RV Open House at the Park

Tim invited his friends and colleagues at Rocky Mountain National Park to an open house to show off the RV.  Because so many people have been hearing about our trip, or have seen the RV at the park, we wanted them to see where we will be living for the next nine months.  Although Tim has another month of work, we wanted to get together with his colleagues now, since I will be leaving in less than two weeks. 

It was fun to have people walk through the RV and see how we have managed to pack all that we will need in such a small space.  Most everyone was amazed at the efficient use of space in a small Class B RV.

Friends, Colleagues and Food

Superintendent Vaughn Baker and Tim’s boss Larry Frederick, Chief of Interpretation, joined us, and I thanked them profusely for everything they have done to make this trip a reality.  Not every employer would allow an employee to leave for nine months.  We are so lucky that Tim works for such wonderful people, and I am so proud that he is a National Park Service employee.  What an amazing organization.



Superintendent Vaughn Baker, Tim, and Chief of Interpretation Larry Frederick

Since she was the inspiration for acquiring the RV, we had to bring Kitty along for the party, and she behaved perfectly, basking in all of the attention.  We take her good nature for granted, but many people marveled at how well she behaved on a leash and in her kitty enclosure.

Tim and Kitty

Final Shake-Down

This weekend we set out on our final test run before the start of the “big trip.”  Our destination was Casper, Wyoming.  This trip would serve several purposes.

Why Casper?  The folks from the RV Water Filter Store, whom I had met at The Rally, were going to be there and had offered to look at the Kat Karrier to see if a water filter system could be installed inside the RV.  We want to be able to drink the water from the tap and would prefer to avoid hooking up an exterior filter to the hose if at all possible.



Watching the World Go By

The second purpose was to see how the cat would do on a four-hour ride.  This was going to be a big test for her.  Kitty did very well. After spending the first hour in the security of my lap, she summoned her courage and moved to the back of the sofa, where she could watch all the cars go by.  After intermittent cries for the next hour or so, she apparently decided that riding in the RV wasn’t so bad after all and settled down for the duration of the trip.

We arrived in Casper just after dark and pulled into the type of campground that we hope to avoid – sites extremely close together and not a tree or even a blade of grass to be found.  The entire site was paved with gravel.  Oh well, the campground was clean and convenient for our appointment the next morning.

We met with Rick from the RV Water Filter Store the next morning and reluctantly came to the conclusion that an exterior filter was the only way to go.  Rick was so knowledgeable and helpful, and I would recommend him highly.

We finished our business before noon and decided to forego our second night at the campground in Casper, even though we had prepaid for two nights.  Our thought was to find a campground with more “natural” amenities a little farther south. 

But before we left Casper, we had to refuel our faces.  Johnny J’s Diner, a 50s throwback, called to us.  Chili, wet fries, egg salad and peach pie.  How deliciously disgusting?  Thank goodness for the fruit we would have for dinner.

We headed south and picked out Glendo State Park as a promising destination.  However, the lack of electrical hookups in 90°+ weather ruled that one out.  Air conditioning was a must, so we ended up at a private campground nearby.  This one was also paved with stones.  Is this the new trend in campgrounds?  This campground, however, featured very wide sites, a pretty view and grass nearby.  Kitty agreed that this would do just fine.



This Isn't So Bad

After it cooled down a bit, Kitty joined us outside and even went for a few walks.  Tim never imagined that he would be walking a cat, but he’s very good at it!

  

I Like Walks

We took the back roads on our way home to Estes Park on Sunday, and declared the shake-down a success.



Rainbow in the Distance



RV School

When I read in the spring that The Rally, the Good Sam Club’s annual event, was going to be held in Redmond, Oregon, this summer, I seriously considered attending.  As a complete novice, I hoped that attending seminars and talking to vendors would help me understand a little more about the RV.  The fact that Redmond is not far from Portland, where my friend Kevin lives, was an added bonus.

I flew to Portland on Wednesday, and Kevin and I drove to Redmond the next day.  The drive along the Mount Hood Scenic Byway was beautiful.  We had decided to stay in Bend, Oregon, which is a city I had wanted to visit for some time.  Kevin would work during the day while I attended The Rally, and we explored Bend in the evening.



