Category Archives: Pet Travel

March 6, 2013 · 1:58 pm

Grand Canyon Evokes Awe and Amazement

The canyon walls’ colorful layers reveal Grand Canyon’s geological history. Photo Credit: Rose Muenker

Revisiting the Grand Canyon was the highlight of our travels to Santa Fe. The vistas from the South Rim were as amazing and awe-inspiring to me this time as every other time I’ve seen them. Capturing them on camera is near impossible for amateur photographers like me, but at least these cell phone images document our visit.

David photographs the South Rim on a wintry March day. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Snow dusted rock ledges and shaded forest floors — a reminder that it’s still winter. Bracing winds whipped about. Even so, the park was busy, especially with travelers from Asia.

Visitors peer into the Grand Canyon from Mather Point. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

When I caught sight of the Colorado River deep in the canyon, I marveled at my stamina and nerve 12 years ago when I backpacked from the North Rim to the South Rim with three other women. It was a journey I treasure for its insights into my life as well as for the experience of being surrounded by such extraordinary grandeur.

Sonya waits in the car while David takes photos of the Grand Canyon. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Our dog, Sonya, put up with our numerous stops to admire the view and take photos. Later she joined us on the paved Rim Trail, which permits dogs. She’s a people magnet, bringing smiles to passersby and attracting people eager to pet her and strike up a conversation.

We are now comfortably situated in our spring and summer “home” in Santa Fe after a safe and joyful 650-mile road trip.

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Filed under Pet Travel, RV Lifestyle, RV Travel, Western United States

Tagged as Grand Canyon, Mather Point, South Rim

March 2, 2013 · 8:34 pm

Puppydom Memories

Devil Dog Road sign on Interstate 40 in Arizona. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

This exit sign stirred memories (nightmares?) of when our sweet dog Sonya was a puppy. She lived in constant, frenzied motion. Our only peace came when she was sleeping.

At obedience training, the instructor said she was like a Tasmanian devil and nicknamed her Devil Dog. Ah, not fair! No way were we going to let that horrible nickname stick! We had no desire for here to think she needed to live up to it for years to come!

About age 3, her frenzy toned down. She sped around in controlled motion. At age 7, she started to mellow. (It’s all relative, of course.)

Sonya travels in her road warrior travel gear. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Now 12 years old, Sonya still has lots of spunk and energy. And, to our delight, she has matured into a sweet, easy-going companion. She would much rather be chasing squirrels or birds than traveling in the RV — the rhythm of the road unnerves her. But she does fine with the help of her ThunderShirt, which calms her much like a snuggly calms a baby, and her safety harness.

She continues to shower us with affection and amuse us with her antics and curiosity. I hope we do the same for her.

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Filed under Pet Travel, RV Lifestyle, RV Travel

Tagged as pet travel, rv lifestyle, RV Travel

March 28, 2012 · 8:06 am

On the Road Again (Almost)

Sonya and Rose at our boondock site in Pahrump, NV. Photo credit: David Muenker

After three pleasant winter months in Pahrump, Nevada, we’re gearing up to drive our motorhome to Utah where we’ll store it while we do a road trip to Phoenix, Tucson and Denver to visit friends and family and attend a conference before we settle just outside of Bryce Canyon National Park for the summer.

To retrain our road and dry camping muscles, we moved from our full hookup site (water, electric, sewer) to a boondock (dry camping site). We’re making sure all the systems are go and we’re relearning how to conserve water and energy before spending a week dry camping at Lake Mead. Why dry camping? It’s mostly a budget-saving decision with very little inconvenience.

We start our journey tomorrow, Wednesday.

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Filed under Nevada, Pet Travel, RV Lifestyle, RV Sites, Western United States

Tagged as boondocking, dry camping, nevada, Pahrump

March 19, 2012 · 11:25 am

My Personal Trainer

Sonya grabs her dumb bell for her morning exercises. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

To make sure I remember to do my morning exercises, my dog Sonya pulls out her own dumb bell. Of course, she would much rather run after jack rabbits in open fields or chase balls in the RV park’s pet area.

