Smart vs. Obedient

Happy Wife (HW) on the backyard deck this morning prior to leaving for work, performing a pro bono exam on Harry.

You know, if by gazing into one ear you can see clear through to the other side…

I’m kidding! Srsly, he’s a smart boy.

Although, as it is with human children, it is a mistake to confuse intelligence with obedience when it comes to dogs. If I shout, “Harry Come! Harry Come! Harry Come!” Three times like that, and we have clear evidence that Harry hears the call but refuses to come, that’s not an un-smart dog. That’s a disobedient dog. Compare: A mother shouts to her son out the kitchen window, “Johnny, Come to dinner!” Three times she does this. Each time Johnny acknowledges, “Okay, Mom!” But Johnny no come to dinner. Do you conclude Johnny is un-smart? Of course not. You conclude Johnny disobeys. Same with Airedales.

Hard to tell from the washed out color in that pic, but that’s a spotless bluesky morn behind HW. And no end in site if you believe my phonecast. Mid sixties, even 70, through the weekend. This is the first year in recent memory when I’ve logged over 150 miles on the road bike before May 1st. See what I mean:

BIGGER.

If you click the bigger link you’ll see Mt. Susitna back there, aka The Sleeping Lady. A little eye candy for any of you tour riders looking in.

This is a picture taken from a point you’ll experience on the first day of riding on the tour. In fact, very early in Day 1’s ride, before you reach the Kincaid pavilion seven miles further, after which you’ll continue pedaling through southwest Anchorage, down South Port Pkwy, through the Ocean view subdivision, over the bridge, down the Old Seward Hwy, up through the South Park neighborhood, eventually popping out on Goldenview Rd. Now the fun begins. From there, you’ll descend very briefly to Rabbit Creek Rd, climb Rabbit Creek to Hillside Drive, turn on Upper Huffman and climb (crawl really) to the aptly named Toilsome Rd, which you’ll turn onto and continue climbing toiling until eventually reaching the lunch stop at Glen Alps parking lot. ~35 miles — smile, you’re over half done for the day!