Am posting an open question for anyone driving an older Dodge camper. Mine is a 1996 full size Dodge 3500 Van, the Leisure Travel Van. It weighs about 8,000 pounds.
I’ve had issues with this van over the years but am still driving and adventuring in it. At close to 200,000 miles it’s driving well and handling well.
There is one thing I’d really like to solve however. My mechanic is working on this but so far is still looking for ideas so am reaching out to you my readers.
Problem: Very rough going over potholes (and some of these come up without warning and are very deep and numerous.) Same for ice cracked, split roads, cracked seams, ice heaves, other giant holes like spacemen have been drilling for unknown treasure and so forth which I’ve been finding now more and more often as a regular thing. Of course, yes, I found a lot of this on my trip East esp in Michigan and New York but California is not far behind. And washboard roads too, how could I forget those! My next trip is approaching and it will be North.
Maintaining roads seems to be a thing of the past. My dogs and I wind up screaming and shaking going over those darn unkempt roads.
My dogs HATE HATE HATE, yep had to write that three times, Rumble Strips, as highway repair work can force one to do, as well as trying to avoid the worst of the potholes and such. My dogs shake and pant and swear they are not going back into the van, no matter what, if I insist on driving over those terrible fear inducing Rumble Strips and deep pockets that shake my van like a an explosion, poor things, can’t be avoided, sigh. BTW my dogs said to tell all of you that rumble strips are not a “safety feature” but an extreme last ditch warning to stop the van immediately and run for it because the world is about to end, (well they don’t do the driving.) Even Gracie who used to not notice them now gets the worries due the others getting so upset by them.
Back to my question. I thought maybe Sumo Springs would fix the driving over huge nasty pothole problem but my mechanic and I discussed and came to the conclusion that Sumo Springs would only give me an even stiffer ride and more agony over rough roads. My suspension is well built, my van tracks smooth and straight and on non damaged roads glides right along. I though maybe the leaf springs / coil spring had worn out but that does not seem to be the case?
My mechanic has suggested maybe we put a second air bag suspension on the front end. There is one on the rear or maybe the one on the rear needs to be bigger? I have Firestone Air Ride that comes standard with my LTV. Can those still appear to work but not be doing their job? They fill with air but maybe they are not as “springy” given their age… This is just a wild guess. The dial that show how much air is in them does bounce around like crazy. These are only on the rear, maybe need another set for the front? Maybe a different type such as these I saw on the Internet: LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate Air Spring Kit.
Anyone know about these: Timbren DVRRT Suspension Enhancement System?
The point is not to lose the excellent handling I currently have but to eliminate the horribly jarring experience of the miserably maintained modern roads of today.
Anyone had this problem? Anyone solved it? Meanwhile if you see me, or anyone like me going at a dead slow crawl over these things it will do absolutely no good to honk, cuss me out, get mad, threaten, tailgate or anything else as I’ve learned to ignore all you types with nice modern smooth quiet riding vehicles. I’m going to go SLOWLY and I’m going to pick the lane, if there’s more than one, that has the least amount of damage. Go around, wait until I can safely pull aside or write your congress people to fix the roads!
Binghamton, NY Cutler Botanic Garden (Cornell Cooperative Extension)
July 25th to Sept 15th 2023
Recorded: 7,725 miles Estimate of trip total: 8,000 miles
What follows is a summary of my trip. I had an unexpected problem with MS WORD which I use to write these blogs. WORD froze. I was locked out. Microsoft demanded that to continue using this program on my little laptop, I be connected to the Internet and that I start paying a monthly fee. I don’t think I need to tell you what I thought of that so am catching up these many months later. Still having technical problems however as usual.
The following itinerary is from google map as recorded by my cellphone. What’s here are the names of places and on occasion some notes and if I could get them uploaded a photo. Will attempt to load photos on another entry. When my phone or location wasn’t turned on then there is no entry so this is not EVERYWHERE I went and does not include walking and exploring once parked.
I have a pattern of walking downtown’s and city centers, stopping in at museums, gazing out over bridges, taking the paths along waterways, searching out historic buildings and churches, capital buildings, public art, an outdoor gathering with local venders, unusual architecture, then over to a marina if there is one or wandering though a few typical residential neighborhoods, hitting the parks specifically for the dogs along with a few “must see” or just happened to find, tourists spots. Out of the city centers I walk with my dogs along trails and pathways for the natural environment, the colors, textures, smells, the vistas of ponds, rivers, lakes, along cliffs, mountains, shorelines, seeing and listening for whatever is there. Jackson will freeze in place if he senses something, his nose, his ears are always tuned to what I cannot see. I always pay attention to what he tells me. The rain falls, from a fierce rush to drippy sprinkles blown about, caught up in in leaves, the dew dripping, the rasping and whining of insect, birds calls, animals nearby or a crowd of people playing, boats everywhere of all kinds, the sounds of traffic and repair or sometimes absolute quiet except for the wind and rustling we make on the path. At times I identify the plants and bird appearing amid the clouds and play of light and shadow, what are you? It’s all around me: names of places does not convey all that.
You will see the date my dogs and I arrived followed by the location for that night. I’ve listed major stops. The last line is driving miles reported by my cellphone and the time it took to drive that distance.
The notes are admittedly cryptic. It’s taken me a long time to organize this with all my memories of any given day, what the road surface was like, how often I stopped for the dogs or because I forgot to secure the closet or the refrigerator latch, I had to use a wrench as I devised my own way to keep the broken frig latch secure, things fall about anyway like the compact ice chest under the bed sliding across the isle, the front curtain I forget to secure, the map I need out of reach. The roads were very rough, if you’ve driven an RV or van-camper, you know, nothing stays in place!
For overnight parking I found that public campgrounds tended to be filled to capacity while many private RV parks were charging big fees $80, $120 and up for one night. State Parks were about $50 which included a State Park Permit, each state has their own of course. My dogs and I look for sanitary, safe, peaceful as opposed to overrun with insects, soggy deep mud, trash, drugs, screaming, jammed packed pile up. or just too crowded. This trip I generally choose parking lots and boat docks for sleep. If it’s not scenic and there is the opportunity do so, we spend the early evening at a park or along a shoreline or trail. The dogs play, I make everyone dinner and do some housekeeping, then we walk again before returning to our spot for the night.
Here is the list: Hope it’s more or less readable!
July 25th Time to head out! Santa Barbara to Studio City, CA. 82 miles
July 28th Van Nays / Sherman Oaks Recreation Center. Hazeltine Park. La Fogata Mexican Restaurant for flan. My 70th. This trip is my birthday gift to myself.
July 29th Pilot Travel Center St George. showers closed, sandwich, water, 3 bags of ice and ice cream 118 F through Las Vegas. Stuck in gridlock with failed AC. Valley Wells Rest Area. 190 miles 4hrs 31 min
Vegas on a hot summer day. Nope, not a parking lot but un-moving traffic. My mistake getting off the highway thinking I could find a spot to cool off.
July 30th Antelope Island State Park, Syracuse, UT Kanarraville Rest Area. Bridal Veil Falls, Provo UT. Very scenic. Trolley Square, Salt Lake City, Great Lake State Park. full Antelope Island State Park. Saw many bison, took the driving tour, explored trails and lake access. 381 miles 9 hrs 40 min
July 31st Jackson Hole, Wyoming Visited a friend. Paris, Idaho, Bear Lake Valley county seat. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1863 and Stone Tabernacle 1889. Pop Shope ice cream, Afton WY. Sun to heavy rain and flooding. 216 miles 8 hr 12 min
Aug 1st Jackson Hole, WY Schwabacher Landing swimming for the dogs. Rendezvous Park. Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream. Chinatown Restaurant. 18 miles 1 hr 51 min.
Aug 2nd Jackson Hole, WY Grand Tetons NP. Craig Thomas Discovery Visitor Center. Jenny Lake. Jackson Lake Lodge. Grand Tetons Lodge. Pioneer Grill. National Museum of Wildlife Art loved this museum. 65 miles 4 hrs.
Aug 3rd Jackson Hole WY Big O Tires. Checked my very noisy brakes. Powederhorn Park.
Aug 4th Jackson Hole, WY Snow King Mountain Resort. Shopping. NO umbrellas for sale in Jackson!!!! Why? Wilson, WY (event)
Aug 5th Jackson Hole, WY Senior Center. Picnic Café. Miller Park, Cache Creek Trailhead which I loved! So many places I see so gorgeously green, covered in trees, wildflowers, streams and creeks where butterflies others dancing goes on and on. I’d returned to my van just as the rain was starting, relaxing after a vigorous hike, wiping off my dogs, noticing that pattern of increasing strength. I didn’t want to leave but did, being on a dirt road on a significant grade, if it did not turn to mud then it could flood altogether.Most people here have trucks with AWD or 4X4. Just made it back down to the paved section as the rain began to pound so hardI could not see out of the windshield, the streets fill with water, it’s so dramatic for me. Then the sun comes out again and I go for another long walk,after visiting the National Elk Refuge, this time on flatlands to the downtown district and back.
