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Or In This Case: Who Did Not Let the Dogs Out? (with
apologies to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) Number 4 in an occasional series on
cyclotouring.
We have noticed something interesting, indeed
profound, since entering the Sunshine State. They have some doggone smart dogs
in this state! I make this statement based upon empirical evidence gathered over
the past 2000 miles of pedaling thru Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and
Florida. In the first four states the canine population has constantly hounded
us at every opportunity. They seem to know we are coming down the path as if
informed by some canine DEW Line.
At least in Texas the mutts were usually chained or
fenced in, but in the next three states it was one dog day afternoon after
another. Dogs are usually free to roam and many were the calls to arm [is that
the correct plural form?] to repel the local mad dog. Their attacks are adjudged
as to the intent of the pooch and when necessary met with a fusillade of laser
directed H2O. This is remarkably effective, even the ASPCA could not object. We
did have one remarkably persistent dog in Louisiana that took three direct
facials before finally giving it up as a bad game.
Which brings us to these smarty-pants Florida dogs. The
dogs of Florida {no, you won't see them in Playboy} take little interest as we
ride by, often just looking and going about their business. The few dry runs
that have been have been half-hearted at best and we are conserving lots of
water. Who would have thunk it?
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