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Filed under Pet Travel, RV Lifestyle

Tagged as pet exercise

February 25, 2012 · 1:33 pm

Happiness Is Chasing Jackrabbits

Sonya's tongue becomes almost as long as her leg after chasing jackrabbits. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

At least for Sonya! Despite her “fast as a bullet” speed, the jackrabbits outdistancedher in no time. Their long ears shot skyward as they sprang through desert brush into the mesquite groves. I scarcely manage to get a photo of Sonya, so I didn’t even bother trying to get a photo of a jackrabbit.

This field is near our RV park in Pahrump and a great place for Sonya to romp when David is with her. He can get her back by her side with some insistent shouts or whistles. With the occasional presence of coyotes, though, I wouldn’t take her there on my own because I don’t have her under voice command. (I know, you’d think in 11 years I would have learned that skill.)

But I do love it when they invite me along. Sonya expresses sheer joy when she does what she was born to do. Her joy is contagious and stays with me for hours. Love it!

Sonya Celebrates 11th Birthday Romping in Field in Fernley, NV

"Yummy birthday treat!" Sonya smacks her lips after devouring who-knows-what she found while scavenging a field. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Amazing as it seems to us, Sonya turned 11 years old today. She’s been celebrating her birthday doing what she loves to do — run untethered in the open air, sniff everything within reach, eat and then nap all afternoon, warmed by the sunshine streaming through the RV window.

Sonya still runs quick as lightning and has a strong, lean, muscled body. And she’s still as sweet and affectionate as ever. Fortunately for us, she gave up the frenzied behavior of her puppyhood by age 7.

She’s a wonderful companion at home and on the road. Happy Birthday, Sonya!

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Filed under Pet Travel, Western United States

Tagged as Fernley, nevada, pet travel

November 8, 2011 · 12:51 pm

Snow Dusts Our Nevada Backyard

Snow covers the hills behind the field where Sonya romps. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Snow came early to the northwest Nevada desert. Early morning temperatures hover around 20 degrees, and frost clings to the car. When an RV site opened up at a park in Fernley, less than 10 minutes from the Amazon.com fulfillment center, we snapped it up. The 65-mile round-trip commute from the RV park in Sparks was a challenge, especially driving in the dark when it’s snowing or sleeting.

David is playing Santa’s elf at Amazon.com during the holiday rush, packaging all those Christmas gifts you folks are ordering over the Internet. (Amazon.com has a seasonal work camping program for RVers at three locations during the holiday rush. In addition to a decent hourly wage, the program pays for the RV site rental.)

Besides proximity to Amazon.com, the little town of Fernley (population 4,153) provides the basics: Scolari’s grocery store, Starbucks, several fast food franchises, some restaurants, Wal-Mart and Lowes. We feel we belong here now that the local library has given us temporary cards to check out books and movies. Best of all, Sonya can run free in the huge, fallow field just across from the RV park.

Clouds hover over snow-dusted slopes near Fernley, NV. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Holding to my exercise commitment, I drive into Sparks four days a week to work out at Planet Fitness. (I’m already seeing the positive effects!) My drives are in bright daylight so they’re enjoyable, especially when I catch sight of wild horses. And on Sundays, David and I feed our souls at the Center for Spiritual Living,Reno. In addition to having a great ministerial team and energizing music, the center brings in top guest speakers: Karen Russo in October and Karen Drucker this month.

so far, the heaters are keeping our rig cozy enough. Life is good.

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Filed under Nevada, Pet Travel, RV Lifestyle, Western United States, work camper

Tagged as Amazon.com, Fernley NV, work camping

October 17, 2011 · 3:42 pm

Sparks Sparkles With A Lake, Dog Park and Big Skies

Fascinating clouds and big skies make for colorful sunsets in Sparks, NV. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Arrival in Sparks, Nevada. After climbing Interstate 80 through Ponderosa pine forests and spending two nights at Dutch Flat breathing sweet mountain air, we make the final climb to Donner Pass. Our timing coincides with clear roads and sunny skies. The only signs of last week’s road-closing snowstorm are a few patches of snow. The abrupt transition from forested to barren slopes prepares us for the desert terrain of our new home. “Golden” rolling hills surround the Reno/Sparks metropolis.

A two-mile walkway circles Sparks Marina Park, which has a swimming beach, fishing areas, marina for non-motorized boats and an off-leash dog park. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

We are now comfortably settled in immaculate Sparks Marina RV Park. City amenities, from Sheel’s Sporting Goods megastore, restaurants and outlet stores to a large park, are walking distance away. Discovering that Sparks Marina Park has an off-leash dog area where Sonya can swim and chase balls sealed our love for this locale!