Aug 6th Buffalo Bill State Park. Lake Shore Camp Ground. Cody, WY heavy thunder, lightning, with flooding. Hail left patches of “snow.” Persephone Bakery. Cody Chamber of Commerce. Paul Stock Nature Trail. Buffalo Bill Center of the West, five museums in one here, all attached. 163 miles 8hr 37 min
Aug 7th Ten Sleep RV Park and Horse Hotel. Clean hot showers, walking trails. Tried for a camp spot up the mountain but everyplace full to overflowing except one completely empty (had to call the owner on my cellphone) muddy, expensive RV park, like a parking lot in the mud, with no potable water, so came back down the hill. Thunder and rain, not too bad. Buffalo Bill Dam & Visitor Center, Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Cody Coffee Roaster. Paul Stock Natural Trail. Wanted to stay another day but left to drive up the mountain ahead of the damaging winds and flooding. Critical weather alerts ongoing. Museum of Flight & Aerial Firefighting, Greybull WY. This is where I saw another LTV like mine, we parked together. She was renting hers for a short camping trip. 138 miles 4hr 28 min
Aug 8th Rushmore Crossing Rapid City, SD Sam’s Cub & Target parking lot both very noisy, didn’t sleep much. The Daily Bread Café. Ten Sleep Lots of public Trump love here. Diehl’s Supermarket, Moorcroft, WY. Devils Tower National Monument ran into Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, 500,000 riders!!! I didn’t know. Moved on due the incredible but friendly super crowds. Scary worried aboutsome of the riders who absolutely ignored all traffic even big guys like my van. 261 miles, 7hr 24 min.
Aug 9th Wall Drug Store back parking lot. Badlands NP, got lost in the back country of the Badlands for a long time! Didn’t see anyone on wretched dry washboard rutted roads which Jackson HATED. My gas tank was getting low too! The City of Wall. Memorial Park. Dunn Brother’s coffee. Breadroot Natural Foods Co-op. Dinosaur Park. Pennington County Building. Central Pennington, South Dakota. Badlands Ranch Store. Minuteman Missile National Historic site. Prairie Dogs. 111 miles, 6 hrs 34 min
Aug 10th Cracker Barrel Sioux Falls, SD Returned to Badlands NP early before it got too hot. Ben Reifel Visitor Center, Mitchell SD. Corn Palace and Mitchell trees, Sioux Falls. 308 miles, 8hrs 58 min
Aug 11th Blue Earth City Campground, Blue Earth, MN Falls Park, waterfalls, sculptures, observation tower, clean with lots of very green grass. Sioux Falls. Josiah’s Coffeehouse & Café. Sioux Falls Food Coop. Taqueria Sanchez. Luverne (Rock County.) 171 miles, 6hrs 42 min
Aug 12th Town Square Mall, Chanhassen, MN The Jolly Green Giant and Museum. Hubbard Building, Mankato, MN. Pet Expo, Mankato. ALDI, Chanhassen, MN, Town Square Mall, Chanhassen, MN. 105 miles 6hrs 12 min
Aug 13th Walmart Supercenter, Superior WI Rice Marsh Lake Park. 3 mile walk around. Chanhassen, MN. Smith Coffee & Café 1887 Historic Building nice, coffee/food disappointing. Café Cravings White Bear Lake. Drove around Duluth, walked the pier and downtown, got very hot. Made a friend there. Glensheen Mansion. White Birch Trail. Checked out the Boat Launch in Superior for overnight but too muddy and isolated so it was Walmart. 206 miles, 7 hrs 7 min
Getting ice cream in Duluth on a hot day.
Aug 14th Kwik Trip Two Harbors, MN Arrowhead Public Boat Ramp, walked around on trail etc, Belknap Superior. Almanac Coffee, Duluth. Spruce Overlook. Burlington Bay Campground. Scenic viewpoints. Two Harbors. Super One Foods. 66 miles 7 hrs 37 min
Aug 15th Herbster Campground on Lake Superior, Herbster, WI Odegard Park, Two Harbors. Cedar Coffee, Two Harbors. Burlington Station. Duluth Public Library. 43 miles 1hr 57 min
Aug 16th Walmart Supercenter, Marquette, MI Clover, Iron River. Black Cat Coffeehouse, Ashland, WI, Ottawa National Forest. Klint Safford Memorial Park. 237 miles, 8 hrs 24 min
Aug 17th Superior Motel & Suites Munising, MI Noquemanon North Trails Trailhead, Dead River. Lakeshore Depot Farm Stand. Shiras Beach Park. Grand Island Harbor Scenic Turnout. Wagner Falls Scenic Site. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Munising Falls Visitor Center. Brey’s Fish Market. Munising Mountain Bike Park. The Fish Basket. 64 miles 5hrs 38 min
Marquette, MI
Aug 18th Walmart Supercenter Cheboygan, MI Falling Rock Café & Bookstore, Munising, wound up passing on this shop due to attitude of the server, oh well. Binsfeld Bayshore Park and Marina, lush green park on the lake. Park offers a swimming beach but is posted, no swimming. Everyone ignored the big bright signs. What can I say? I decided to leave just in case the water was not safe for my dogs. Scenic Overlook 1882 Fishing Village Naubinway, MI, Sand Dunes Beach Moran, MI, Views are great, parking not greatMackinac Bridge, 5 miles across. Washington Park Cheoygan, MI. 135 miles, 5 hrs 18 min
Aug 19th Alpena Marina Alpena, MI Washington Park. Cheboygan Coffee Roaster. Hammond Bay Harbor. Bearinger Townshi. MI, Bay View Park Beach and Lighthouse, Alpena. Pompeyos Mexican Grill. 96 miles 4 hrs 37 min
Aug 20th Cracker Barrel, Bay City, MI Cabin Creek Coffee. Meijer, Besser Natural Area Presque isle, MI, Trails, beach and views. Ogemaw Roadside Park West Branch MI, Wenonah Park Bay City. Bay City State Park, Tobico Marsh nature trails. 165 miles 4 hrs 40 min
Aug 21st Cracker Barrel, Monroe, MI Tobico Lagoon Nature Preserve. Live Oak Coffeehouse, Bay City, MI, Monroe, MI, Jack’s Fruit & Meat Market. Ann Arbor Rest Stop attacked severely by no-see-ums so did not stop in Ann Arbor. I did enjoy the reststop, very laid-back atmosphere, collegiate. 153 miles, 5 hrs 13 min
Aug 22nd Best Western Port Clinton, OH Was a mess with 100 plus painful burning bug bites so stayed at hotel, took several baths and showers, ice packs, medication, all that when not out walking on the beach. Scally Waggs Doggy Bakery, Monroe. Safe Harbor Toledo Beach, Center City, Center City OH. Walgreens, Oregon, OH. Barnside Creamery Oak Harbor, Waterworks Park, Port Clinton Lighthouse, Rite Aid, Port Clinton. 67 miles 2hrs 58 min
Aug 23rd Skylight Inn Willoughby, OH Waterworks Park. Roots to Rise Wellness Café. Andrew Fabens Memorial Park. Euclid Creek Reservation, Wildwood Park. Euclid Beach, Sheetz, Willoughby OH, Gully Brook Par. Pine Ridge Plaza Willoughby. 102 miles 3hrs 25 min
Aug 24th Lampre Campground, Erie, PA Edgewater Park. The Cleveland Museum of Art. KafeLA, Presque Isle State Park, Erie, PA Beaches, lighthouse. Lampe Campground Lakeside Park. 117 miles 4hrs 29 min
Aug 25th Walmart Supercenter Niagara Falls, NY Erie. Coffee In The Park. Delaware Park, Buffalo NY. Niagara Falls State Park. River Way walking path. 125 miles 4 hrs 57 min
Aug 26th Iroquois Travel Plaza, Little Falls Niagara Falls. Sunshine Café. Four Mile Creek State Park, Youngstown NY, 261 miles 7hrs 12 min
Aug 27th Seabrook Welcome Center, Seabrook, NH Brief look at Rochester. Washington Park Albany, NY. Albany Capital Park. Downtown Albany. Iron Gate Café, Albany, Highland Commons, Berlin, MA, Seabrook Commons, Seabrook. 258 miles, 6hrs 32 min
Aug 28th Walmart Supercenter Brewer, ME Blue Harbor Coffee, Hampton NH, Prescott Park Portsmouth, NH, Nubble Lighthouse, Ogunquit Museum of American Art, West Kennebunk, 221 miles 8hrs 28 min
Aug 29th Walmart Supercenter, Ellsworth, ME Bar Harbor, Jammed with major crowds and pricey parking meters, Southwest Harbor, Bass Harbor Head Light Station, Took long walk and looked over at the Acadia side where it was also jammed packed with cars, on “my side” it was lovely beautiful uncrowded and highly-scenic. Pond’s End Boat Ramp, One of our top swimming spots for the dogs, many kayaks, like a place you imagine in your dreams, peaceful the day I was there but I suspect it could be very crowded at other times. 83 miles 3hrs 21 min
Aug 30th Harbor Park Rockland, ME Belfast, Northport, Ellsworth Harbor Park and Marina, Ellsworth Nice walk with the dogs, Flexit Café, Lincolnville Beach, Camden ME, (Sandy beach perfect for a swim, no one there but signs posted all over, no domestic animals on beach. Nope, not fun without my water dogs, not going int he water without them.) Atlantic Baking Co, Rockland, Harbor Park Rockland, Breakwater Lighthouse, Harbor Trail 65 miles, 1 hr 50 min
Aug 31st Cracker Barrel Tewksbury, MA Rockland ME, Johnson Memorial Park, Nouria, Water Street Kitchen and Bar Wiscasset ME, South End Dog Park Bath, ME, Whole Foods, Portland ME 132 miles, 3hr 42 min
Sep 1st Cracker Barrel, Tewksbury, MA Nibbana Café, Lowell, Downtown Lowell, Lowell Historical Park and other stops, Muldoon Park, Wanted to drive through Boston but traffic was very intense the closer I went in that direction. Westborough Service Plaza, Charlton Service Plaza, Ludlow Service Plaza, Lee Service Plaza, 293 miles 7 hr 54 min
Sep 2nd Home Towne Studios Painted Post, Painted Post, I decided to stay here as it was so hot with lightening and thunder. I’d come this way to see the Museum of Glass. In the morning before I left I found the beautiful Cutler Botanic Garden just down the road from my spot for the night. The Garden was free, dog friendly and reminiscent of walking in a living dream of exploding color. To my surprise the Farmers and Makers Market popped up at the entrance to the Garden.I bought some amazing peaches, maple syrup bread and a few otehr things, everything was sooooooo good! Cutler Botanic Garden, Farmer’s Market, Binghamton NY, Strange Brew Café, Confluence Park, (Susquehanna river and Chenago river meet in Binghamton. The Corning Museum of Glass, The Rockwell Museum. Drove around the city. 78 miles, 3 hr 35 min
