Typist: Bethany
Having shared my entire life with dogs, much of that time exercising and adventuring outdoors, camping and backpacking, as well as road tripping all over North America, I consider myself quite knowledgeable about canine companions. I am comparatively very new to cats. My mom is allergic to felines so I wasn't lucky enough to share my life with a kitty until I adopted Emily. I didn't even plan on cats being a part of this blog since it is based on pet travel and adventures. Not all cats are cut out for travel. Emily, for example, would have hated it. She never ventured farther than a sunny spot on the front porch. However, it turns out Amelia is an adventure cat. She leaps into her stroller for epic neighborhood excursions, begs for comfortable rides in her front pack and walks nicely on her leash. I have even taken her on a few long car rides. Last weekend I took the giant leap of bringing her along on a four night road trip to Oregon. To be honest, I had no idea what I was doing even though I had been sort of planning to take her on some sort of trip since last summer. My policy with Amelia is usually to let her decide whether or not she wants to come along. When getting ready for a Seattle adventure, I set up her stroller or get out her front pack and let her jump in. So when I was trying out the travel set up and Amelia first used the litter box then curled up for a nap, I knew she had made her choice.

Considering all that could have gone wrong with my first attempt at traveling with a cat in tow I think the trip went really, really well. Once I got good at controlling the cat litter mess, I realized I could probably have Amelia along more often and on longer trips. The pets seemed very at peace when all traveling together and I felt the same way. This trip was one of the most relaxed and restful vacations I have had in a long time because a piece of my heart wasn't left at home. Best of all, Amelia had a wonderful time. Just like when touring the Southwest with Leo last year, it seemed Amelia honestly appreciated her great fortune in getting to experience seeing parts of the world even many wishful humans will never see. Having a travel partner, be they human, canine, psittacine or feline, that genuinely recognizes the wonder of wandering, is all we ever need from each other.

Any cat travel suggestions would be greatly appreciated by us traveling cat newbies. Please leave a comment!

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Typist: Bethany
There were plenty of rest stops when the dogs and I drove west through Iowa and Nebraska on our road trip back to Seattle from Buffalo. However, not one of those rest stops had enough shade for me to safely leave the dogs alone in the car to go to the bathroom on a ninety degree day. There were absolutely no rest stops as I slogged through an over one hundred degree day of driving towards Phoenix with three dogs and a cockatoo. Even though it seemed I was in the middle of nowhere, I learned from many road trips with my dad and grandfather that even men shouldn't just randomly unzip when being a polite, law abiding visitor. Pet friendly Mather Campground at the Grand Canyon National Park had clean, convenient restrooms but pets are not allowed in National Park buildings nor could they be left unattended at the campsite. What does a solo traveler with pets do when nature calls? I don't mean the pets. I always have bags and supplies to clean up after them. I mean, what happens when a lone human has gotta go but there are pets in tow? The pets can't be left alone if it is too hot, cold, unsafe or illegal. A human can't hold it for an entire pet friendly road trip or camping excursion. There is one easy and convenient item to bring on pet friendly solo travel that keeps humans comfortable and pets safe. I always carry my own travel toilet.

My travel toilet, plenty of waste bags and all other necessary accessories are kept together in a large tote which I always pack near a door for quick and easy accessibility. Even if I don't have to use the toilet or make a toilet privacy screen, having clamps, a spare sheet, rags, trash bags, toilet paper, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer near a door can be helpful for a lot of pet friendly travel situations. Just like with cleaning up after my pets, I clean up after myself with the same care. I am always aware of human waste disposal laws and I never, ever leave waste of any kind behind. I keep thick trash bags with my toilet because, just like with pet waste, I double bag my toilet waste if I must pack it out. Leave-no-trace travel ethics are yet another reason why all solo travelers with pets, male or female, should consider the merits of packing a travel toilet.

Rushing through using a rest stop or campground bathroom due to fearing for the safety of the pets is no way to travel. I know. I've lived it. Every moment of solo travel with dogs, cats, cockatoos or any pets, should be safe and enjoyable for all creatures on the trip. The incredible bonding I have done with the pets when it is just them, me and the road can't be described in words. Bringing my own toilet on pet friendly road and camping trips has taken so much of the stress away from my solo travels. Plus, the travel toilet and it's refill packets are much less expensive than an RV. So I forgo a little bit of modesty, pack my travel toilet bag and head out on pet friendly adventures, keeping my pets safe even when nature calls.

