Two plus two no more

Rosco

The title of this blog seemed like the perfect description for our adventures. Hank and me, Alfie and Rosco on the road.

We were an ideal travel team. A friend for everybody, a fine balance of companionship and entertainment.

I always envisioned us all traveling around in our camper together, old folks and old dogs. Alas, that is no more.

Our dear and gentle and funny and sweet Rosco became very ill on September 20th. He was diagnosed with IMHA (immune mediated hemolytic anemia). I had never even heard of this deadly disease before - and autoimmune blood disease with no known cause and a very small chance of a good outcome.

We did all we could to save his life  - hospitalization, blood transfusions, a plethora of drugs. Nothing worked. We lost him on September 28th -

We are all sad. Alfie is moping around looking for his brother and playmate. Hank and I are moping too. There is very small comfort in knowing we did all we could to save his life, and that had he survived, his future would have been both uncertain and filled with endless medication and blood tests. But he is gone, and there is a Rosco shaped hole in our hearts, our home and the camper. Maybe someday this space will be filled with another sweet fur kid, but not yet.

For now, the blog will keep its name so that the memory of Rosco Jerome will travel with us.

oh sNOw

Dreaming of sunshine and the beach
 

January 3, 2015

The plan has been to leave tomorrow, Monday, first thing. We have been watching the weather, and I am nervous because the plan has been to go straight to Carpentaria - traveling on I-5. I keep envisioning the passes we traveled last spring, when it was warm and sunny.

Northern  California, even I\on a spring day was cold and the road over the pass high and complex. The idea of driving through snow and winter weather, the very thought of Hank having to put chains onto Shelly, gives me a stomach ache.

But wait, travel tips from snow birding friends gave us a better route - they suggest that we travel to Newport Oregon on Route 20 - as they do every year. Then stay on 101 along the Pacific Coast all the way down into California. The weather forecast for the coast is 40's and 50's - rain but no snow. The highest pass elevation is 1000 feet. This feels like a far less scary (though longer) way to go. I feel calmer and look forward to revisiting some of the places we passed through last year on our travels.

So, we are full on prepping. We have moved the plants to their caretaker position, stocked up on cat food and cat care. Emptied the fridge and loaded Shelly with warm clothes, bedding, books, music, and good things to eat. Then I woke up this morning and looked out the window. Oh SNOW!!! The WeatherBug says icy conditions make driving dangerous - through tomorrow - pretty much everywhere. So, what are our plans now? We'll see.

Right now I am happy to be warm and cozy at home - but we are ready to roll as soon as the weather permits.