Sept 3rd Huron City Municipal Boat Ramp Huron, OH Drove Hwy 86, very quiet and the road was easier driving than hwy 88 which I had taken going south to Corning. Stopped at Rest Area in Allegany, NY and had a conversation with the woman working there. She was sitting on a bench outside, I learned later she was taking a break and having a smoke. I liked her as we talked. She liked my dogs of course. The Rest Stop had been redesigned, it had representative trees of the area, my memory is hazy now. There was large blade from a wind turbine. It was a beautiful rest stop. The day was very hot and she allowed me to bring the dogs inside so I could use the restroom and she wanted to give me a state map but there wasn’t one. There were stained glass windows and designs on the floor. It was too early to quit driving so after awhile I moved on ahead. I wished it wasn’t so hot, wished the air conditioner in my van would keep us cooler so I could linger more.Took a picture of a tile in front of the building that had a question mark on it? What was that for? Concord Township, Huron Boat Basin. 308 miles 7hr 16 min
Sept 4th Cracker Barrel Joliet, IL Gathering Grounds Coffee. Lake Front Park and Beach, Huron Township, Ogden Dunes. 307 miles, 6hr 49 min
Sept 5th Cracker Barrel Clive, IA Jitters, Joliet. Billlie Limacher Bicentennial Park Joliet. Water Tower, West Des Moines. Drove and walked around Des Moines.Multicultural and clean with plenty places to park my van. 315 miles 8hr 19 min
Sept 6th Walmart Supercenter, West Des Moines, IA Campbell Recreation Area, St Kilda Café & Bakery, Papppajohn Sculpture Park. Des Moines Art Center. Crème, Waveland Park. Gateway Market. Gray’s Lake Park. 46 miles, 3hr 15 min
Sept 7th Cracker Barrel Lincoln, NE John Wayne Birthplace Museum. Winterset City Park. Covered Bridges. Monument To The First Train Robbery. Sunken Gardens, Lincoln. 216 miles 5 hr 32 min
Sept 8th Walmart Supercenter Ogallala, NE East Campus, Peter Pan Park. Nebraska State Capitol, Bill Harris Iron Horse Park, Lake McConaughy. 281 miles, 7 hr 7 min
Sept 9th Cracker Barrel Northglenn, CO Camper heaven in a storm of heavy traffic, parking lot was full of campers. . Lake McConaughy. Little Thunder Bay Ogallala, Nebraska, (only place to stay on the Lake if you can’t do 4×4 and drive on the sand.) Slow Lane Coffee, Morgan County Colorado. Don’t have much to say about overnighting in Denver in a camper except give this city a miss. All heavy traffic all the time, torn up and worn out. 322 miles 7 hr 38 min
Sept 10th James M. Robb Colorado River State Park Liked this park, had plug in to run the rear cabin air, laundry, showers,stunning vistas and sundown. The Frothy Cup, Idaho Springs, Colorado. Safeway, Silverthorne, Colorado. Grizzly Creek, Colorado River State Park. 212 miles 5 hrs 15 min
Sept 11th Walmart Supercenter Cedar City, UT Colorado River State Park. Octopus Coffee Grand Junction. Salt Wash, Canyon Park, Arches, Utah. East, Cedar City Towne Center, Lin’s Market, St George. 322 miles, 8 hr 44 min
Sept 12th Flying J Travel Center Barstow, CA Ancestor Square St George Café Feellove, The Mad Greek, Baker, CA. Barstow Community College Park and Demonstration Gardens. 313 miles, 6 hr 56 min
Sept 13th Studio City CA The Combine Kitchen Café, Rancho Cucamonga. Victoria Arbors Park Rancho Cucamonga. 115 miles 3 hrs 11 min
Sept 15 Santa Barbara 82 miles 3 hrs 7 min
Trip was not long enough, I violated my own plan to stay longer in interesting places. I needed to cut out going further due to the problems already discussed with my van. Another time. Was a lot of fun.
A few takeaway’s before I go. I loved Lake Superior, esp Duluth, my first stop on the Lake and where I made a new friend. I was so surprised by how clean and picturesque South Dakota was. Utah has unbelievable majestic scenery. New York was interesting, esp seeing the capital in Albany but people I encountered often seemed angry and impatient. Can’t say enough about coastal Maine, Wow, esp the less crowded spots and friendly folks. Daylight gets very short in the winter and it gets cold, even when I was there in the middle of summer there were many super scary storms. The paid cross country roads are very boring, almost no road art or surprise findings little towns of unexpected beauty, you have to get off and then get back on. The weather is way too hot without working air conditioning. Local food can be full of delicious surprises, be sure and try it. You don’t have to spend a lot nor do everything to have a lot of fun. The big one, you’re never really alone if you have your dogs on board, esp if they’re nutty and way too cute Lagotti.
Since my plans north were stalled after my trip across the country this last summer, it’s been difficult finding motivation to post but here it is, repairs for my 1996 Dodge FW LTV since the Pandemic.
Even before my mechanic, Bruce, closed his doors, my van had started to develop droppings like some kind of dark bird. The leaks were not significant, in that they were small, however they were messy, leaving clear indication of having parked. Connect the dots and what do you find! My van. I found these markings distasteful and unsatisfactory for how I wanted to keep my little campervan. Bruce had tried tightening things, that worked for a time, and then it didn’t. When Bruce closed his shop, rather abruptly, I started looking for a better fix. I asked around and was lead to the Fairview Chevron Station in Goleta. Yes, they would service my van! No, they could do nothing for the oil leaks other than tell me there were several of them and I should take it to the dealer in Ventura, not the Dodge dealer here in Santa Barbara as the leaks were hard to get to and would require extensive work. Apparently the Dodge engine of this vintage is infamous for these little drippy leaks.
Crown Dodge Ventura 5/27/2022 Total: $1,935.11
Replace Trans Cooler Lines (leaking) Removed front end, condenser aide. Trans cooler and lines replaced. Front end reinstalled, topped off trans fluid, Aux trans and fluid. Road test. Labor and Parts $1,299
Rear shock re-secured (was loose) Labor and Parts $189
RepairRear End Leak Removed rear end cover, removed sealant, reinstalled cover with new sealant, fill rear end with new fluid, road test. Labor and Parts $429
Total for labor $1,701 Total for Parts $217
Crown Dodge reported that the heater core was leaking. Estimate, $4,000! On that news I picked up the van and brought it home.
In June ’22 I had the Chevron Gas Station bypass the heater core so the engine would not overheat due to coolant loss. I used the van for a while like that. $68 labor and parts. I rarely need the heater so it seemed sensible yet I keep calling around for shops that might be able to do the job more economically than the dealer. A few times almost found a place that would do it but then their shop would get busy and, no, they didn’t want to take my job. Typical Santa Barbara style.
Then Came 5 Star Auto Repair in Goleta I got tired of checking shops only to be told, too much work, van was too big, too old, too heavy, they didn’t have time, they didn’t have the expertise, I should try the Dealer in Ventura and so on, so tried out Repair Pal (ReapairiPal.com) https://repairpal.com/ and found 5 Star Auto.
Replace Heater Core {parts and labor, $1,450 with $22 cash discount. 2/21/2023
Next to go was the air conditioner.
AC Won’t Blow Cold 5 Star at first replaced a few leaking lines, then tested till they determined a new condenser would be needed. . A/C Condenser, Refrigerant, AC High Side Port and Cap, AC Service kit. Parts and labor $1,492 (Parts, $550, labor $900)
At that time I asked 5 Star for a trip check. They advised replacement of the inner and outer tie rods and center link which had evidence of excessive play.
I debated doing this since the van was running great and I didn’t want to spend the money, but ultimately decided to not take a risk as I was planning to drive across the country, northern route and didn’t trouble on route. Will post the cost when I find that invoice, somehow it’s hiding. Work included an alignment which the shop was well able to accomplish. Few other shops in this town are able to offer this service for my camper. I’d asked all around with the best alternative Pinkys Tire Service in Oxnard so 5 Star in Goleta it was. They service the ambulances and other full size working vans in town so have all the equipment needed. Of course my van did not handle as nicely after the replaced tie rod ends, not terrible but not great but I remembered what Bruce always told me when I complained that new suspension made overall handling less steady. He’d said that given the age and wear of my van, new parts would take time to mesh, for everything to settle but that it would and I should go ahead and drive it and see for myself. This has always turned out to be true as odd as it seems. It was true this time too, my van has returned to it’s perfect easy handling but it took time and I left right away, before things settled.
Walking up the pathway to Niagara Falls with Gracie Carmella, Jackson and Jeana. Photo just before we got mobbed up ahead. It was super crowded and people bombarded my dogs, esp little kids running as fast as they could toddle with their arms wiggling over their heads making them look like miniature unsteady giants dragging their parents behind them. Oh look kids, three dogs, one, two, three, isn’t that something. I was running fast as I could through the thick blockade of strollers and walking canes, cameras and wheelchairs, into the bushes and behind the fences. Didn’t you kids come to see the waterfalls, hey look at those, why are you chasing my dogs! they could hear me screaming back at them.
Next: I had to abort part of my trip due to issues with my van.
There were issues.
Vehicle never warmed up to operating temperature. Basically I ignored this.
Back up lights on all the time. Stopped once by police and told to fix. Told a few times by friendly strangers that backup lights on all the time. I ignored this too.