Sonya retrieves her ball from the lake at the Sparks Marina Park off-leash area for dogs. She's in canine heaven! Photo credit: Rose Muenker

We’re adapting to Sparks’ high elevation (4,500 feet) and dry climate after five months at sea level on the Oregon Coast. And eventually, we’ll get accustomed to hearing highway, railroad and aircraft noise, along with the steady hum of a large city. Meanwhile, we’re tickled to be able to sit outside early evening in tee-shirts and shorts instead of fleeces and long pants for as long as the weather holds.

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Filed under Nevada, Pet Travel, RV Lifestyle, RV Travel, Western United States

Tagged as Donner Pass, nevada, off leash park, reno, sparks, sparks marina park, sparks marina rv park

October 9, 2011 · 8:13 pm

Ferndale Offers Respite After Jarring Encounter With Humanity

Sun brightens our view of Klamath River where we watched seals, river otters, egrets, great blue herons and cormorants. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Day 7. Before breaking camp at Klamath River RV Park to continue south, we watch a seal do acrobats in the river and a great egret fish under bright sunshine. With Ferndale as our next destination, we drive past the beautiful waters of Big Lagoon, Stone Lagoon and Freshwater Lagoon.

Heading south on Hwy 101, we pass by Humboldt Lagoons State Park, rich with marshlands and bodies of fresh water separated from the ocean by spits of sand. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Later, we stop in Eureka for supplies. What a shock to be rubbing elbows with so many people after our summer on the sparsely populated south Oregon Coast! (Eureka’s population is a whopping 27,000 and everyone seems to be shopping in WinCo with us!)

After we take the Ferndale exit off Highway 101, David has the “thrill” of driving the RV across narrow, century-old Fernbridge. It stirs sweaty palm memories of crossing bridges over the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers into Kentucky with huge semis coming toward us in the opposite lane. This time, fortunately, he gets across the bridge before any semis come along.

Stately Victorian homes and buildings beautify Ferndale, which is surrounded by dairy farms, and cattle and sheep ranches. From our RV site in the fairgrounds we look due west over a lovely pastoral scene. To our delight, Sonya is free to roam the neighboring field leash-free.

Per usual, Sonya found a sandal on Centerville Beach which she eagerly waits for David to throw for her to retrieve. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Later, we drive five miles west to Centerville Beach to get another fix of the ocean. When the sun lowers and high school kids start stacking wood pallets for a bonfire, we head home for a relaxing evening, still in need of soothing our jarred nerves from our earlier encounter with “civilization.”

Oregos Guards the Mouth of the Klamath River

The spirit Oregos watches over the mouth of the Klamath River. Photo credit: Rose Muenker

Day 2

We ease into our first morning on the Klamath River lounging in our living room chairs, sipping freshly brewed coffee while watching fish jump and fingers of fog move upriver.

Under brooding skies, we set out to the mouth of the Klamath River. Arriving before high tide, we’re able to walk along the sand spit (beach) that stretches from the south bank of the mouth of the river toward the north bank where the river currently flows into the ocean. A huge rock resembling an old woman carrying a burden basket sits on the north bank. According to Yurok legend, this is Oregos, guardian of the mouth of the Klamath River.

While Sonya checks out every inch of the sand spit, I wade in the surf until I reach the battling waters where the river meets the ocean. Seals play in the turbulent ocean. Pelicans bob on the river’s calmer waters, scooping fish into their pouches.

Rain drops snap us back into awareness of the time. Unlike birds and marine animals, we need to leave this magical scene and retreat to shore before high tide washes over the sand spit and leaves us with no way out.

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Filed under California, Pet Travel, RV Travel, Western United States

Tagged as Kalamath River mouth, Oregos, Yurok legend

Category Archives: Pet Travel

Grand Canyon Evokes Awe and Amazement

Puppydom Memories

On the Road Again (Almost)

My Personal Trainer

Happiness Is Chasing Jackrabbits

Sonya Celebrates 11th Birthday Romping in Field in Fernley, NV

Snow Dusts Our Nevada Backyard

Sparks Sparkles With A Lake, Dog Park and Big Skies

Ferndale Offers Respite After Jarring Encounter With Humanity

Oregos Guards the Mouth of the Klamath River

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