It’s rawther hot this week. The original forecast was for highs of 47C* but it ‘cooled off’ to highs of merely 44C. Harper normally gets two walks a day but not now. It remains well above 40C in the evening and the pavement is too hot for dog feet. At least for now dog walks are done in the pre-dawn in the chill of 30C.
The creatures of Arizona are acting likewise; we see a lot of them on our morning strolls. This morning in the middle of the sidewalk was a big fat lizard. At first we thought it was dead but with a touch from the treaders it bolted quick away quick as a quarter note. Later on our peripatetic stroll was again interrupted this time by a long thin snake crossing the sidewalk. I couldn’t identify what sort of snake it was. It didn’t coil and rattle at us – a good sign. It didn’t seem to notice us as it slowly slide across the sidewalk. Harper was uninterested in the lizard but she was not liking the snake. She paused at a distance worthy of covid19 protocol and turned around as if to say walking was canceled. We waited for said serpent to complete its crossing and then we went forward.
Afterwards Harper had the rare ‘two dumps’ on this walk – perhaps she had the proverbial ‘scared sh-tless’ from these encounters. Good thing I always travel with extra bags.
This is the time of day when folks can exercise without developing instant heat stroke. On our walk Harper and I encountered creatures of the two legged sort but they weren’t as interesting as the reptiles. They whizzed by us as they ran around us oblivious as the snake.**
We are back home and the sun has risen. I have a full day of work while Harper is already asleep on the unmade bed. It’s a dog’s life in the dogs days of summer.
*That’s Fahrenheit for bloody hot.
**The protocol of greeting fellow morning strollers is not clear. With women I tend not to say anything or even show signs of acknowledgement unless they say hello first. This may be sexist but I don’t want to be seen as a perv. Men walking dogs look less up to no good especially if I am talking silly to the dog for the approaching female to hear I am a dope and no threat. I tend to say good morning to the menfolk and thems in groups as I am considered no threat.
36 comments
July 31, 2020 at 6:33 AM
Hugh W. Roberts
I don’t know how you guys cope with that sort of heat. I become grumpy instantly if the temp gets about 75F. Thank goodness summers on the Welsh coast tend to be cool. We’ve a one-day heatwave today, but it was all over by midday.
July 31, 2020 at 6:40 AM
Urspo
75F sounds positively arctic.
Summers on the Welsh coast sounds lovely. Are you familiar of the works of the late Alice Thomas Ellis? She places a lot of her novels in Wales.
July 31, 2020 at 7:16 AM
Hugh W. Roberts
I’m afraid not. I’m more of a ‘Bassey’ kind of guy. I miss going to her farewell concerts.
July 31, 2020 at 6:51 AM
larrymuffin
Well this type of heat that you describe reminds me of my days in Khartoum. No I was not there with general Gordon.
July 31, 2020 at 6:57 AM
Urspo
I thought I saw you in the background of his Facebook profile
July 31, 2020 at 8:15 AM
larrymuffin
Well you might but I managed to keep my head.
July 31, 2020 at 6:56 AM
Lori
Those temperatures are too hot for me. Poor Harper. I’m sure she misses her two walks a day. Stay cool and Happy Friday!
July 31, 2020 at 7:54 AM
Urspo
I sense a bit of bewilderment after dinner from the dog along the line ‘hey it’s time for a walk yes?
July 31, 2020 at 7:49 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
I don’t know how you can survive in that heat. Right now in Edmonton we are having a week of 30C, a proverbial heat wave for us. I can hardly wait for it to cool off again, which it should next week. Back to the low 20s!
July 31, 2020 at 7:55 AM
Urspo
20-80C sounds downright chilly – sweater weather for Arizonians
July 31, 2020 at 8:14 AM
Linda Practical Parsimony
I was amused at Harper’s reaction to the snake–out of here now.
August 2, 2020 at 9:41 AM
Urspo
I was too as she shows no fear but great interest in coyotes and javelinas.
July 31, 2020 at 8:19 AM
anne marie in philly
I love lizards!
August 2, 2020 at 9:41 AM
Urspo
There are no lack of lizards; come visit we’ve got heaps.
July 31, 2020 at 8:53 AM
David Godfrey
There is hot, and then there is YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING, it is cooler and wet here this morning, I went for a stroll in a light rain in the gardens at Mt Vernon this morning (77F). Mt Vernon is dog friendly.