Oil loss. Not too severe as long I kept checking and adding oil as needed.
Screaming, screeching and whining from tires/brakes. Brakes worked just fine, but at times super amazingly loud and unnerving. Others would turn and stare.
Cold air from the (newly replaced) AC would cut off entirely or start blowing out the defroster onto the windshield. This only when I needed the air the most! felt life threatening the first time I discovered this passing tough Las Vegas. To cheer myself as I struggled, I’d imagine the news: senior solo women and her dogs discovered unresponsive trapped for several hours in Las Vegas gridlock. Outside air temperature 118 degs. Inside, deadly!
But I made it. I was terrified, dumped all the water I had over me and the dogs. Breathe slow, I’d tell myself, don’t give in to dizziness, headache, shortness of breath, pounding heart and panic. After this I stopped driving when the heat was overwhelming. I packed all the extra Havolock wool I’d brought along between me and the dog-house (that’s where the engine is) and under the drivers and passenger floors and under the already well insulated space where my dogs would ride.
Huron, OH Sept 4, 2023
I was very unhappy with my “new” mechanic many times on this trip. I like the fellow who owns the shop and I like the mechanic assigned to my van. So why! Of course I compared him to Bruce who would have never sent me out with all these problems, right? I would mutter furiously, driving with my teeth clenched. I didn’t want to be thinking about the van, I wanted to enjoy the sweet open road. I was inordinately sad and frustrated. I tried to get help. I had the brakes looked at with some prodding and pushing to do so. Found several eager to help mechanics for the air conditioning but always there was a long long wait of several weeks before they could get to me. When I returned home it took a week to get an appointment and then another week for 5 Star to find the problem and it fixed. I’d felt 5 Star should fix the AC at no change (that didn’t happen) instead I was charged a lot as it took them 5 days to find the problem and was unrelated to work they had done, sigh. In 5 Star’s praise I had no problem with the long miles and the high Rocky mountains.
On the beginning of my trip I traveled lesser, smaller, very torn up and wrecked 2 lane roads. It was rather grueling. Washboard with huge pits, massive unavoidable potholes, grating torn up surfaces pockmarked with holes, ice crack lines, rumble strips and other miserable surfaces. Took longer than I’d expected for the new suspension parts to settle. In some states I found wonderful smooth roads but in many others I found the opposite with no shoulders, no resting spots, no pull outs, just fierce headwinds and heavy battering side gusts, impatient pickup trucks nudging to pass and escape this strange white shuddering beast from California. It took all my concentration to keep my van from becoming a ghost. Poor Jackson cried with the booming frightful noises, scraps and bangings along with the desperate concentration of me, his best friend and protector on the road and not on him! Jeana was none too happy either. Sometimes I sing to the dogs, they find it calming, I’ve made up songs for each dog and they love that, their eyes get bright and their tail rhythmically wags when they hear their song, but not on those roads. That was reserved for the well maintained ones. Instead of singing I was wondering how much longer till I could have a break and what kinda crazy civil engineer thought roads like that were okey-dokey. Tough driving, but in spite of all that I loved my trip. I love the open road so very much whatever it brings and I love my camper van. I don’t know why but give me an open road and I’m happy.
Lincon, NE Sept 7, 2023
Back to 5 Star on my return to Santa Barbara with my complaints (I think this is a repeat so will list the repairs quickly)
Lube oil and filter
Replaced leaking value cover gaskets
Replaced spark plugs, wires and distributor and pcv
Fixed the rear (cabin) air conditioner bracket which came loose due to rough roads
Fixed reverse light, this was not a simple fix
Replaced front rotors, and pads
Fixed AC vacuum line. this too took a long time to sleuth out
Replaced thermostat and temperature sending unit
Total $3,760 Parts $1,121 Labor $2,640
The bill infuriated me. Too much $$$$ Had an AAA repair truck bring me a new battery and he agreed, good mechanics at 5 Star but very expensive shop!
Next problem
The replacement temperature sending unit was aftermarket and not working correctly, it was sending the wrong temperature reading. 5 Star knew this when they returned my van. I was ready to drive up north but couldn’t as it looked like the engine was near to the boil driving slow and level on a cold day. I texted my mechanic that Sunday expecting a quick fix. That didn’t happen. 5 Star tested the actual temp of the radiator and it was ok but the sender was not so they wanted to replace the aftermarket part with a an OEM part. That should have only taken a day or two but it took several-months! There was an Auto Workers strike and parts were not available. Dodge even sent the wrong one after a long wait and it had to be reordered for a second time. That one was lost in transit somewhere around the Canadian border so a third one had to be ordered!!! No kidding. It took forever. Its installed now and works perfectly but now it’s December.
I want to thank 2 people who helped me with van and to whom I’m so grateful!
My friend Robin, remade all my curtain liners, they’d become worn and ripped. Robin can measure and sew to perfection. They now have real hems, not the sorry tape job I did on my own. I’m continuing to use the solar material, Fairfield Solarize Liner Fabric (50% Polyester/50% Aluminum). So much nicer than the popular reflectix and works great!!! She also helped me install a bug screen on the rear barn door. (Still need to do the side door.) I ordered this one and we cut and stretched it to size. Yotache Adjustable Magnetic Screen Door Fit Doors Size Width 29″ – 33″ Height 79″ – 81″, Reinforced Fiberglass Mesh with Full Frame Hook&Loop Strip.
My mother’s friend Paul manged to get to the sail switch on the Suburban furnace and move it around, and it now lights the propane and provides heat!. Am beyond happy. He discovered the schematic that came with my van’s manual is not the model that is installed.
A malfunctioning coolant temperature sensor may send an incorrect “cold” signal to the ECU, tricking it into believing the engine isn’t hot yet. The ECU will then adjust the fuel injection, ignition timing, and variable valve timing, further raising the engine’s temperature and causing it to overheat.
A Sender & Sensor is basically the same. But the when it sends out a measurable Current or Voltage Value to a Gauge, it is a Sender. When it receives a Reference Voltage to make a Comparison of the change in Current across it, it is a Sensor.
OK, I found the above on the Internet. Who knows if it’s “EXACTLY” true or not. Perhaps it does no more than send the operating temperature to the dashboard indicator? All I know is that I’ve been grounded for quite a long time because my van needs this part and there has been a United Auto Workers Strike (which perhaps is going to end soon?)
When I returned from my cross-country trip, my little LT Daisy needed help. So as soon as I got home off she went to my new mechanic, 5 Star Auto Repair in Goleta. Alas my trusted Bruce is no more. I searched for some time finding most mechanics in my location will not work on an older camper van such as mine. It’s big, heavy, and many parts even without a strike can be tricky to get.
Here’ a list of the repairs done on my return. These prices are for the labor I think. There’s another long list for parts. Will get this figured out and post additional pre-trip repairs later which included fixing / replacing the heater core, the air conditioner and tie rod ends.
Lube, oil and filter $45
Fix rear (house) air conditioner seating that came loose due to the rough roads. $75
Replace leaking value cover gaskets and replace spark plugs, wires, distributor cap. $750
Fix reverse light. The backup light was on all the time. Was stopped once on my trip by a police officer in Arizona and told to fix it. One other time a friendly stranger came running over while we were both parked at a gas station to tell me the backup light was on. The repair turned out to be expensive and tricky. An intermittent short was taking out the switch for the backup light so my mechanics needed to repair and reroute all the wiring plus replace the reverse neutral safety switch. $470
The air conditioner was blowing out the defroster whenever I was going uphill, at an idle and/or it was really hot out. In other words when I really needed cold air! This was one of the main reasons I shortened my trip. I measured the heat of the windshield at well over 150 degs when I was driving on a hot day. Any vague cooling effect of cold air from the defroster, barley, or not at all, provided cooling to me and my dogs in the cab. I learned to have ice and spray water close to keep myself cool enough to keep driving without drive my head going woo-woo and my heart pounding like this was some kind of Disneyland ride. Remember in my camper, the dog house, (this is the engine) is inside the van between the driver’s and passenger’s seat. I’d had the dog house insulated which helps a little but the harder the engine works, the hotter it gets and the hotter I get. It all becomes intolerable on a hot day without the air conditioner to cool us all down to human and canine operating temperature. When it was going to be an over 90 deg day I’d start out extra early, before dawn. At times I had to stop driving and hide out with my dogs under a shady tree if any could be found, with plenty of water and ice to soak us all, esp my head and the dog’s bellies. The mechanics had a had a tough time finding the problem. They had replaced the air condenser before my trip and repaired some minor leaks. (That repair took 2 weeks and was expensive.) It took about a week this time before a vacuum line going to the ac/heater box at the back of the engine was discovered with a crack in it. Vacuum line replaced. $300
The brakes required new front rotors. The rotors were warped. The pads were not in horrible shape but I okay-ed their replacement as well. Outer bearings, races and seals also replaced. $550 I never discovered what caused the brakes to scream and cry on my trip. I had them inspected and the best guess was gravel. The brakes worked fine. I did notice that the brakes would start their screaming whenever it became hot out. Still no idea what caused that. Sympathy pains for us overheating in the cab? That must’ve been it. I’d had the brakes inspected by 5-Star before leaving and then again in Jackson Wyoming. The brakes were good. Well no, I guess not, or why did I need new front rotors on my return? The pads were certainly good enough. This is still a mystery to me.
When 5 Star returned my van to me and I paid the $3,760 (I was given a $90 discount for paying cash) I was excited and ready to take off again! My next stop would be the state of Washington and was I ever ready!!!!
