Hotdogger Blog

…Only for the Queen Bee! I was the lucky child (of four siblings) that got to host my mom on Mother’s Day this year. Besides several rides in the Wienermobile, I wanted to make it extra special. Since we were visiting San Diego, Patrick and I decided that a cruise touring the harbor on the Adventure Hornblower ship would complete our presentation of the city. In order to feel most like sailors, we chose a table on the top level for the best view and outdoor experience. The tour guide told us over the loud speaker all about  the San Diego skyline and ships anchored in the bay, like the USS Midway that we toured earlier in our trip. It was definitely a fun ride and best of all, I think our mothers were impressed with our savvy knack for city scoping.

Mother's Day Cruising

Patrick and His Mom

Everyone should have a theme song. Mine is “Hakuna Matata” from the Disney movie The Lion King. Patrick’s is “One Time” by Justin Bieber. As Hotdoggers, most can claim the Wiener Jingle or the Bologna Song as their theme, at least for the year. While in Denver, Picklin’ Patrick and I sang the words to a different tune. It’s about a farmer’s dog and Bingo was his name-o. B-I-N-G-O!

We visited the Thorton Senior Center to give their normal BINGO meeting an Oscar Mayer hot dog spin. Patrick and I got to choose which spaces to cover for a win (i.e. “H-shape” for hot dogs, “Y-shape” for yellow mustard, “8-pack” of hot dogs) and call all the numbers.

BINGO Emcee Picklin' Patrick

The whole group with RELSHME

Afterward, we invited the group for a picture with the Wienermobile outside the center. They ate up the special occasion!

KOA also stands for Kampgrounds of America. The Southwest Team can tell you that because we got to spend a weekend “kamping with a K” at this sweet location right outside of San Diego. We partnered with the site and scheduled activities and games all to do with yours truly, the Wienermobile! My favorite was the hot dog scavenger hunt. Participants raced around the grounds to find the ingredients for a great hot dog (i.e. a bun, hot dog, ketchup, mustard, relish) and then decorated it. Patrick and I got to judge based on creativity. Check out the action!

Hot dog Creativity: The Entries

Showcasing the Prizes

Awarding the Prizes: Usual RELSHME stardom

There’s no way to know the best kept secrets of a city you’ve never visited. Luckily, a former Hotdogger (someone we know we can trust) led us to this look-out point in San Diego. Feast your eyes on this view of the city.

The Southwest Team likes to keep up with our fitness especially as summer approache and we head to the beach. We thought the opportunity to support the Museum of Man’s 5K Race for RACE was the perfect time to break into a competitive scene. The proceeds support Monarch School and SDMoM educational programs, aimed at promoting acceptance through education.

While we left the Wienermobile parked in front of the museum, Picklin’ Patrick and I decided to lace up and take on the challenge. The trail twisted around the famous Balboa Park of San Diego, home to the Zoo and several museums and centers. The landscape of the park is a gorgeous place to run, each street lined with palm trees and flower gardens.

Here’s a picture of Patrick and I after placing in the top quarter. (And if you must know, Patrick finished seconds before I did, but only after he trailed me for almost the entire race.)

Maria, Patrick, and RESLHME: All Winners

On a short 1,244 mile hop from McAllen, TX to Flagstaff, AZ, Picklin’ Pat and I decided that it’d be best to give RELSHME a little break. The searching red lights and smoke drew us to a galaxy about half way between called Roswell, NM. We could only stay for about half of the earth’s rotation (one night), but crossed our fingers for a shooting star. We wished we could stay longer as we hovered down the supernatural themed strip.

UFO (Unbelievable Frankfurter Object)

We wondered if anyone would spot us as a UFO because sometimes people think the Wienermobile can fly. Picklin’ Pat and I sure aren’t aliens, but the cosmic creatures were represented (mostly relish colored), lurking in store front windows and on light posts near the International UFO Museum.

Once we arrived to our sleeping space we noticed a local luxury, “UFO H2O: Preferred by Aliens in All Galaxies.” I call it an “Out of this Wienermobile” kind of adventure!

UFO H20

The Hotdogger Blog has showcased several pictures of my teammates and I looking smooth in our flight suits.  While at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, NV, a fellow flight suit friend stopped by for a visit. After seeing several service men in uniform since setting our wheels on base, I didn’t think anything was peculiar until I took a closer look.

Oscar Myers on a Mustard Colored Badge

It’s okay if you had to double take, too. Oscar Myers is this pilot’s call name when in flight. Even though he spells Oscar Mayer differently and our flight suits are a bit more “ketchup and mustard,” the Southwest Team was honored that he and his wife decided to “ketchup” with us for a photo opportunity.

Oscar Myers: That's a Hotdogger name in itself.

After a local clued in the Southwest Team about a scenic “kraut” from Flagstaff to Sedona, AZ, our Hotdogger instincts took over and we headed out directly after our event. “What’s a 20 minute ride to dinner?,” we thought.

From the "bun's-eye" view

Red Rock Formations are one of my favorite natural wonders of the Southwest region. The curves and winding trails continuously opened to another beautiful look-out.

"Pioneer Pat" leading the way

Picklin’ Pat really likes to hike. Here he is with one of Sedona’s most photographed formations, Bell Rock.

Meep! Meep! Maria

Picklin' Patrick

Finally, we made it to dinner, something Patrick and I both enjoy. Imagine the view we had as the sun set on this unexpected adventure.

RELSHME soaking in the Arizona sunset

RELSHME was waiting patiently for us when we finished, ready to take us home/back to our hotel.

Has anyone ever peppered you into believing that the Great Salt Lake isn’t even salty? Someone recently tried to fool me with this FAKE FUN FACT, but I knew better because as Hotdoggers, we know the most about FUN FACTS. Just to be sure, Picklin’ Pat and I visited the Great Salt Lake one afternoon to solve this mystery and bring you as many FUN FACTS as you can handle in one blog post. Before I lake it on thick, let’s season this blog with some photos.

RELSHME enjoying the view

"Prodding Pat" and a buffalo for a close-up

That rock is not as comfortable as "Shotbun"

"A" is for Angle (or Patrick might say Artsy)

FUN FACT: The Great Salt Lake is the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere, 37th largest lake on Earth.

FUN FACT: The reason the Great Salt Lake is salty is because it has no outlets, except for evaporation.

FUN FACT: The three rivers that contribute to the lake (The Jordan, Weber, and Bear) deposit around 1.1 million tons of minerals per year. (Since only the water is evaporating and not the minerals, the concentration of minerals continually increases, making this Northern Utah State landmark extra salty.)

FUN  FACT: The Great Salt Lake is saltier than sea water.

FUN FACT: Because of all of this salt, the water has a higher density than usual and so, most people can easily float in the lake. (No, we didn’t try to float the Wienermobile.)

Remember the motel in the sleepy little town on Route 66 that Lightening McQueen stops at in the hit Pixar movie CARS? These are the sites and inspirations that Hotdoggers sometimes discover while on tour. While revving up the local folk at a grocery store in Holbrook, AZ, Picklin’ Pat and I found this strikingly similar scene across the street, and by street, I mean Route 66.

A Holbrook, AZ Landmark

"Peelin' Out Patrick" with all the vintage wheels

A man at the event even described Holbrook, AZ as the town featured in the movie. While the Wienermobile never stays in one place for very long, we decided to put our wheels in Lightening McQueen’s axles and experience what it would feel like as the new dog in town. 

Top Dog RELSHME

The Wigwam Motel is still open for business and holds a special place in Arizona’s engine. The property is listed  on the National Register of Historic Places.

A Wigwam Wonder