August 2, 2020 at 9:42 AM
Urspo
And it has lovely whiskies.
July 31, 2020 at 9:03 AM
Sam
That is hot! I finally learned the ocnversaion formula. C X9/5 +32 =F, F-32 x9/5=C. We have to go at the sweet spot between 8 and 9 p.m. to get out of the heat on the sweltering days, but before the MN insects attack.
August 2, 2020 at 9:42 AM
Urspo
The formula is so cumbersome I’ve learned to just stay in one system. C is good for me.
July 31, 2020 at 11:10 AM
Frogdancer Jones
Ugh. FAR too hot.
August 2, 2020 at 9:43 AM
Urspo
quite agree quite agree even the pool is no relief
July 31, 2020 at 11:21 AM
Bob Slatten
I could always take the heat in Northern California, where it could get well over the 100-degree mark, because of the lack of humidity.
In the south, first Miami, and now Smallville, it’s the heat AND the humidity AND the stupidity.
August 2, 2020 at 9:43 AM
Urspo
That sounds horrible; stay away from fools.
July 31, 2020 at 3:04 PM
Robert
Loving the sight of temperatures in centigrade!
August 2, 2020 at 9:44 AM
Urspo
As a scientist, and a man of the world, I was disappointed when we learned the metric system in elementary school then no one bothered to use it. Then it became another pig-headed USA ‘hell no we won’t” matter.
July 31, 2020 at 10:26 PM
Will Jay
I think that Harper has figured out with the heat that she will only be getting one walk, or may only want to go on one walk, so she’s doing ‘extra credit’ while she is out with you. That may be why you need at least two bags. Smart girl.
August 2, 2020 at 9:45 AM
Urspo
I try to make the morning walk a bit longer now as it is the only one she gets.
August 1, 2020 at 1:30 AM
Old Lurker
I am surprised that Harper suffers from ophidiophobia. I wonder if this is learned or innate? This calls the just-so story of humans on the savannah being afraid of snakes in trees into questions. (Did doggos co-evolve with uson the savannahs?)
August 2, 2020 at 9:45 AM
Urspo
it seems lots of animals abjure snakes. probably from evolution.
August 1, 2020 at 7:11 AM
Mildred Ratched
You know it’s hot when the snakes slowly slide (was that an alliteration?) Maybe your furbaby needs a pair of doggy Birkenstocks. I can’t take my babies for walks in the neighborhood because too many idiots around here let their big dogs roam free and my 3 dogs all weigh under 20lbs. I have a big backyard and they get plenty of exercise out there.
August 2, 2020 at 9:45 AM
Urspo
Lucky pooches to have a big yard !
August 1, 2020 at 1:06 PM
Friko
Millie died on 1st October and I feel ready to adopt another dog. Its hard at the moment, there are plenty of dogs available for rescue but meeting them is not easy. Whenever I was walking somewhere isolated with any of my dogs I always checked for stray men and only relaxed when I saw them whistle for their dog. In the wilds round here dogs are rarely on leads.
btw, I have taken your name in vain on my last post, in a nice way, I hope. Please don’t be annoyed.
August 2, 2020 at 9:46 AM
Urspo
I hope you get a rescue dog yes.
I will go have a look-see I am certain whatever you wrote I will get a smile from it.
August 1, 2020 at 3:54 PM
Jennifer Barlow
That’s some terrible heat you have there, Dr. Spo. I don’t know how you stand it. I really don’t. It’s been hot here too, hot and humid, but from what I understand the dry, intense heat in AZ is just as bad or maybe even worse.
Walking outside, even after dark, to walk the dogs these days is like stepping into a sauna. The air is so thick and humid it’s almost hard to breathe.Neither of the dogs have been too keen to go on their usual walks lately. I’m also having some issues with my sweet Ginger (see my latest post) so we’ve been taking it easy on her as far as walks.
August 2, 2020 at 9:47 AM
Urspo
After 15 years one gets rawther used to it but yes August with its humidity and heat is a no fun month. usually we try to get out of dodge but not this year obviously.
August 1, 2020 at 9:44 PM
Robzilla In CA
Oh, yes. It’s been hot lately. Our problem is at night it doesn’t cool off. The other night, I didn’t sleep at all due to humidity was nearly 100% and the temperature never went below 68 degrees.
I’m not looking forward to my next electric bill.
August 2, 2020 at 9:48 AM
Urspo
tis the season hohoho to have awful electric bills but it is worth it.