The Rally

Most of the seminars I attended were very worthwhile.  I learned how to sanitize the fresh water tank at “Frustration-Free RVing” and was instructed on the ins and outs of Microsoft Streets and Trips at “The Perfect Trip Is at Your Fingertips.”  My favorite seminar was a hands-on demonstration of microwave-convection oven cooking.  We’ll be cooking most of our meals in this type of microwave, and I want to be able to take advantage of its unique features.

Visiting the vendors was also a highlight, since I could go shopping for things we simply cannot do without.  I’m glad I brought an extra bag to pack all of my loot!



Deschutes River in the Old Mill District in Bend

Bend is a beautiful city on the high desert side of the Cascade Range, and Kevin and I wandered through downtown and the Old Mill District, sampling local wines and vodkas.  We explored Smith Rock State Park and followed scenic byways around Mount Bachelor and across the Cascades on our way back to Portland.



Smith Rock State Park

Sunning on the Rocks at Smith Rock State Park

 

Mount Bachelor

 

Kitty Kamping

On the Fence About Camping

The day had finally arrived.  Kitty was going camping.  We had planned her first excursion at a campground close to home, Aspenglen in Rocky Mountain National Park.  How would Kitty react?  How would she cope?  More to the point, how would I cope?  Would she adapt like the good kitty she has always been, or would she fight back, kicking and screaming and put the entire trip in jeopardy?  I was more than a little nervous.



So Much Grass to Eat, So Little Time

I shouldn’t have worried.  Kitty behaved like a real camper and took to the experience like she had been RVing for years.  She still was not too crazy about the drive to the campground, especially when she slid off the back of the sofa, but once we arrived, Tim took her for a walk around our campsite, and she was in heaven.  Grass taller than she is and lots of interesting things to explore!  She didn’t even pay attention to her harness (which she hates).  She also seemed to enjoy her new kitty enclosure, which we staked to the ground next to the RV.

After dinner, Kitty decided she wanted to go out again, so we went for a walk.  She walked us for a while, and then I carried her in a sling that I had purchased – what a great idea that was.  Kitty certainly was the focus of attention.  A National Park ranger drove by, and Kitty even stopped him in his tracks.  “A cat on a leash is not a sight you see too often,” he remarked.  As long as Kitty is with us, I don’t think we’ll ever have a problem meeting people.

The next morning, Kitty came very close to becoming “coyote bait.”  Tim had taken her outside on her leash while I washed the dishes.  I happened to look out the window and spotted a coyote eying her.  I called to Tim to pick up the cat before she became breakfast for a litter of coyote pups.  Mama coyote seemed very disappointed and wandered away, but came back with an unfortunate critter in her mouth.  In speaking with our neighbors, we learned that they had watched the coyote stalking the cat for some time before I spotted her.  Luckily, Kitty escaped unharmed and never even seemed to notice potential danger.



Coyote Bait



Kickin' Back



Let Me Out



Where's It Going?



Make Me Look Pretty



What Are You Reading?

 

Rocky Mountain National Park



Kitty, Meet Your New Home

After reading lots of advice about traveling with cats in an RV, Tim and I decided that we would gradually introduce Kitty to her new home.  I graciously volunteered to spend the night with her in the RV while it was parked in our driveway.  Tim did not protest.

Going for a Walk

We took Kitty to her Kat Karrier and let her loose to explore.  We had prepared the RV with her bed, a litter box in the “basement” and a Neater Feeder, a set of dishes that would turn out to be perfect for the motion of an RV.  Kitty didn’t know which way to turn, or what to explore first.  Everything was so new!



Good View from Here

When it was time for bed, Tim made his escape, and Kitty and I tried to get some sleep.  Or, should I say that I tried to get some sleep.  Kitty spent most of the night climbing all over me, looking out the windows and wandering from front to back.  When she was finally convinced that she had secured the space, she snuggled up close to me in the center of the bed.  I got the corner.  I don’t think that either one of us got much sleep, but at least Kitty appeared to be willing to adapt to her new home.

Can I Drive?