Back in November, when it was unfathomable for my family that there would come a time without him, Chuck Billy began planning his yearlong 13th birthday celebration. It included him organizing the grandest of adventures for us, with many firsts, which is saying something considering all of his adventures. Chuck Billy thought of something special for everyone with this trip! However, little did we realize all those months ago that the week he booked in June would coincide with the 6 month anniversary of him crossing Rainbow Bridge. To be honest, we even debated should we go without him and almost canceled. However, that’s not what he would have wanted! So we set off on this grand adventure to honor Chuck Billy’s memory.

First and foremost we finally left Maine and even New England! We traveled to the Adirondack region in New York! This was the farthest any of our adventures have ever taken us! Chuck Billy also wanted to include a special first for me. We’ve stayed at a lot of places over the years, but this was my first time staying near a horse farm. When Chuck Billy was a puppy, we had horse neighbors that he would visit daily on patrol. However, by the time I joined our family, the horse farm was replaced by houses. Chuck Billy wanted me to experience what that was like, while reminiscing about his horse friends with Mom and Dad.

He also wanted to surprise Mom and Dad by visiting historic sites they’ve only read about, and walk in the footsteps of major players in the French and Indian War and American Revolution, including Robert Rogers, Benedict Arnold, and Maine’s native son, William Whipple. Dad looked so animated explaining to us the significance of these forts and the events that took place there, often leading the charge to see what lay behind the next bend in the trail. Mom also had very interesting conversations with National and State Park Rangers, who recommended many books to further her research into the early history of our country. I learned a lot on this trip too, but to be honest, I was most excited about another first – my first ferry ride! Rather drive the long way around to reach some of the locations, our car went on a boat, with me in it! Despite being named for seafarers, neither Chuck Billy nor I had ever been on a boat, unless you count Pepere’s kayak, but you can’t fit a car on it.

This was also going to be a working vacation for our renowned dog ufologist, building on his research at Massachusetts’ October Mountain last year, he wanted to further his quest for answers. Chuck Billy included in this itinerary a visit to Lake Champlain where there have been centuries of sightings of Champ the sea monster. He also wanted to explore Whitehall where Bigfoot is a celebrated resident, with a festival held in his honor each September. Chuck Billy spent countless hours watching documentaries on each of these elusive creatures, and these specific locations, that to be there would have been a dream come true for my brother.

Angel Chuck Billy would have loved his perfectly planned grand adventure filled with so many firsts for each of us! I’m glad we were able to honor his memory by going on it, because I know in my heart he was with us every step of this journey, guiding us onward. I added one stop though that Chuck Billy never dreamed of when he began planning this trip. We made a special side trip to Dog Mountain in Vermont to add his name to the sacred walls of Dog Chapel.

I look forward to sharing with you more information on where we went on this grand adventure of family firsts. But right now I have to collect my thoughts, review my notes, and organize a bazillion photos, while also catching up on what all my friends have been up to in my absence. So please stay tuned in the days ahead, because I have adventures to share!