our summer. I can't describe the good feeling I had but it lasted for a few days as we headed into fall, which was really the best seasonal transition I've had in a long time. 

Thanks Virginia Beach for a good time! See you again!

Where we stayed // Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel

Eats // Commune (outdoor seating is dog friendly), Prosperity Kitchen & Pantry (outdoor seating is dog friendly), North End Pizza 

Coffee // Perked Up! Coffee (loved their coffee ice cubes in their iced coffees - their outdoor seating is dog friendly), Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii

Helpful dog gear for Momo and Fig // Burley Tail Wagon and the stroller kit (we also have the one wheel stroller kit, but if we had used that we wouldn't have been able to fit in the elevator so we lucked out that we ended up using the stroller kit for this trip) , Chuckit! Travel Bed , Collapsable water bowls (similar) , Calming Bites