We don't travel light. Although the cottage we've been renting for the past twenty years in New Hampshire comes fully equipped, there are so many kitchen items we tend to take along so I'm comfortable knowing that the items I want to use are close at hand, from strainers to knives, cutting board to pizza pan and casserole dishes.

We never know what the weather will be like in the mountainous Waterville Valley. Usually there's plenty of rain. Sometimes it's warm, sometimes it's cold. So lots of clothing changes for both cold weather and warm, and the inevitable rain events. Raincoats for Jackie and Jillie too. And their bed. It's a little ridiculous all the stuff we pack and carry with us. But we do, and it makes us comfortable while we're there, though it's a right royal pain to pack and unpack.

We used to get up at the virtual crack of dawn many years ago to embark on a road trip like this, now we content ourselves with getting up at seven, and getting things rolling, from feeding the puppies to showering, preparing a packed lunch, tea and coffee, and loading up with suitcases and boxes. Years ago we'd slip into the ravine for a quick walk through the forest trails before leaving, now we no longer do. Once we're fully packed, off we go. Last week that wasn't until 9:30. There always seems to be so many things that need to be done to secure the house before leaving.

On the positive side for a change it wasn't raining. We had a lovely warm, sunny day ahead of us to make for a good drive. Jackie and Jillie were well aware that something unusual was happening; before we left their excitement was manic and they were concerned we would be leaving without them. Once we were all in the truck together they settled down, but didn't sleep, just nervously stood looking out the windows as we drove off and onward.

At the border there was the usual grim hostility of the U.S. border agents with their suspicious questions; above all the ridiculous focus on whether we'd be bringing oranges with us from Canada to the U.S. Funny thing, most of the oranges we buy in Canada are those grown in the U.S. and exported to Canada. But if you've got one with you it'll be confiscated.

Just over the border is our favourite Vermont rest stop adjacent a working farm and in the near distance, the Green Mountains of Vermont. The spacious lawn was freshly mowed, their Viburnum bush was in flower, and everything smelled fresh. Tiny buttercups and daisies were in bloom along with wild strawberries in flower and the fragrance of thyme underfoot was quite deliciously pungent.

Once we had our brunch of clementines, bananas, sandwiches, coffee and tea (sharing with Jackie and Jillie, of course), we set off again and when we reached Franconia Notch over the border in New Hampshire it was photo-snapping-time. Around Montreal traffic is always heavy, but it's close to non-existent on the highways we travel in Vermont and New Hampshire. At 3:30 we arrived at the cottage and our hostess was there to greet us. The puppies know her and ran barking happily toward her for their reunion. They also remember the cottage and were anxious to get inside, out of the sun.

And then the work of hauling everything out of the truck and into the cottage began, leading to the unpacking, a drill Jackie and Jillie know well, as they scampering about, re-familiarizing themselves with everything. When we took them for a bit of a walk around the property they were absolutely delighted, enthusiastically chasing one another. Donna's and Byron's two miniature goats are still there, along with a new bunny, and they're setting up an enclosure for a dozen chickens they just acquired as chicks.

Off we went again, the puppies in tow, along with their over-the-shoulder carry-bags, to do the shopping at nearby Campton. The Hannaford supermarket carries anything anyone might want for a week of home-prepared meals. We deposited one puppy each in the two shopping carts, their bags sitting where children do, at the front, and took our time shopping at the supermarket so well stocked it becomes a pleasure doing the shopping there.

No one asks us to leave because of our two little dogs. Both customers and store employees stop to chat and to take pleasure in the presence of our little black hairy companions for which we're grateful. If on the other hand, we were not permitted to take them along, one of us would remain in the truck with them while the other shopped. But we were assured years ago there was no need to do that; no one would object to their presence in the supermarket.

A long haul for a busy day. We turned in, unsurprisingly, at ten for a long, comfortable night's sleep to begin our week's adventure the following day.