Yo will turn 60 near the summit of Mount Whitney in the Sierra mountain range. The tallest mountain in the United States outside of Alaska. My success in training for this hike was significantly supported by the best training partner. The member of our family known as Bella.
He had a difficult early life. Kidnapped as a puppy from her owner’s backyard. Abandoned at two years old and then adopted by a man of about 90 years old. The adoption did not go well and the home was not appropriate. Long story short, she was hit by a car driven by my sister when she was four years old. My sister paid the vet bill when the owner refused. A year later, she was relocated again. An attack at the home led to a hospital visit and another abandonment with orders to euthanize the dog. The vet called my sister and asked her if she wanted the dog or not: euthanasia was scheduled for the end of the day. My sister took the dog knowing that when she returned from Mexico without a cell phone signal, she would surely take the dog with her. She was right.
Bella got the house of her dreams. A German shepherd two years older than her became her best friend. They wandered around the field and played non-stop. Sometimes they even paid attention to their human friends. When Mickey died, he took it very hard. But we paid a lot of attention to her and she became even closer to all of us.
My training partner is Bella, an 11-year-old German Shepherd who managed to find her way into my family’s life and I think she could have really enjoyed her forever home.
We are an active family, so Bella enjoyed canoeing, hiking, car rides, trail running, and camping (both winter and summer). While we had some awesome canoe moments (yikes!), she was always a happy, willing, and able participant in our family’s adventures.
When I was in Ukraine, in the Zaporizhzhia battle zone, Bella took charge of my side of the bed and kept my wife feeling loved and safe during a very difficult time.
When it comes to athletics, the German Shepherd excels. So, while I was wondering how I would get my old body to complete a 4,270 km ride with 149,086 meters of elevation, Bella agreed. It should be noted that at 11 years old, Bella was the human equivalent of 77 years old.
Bella loved our walking days and could easily cover many miles at my 5 km/h pace. Although when the 5 kilometer race arrived she would do a KM pulling the leash, a kilometer next to me, but at the third kilometer she thought: you are on the wrong path; home is like that. If we had gone for a run the day before, she would have politely declined and used the time to hang out with her good friend, Mr. Twinkles.
I could go on and on about how important Bella was to my training regimen. She was a comfort to me on cold, dark nights of walking. Although the circuits of the local sledding hill were too much for her, she waited at the top of the hill, enjoying the sunset and receiving a treat every time I passed by. Then he would lie down and relax until the next time I came and gave him the next treat. Then we would walk home together and enjoy a well-deserved rest. Or she was up to some mischief when I wasn’t looking.
Little Toy Penguin before…
…Little Toy Penguin later.
Many days, we would go on a field trip to the post office in town and she would give her puppy dog eyes to Lisa, the postmistress, who always had cuddles and treats for her. The day we went and the office was closed was tremendously disappointing for Bella.
It was also a comfort to me to know that she would take care of my family and again provide love and support to my wife (and take up half of my bed) while I was away on my adventure.
It broke my heart to lose her six days before I flew to the United States to begin my walk. This vital, energetic, amazing athlete collapsed and, in just a few hours, was gone from us. The vet believed he had undiagnosed spleen cancer that had ruptured. She had no symptoms. Exactly the same ending for his best friend Mickey.
together again
My wife and I held her in our arms while she was euthanized to facilitate her exit from this world.
I had counted on Bella to keep my family safe while I was away. Who would support my wife? I was wondering what I should do. But I already had Ukraine Charities promoting my walk. I had family cheering me on. And walking the trail at 60 was one thing. Walk it at 61? And who knows what next year will bring.
It was difficult to leave home. My wife was reminded every day of the place this special animal occupies in our lives. And then he was given time to cry. For me, it was like a blow every time I thought about my good friend. I miss her a lot. I think of all the fun she gave me, and when life was difficult, she was always there, a solid foundation of love and devotion.
While my walk is dedicated to those who fought, who are still fighting, and to those who died as heroes of the Ukrainian War, I carry my friend with me in my heart.
My dear Bella, thank you for being in my life; Thank you for being in my family’s life and helping me raise my children and supporting my wife when I was in Ukraine. Goodbye, Bella Derksen; You were a true part of our family.
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