The mechanics did mention that the temperature indicator was about at the 3/4 mark. Before I brought it in it was at the 1/4 mark. I’d asked that the thermostat be checked out as no matter hos steep of long the grade, no matter how hot even 104 or 118 degs outside, it never budged over that 1/4 mark. I was expecting it to rise to normal operating temperature but it never did. I didn’t pay too much attention as I was eager to take a test drive and then leave. When I got home it hit me. I took surface streets, it was a very cool day and very easy driving. The temperature indicator never returned to normal. Actually it seemed to get a bit higher, finally stopping a bit above the 3/4 mark. Can you imagine my expression and irritation! I’d spent a lot of money at this shop, they’d spent a lot of time and we have a good working relationship. How could they! I couldn’t’ believe my eyes really. I contacted my mechanic over the weekend. I was afraid to drive the van at all.
I did bring it back and they measured the actual temperature. It was 175 degs although it was still indicating above the 3/4 mark on the dash. A 195 thermostat had been installed and aftermarket temperature sensor. The 195 is specific for my vehicle. The engine does not overheat until it hits 240 degs. After testing my van the shop decided to order and install an OEM temperature sensor reason being, things change over time and maybe the replacement simply is not compatible. We have yet to check this out. I waited over 2 weeks for the sensor. The entire parts shipment got hung up at the Canadian border. Then finally on a Fri afternoon the shop made time and took everything apart ready to install the OEM sensor only to discover Detroit had sent the wrong one! It was the fault of the Dodge dealer so they are sending another, but guess what, strike still on, so I’m back to waiting. Why they can’t stick the little thing in a box and send it on over is beyond me. I’ve offered to pay extra shipping but no go. Just have to wait. Very impatiently wait.
The shop has offered to construct a device that will directly measure the temperature in the radiator. Not sure how that works. I will consider it as a last resort. It will cost $325 plus taxes and I think more for the parts so am not thrilled and have declined to do this until the OEM sensor is tried. The shop has agreed it’s not all that safe or predictable for me and my van to be driving over the mountain ranges without knowing what’s going on regarding the engine temperature. Sure I’ll take risks, but not stupid ones. . . .
That’s it for now. I haven’t felt like posting about my trip as I’ve been upset. Funny, my mechanic said I’m very nice. I’m not going to yell at him. As I mentioned we have a good working relationship. Everything’s expensive now.
P.S. My apologies for typos and all that, having a terrible time with Word Press. Not sure if the background has disappeared, and want to change the size of the font, the side spacing, but wasting too much time trying. Haven’t used it in a long time and there are changes I don’t understand.
Playing twinsy in Greyball Wyoming. Her’s in front, mine behind. Always fun to see another one!
Yep, do I still remember how to use this free version of WordPress! The nice thing about it being free is that it doesn’t expire. some day, some day, I will upgrade to my own private server. Really I will, well maybe.
Here’s the BIG NEWS. My little 1996 LT Daisy on the Dodge Ram Van just took us, me and 3 of my Lagotti across the US, northern route and back. More or less for my 70th birthday since I’ve not traveled much since the pandemic. These next few entries will be a recap of upgrades, repairs, changes to my rig, adventures, highlights and my usual comments about life on the road.
Stay turned.
Northeastern Road-Trip Summer 2023. July 25th 2023 to September 16th 2023 States Traversed: California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, California.
I haven’t posted in quite a long time. Am thinking I may start again. I still have my little 1996 Freedom Wide Leisure Travel Van although traveling in the last years since Covid have been restricted to canine adventures. Canine adventures have included visiting some Lagotto breeders and attending dog shows.
Right now am thinking about puppies. If you have an interest in the Lagotto as a puppy I invite you to comment or send me an email or check my site: https://olympiathelagotto.wordpress.com/
OK, that’s it. More later. Here’s a few cute photos. Pictures may not be used or reproduced without permission @ jr 2022.
Lagotto Romagnolo. At the Beach Just look into my eyes!A Lagotto loves to run!
Here’s a story I wrote for my little Mason dog, he’s gone, he wasn’t supposed to be gone, he was getting cured, but he was misdiagnosed and his care wasn’t enough. It has been a hard road to understand why. I am feeling the shock but also the love.
For all who have been loved by a special Heart Dog, feel free to post a picture, a story, I want to hear about your heart pet and how he/she moved you. These animals that live with us make life so wonderful.
There is no joyous commotion of my Mason now when I walk in the front door, no ritual greeting when I wake to root me to the morning, his voice talking to me, his body jump and twirl, his wide eyed happy engaging me, his straggle of a beard lifting with his smile. No more being pointed to the treats in the kitchen, hurry to get his breakfast and make it something good. Being told he’s ready for his outing, for his brushing, for love and cuddles. Mason in my lap, time to play games and pay attention to everything that appears in the world. No more click-pattering racing to crinkling wrapper paper that might mean a tidbit of cheese that Frans gave the dogs as they lined up, tails a wagging, a dropped crumb of something delicious, a squirrel outside. The excitement of a box delivered to the front door for him to open, a toy, a treat, a yummy chew stick. Mason ahead of the pack, sniffing the bags of groceries, all the great games my Mason invented for us to play. How’d he talk, blinking and turning his head back and forth, teasing, playing, sparkling eyes watching me, paws down, tail high and wagging, his love spilling all over the place. We understood one another, communicated just as you might do with another human only better, no misunderstandings.
I met Mason over 10 years ago. I’ve told this story a lot, Mason listens patiently when I tell it, or he did, not sure he liked the reminder but I will tell it again now, maybe for the last time ever. I had lost my beautiful brown wavy Portuguese Water Dog, Lakebreeze Sundowner Hero and was crushed. Hero had pancreatic cancer at about age 15 that no amount of love could cure. The Old General, they’d call him at the canine group we went to every day. He knew it was his time but I kept trying to get him to hang on. When he finally left I was deepening into catastrophe, the beginning of the avalanche that took my cat Rocket, then eight of my human loves and closest friends dying unexpectedly, my career died, my income, my professional standing, then my final plan for a business to support myself, to renew purpose in my life dissolving in unexplained betrayals … in the midst of this, towards the beginning of this relentless flood, I met Mason.
So the story is that Mason was the saddest dog in the shelter and I the saddest human in the shelter. I started volunteering at all my town’s shelters to staunch my loss of Hero. The day Mason came in to this one that only took dogs doomed to die if not helped, and for the next three days after he lay without lifting his head, not eating, barely aware in the intake crate where everyone passed him by and tried to engage him. After 3 days I couldn’t stand it and got a harness and leash, he didn’t fight me, I put them on him and we went for a walk. His head touched the ground, but his legs moved. I could not see his eyes but I could feel his pain, I had the same pain inside me. We walked a long time. I took him to the open field where he saw a bird. A bird! He took notice, he lifted his head for the first time and looked.
Mason at the shelter before I told him he was going to be mine.Carrying Mason at the shelter
For the next 5 months I’d run into the shelter supposedly looking out for all the canines but It was Mason from the start, I just didn’t know it. If he was out walking with another, I paced back and forth silently worrying. He mostly would not walk on a leash, not more than a few steps. He would barley eat, surviving on biscuits and scraps dropped on the ground. He tried to make friends with the other little dogs but had to be separated because they picked on him. One time I showed up to walk the dogs and Mason was not there, he’d been sent overnight to the emergency hospital for a stomach upset. I could not sleep for two days he was away wondering if he’d be all right. Several times he was adopted each time he was returned a few days later; he was biting people, would not walk on a leash, was growling, hiding and snarling with his eyes wide. His fear of life was so strong he had to be put into the interior cement holding room during storms, it was quieter in there but not ideal.
He had been found left for dead sprawled on the cement at a Lompoc mobile home park, I can only bless the stranger who brought him to Santa Barbara where the shelters are no kill. The DAWG staff had a betting game as I fretted about him, when will she take him home, they asked! I did not want a little dog, I did not want a dog that shed, I did not want a terrier (they thought he was a terrier mix) I did not want a dog that was biting. I was by this time waiting to purchase my first Lagotto Romagnolo, I just had to wait.
I cannot remember the exact moment, the event that made me change my mind about Mason. Maybe it was his look of sad dismay when families came to try him out. Maybe the look in his eye he’d give me, the half wag, what he was saying to me that I did not yet hear. Maybe it was that if I didn’t see him every time I arrived at the shelter my heart would ache.
So, I made the decision he would come home with me. Jolyon was still alive at the time and kinda thought I was nuts taking this sad underweight waif in my arms. I endured the home inspection and grilling the shelter puts prospective pet people through. It was lucky I did not yet have my first Lagotto Romagnolo as they would not have placed a ‘rescue” in a home with intact dogs, and likely not with a new puppy. Why I have no idea, just picky, I remember lots of people complaining who wanted to give a home to a lost dog that were denied.
Mason moves in with me
That day the magic started. Mason who was known by all as the saddest dog in the shelter, the one needing to go into a kennel alone by himself with no other dogs around, the one who often had to be dragged around because his legs would refuse to budge, became a bundle of excitement. I told him the day I filled out the paperwork he would be coming home with me. I looked right at him, pointed my finger at him and told him, then I went home. The next morning people were talking about that crazy little happy dog over in cage #3. He was eating, he was walking, he was perky, his tail was high, the shelter staff started telling me that Mason was a miraculously changed dog, his kennel tag now said taken, not available. It took close to 2 weeks before I could bring him home, I was unable to even see him over the weekend, Mason remained upbeat the entire time.
New Life At the park. We go walking somewhere fun every single day. I love to roll in the grass and hunt for gophers!
The first thing he did on coming home was to do endless zommies like he owned the place. I’d never seen this racing around from Mason, I didn’t know he had it in him. He had a huge smile on his face. Had he done this for other homes from which he’d been returned, no, I’m sure he did not. When he went to the other homes he’d remained sad and returned sad. I put him in his halter and walked him around his neighborhood. I knew he must be tired after the zoomies and the walk but he did something unexpected, as I was bringing him in the door he suddenly burst out and started running at full speed for the collector street. In that moment I questioned everything, why was he running away! Was I wrong to take him home? Did he see me as only a means to an end? Was what he really wanted to get back to where he’d been found, to return to his previous life before the shelter? Whatever he was thinking I wasn’t going to let him get hit by a car.
