On the road again with cats. No, we didn't ask them.

by Rain Trueax

photo from my 2018 Zen calendar for Oregon

We start a trip like this one without a definite plan for route or where we'll park the RV at night. There has been some researching ahead of time for options. Hey, that is kind of like life, isn't it!

Day 1: We stuffed (and sometimes that is what it takes) all four cats into boxes. To fit them better on the truck backseat, we had bought one large box for Babe and Tigger, the two formerly feral cats. She often curls up with him. How could a box be any different? It was. We heard the most horrible, low growl coming from it-- Babe. So we separated them, put Blackie into a small box on top of the other three... not making me at all comfortable as that didn't seem as secure. 

Farm Boss started the engine, looked at the gauge and said-- we are going nowhere. The system voltage did not respond to RPM change. The cats went back in the house as did my computer and he went off to town to get the truck fixed. It was the alternator (how fortunate that this didn't happen on the road). He bought the parts and had the dealer install it. All set again for the next morning.

Day 2: Regarding the big box, we gave using it a try with Blackie and Raven. There was minor hissing. While cats hate boxes, apparently, they hate sharing one more. We took off anyway to see how if it would improve. Eventually, I took Blackie out and let him ride between us as he is the most docile cat we have- probably because he is alpha—with an alpha’s security in who he is—(this works less well in American politics).

Heading down I-5, we were unsure if we'd go over Willamette Pass or continue south on the freeway. Snow was a consideration but it has been quite light for this time of year-- the traffic was light also. It was only when we got to Medford that we knew we'd go over the Siskiyous and it would be California all the way to Arizona. The Siskiyous didn't have more than a few patches of snow alongside the road. This was amazing but also nice, as it made possible the decision to spend our first night in Yreka.

In traveling, we use Good Sam guides as well as what we can find online, which led to an RV park next to what will eventually be a casino. It made for an easy layover, and with all four cats in the trailer with us, it went surprisingly well at night—no battles. There was also no spraying. They were probably too traumatized by traveling to fight with each other-- they had a common grievance. Cats hate to travel.

Day 3: After breakfast, we made the decision to let Blackie and Raven ride in the trailer rather than the truck. Babe and Tigger were put in boxes and rode in the backseat with yowling about a third of the way. I was uneasy about leaving the other two in back but four cats in boxes wasn't working. I had confidence that Blackie and Raven would not try to get out when we had to stop since they'd been in the trailer multiple times, and all they do when the door opens is hide. In an accident, they would be safer in the trailer. This though is why we are considering getting a fifth-wheel trailer (with a bunkroom), which hooks differently to the truck. Humans can even ride in a fifth-wheel, not that I'd want to.

Always optimistic, we set out with good weather and thinking maybe we could make it to Santa Nella, a great place for split-pea soup. Turns out just north of Stockton, in the river flats, we'd had enough. 

When we got to the trailer, Blackie and Raven had done fine. The two in the truck were relieved to get out. The park for the night was okay. Again, the night was peaceful and the cats napped a lot or looked out the windows.

Day 4: Because the cats had gotten along at night, we tried leaving them all in the trailer *fingers crossed*. Again, we were aiming for short days. We've had our times of driving 14 hours; but the older we have gotten, the harder it has been to get over those kind of days. Now 5 hours is pretty good. One advantage of going with a trailer is cooking our meals, shorter travel days due to cheaper nightly costs. Some save more by staying in Walmart parking lots, rest areas or boon-dock. We also did that when younger. Now we want hook-ups at night and it's worth the $40.

Just outside Bakersfield, we stayed at Orange Grove RV. It lived up to its name. The park was full of orange trees and this was their season. They said pick all you want and we took some with us-- more delicious when fresh.

Day 5: the goal was a KOA outside of Barstow, where we have stayed before. We intended to just spend a night in Daggett, mostly known for being a Marine logistics base. 

With the usual relief, we turned off the freeway to head for our park and got stopped at a railroad crossing with a slow engine and many cars. That would not have been so bad except—wait for it—the crossing light did not turn off. Come on, this is a military base area and the railroad can't keep its crossing working? Finally after at least 20 minutes, we opted to take a frontage road where we finally did get across—after waiting for that same train to finish crossing and another light but this one worked.

As for the four cats traveling together, they did fine. Babe came out from under the sofa, the only cat who could get under there. The rest stretched and came from various hiding places under or near the bed.

Where we set up the trailer, it was fairly protected from the predicted wind. We looked at the forecast, saw how bad it was going to be, and told the office we'd spend two nights. The problem with traveling in the desert in such wet conditions is not just the wind with the trailer, but what it does to the road with water and mud across it. Safer to give crews some time to be sure all is well. 

We felt sad at how hard this storm had hit Southern California with mudslides. It was a bad one. For the 6 of us though, a day without traveling was a nice break. 

The site is particularly nice with oleander between the RV spots, in our case, a view of the mountains in the distance. It's why we enjoy it there and maybe sometime will stay with time and energy to explore Calico, a developed ghost town in the hills beyond. The last thing we wanted on this trip was driving; so we stayed put.

Ranch Boss pulled out my portable desk, split keyboard, and I managed to finish the rough draft for the manuscript I’ve been working on since early September. It’s quite rough but to have the story finally out there was a plus for me. Ranch Boss got started reading it—another plus as he's my editor and publisher :).

Day 7—was the traffic day that I had dreaded the most. Again it was to be a short day with only going from Daggett to Bouse, a little desert wayside for mostly snowbirds or those who choose to live in the desert year round in their trailers. My concern came from one of its stretches that is two lane, with a lot of traffic and many whoopty-dos. The drive didn't end up as bad as I'd expected. 

I like these little desert waysides although this one had heavy truck traffic just beyond it most of the night. Some of the trailers had landscaping around them and might stay year round. 

Desert rats some call them who like to go out on the desert and look for minerals or explore dirt roads. Sometimes they have roadside markets set up to sell wares. The land in such places has little potential for sustaining life other than jackrabbits, coyotes, and a few birds. Again the cats got along well with only one warning hiss in the night.

Day 8: We could have driven to Tucson but I wanted to stay in Gila Bend, so that our last day's drive would be fresh when we hit the freeway, also we knew we'd have floor damage at the Tucson house. We knew the Gila Bend park was quiet and nice-- a bit farther off the road. 

Day 9: It was only a couple of hours and we turned up our road and saw our own driveway. End of one journey and beginning of another.