Dashing through the snow
Here I am again at my last Coopers Rock trip for the 2008 climbing season. While the climbers were not at all happy to see this beautiful white blanket, I sure was!!

Hot Dog!
That's right I was one big hot dog for Halloween this year! And even though my mom would never sell me for a dollar, she was the vendor! I got to go to work with her that day, and we took second place in the costume contest!

3,500 ft in the Shenandoah National Park
The trail named Little Stony Man Trail leads to this awesome overlook, and a beautiful fall day on the Skyline. Here I am standing on one of the highest points in the park with my dad. He's much braver than me, that was as close to the edge as I was going to get! On previous trips I have also been to the highest point in the park at an elevation of 3,837 called Wayward on the Appalachian Trail.

Outer Banks, N.C. (OBX)
This weekend we traveled south to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Almost all the beaches are dog friendly, and there was an abundance of campgrounds that were welcoming to dogs. We stayed at Camp Hatters, it was very clean, and very dog friendly! I got to roam beautiful unspoiled beaches, swim in the Pamlico Sound, run through the biggest sand dune on the east coast, and visit 2 historic lighthouses. Pictured with dad is Bodie Island Lighthouse, and pictures with mom is Cape Hatters Lighhouse, the tallest light house in North America. Since our entire trip was very windy, I wanted to help hold them up!

The Shawangunks, New York
This weekend I got to go on a climbing/camping trip up to the Shawangunk Mountains (aka the gunks). It's located about 90 miles north of New York City. We visited 2 different parks, Peter's Kill, and the Mohonk Preserve. Us four-leggers are allowed in the parks as long as we are leashed. The areas include cliffs, forests, fields, ponds, streams – and a ton of climbing! I scampered up some cool D-problems and explored the Peter's Kill forest. Pictuered left is me and my mom, on a boulder called "The Diving Board". My dad laughed when it spit my mom off her first attempt, but she sent it, then we posed at the top. At right is proof of my visit along the carriage road in the Mohonk Preserve.

Making a splash, and Monday's paper
Curtis Park in Fredericksburg, VA held their first ever "Drool in the Pool" event, to benefit local shelters. I finally overcame my fear of jumping of the deck and into the pool! What a lot of fun, the local paper was even on hand to catch some footage. You can check it out at http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/092008/09082008/408884/0908dogs2.jpg/photo_view

Shenandoah National Park
In Luray Virginia, there is a lifetime of hiking here, dogs are allowed on most trails, and in most of the camping areas. I have been here about a dozen times. A word to the wise, watch out for bears, and check your furry friend for ticks after visiting this park in the summer. The fall is the best time to visit, the fall foliage over the valley is amazing. The spring is nice also when the waterfalls run from melting snow.

Agility Training
I just finished 6 weeks of agility training, the tunnel and the A-frame are my favorites. At 6 weeks of training I can do all the obstacles, (well the weave poles aern't perfect, but I'm getting better!) Hopefully we can find another class soon, to keep practicing!

The life of a climber dog...
all tied up! I have been to Coopers Rock in West Virginia a total of five times now. A nice shot from my last trip in June of 2008.

The Rappahannock River
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Can you spot me I'm camo!
Fredericksburg is my home town, and my favorite place to swim, roam, and climb over rocks. This picture was taken in the summer of 2007 when the water level was extremely low.

I am a model...
My first official photoshoot.

Virginia Beach
My first time in the ocean was a little scary, when a wave sent me head over nub, but for the most part it was a good trip. I got to sleep at the Sheraton with my owners in a king sized bed four stories up...oh yea living large! And Abbey Road Restaurant let me chill out on the patio while my owners had a good meal, they even brought me a chicken breast! Two paws up for this trip.

Luray Caverns
This place is pooch heaven, dogs are allowed in the Garden Maze, pictured here, and small dogs are allowed in the caverns; the only catch is your owner has to be able to carry you the entire 1.25 miles underground. A word to the wise, the ground is a bit wet and slippery down there so be careful. Since I'm 54 lbs. I had to wait in the car, but the maze was a blast!

Climbing is hard work at
Coopers Rock West Virginia
This place is filled with great hiking and climbing. Dogs are allowed, and there's some nice camping all around that's dog friendly. The wooded park and most of the trails are usually fairly empty, so roaming off leash is normally cool. Here I've set a D2 boulder problem right next to the human V3 climb called "Moby's dick", I call it "Big J" leave a comment and I'll send you the beta.

Hi I'm Riley!
I'm an Aussie, I got my named because my parents seem to think I'm easily "riled" up...but hey it's who I am - excitable, curious, and social!

I have two pretty cool owners, and they take me on all their adventures. We all live in Virginia, but I've traveled with them to West Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Canada, I've swam in the Atlantic Ocean, climbed up boulders, and even modeled in a photo-shoot. Swimming, running through the woods, catching my retriever, and learning new tricks are a few of my favorite things. Oh yea and playing with my buddies...paws up to my girl Fudgie, and my boy Timmy!

We eat out at restaurants, shop at outdoor malls, and try to push the envelope when it comes to getting me into public places. This blog is a document of my travels and adventures, dedicated to all my buddies who want to have a life like Riley's!