Cascadian Nomads was not asked to or paid to promote any products or businesses mentioned and linked in this post. We paid for all mentioned and linked products ourselves and we are in no way compensated for clicking on the links we've provided. We're just sharing information and stuff we like!

Have you ever traveled alone with just a pet or two or more? What did you do to keep your pets safe when you needed to use the toilet?

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Typist: Bethany
Every time I take the dogs on an amazing adventure, I think of the saying about hoping to be the person my dog thinks I am. All three dogs believe perfect road trips and glamorous camping weekends just magically occur. While I enjoy the idea that Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley imagine me waving an enchanted wand to make it all happen, in reality it takes hours to gather up and pack everything necessary for a pleasant time away from home with three dogs. Here's the secrets to the magic it takes to create the ideal camping trip with dogs:

The Big Shrimpy Landing Pads the dogs travel on double as beds when we arrive at the campsite. I bring plastic for underneath the pads to keep them dry and slightly more clean. While throw rugs seem like the ultimate glamping item, rugs are very easy to pack and take up little space in the car. In fact, wrapping propane canisters or hiking boots in throw rugs is very efficient! Camping with dogs is made so very much cleaner and more comfortable with throw rugs on either side of the tent door.

Everyone sleeps better when the dogs have their travel crates along. And by everyone, I mean neighboring campers too. Nocturnal critters are way less likely to arouse Wilhelm, Brychwyn and Huxley when the dogs are comfortable in their own safe spaces. To save floor space in the tent and to keep Wilhelm warmer, all I need to bring to make his stacked crate accessible is a small folding stool. The interior of the tent is just as glamorous as the natural scenery outside.

Tah-dah! *insert enchanted twinkling sound here* The magic of a glamp for three dogs revealed! Sometimes packing for road trips and camping with dogs is about more than having everything it takes to be prepared for anything. It's okay to bring an item (or twelve) that's simply for luxurious comfort. Or maybe pack a few extra items that really make you the person your dog thinks you are...

Do you glamp with your dog(s)?
What do you bring to create canine camping magic?

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Typist: Bethany
After last years three week road trip with three dogs from Seattle to Buffalo and back, driving eight or more hours each day, I planned this years road trip to Phoenix to be a bit more laid back. Since it is earlier in the year than last years camping road trip and because Leo is with us, we are doing more pet friendly motel stays on the way to and from Phoenix. I have planned shorter drive days, multiple days at amazing places and visits with friends. But the last two days of our supposedly relaxing drive to Phoenix, I have allowed myself to be too laid back. When traveling with three dogs and a cockatoo, some sort of schedule and structure is an absolute must. I want to take it easy but not too easy!

On day one, we left Seattle late and drove into Baker City in the dark. Which is disappointing because that drive across the Columbia River and into Oregon is so beautiful! On day two, we left Baker City late and drove into Ogden in the dark. This was unfortunate because after Twin Falls, Idaho is when our current road trip became a unique drive that is not a repeat from last spring. But despite all of these slight road trip set backs, we have been having an absolutely fabulous time!

Being such a large traveling circus, I think we did a pretty good job of quietly rolling into Baker City, Oregon so very late at night. I was a little dispirited that the dogs didn't arrive a little more tired after their fun visit with Cue. But I was very proud of Leo for taking a late drive and hustle into an unfamiliar motel in stride. After way too little sleep, I did some car repacking and reorganizing and we hit the road (late) again.

Gabbi is, of course, one very fit dog mom so the chases she led were epic. Brychwyn's cousin Levi decided that Wilhelm was the best friend he'd ever had and Huxley has a crush on Brychwyn's cousin Elle and Gabbi thought Leo was the most interesting thing she had ever seen or heard.

After out fun playtime in Boise, we stopped to enjoy the sunset at a rest stop outside of Twin Falls, Idaho just a little while later. We all stretched our legs, had a bite to eat and settled in to sleep the rest of the way to Ogden. Wait. I did not settle into sleep until we got to Ogden. But I am pleased to say that the dogs and the cockatoo were very tired as well as wonderfully behaved yet again for another late night motel check in. 

We have had two amazing days on the road so far and I wouldn't change a thing. Hopefully, though, I will catch my stride and we begin to get us to our destinations in a little more timely manor. A relaxed vacation and a lack of sleep vacation are two very different things. Then again, since Wilhelm, Brychwyn, Huxley and Leo are clearly enjoying themselves, does anything else matter?

Please forgive any & all rough spots in this post as it has been done on mobile from the road! We will be reading and enjoying your comments but, due to being on the road, it will be difficult for us to respond right away. Thanks for understanding and for coming along on our adventure.