By luck a neighbor was in the street on his bicycle and he saw Mason bolt, what he did next was brilliant. Instead of chasing Mason he got front of him, hoped off his bicycle, picked it up and waved it high in the air over his head, shouting and yelling at Mason at the same time. Mason was terrified, I squatted in the middle of the street, opened my arms and Mason came barreling into them as fast as he could move. Turned out that was the only time he ever tried to run off.
Here I am!
I started working with him right away, as he relaxed I learned more of his many troubles. I enrolled him in the recommended dog training class for rescues. We made slow but steady progress mostly at home until something happened at the class, a much bigger dog terrified him and Mason decided to hide and would not budge, the trainer took over telling me I could not ignore this behavior but had to help him through it. The treatment he received was horrifying, being dragged, I could see and hear how frightened my pup was, the trust I’d started to build with him vaporizing so I put an immediate stop to it and walked out of the class with my Mason tucked under my arm, never to return. That’s when I purchased a professional dog training course and revived and revisited all I had once known about working with difficult dogs. One thing I had learned back in the 1970s was that love won out every time with a dog.
First trip to the forest . inspecting pine needles.
This began my love affair with my little Mason. It turned out he didn’t have a wisp of terrier in him as the shelter had believed, nor Corgi but he did have Pomeranian in him. When I did his DNA it came out like this: Dear Head (Mexican) Chihuahua, Wirehaired Dachshund, Pomeranian and Mini Poodle. I was so surprised I solicited and received a detailed report and long phone call from the Wisdom Panel, another very interesting learning experience about how breed characteristics are passed down.
Mason and puppy Olympia
Once I brought my first Lagotto Romagnolo, Olympia home all ground was lost with Mason. He became so upset he took to hiding deep under the bed once again, growling and snarling with those little teeth of his. It took a while to convince him Olympia was only there for him to love. In time they became absolute best friends. For several years I took them both 2 hrs up the road to K9 Nose Work classes. In the beginning Mason was so shy, he’d barely put his head in the box to get a treat, over time he blossomed. I was so amazed at his emerging personality I became a K9 Nose Work instructor and have seen the same thing happen to other scared, abused or PTS dogs and their handlers.
Found it! Nose Work container hide… there’s a scent in there and Mason is letting me know he found it… lots of boxes and other objects to search through to find what’s he looking for.
The other story I’ve told a lot is how long it took to get him to do a “down.” He’d mastered, sit, come, stand but down he just would not do. It took over 4 months, closer to 5. I’d clicker and marker trained him but the thing that finally worked was to lure him under my legs with me sitting on the floor, my legs outstretched and bent to form a tunnel. To get the treat he’d have to do a crawl and to do that he’d have to do a down. Forever after he’d craw under my legs as a game whenever he thought I needed cheering up. He’d go so far as to get me down on his level then put a paw on my leg until I’d lift them just right so he’d could climb under, wagging his tail and giving me little nudges and vocal sounds to emphasis his point. He could be very insistive.
Mason was accepted by my local AKC club, he was the first non-purebred (to my awareness) that was. He obtained his Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) and his therapy dog certification, participating in Paws to Read where children with reading difficulties read to a dog. He was a member of Canine Ambassadors, he did obedience, agility and tracking and he excelled at Nose Work.
Mason does Canine Ambassadors
He overcame some other interesting if not disturbing quirks where a stay command, to him meant run away fast and hide, where a hand outstretched to pet him meant someone was going to hit him, when a big dog passing near him meant he’d have to fight for his life. Over the years he so completely overcame his fear of men that he took it as his job to hunker up to a lonely man (or woman) that we might meet and offer comfort as only he could, giving delight to others became his trademark. He overcame his fear of loud noises developing into a fearless protector willing to take on any and every loud sound from raging thunder to gunshots. He protected his home and he protected me and the Lagotti Romagnoli especially when we were away from home and traveling. He changed from yapping hysterically in fear, to “proper” alarm barking as he felt warranted, that did include the postal carrier, UPS, FedEX and trash trucks, as well as suspicious strangers. It was a busy job.
Wow! Snow! Mason who never much liked water, loved snow.
Never a day went by that I didn’t purposely make certain to put a smile on his face; his smile is what I lived for. As my personal losses escalated, Mason was close by my side, he slept with a paw on my shoulder or his paw on my chest, he’d cuddle so he was touching me until I’d felt better. If I was hurt or injured, he’d give his comfort, there were times with him close beside me that come morning my pain would be gone and when I was about to give up, he’d come to cheer me.
Mason in my camper van. . . bought it for the dogs.
My little Mason grew so much emotionally, he became wise as well as bold, truly fearless and strong, playful and boundless with joy. If we were out hiking and became lost, he’d find our way back to the camper no matter how far from home as we traveled across the county and he’d never choose the wrong vehicle or the wrong path as my Lagotti will often do. He could choose a perfect camp spot for us, jumping at the window, barking in a certain tone he had, wagging his tail for emphasis to tell me this was it, turning his head to give me the look to pay attention, when he didn’t like a place he’d retreat, sometimes I had to pick places like that and he sure let me know I’d made a mistake, he was always right. He loved going to friends’ houses, making friends with the humans and all their animals and of course getting treats. He had long conversations with others touching the souls and hearts of so many, I didn’t always know but would later hear how he’d made a deep friend. He learned about puppies and helped bring up three generations of Lagotti. I used to tell people I lived because of Mason and it was true. I got up every morning to take care of him, to share the day with him, bringing a smile to his face made my heart sing. I promised him I’d take care of him no matter what and not let him down, it was my job and I took it very seriously. He didn’t like to be without me, a few days or so was okay but not too long. I tried once and he took to going back under the bed and growing so he went with me almost everywhere.
Mason and Olympia… Olympia is starting to get bigger!
Mason wanted to know everything, he surprised me so much. I first saw this this time Olympia and Mason were allowed inside an aquarium with me where we were traveling, the dogs were so cute, we got lots of attention. Actually I have lived for a long time now with strangers oohing and awing… oh so cute, it’s never me they’re taking to. I tried to show both dogs the creatures behind the glass, Olympia was totally bored, but Mason was fascinated, I had to lift him up at every porthole so he could watch, he didn’t want to miss anything! There was another mother in the aquarium holding her human son up the portholes somehow I felt my “kid” was getting the better enjoyment of the experience. The same turned out to be true when we were driving, I bought him a booster seat so for the first time he could see out the window and it became a forever thing for him. He’d watch and often comment on everything, far in the distance and especially up close. He’d watch how people interacted, he’d examine the strange offerings in a museum when allowed in, he looked at everything with such interest and managed to communicate his opinions. He met lots of different kind of animals in awe. I used to ask him how someone so small like him could be so smart and observant. The size of one’s brain evidently does not limit one’s intelligence.
Like my Lagotti, he was 100% reliable on or off leash, a real pleasure to walk and take anywhere, although he did retain an unwillingness to walk on leash with others he did not know or trust. As for me, I trusted this little guy with my sanity and with my heart.
Mason always came along to dogs shows, he was very patient. I think he deserves some of those awards!
Does it seem like I’m boasting, well I am. He made me proud, he taught me how to deeply communicate across species even from a distance. It’s not like you talk to people, dogs like Mason are very especially intuitive. They have a way of communicating I cannot explain unless you’ve experienced it for yourself. It worked across distance and if he were still alive I could easily prove it to you, but for now you’ll just have to believe me.
Mason’s way of saying I love you everyone!
Before Mason came to live with me, he had a limited life, he’d never seen the ocean, never been to the forest, never imagined some of the creatures we met, never gone camping or to dog shows, and the great food he discovered he loved, he’d not even had a bite of banana, an apple, broccoli or green beans, water melon, poached egg… from a dog that would not eat he discovered even crispy lettuce was yummy but I think his favorite was simple homemade chicken and rice maybe with some broccoli or carrots. He’d do a dance, tossing his head from side to side, come-on, come-on hurry-up hurry up, let’s eat! I taught him to speak on cue, he loved that, one of his favorite tricks. He was perfect, I told him so all the time, my sweet, loving, fun, brave, tolerant and wise Mason dog.
Mason trying to bump me on the nose like I do him!
The years were like one of those carnival games where you if you knock over a pin you get a prize except they only expect you to get maybe one of them down but instead I bowled over pin after pin and instead of a prize I received bigger and bigger heartaches. People I loved dropped dead at increasing frequency, my dreams evaporated, hopes crushed to be replaced by duplicity, even betrayal, loss and heartache but Mason, my love-bug Mason was by my side. Mason was with me when Jolyon died unexpectedly two days before he was to be released from nursing care, he was with me at Forrest’s memorial at Three Springs in North Fork (my closest friend who woke up from a nap and died), Mason wandered loose in the big crowd and didn’t get lost, Mason was there with me as I searched for a place to live, as I worked hard to start a sustainable business and failed, Mason was by my side as other friends and relatives succumbed to sudden disaster and death … my little Mason. He’d put his paw on my chest, he’d lay close to me during panic attacks, he’d calm me during migraines and press his comforting warmth against me when my joints would partially dislocate and I could not move. He was my tear catcher when there was no one, he’d listen long after all others had gone, he didn’t tire of being my companion, rewarding me with his contentment, how did he know so much?
Traveling… Mason loved hotels… he looks much bigger than he is. He probably wants room service too.
We did a lot of visiting at the homes of friends across the country.
