Barking Embarkers

It’s story time! For those who are new here, I have kept a record of Chloe’s and my adventures during our travels! I write and publish these about a year after they happen, for various reasons, but mostly per my grandma’s advice. And I don’t know about you, but you ALWAYS listen to your Grandma’s advice- they know. Here we Go! Brace yourselves, it’s time for an enticing, incredible, thrilling and heart wrenching: A Tail of Chloe Rue (I know its tale, I just can’t help it).

The Long Haul

Have you ever gotten into your truck with your camper attached and just decided you wanted to GO and just not stop? Me too. Chloe Rue and I loved so much about South Carolina. We truly wanted to stay for a full 6 month contract, but it was unfortunately just before some major Medicare changes in home health, and many companies were (and still are) struggling with reimbursement changes. So, Chloe and I opened our hearts and minds and of course when a travel job in Portland Oregon popped up… I mean, why not drive across the United States in November towing a 28 foot trailer? I made it in January last year; this would be no problem!

We had a “rush rush, go go” feeling and made it from Columbia, South Carolina to St. Louis, Missouri in one day, and St. Louis to Fargo in another day! We arrived to Fargo around 4am, feeling like we had just ran a marathon. Of course we were safe, and I used rest stops for our bathroom breaks, and freecampsites (learn how we do that here) for our overnights. When we pulled into familiar Fargo, were thrilled to be home at last.

Fargo Friends

For those who travel for work with your dogs; is it a weird feeling to come home? For me, it has always been strange; because in my camper was truly my home. I loved seeing my family and I loved finding all kinds of shenanigains with my friends! It was my birthday; and I celebrated with my sister and her (at that time) fiance; and then I cruised back to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota to meet up with my mom for another birthday celebration! It was a wonderful time with family and friends; and Chloe LOVES being at the farm, and she got to meet her new “cousin” a puppy beagle that my sister and her fiance had just gotten. They played and socialized together so well! It made the trip back “home” super entertaining. I was looking forward to shenanigains with my “friend family” as I call it, who were all meeting up in Fargo the day before I planned to drive to Portland. Unfortunately, we heard some news about incoming snow, and I opted to leave earlier than planned and missed spending time with them, this go around!

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A Race Against the Weather

I took off from Fargo with gentle snow falling, and gray skies overhead. We towed all night, listening to one of our favorite audio books by Marissa Meyer. The towing was uneventful thankfully, and Chloe was hunkered down for the ride. We opted to passby one of my favorite overnight spots in Miles City, Montana called Strawberry Hill recreation area. It is a gorgeous freecampsite that always allows for stunning star gazing, and rugged badlands-like terrain. We drove until the snow fall was incessant, and we could no longer safely travel. Bozeman is where we landed, and we parked at a rest stop in the hopes the weather would let up by morning.
Unfortunately that was not the case! The blizzard was relentless. Temperatures were plummeting and supposed to be down to 7 degrees the next night! Chloe and I decided to hunker down in a hotel, and stay safe from the snow.

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We found our favorite La Quinta in Bozeman that has a perfect spot for street parking with a camper. We stayed a full day, watching the roads worsen and ensuring we had antifreeze in our camper water tanks (Highly recommend keeping RV antifreeze on hand when traveling; you never know what the weather will do!). After a full 2 days we knew we were going to be late for our assignment; but they were quite understanding! “You can’t control the weather” they said, and were willing to wait for a Wednesday start.

Chloe and I hoped the roads would improve, and while the snow stopped the conditions were still quite icy. We thought we would at least try to continue though, as at this point it was unlikely to improve before the next blizzard came through. So Chloe and I began our trek again, VERY very slowly. Have you gone on I 90 through the mountains? There are 3 passes that can be pretty tricky in Montana, and I made it past the Bozeman pass, I had just 2 more tough ones to go before Idaho.

It was ICY and when I say icy, I mean 10 miles per hour icy. I was behind a row of semi trucks, meandering their way up the same mountain pass. I had the truck in 4WD, but I did not put chains on yet as I was convinced they were unnecessary for this North Dakota girl (bad choice, use the chains!)

