The Homa Files

We’re not talking Hobbit, we’re talking Pepper.

We’re talking a real unexpected journey.

First, some background for non-Georgetown folks.

Theodore Roosevelt Island is a “living memorial” to America’s 26th president, a great outdoorsman and conservationist.

The national park – located across the Potomac from Georgetown – has “miles of trails running through wooded uplands and swampy bottomlands”.

Mapquest says that it’s 3.61 miles from Roosevelt Island to the corner of 34th & O St.

Mapquest’s suggested route  is depicted below – follow the windy road out of the park, head over the Key Bridge, turn right on M Street, then head up the side streets.

You probably get the picture.

It’s an easy trip by car, and a nice run on a Sunday morning.

More specifically, it’s a nice run for a well-conditioned guy or gal.

But, what about for a dog?

Here’s where the story gets interesting.

Pepper is the family dog of my son, daughter-in-law and newborn granddaughter.

On Sunday morning a family friend took Pepper with her dog to Roosevelt Island… and, as is customary, unleashed them

After all, the dogs were on an island … where could they go?

Well, Pepper bolted …

The friend called and chased to no avail.

Pepper was gone.

Fast forward a couple of hours ….

My distressed daughter-in-law gets a call from a guy who says he saw Pepper in the street and grabbed her.

Not for ransom, for rescue.

Where were they?

34th & O Street … a couple doors down from the family’s house.

Remarkably, Pepper had made the trip home from Roosevelt Island …  off the island, across the Key Bridge, across M Street, and up a couple of side streets to home-sweet-home.

This morning, the full impact hit me when I drove over the Key Bridge and across M Street.

How the hell did Pepper do it?

I have new respect for that dog.

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This entry was posted on December 18, 2012 at 6:59 am and is filed under Family & Friends, Human interest, Pets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.