And lots of posing for travel photos
Mason with his girls Hey, what’s in here! If you look though my blog you will see all the traveling we did together
I’m not scared of my own death nor that of my dogs but the way one gets there can be the wrong way. Mason’s death was tragic, too reminiscent of how several of my human loves arrived to their deaths. Mabye one can’t die in peace no matter how we wish it so.
I have asked myself what part of Mason’s situation was my omission , and yes I am taking fault. Why? Because it is my responsibility alone to care for my pets as it is for all of us with such companions, although as it was pointed out to me they will get themselves into trouble no matter what we do. Veterinary care where I live is expensive, my attempts to reclaim income have failed. High cost of veterinarian care was not my only issue, I had a 3-week old puppy not make it, though I rushed her to emergency care she could not be saved. That puppy was the one I’d planned to keep, she’d lay in my hands purring, such a beautiful girl, a show stopper, my dream for the future. Then there was trouble with my foundation Lagotto, Olympia, problems with my puppy client . . . all like quicksand . . . the transmission on my van, major dental, sinus infections, raising Jeana’s litter. . . challenges mixing together like a centrifuge rebirthing unprocessed agonies of … of what, being overwhelmed, of past loss. Then the pandemic and the way our climate is changing, the physical and social insanity of it all. . . not as an excuse but from weariness I pushed off indicators that Mason might need more than I could provide on my own, more than just aging, like I am aging too, still he was happy and playful, so I hid away such inner speculations. Maybe we all do that at times, we can only handle so much, the ongoing fabric of life that never seems to let up, yet I question how I could let it slide with Mason; sure it might not have made a difference or I might not have been expected to know, all depends but I am not a believer that we are doing the best we can. People like to say that, well, you did your very best, I don’t agree. If I did my very best then I’d be super-human and I’m not. We let ourselves down, we let other’s down, we don’t have the support we need, we get drained, we fall apart, in many ways we as a species can be uncaring, isolated, drifting, burred within our personal pressures. Certainly the political situation emits an aura of lack of compassion and static worry. I’d started to feel my heart fading, that dying with less years to my name would be okay. For the first time I’d started to consider that maybe I wouldn’t be here for Mason but that idea made me very sad. I promised him I’d always be here for him as long as he needed me and to put a smile on his face everyday.
Me and My Mason
Maybe Mason being sick on my trip home from WA where I’d gone to breed Jeana, he soiled a friend’s house and he was hiding it, really pissed off the person I was visiting, he’d never done that before, he always asks to go out, maybe that made me lose my balance, maybe that’s when he ingested the horrible mess, the huge trichobezoar, that would come to take his life. He was starting to pee inside at my mother’s house too so I left him at home not thinking oh this means he needs the vet. I know we’ve not supposed to outguess ourselves, it’s bad practice, running our heads in circles, things we don’t known, things we did or did not do. In any case I have to learn everything the hard way. Then the Pandemic, feeling trapped, outside contacts and reality checks aborted, for awhile no one went out at all.
Good or bad, helpful or destructive, it’s up to us to make the decisions; our pets are not going to call up the vet and say, you know, my human has not mentioned this to you but I can feel there’s something wrong going on, could you come and take a look. A dog is a dog, they accept things as they come, they have a strong will to survive. They are closer to reality than we are.
Many say, there is nothing more you could have done, they tell me what a great life I gave my pet, don’t linger, let it go, our companions are in a better place now; or maybe they don’t say anything, don’t talk about it. We are not necessary a people of deep compassion. What is the love of a canine to someone who has not had the experience of a ‘heart” dog? What can such loss mean to someone who has not suffered and fallen into disillusion? What is this unbearable pain of the heart some of us feel to those who have not had the reason to question the validly of life?
Young Gracie Caramella and her true love Mason
I want to remember my Mason as himself, his joy and energy, not the pain and anguish of seeing him at the hospital in distress, nor the crushing weight of having to put him “to sleep.” Sleep because they use a barbiturate He wanted to live, he survived so much to live. How I wish I could see him, hear him, feel him, what great relief to have him home, as they kept promising he’d soon be. Oh my sweet dog. I never want to forget, yet I will to an extent, my human mind cannot bear the weight of this continued anguish. Is love so selfish, we cannot part?
Mason rolling to his side when I kiss him good night each and every night to get his belly rub, his sighs of pleasure. He’d give kisses, making a kissy sound with his lips because he understood I really didn’t like the messy way dogs lick you so he choose to be a human. How he’s put his paw on my arm. on my chest, nuzzling and talking to me. Standing so tall at attention, tail and head high meeting little dogs his size, greeting the big giants calmly and confidently. Mason with his eyes of love, blinking to let me know all is good. Shake off when I’d overdone my share of affection. He came to enjoy his baths, trusting me not to get water in his eyes or in his nose. How he’d wait for me to pick him up, in and out of the car or the van, even when we both knew he could jump, he’d wait for me. His patience and strength, amazing enthusiasm for living. One time he managed to get himself all the way up to the roof of the garage, busy exploring up there!
I miss you so much Mason, I miss your presence here with me. The soft grandeur of your coat, the way you shed like crazy until one day your double coat was gone. You never got a sticker or a foxtail, you barely got dirty or muddy, used to amaze me, the Lagotti would be filthy and you so clean. You never complained, never whined or howled. My Mason, a joy contagion. When your tail was caught in the door and you lost your tail fur you wagged it anyway and so very well. You used to play the game, ‘get your tail,’ back when it was full, to amuse me with all your cute snuffle noises, chasing round in a a circle. The way you wanted to be on my bed and snuggle. They way you’d want different beds all over the house cause you liked the variety and how you loved to go new places, just to see and smell what was there and familiar places because they were your favorite. How you’d contentedly wait in the van in your later years when you were too tired to walk so much, the crazy time you had getting used to your jacket… how funny you claimed you couldn’t walk with the jacket on, silly pup. All the attention everyone gave you, and you loved it. So cute and affectionate.
This strange thing on my back means my legs can’t move!!! Oh, but it is nice and warm.
I miss you so much. I wish you could have come home and felt good for a while made us all so happy. I miss you my Mason. I meant it absolutely that I didn’t need any other dog but you. You are my perfect dog. King of the Mason dogs. King of my heart. All the songs I made up and sang to you. How many squirrels, rabbits and gophers you wanted to get. How independent you could be. You never pulled on the leash. You never wanted to drink before our walks, then you’d get thirsty, that was kinda silly. How fast those legs of yours doing super time would move, you could jump so incredibly high yet I’d have to carry you over even shallow pools of water. How you loved the umbrella, I’d hold it over just you so you wouldn’t get wet while I got drenched. I loved the sounds you made when you walked, the way your feet would run in your sleep and how’d you’d bark and your mouth would be saying something I couldn’t understand in your dreams. How good it was to hold you, how soft and cuddly, yet fierce and brave. Your pink nose like the Lagottos, your long white coat with orange, just like them but not like them at all. You were so close to the ground it always surprised me somehow. You’d scent search so methodically, never missed anything. Little bugs on the ground captured your attention and what a fantastic fly catcher you were and sometimes wasps. Before you got so sick these last months, you almost never got sick. I’d have to remind you to lift your head, I know whatever abuse you suffered never completely went away. I know you thought about your first home and tried to tell me things you used to do. You really did not like the rain.
Mason, King of my Heart with Olympia, Jeana and Jackson
Is there a time when each living thing has to die? Is that why there are tragedies and seemingly miracles. Is there some secret clock ticking, an illusion that time is real and has run its course? I was not there watching over him day and night during and after his surgery and that hurts unbelievably. I could not protect him. Was he scared or lonely, feeling lost? I wanted to be with him the entire time he was in aftercare, I am his advocate, the one who loves him but I could not be admitted and he needed 24 hr care, yet it was just not enough, the circumstances, the outcome, the help he had could not give him what he needed.
That morning, on Mason’s last day, I was in a desperate mood, scared, my pulse was racing. I was yelling at my Lagotti on our walk, they all seemed to be misbehaving and didn’t understand why I was so annoyed with them. I only wanted to see Mason. The vet clinic kept delaying when I could visit, it got later and later, being an intense day for them with many emergencies. Then my distress of the condition I found him in, it will make my heart stop if I keep remembering that. My faithful companion, not that I expected him to live forever, but I needed to keep him safe, comfortable, feeling that I am there, that he is not alone, not left to die like when I first found him. I love him and always will. I miss his joy, I’m not okay with how things turned out, this being sick and never seeing him home again, for some long time many unanswered questions and overwhelming confusion, but it is true I was with him I held him safe in my lap, I’d brought his own bed to make him feel at peace. I comforted him until he almost slept and then he did sleep, I think he had a bit of a smile, I told him what a wonderful perfect companion he is to me and how much I love and adore him, how special he is, that he should not fear anything but be at peace, be free. I am grateful and fortunate my personal veterinarian has helped me piece together the details of his condition and treatment, without that I would be hurting still, I am not a person who can accept unanswered questions.
My promise to Mason has ended and if I feel his presence in only love, not in the pain I feel for him, I could almost swear he comes here giant size, a little bigger than the Lagotti to hover over my bed, all happy tailed, fluffy, sure of himself, with that look he gives me to pay attention, come on, lets go for an adventure, it will be be all right, he tells me. He well would think of himself as the biggest dog in the house, that would be my little Mason.
Mason I will always be with you, wherever you are. I will always have your dinner ready, a comfy place to sleep and my love to guide you. You and me Mason, you are always welcome by my side.
The flood on the Arkansas River pushed me to North Little Rock. I took a chance as all the RV Parks were overfilled. I’d called, driven by and looked, moved on and simply decided to try the County Park and maybe get lucky.
