DC to Oregon to DC... traveling with dogs tips n' insights.

I'd written this post for another community I'm a part of, but thought it might help someone here, as well...

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Hello, Folks:

After about 3 weeks away, the crew and I finally returned to DC last Thursday. It took us 5.5 days to get out to Oregon, and 6.5 days to return to DC (due to an additional overnight in Nebraska as there was a severe thunderstorm line moving along our route in the midwest.... I am NOT messing with midwest storms).

This trip was much-needed for countless reasons, and it did not disappoint.

I had to override a lot of fears and doubts to do it solo with my dogs (drove out with 4 dogs... one of whom is 16 with dementia; returned with 5).... but that was all the more reason TO do it. Nothing I feared came to pass. Not even close... though there were some unsettling situations that popped up. Like.... when the Waze app took me on some backass country route in Wyoming to save some miles. And when it, again, took me on this remote, desolate, if-you-get-a-flat-you're-vulture-feed route after having been on the road for 8 hours.... which tacked on an excruciating additional 4 hours.... and it became pitch black out..... in Nevada. I was so tired... so hungry... and there was NOTHING around. Not for miles and hours. There was also this one part in Nevada where the road takes you down this SUPER steep, windy road ..... with NO GUARD RAILS and a drop that extended hundreds upon hundreds of feet to the ground. I seriously wonder how many people have ever flown down the road just before this at 80+ mph (the speed limit is 80 for the majority of the drive in Nevada)... and just flew off the side of that cliff not expecting the road to twist the way it does! I feared going back up the particular route again... the drop is so steep and the road is so windy....I thought I rerouted in a way where I'd avoid it. Nope. Had to endure it again on the way back, too. Seriously unsettling. I'm *absolutely* amazed there are no guard rails. That has to be one of the most dangerous roads in the world.

Anyhow...some tips I have for anyone thinking of making the trek from the east coast to the west coast....

1. Keep an eye on speed limits as they change quite a bit along the way, and use cruise control! BTW. Nebraska police are sneaky. Waze won't pick them up. I got a ticket on the way out ... had to pay to take a digital course so it wouldn't count against me. It was riveting. Yes, I passed ; )

2. From about Nebraska on, make sure you fill up when you hit half a tank. You don't know when you'll see a gas station again. *Especially* in WY and NE.

3. Bring. Food. If you're health conscious like I am, you'll want to bring some healthy snacks and food to dip into... especially to have on hand during those nights at certain hotels out in BFE where there are zero options.

4. Keep well stocked on water.

5. In WY and Nevada, what looks like dried grass is usually not. It's something called "foxtails". Beware. They'll stick in your dogs' paw pads if walked on. They can also become embedded anywhere else on the body and can lead to a lot of pain, infection, and other issues. Finding spots to walk the dogs on in these two particular states was difficult, but they were found. Shaded asphalt spots and sand. I usually stopped at hotels (most of which keep their landscaping up) and walked them around there after gassing up.

6. We stopped about every 1.5 min - 2.5 hours or so for relief, watering, and to stretch our legs.

7. Hilton has become a super dog friendly chain, thankfully, and I'm - now- a loyal fan. Hampton Inn and Suites (part of the Hilton brand) was the best we stayed at. Zero pet fees (at least, the ones we stayed at in Laramie, WY and Ohio), zero pet restrictions as far as breed, number, or weight is concerned. AND lovely accommodations. Both had awesome neighboring *huge* fields of nicely cut grass for the dogs to fetch and run around on. I stayed at a Red Roof Inn in Ohio on the way out.... never again. While they were "dog friendly" without pet fees... it smelled, was falling apart, and- the one I stayed at- was, apparently, the local teen hang out on a Friday night. Next best hotels were the La Quinta Inn and Suites in Kearney, Nebraska (**tons** of beautiful, open walking spaces around the hotel) and the Holiday Inn Express, but there was a pet fee here. I did not plan any of my stays as I didn't know how long I'd be on the road or how I'd be feeling. When I got tired, I stopped off and drove around asking the front desk folk if the hotel was "pet friendly" until we landed a "yes". The Holiday Inn Express right off of Highway 80 (the main route from East to West Coast) in Davenport, Iowa had neighboring fields of grass and huge parking lots to walk around. It also has a faaaaabulous restaurant *right* next door called "Thunder Bay Grille"... absolutely delicious food. Was soooo appreciated after days of driving and having "road food".

The most memorable stay was in the suite at Bridgeview Winery in Cave Junction, OR (a stone's throw from Selma). Super dog friendly. No pet fees, no restrictions. I also made some lifetime friends here. Renee is the owner/winemaker, and is just good people. You may see him in a dress and earrings (which was unexpected), and you may see him in a button down and shorts. He's true to self, is a warm, kind, authentic and genuine human being, and is a *most* gracious host. The suite was *amazeballs*. We walked around the vineyard morning, noon, and night. There are no resident animals except for a pair of beautiful female swans and a lone Canadian goose who follows them around. You may have some travelers pull up in RV's with their own dogs/ animals from Harvest Hosts (https://harvesthosts.com), but that's about it. The wines are phenomenal.... Bridgeview's Pinot Noir is the *only* Pinot I've ever liked, btw. Aside from Pinot, they have a lovely variety to choose from. Here's the link to Bridgeview if you wish to stay when you're out that way: https://www.bridgeviewwine.com. I can't recommend it enough. It's an experience I'll never forget.

8. You *will* lose cell and internet connection in Nevada. For most of the drive through there. You will also likely be the only car on the road for periods of time. So, be sure to have a paper map with you if using a directional app (which I did not).

My top 8 trip necessities:

1. water.

2. lip balm (especially once you hit Wyoming and on).

3. Kimmie's Epic Playlist (my own fantabulous playlist)

4. Lewis Howes' podcast.

5. poop bags.

6. an in vehicle trash bag.

7. quarters for laundry (clothes, car seat coverings, bedding and blankets).

8. healthy snacks. I was craving... CRAVING... plants while on the road. I was craving **clean food** ... and **real food** while on the road. What's available and accessible is primarily egg stuff, meat, fried sh*t, and processed junk. I eat a clean, organic, plant heavy diet, so I had to make concessions. Wendy's has some pretty nice salads that can also be modified for something relatively healthy and fast. Although not as prevalent as McD's, you'll likely see some along the route.

9. travel crates.

Be sure to get your vehicle serviced before and after the trip, and let your bank know all the states you'll be traveling through so any card you're using doesn't get flagged and locked.

Lastly, enjoy the trip!!

(some pics of our trek and of Bridgeview Winery... where I extended my stay twice... I just. Didn't. Want. To leave.....and there's a picture of two abandoned goats at a Nevada gas station- one adult male and a baby. Someone had left them tied up. I circled back to see if anyone in the station owned them... nope. Apparently people abandon their animals out there all the time. No one seemed to care, either. I got some ice water for them as it was 500 degrees out... and, luckily, a couple who'd just moved to that area stopped and asked if they were mine as I was giving them water. We struck up a conversation. The woman got some fresh chard out of their truck to give to the goats... who were really sweet, really tame, btw. They promised to look after them and ensure their safety, so we could continue on our merry way.... good people do exist ) <3