Travels with Beau: a tribute to our four-legged travel companion.

Beau enjoying a morning walk along
Holden Beach, North Carolina

One of the reasons the blog has been quiet this year (despite some great trips) was a lot of my energy was devoted to caring and then mourning our dog, Beau.  Within days of returning from our trip to Asia in January, Beau had a mysterious discharge from the one side of his nose.  Trips to the vet and then a specialist vet theorized he most likely had a tumor (we chose against a $3,000 rhinoscopy to confirm this).  You can look up nasal carcinoma; it's a bleak outlook.  There's little to do and eventually they have seizures or bleed to death. With Beau inching to 13, we decided to make his final months on this planet as comfortable as we could and when the time came, we allowed him to peacefully pass.  He did make it to his 13th birthday and boy, what a wonderful life Beau had with us!  Some of our happiest memories come from our travels with Beau. 

He started his adventures at just six weeks old, riding all the way from Columbus, Ohio to Athens, Georgia.  He was still so tiny his belly grazed the ground, picking up red dust from the famous Georgia clay.  Beau traveled to the beaches of Florida and North Carolina (at least 8 times).  He hiked through the Shenandoahs.  He paddled through the Potomac, the Chesapeake Bay, the Olentangy River, Lake Erie and countless other streams, ponds and rivers.  He was shuttled back to Ohio for holidays and family visits more times than I can count.   For 13 years, he was a steady road companion and we picked up some good tips from our travels with Beau:

1.  Cars.  Start young, travel often.  As I said, Beau was taking major road trips as a tiny puppy.  His early exposure to long car trips made traveling easy.  He was comfortable and at ease.  If you do not have any major car trips planned when you first get your dog, be sure to at least go on regular day trips to trails and parks further from your home.  Get them used to highway driving as well as quick jaunts around town.  The earlier and more frequent car trips, the calmer your dog will be in the car. 

Anne and Kevin along Skyline Drive in Virginia
heading to a memorable cabin weekend.

2.  Provisions.  Fill up a jug of water and keep a few treats with you for longer trips and day trips.  Both of our cars were always stocked with tennis balls, waste bags, and towels for park and water trips.  When traveling to a destination with your dog, bring their dog bed (if it fits!) and several extra towels and sheets to cover furniture and keep your dog's paws clean and dry.

3.  Pet-friendly rentals.  The Web makes it so easy to find places that can accommodate your dog.  One of our favorite rentals in Holden Beach, North Carolina, was discovered from the Real Estate company's Web site as you are able to narrow down your search to just pet-friendly options. 

4.  Research before you go.  Before you take your pet, spend some time researching the area to ensure it will be a positive experience.  For example,  the beaches of North Carolina are pet-friendly most of the year, but in the high season, dogs in some communities are prohibited from 9-5.  Ocean City, Maryland does not allow dogs on the beach at all during high season. 

5.  Be respectful.  As a dog owner, I cleaned up after my dog, kept him leashed when I was supposed to, and realized that not everyone loved my dog.  Be a good pet owner and keep the rental property clean and try to keep your dog on their best behavior.  If you are staying with friends or family, remember to thank them profusely for including your dog in the trip. Sending a little note afterwards would be a good idea.

Traveling with Beau was a joyful and happy experience for the DINKs.  We miss our old pal, but have so many happy memories from our adventures.