There were dire warnings that the road into the County Park was flooded but the signs all indicated the roads were open. Many times, last minute, even if a camp is full I’ve found a spot, esp for a small Class B camper for one night. And I was lucky! Last space in the park was mine and a day or two before the roads would be closed. Was so happy not to be driving into the night fearful of floodwaters or who knows what. I’d met a couple earlier in the day who had told me, yep, they made it barely, driving their Class A from traveling East and it might be possible that I could make it heading West although they’d passed rigs that had not been so fortunate.
I have limits on the risks I’ll take, heading straight into whip you off the road gusts, massive flood waters, severe thundery storms in unstable weather, nope; if this place had been full I would have driven back to Little Rock and taken my chances in a parking lot. It wasn’t actually that late when I arrived so I took a long walk with the dogs, let them run about our camping spot and play ball, it was a nice to relax in spite of imminent flood warnings. The Park was already half shut down, the lake was closed, the dog park was closed, it wasn’t advised to drive back the way I’d arrived which was fine with me I was happy to relax. Took the other road out in the morning back to Little Rock thinking I’d wait for the flood water to arrive, but after touring for awhile I realized how crazy this idea was so headed onward. I took more than a few detours thinking I could swing up north a bit as I’d loved the Ozarks. Turns out North was not a good direction to go although I passed through some interesting and somewhat deserted lands, I finally got it, saw the light, actually I got thoroughly scared by the ominous weather, the news and warnings from friends and found a Walmart to settle into. I worried all night as I often did on this trip.
The flood waters beginning to come in near the downtown Little Rock. Although I was curious I didn’t stick around to see how high over the banks the flood would reach.
Walking with the dogs in Little Rock. We get a lot of attention. Found a public river access off the highway for a quick swim, flooded of course. I decided to let the dogs cool off but kept them on leash close to me. The river was moving fast and hard. Yep, another Walmart. When I Walmart, I drive over, check it out, esp approximately the location I will return to , what side of the Parking Lot, who else might be there, then I head to a nearby park, I feed the dogs, we all go for a walk, I stay until after dark enjoying the peace, the birds, the wind in the trees then I head for my sleeping spot. This Park I came back to in the morning. Dallas, I think. Too much traffic to stop given that I was running from Bad Weather. I’ve been to Dallas but didn’t stay long that time either. Crossing the BridgeFort Worth Water Gardens. . My dogs are kinda disgusted at me right here. It’s very hot out, I lead them to water and then what do I do!!!! Do I let them jump in and cool off, play and show those humans how it’s done? Nope, I obey those no swimming and do not enter the water, signs I see all over. You might not see it this photo, but they were majorly telling me off. Mason did not jump up on this ledge and frankly hot as it was, he did not want to go swimming! Meal from The Black Rooster Cafe, Fort Worth’s Premiere Cafe & Bakery. Yummy for me and the dogs.Forth Worth Museums “Masterpieces abound in the museums of the Fort Worth Cultural District, located a few miles west of downtown. This is, without question, one of the finest collections of museums in America. In a single, park-like setting, you can span virtually the entire history of art, from priceless antiquities to Impressionist milestones to modern artworks. It’s a wonderful place to find inspiration, broaden your horizons and spend some quality time with your family. The Cultural District is also home to the Will Rogers Memorial Center one of the top equestrian show facilities, Dickies Arena the new home of the Annual Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo and the acclaimed theater, Casa Mañana. Near the Cultural District, explore nature’s masterpieces at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, The Fort Worth Zoo and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas, or go jogging or biking along the river in Trinity Park. Explore the Fort Worth Cultural District by foot as all five museums are within walking distance or pick up a bike at one of the many Fort Worth Bike Sharing stations along the way. “Next visit I will plan more time to see all these museums. The museums don’t open until after noon by which time it’s too hot to leave a pet in an RV and esp not in a car; maybe a good time for a pet sitter. OK, anyone want to tell me why this is needed! If those that fish here are this silly they can’t tell it’s flooded are they are they really going to read and pay any attention to these signs? Yep it was flooded with more flood water on the way. Just gazing down the short path to the raging river was scary enough for me. Mark Twain reads to my dogs on Trinity Park Drive overlooking the Trinity River, he’s reading to us from Huckleberry Finn. Forth Worth is home to 70 miles of dog-friendly trails, more than 60 rover-friendly restaurants, 45+ pet-friendly hotels, 10 bark-friendly breweries and 4 designated dog parks and attractions. Guess What? Flooded! Was actually hysterical, as I asked if I could camp here overnight; all the facilities along with all the nearby campgrounds I’d had in mind to stay at were underwater. Sure, the host at this little dirt parking area told me, I could stay just give her $25 cash. I moved on, went up the road to the free Walmart with a dry and lighted bathroom. You see those trees and the buildings behind it, that’s the campground which includes a marina on the other side. A few local folks were trying to fish here. It was so flooded I swear I thought I saw a gater out there. I did not let my dogs out of the van. Water being let out on the backside of the flooded dam. The river on the backside of the dam, moving fast and furious. This is at the top of the dam down a short trail, it’s a boat ramp. There were a few boaters here and a handful of folks fishing in the water so I let the dogs go for a dip. Another Walmart. I backed up to this nice view from my Walmart overnight.
Loretta Lynn’s Ranch Hurricane Mills, TN As I understand Loretta bought the entire town and turned it into her guest ranch. The property includes museums, homestead, mansion, western town, camping, music… I wanted to attend the upcoming concert I learned about but the campgrounds had been completely booked so I moved on after a short stay. The area I camped in was mostly unoccupied and the dogs were able to run unfettered; up on the hill under the cool pines it was full. Fun walking with the dogs listening to people playing and singing and exploring the extensive grounds.
I found this place by chance as it was nearly that time of day to rest, a nice change from Walmart parking lots, hot shower all to myself, very peaceful. You can see my van where I’m parked for the night. The dogs love to chase their balls and to explore. Found in the bunk-house style bathroom. More yummy Southern food. I don’t know what they do to make it taste sooooo good. Food is very fresh. You get a choice on each item you’d like from a list of options.
I miss Southern Food now that I’ve tasted it. Fried okra, Pineapple compote, Hush puppies and popovers, red beans and rice, black-eyed peas and lima beans, fresh greens, boiled peanuts, mac and cheese, slowed cooked BBQ chicken, chicken pot pies, seafood gumbo, everybody has their own special recipe for biscuits. I arrived in Memphis before a big event so the downtown area was blocked and/or under construction which led me to explore different areas than I’d been to before. I did a lot more driving than I’d expected and lots of walking with the dogs.
It was very hot even at night, too hot to leave the dogs in the van so I forgo the nightlife other than to drive around a bit. Camped for free in the parking lot of the Bass Pro Shop, great location esp for catching public trans or walking downtown, very friendly, noisy and hot. I was directed to the location by the Visitors Information Office. I’d wanted to stay at the Tom Sawyer’s Mississippi River RV Park on the Arkansas side as I had before. I drove across the bridge in hopes of doing so to find it was so entirely flooded even the road in was deep under water. I felt so sad, I wonder how the Park is now, still flooded? The King is everywhere, esp around Beale Street with bars, restaurants, shops and live music venues. Stopped at this bakery heading west. They had amazing pies, I bought a lunch, was my last really delicious southern meal and a desert bar to go. Another day, another stop, coffee shop for breakfast. I often choose a coffee shop for a mid morning breakfast, it serves as breakfast, lunch and a pick-me up coffee, tea or cappuccino. Sometimes I find something to save for dinner if I don’t feel like cooking. My preference is a local independent establishment that serves food. A “modern” breakfast toast… was yummy. Little Rock, Arkansas Not far from this painted wall / mural is another favorite RV Park with a fantastic view of the Arkansas river and easy walking across the bridge, Downtown Riverside RV Park. I’d been here before and enjoyed the view, it’s nothing fancy but I love being near water. I like the sights and sounds of a waterway as well as the vista. All the sties are 50 amps as the Park serves the bigger guys but I still had my 50 to 30 amp adapter I’d bought here years ago. The problem was FLOODING. Heavy food waters were headed directly to Little Rock. Folks already flooded out were crammed into this campground as long as it would stay safe. The flooding was terrible and was going to get worse… I finally found a place at the County Park… I got the last spot.
Nashville: music, dining, history, culture, street art, plantation houses, vintage cars, nature parks and bight lights. These electric scooters are all over, just jump on one and go. I was going to try one but I didn’t, I decided to walk. I know they’ve had troubles but overall I liked them.Words in the Wild – a beautiful script mural in Nashville, TN with the quote “as long as the moon shall rise, as long as the rivers flow, as long as the sun will shine, as long as the grass shall grow” from the Johnny Cash song, “As Long as the Grass Shall Grow. Angels & Monsters mural located in the parking lot at 236 5th Ave N Beau Stanton mural The Father of Bluegrass Music, Bill Monroe (1911-1996) Shelby Bottoms… went for a long walk with the dogs and visited the nature center. “The park is primarily rich river bottom land as the name implies with boardwalks over streams and wetlands and great overlooks of the river. The open fields and wet areas give much diversity to the land with an abundance of wildflowers, birds, and amphibians.” Lane Motor Museum Lane Motor Museum is one of the few museums in the U.S. to specialize in European cars. Some cars are in showroom condition, while others represent typical aging. Efforts are made to restore each vehicle to near-original specifications.
Loved visiting here, took a lot more photos of some very unusual and hand restored vehicles. https://www.opry.com/
It’s been called the “home of American music” and “country’s most famous stage.” It began on the night of Nov. 28, 1925, when an announcer on Nashville radio station WSM introduced fiddle player Uncle Jimmy Thompson as the first performer on a new show called “The WSM Barn Dance.”
The love story. May I have this dance. Love you as long as the moon shall rise, as long as the river flows, as long as the sun will shine, as long as the grass shall grow.
@Jamieandthedogs, 2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
jamieandthedogs 