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Slowly the semi trucks disappeared; and suddenly it was only myself and Chloe meandering up the pass. We were determined and slow, but the truck kept pulling and we kept pushing through. Suddenly, there was a turn ahead of us, as we began the downhill descent. I turned the wheel oh so gently, maintaining my speed like a pro; but the truck did not gain traction and maintained the slow speed directly toward the edge of the mountain cliff. Chloe, had her head pressed against my chest, reminding me to breathe. With a deep breath, I was sure we were about to plummet off the mountain when at the last second the truck gained traction and our slow turn was successful.

There was a truck stop at the base of the mountain, and I stopped to calm down, take a few minutes and try to relax. It was -10 now, with brutal windchills and the roads were ice covered yet the sun was slowly poking through and we had some degree of hope. We locked the hubs on the truck, keeping our 4WD, but I continued to believe I wouldn’t need chains- they were too much hassle to put on in such freezing weather anyway! (No idea why I didn’t just put them on- I had practiced in the past and they aren’t really that much of a hassle- I think I was just being stubborn).

After a break where Chloe and I regained some of our confidence, we began toward Missoula. The Missoula pass is the worst; yet Chloe and I were certain we would make it through. The sun was beginning to thaw parts of the road that weren’t in the shade and we’ve driven through worse! (Just not towing a 28 foot travel trailer.)

We easly ascended the Missoula pass with no other traffic around; which continued to be strange after starting in a row of semi trucks. We dropped into a low gear and were ready to slowly coast our way down the mountain. The road was still quite icy and the weight of the camper tempted the truck to pick up speed. I began to time use of the brakes with the sun-patched parts of the road, which had thawed out. I gently pressed the brakes to slow down, when I noticed the camper was no longer directly behind me. I felt my heart jump to my throat; seeing it had jack knifed into the other lane and I was once again, certain that this was the end for Chloe and I. Chloe reminded me once again to take that deep breath, and I squeezed the trailer brakes gently; staggered and amazed when my little home shifted back behind me, where it belonged.

Needless to say; this was the most terrifying winter weather I had ever experienced. Normally Billings to Bozeman takes 2.5 hours while towing; but the night before the storm it took me 5 hours. And typically Bozeman to Missoula takes about 3 hours; that day it took me almost 6. My best advice, DO NOT TOW YOUR CAMPER ON ICY ROADS. Just don’t do it. If you have to wait another day in the middle of Montana; just enjoy the break. I’m pretty sure I lost 10 years of my life with that stressful situation. I am also pretty sure my guardian angel was pulling his hair out, and Chloe saved us with her calm “don’t forget to breathe mom” demeanor. I can’t say I regret the decision to keep going. I have never been afraid while driving in winter since. I guess that was truly the worst of it, and now I’m ready for anything.

Oh, Oregon

Chloe and I found ourselves at a truck stop just prior to the Columbia River Gorge, playing at a dog park. It was a Loves station that had showers and a ton of room on the random week day night. It is incredible how once you pull through the mountains in Idaho, the weather does a 180. Chloe and I found ourselves loving the warm temperatures and rain in our hair/fur!

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The Columbia River Gorge is one of my favorite interstate drives. After the wintery chaos, we were so grateful to enjoy the incredible green and blue with those gray overcast clouds that make Oregon all the more magical in the winter. We pulled all the way across the Gorge, through Portland with no ominous traffic hiccups, to the west side of Portland where a gorgeous state park resides called L.L. Stub Stewart State Park.

Now I never did quite find out how that name came to be; but I did learn that this is a known star gazing spot for those Portland Dog lovers; and also holds one of the most beautiful dog parks I’ve ever seen! Chloe and I enjoyed our time here immensely, until we found a more long term situation closer to the city where we would be working.

Driving your camper across the country in November with your dog, by yourself is definitely possible. In fact, there are so many ways to make it fun! With free camping in some gorgeous places, visiting friends and family in St. Louis and in Fargo; while also catching some of the most amazing sunrises and sunsets: well isn’t that just the road trip adventure dream we all have?

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I hope you all had a wonderful week! What’s the craziest part of a road trip you’ve experienced? What’s the longest road trip you’ve ever done? Many happy trails and happy tails to you ♡

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