This past Wednesday Eko and I got to go on a speedboat tour of Chicago.  We had a blast cruising up and down the skyline, and with the help of my faithful camera dog I was able to get some pretty good footage of our trip.  Check it out this quick video I put together:



Hope everyone has a great weekend!

The blessing and the curse of being a dog is that they always have to live in the moment.  Each trip outside is an adventure with limitless possibilities and each time we leave home without them is a seeming eternity of waiting until we return.

Sometimes when I think about what Eko and I should do, I'll think to myself, "Nah, we shouldn't do [X], we did that a couple weeks ago."  What I forget is that two weeks for a dog might as well be two thousand years.  Although we visited Montrose Beach less than a month ago, I felt Eko had waited lifetimes to get back to Chicago's best dog beach.

"Montrose, I've missed you."

The best part about watching Eko romp is that he acts like every visit to the beach is both his first and his last.  That attitude is definitely contagious!

Eko and his lab buddy had a ball

It's a shame Baywatch is no longer on air - Eko would be a perfect castmember

How do you like Eko's new trick? I'm teaching him to walk on water

It wasn't easy but I eventually corralled Eko

Summer is fading, but we will definitely make a few more trips before the cold weather hits.  Today was a good reminder that I should always treat every trip, adventure and day like it's my first and my last.  Thankfully I have a dog like Eko who sticks around to help teach me this stuff!

Eko is no stranger to water.  He's earned his sea legs on kayaks, canoes and even surf boards.  And of course, you can always find him bounding through the waves at any dog beach.  However, Eko has only been in the water under human/dog power, so this afternoon I decided it was time to kick things up a notch.  On one of our first days in Chicago, we visited Navy Pier, but somehow I didn't see the sign for Seadog Cruises.  True to their name, Seadog speed boats welcome four legged passengers aboard for their tour of the city,  so last night I bought a ticket on the first boat out this afternoon.

 

If you see this sign, drop what you are doing a buy yourself a ticket - pups ride for free!

Eko was made honorary first mate and the two of us enjoyed what might have been the best thirty minutes of our time in Chicago so far.

Eko was all smiles cruising out of the harbor, but he had no idea that the fun was just getting started

"Hey captain, does this thing go any faster?"

"Now that's what I'm talking about!"

As we shot up and down the Chicago skyline, Eko couldn't have been happier.  It was a gorgeous day, the wind was blowing in his face and the spray from the boat kept him cool.  I have about twenty great photos from the ride, but here are just a few more of my favorite.

Whether human, canine or other, the best view of Chicago is from the water

"Hey Will, how's my hair?"

All smiles after a great trip

As you can see, I had the Ekocam 5000 strapped on for the ride, so hopefully I will be able to share some video from our trip later this week.  More importantly, if you ever visit Chicago, make sure to swing by Navy Pier for a ride with Seadog.  And don't forget to bring your dog along for the ride!

When Eko and I head out for our runs, I like to go off in different directions to get lost in, and find our way home from, different parts of the city.  Well today, Eko and I ended up a bit farther from home than usual...

"Ruh roh, Shaggy"

As we turned the corner into an unfamiliar (yet quite familiar) park, I noticed that Eko and I were running on a yellow brick road.  We were already pretty lost at this point, so I had some trepidation about going any further.  However, I saw something  - or someone, actually - that gave me the courage to carry on.

Put 'em up, Mr Eko!

Scarecrow may have more of a brain than I do, but it didn't take me long to figure out that there might be a theme to this park.  A nearby sign told me that we were in Oz Park - a public park with art and gardens inspired by the Wizard of Oz.  Of course after finding the Cowardly Lion, Eko and I had to run around the park to get photos of the rest of the gang.

"Will, I hate to say it, but I think I would pick Scarecrow over you for my Trivia Night team"

The Tin Man looked well oiled, but I have a funny feeling the Pabst Blue Ribbon sticker wasn't part of the original sculpture

Finally we found Dorothy, with her loyal pup Toto - who happens to be one of Eko's canine idols.  But wait a minute, what's that in Dorothy's hand...

Aha!  Now we know why Toto stuck around - treats!

This morning was just more proof that you can always find unfamiliar adventures in familiar places.  Oz Park is only about a mile and a half from my apartment, but I had no idea it was there until today.  And while I didn't know how we found our way to Oz, I certainly knew how to find our way home.

Works like a charm!

Mr. Rogers is one of my heroes and I think that one of his best lines can be appropriated to explain how most of us feel about our pets - "You've made this day a special day by just your being you. There's no (pet) in the whole world like you. And I like you just the way you are."  Just by virtue of being who they are, we love our pets!  But I also realized that our pets usually do a lot more than just be our pets.  Here are just a few of the ways Eko goes above and beyond to help me out around the house.

Does this face look familiar?  If so, you are the proud owner of the world's most reliable "no-set/no-snooze alarm clock!"  With Eko on my side, I never have to worry about sleeping the day away

Dyson has yet to dream up an attachment that can even remotely clean the floor as well as Eko.  As you can see, he's well equipped to get in those hard to reach spaces

"I got it, Will!"  - If I'm upstairs, I don't always hear a knock or ring at the door.  Eko has never once failed to announce a visitor or delivery that I might have otherwise missed

Chicago is known for it's freezing winters, but with this four-legged blanket draped on me anytime I sit on the couch, I may never need to turn on the heat!

Eko even helps me balance my checkbook!  ....I apologize, that was the corniest joke I have ever made.  I'll see myself out.

Alarm clock, vacuum, door bell and blanket - Eko is truly a Swiss Army dog.  Every pet has different skills so let us know how your pet is more than a pet!  If you have a link to a photo, even better.  I would love to highlight some talented pets in a future post.