Traveling with Kitties

Our companions in this newest adventure are our young Saint Bernard female, Baby, and the 2 cats, Precious who is 2 and Rainbow who is approximately 8 months.

We have spent a lot of emotional energy recently worrying about the welfare of our pets on the road, having in the past traversed many miles in the Escape Pod, our old Class C accompanied by 2 Saints and the Black B@$*@rd (who we thought was a cat).

We had no real fears about Baby adapting to a peripatetic lifestyle, but the cats have totally exceeded any expectations we had.  They have smoothly accepted this 34 foot tin box as home, and seem to be enjoying themselves thoroughly.

We've made few special accommodations for them, mainly the "Cat Banana" which is their private screened porch which hangs out the passenger window of Maya when we're parked.  They have discovered their own hidey-holes  and secret places, and as in the stix-n-brix, spend most of their time sleeping and the remainder racing up and down the hallway.

We can only be grateful that the cats have so graciously allowed us to change their living arrangements,without punishing us unduly.

Surprisingly pretty Iowa back roads

We continue our brand-new journey into Iowa this second day.  I'm learning to manipulate this long and intimidating rig somewhat, but it is still pretty nerve wracking.  Watching mirrors, watching gauges, worrying about the cats and the dog, hoping I don't mess anything up.

We've planned our route to take us mostly on secondary roads (that is to say, Microsoft Streets & Trips has planned) and this last section south through the mid-section of Iowa is nicely hilly and scenic.  I'm finally able to relax a bit and enjoy the countryside.

Our destination for the night is McGowan Recreation and Wildlife Area in Bloomfield, IA, owned by the Davis County Conservation District.  What a charmer this campground is!

The place is deserted except for us, and we pull into a site parallel to one of the fishing ponds which dot this old farm.  50 amp and water,for only $14 self-service.  Grass and trees, birds and breezes- heaven!

So pleasant is this quiet and serene little piece of Iowa, that we decide to stay for a few days.  How hard it is to realize we have no more timetables, no places to be!

Monday will be time enough to get back on the road;  for now, we'll just relax. 

We finally get moving...

After so many false starts, we finally get underway on Wednesday, August 24, 2011.  Senior Chief is in the jam-packed Dodge van, while I drive the motor home, towing Pete, the Saturn wagon.
 
We get only 20 miles or so before he pulls over;  the van is handling badly and making an awful noise.  So what do you do?  Call AAA, only to be told they won't cover a tow on the van, because its a loaded cargo van. So, who knew Triple A had these little restrictions?!  Pure steam is coming from my ears by now...

$97 tow fee later, the mechanic says he believes its mostly a problem with the (overly heavy) load on the van.  Shift the weight forward, he says and most of the problems should disappear.

And so they do.  Its getting to be late in the afternoon, so we get across the bridge to Dubuque, IA and pull off into the Miller Riverside Park for the night.

Right on the riverbank of the Mississippi, with a pleasant breeze and quiet neighbors. 

Happy hour seems to be in order for these two tired full-timers!