Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    here
    Posts
    2,200
    Thanked: 2001

    Recent road trip with Achilles (long, a few photos)

    I recently took a road trip to visit in the States. My host has senior dogs. I pondered taking one of ours, asked, and was given permission. So I evaluated our three dogs to determine which was the best to take on this particular trip.

    Our senior Kendal is not up to that kind of traveling. While Stella is a good dog to travel with she can be barky around unfamiliar people. I knew we’d spend a lot of time with people so that counted against her. Achilles does well with other dogs; he generally defers. He’s very good in the car. And he’s a most excellent ambassador from his species to us two-footeds so he was the winner.

    We set out with the necessary paperwork. I had a paper copy of his most recent vaccination record and e-copies of his adoption paperwork (giving proof of ownership) and a lost dog flyer (heaven forbid that would be necessary to print). I had allowed lots of time for the ferry crossing and to deal with US Customs. We had no delays.

    I’d reserved spaces on the Lake Express high speed ferry which crosses Lake Michigan. So with lots of time to spare we took the scenic route across Michigan. The drive was uneventful and we arrived at the dock with time to spare.

    The ferry arrived at the dock so we got ready to board. Here’s a photo of Achilles waiting.



    And here’s a photo of the ferry maneuvering into the dock.



    Pets are not allowed on the passenger deck and are discouraged from staying in the car. Kennels are provided first come first reserved on the car deck. It was noisy, with blowers and fans going, and the engines thrumming belowdeck. After putting two beds from home in a large kennel I led Chili into it, locked the door, turned on a fan bolted nearby, and headed to the passenger deck.

    The ferry makes the crossing in 2 ½ hours. Achilles is very resilient yet this was a new and strange experience so I was a little stressed, imagining his stress level. I’d already begun considering cancelling the return trip. When we arrived at our destination I was one of the first people back to the car deck. Chili dog had backed into a corner of the kennel. I opened the crate door (blocking any escape with my body and arms), clipped him onto the leash and hustled him to the car with its familiar smells.

    After deboarding we pulled over so we could relax. Achilles took several drinks, ate some kibble, peed, and took a dump. He was fine yet I’d largely decided to not make the return trip. Then we headed off on the last leg of the days’ journey.

    Our hosts, two-and four-footed, were waiting. Chili had never met these dogs yet after a fairly calm sorting-out period everyone settled down.

    Our week-long visit was marred by only one unfortunate incident. Chili tried to hump my hosts’ leg. Stink dog. Otherwise he was gentle and compliant. He and the host dogs interacted little with one another. I think that’s partly because all are seniors. Achilles is 10?, the hosts 13 and 14. Also, the host dogs do not, by temperament, play. Feeding times were completely free of drama. As a safeguard I gated Achilles in a bedroom until everyone was done. My host and another guest were very bemused by Chili’s affinity for asparagus stalks, and by this habit.



    He's not in mid-lick, tongue out and retracting into his mouth. When he's relaxed and at ease, his tongue might hang out. He's completely unaware, I'm certain. It's incredibly endearing.

    Achilles sometimes watched out the window with our host Lab, a marvellous girl.



    Eventually we had to leave. I’d decided to drive around the bottom of Lake Michigan. It took nine hours including gas stops, rest stops, and a 30 minute lunch stop. Had I-80/90 in Indiana been less sludgy we might have made it in 8 ½ hours. Achilles was a most very good boy. Tip: If you enter Michigan on I-94, the Welcome Center is a great place to stop. Roomy, lots of picnic tables, big trees provide lots of shade.

    Going away was good. Getting home was good. If there were a future trip to Wisconsin with dogs I’d skip the ferry, grit my teeth, and do the drive.
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

    I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .

  2. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Mr Kleb For This Useful Post:

    Bamps (05-29-2015), Dallas dawg (06-02-2015), Maxx&Emma (05-31-2015), MikeLynn (05-31-2015)

  3. #2
    Senior Dog Bamps's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    AZ
    Posts
    1,860
    Thanked: 1183
    Don't let dogs on the ferry? That's a bummer but looks like you made it. Awesome shots

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to Bamps For This Useful Post:

    Mr Kleb (05-30-2015)

  5. #3
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    8,136
    Thanked: 5108
    Sounds like a good trip. What a good boy. It's so nice to have a good traveller.

    The one time we drove around Lakes Superior and Michigan it was dark and rainy the whole time and we hardly saw a thing.

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to Snowshoe For This Useful Post:

    Mr Kleb (05-30-2015)

  7. #4
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    here
    Posts
    2,200
    Thanked: 2001
    Quote Originally Posted by Bamps View Post
    Don't let dogs on the ferry? That's a bummer but looks like you made it. Awesome shots
    Thanks for commenting! Allowed on the ferry, just not on the passenger deck. A couple had two small dogs; I never saw those dogs after we boarded. I suppose they stayed in their car.
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

    I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .

  8. #5
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    here
    Posts
    2,200
    Thanked: 2001
    Quote Originally Posted by Snowshoe View Post
    Sounds like a good trip. What a good boy. It's so nice to have a good traveller.

    The one time we drove around Lakes Superior and Michigan it was dark and rainy the whole time and we hardly saw a thing.
    Thank you! It was foggy the whole way across the lake so I couldn't see more than about 100 meters. That meant the ships' horn blew about every two minutes the entire trip. Took a few videos; if I could figure out how to upload them I would.
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

    I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .

  9. #6
    Senior Dog labsnewfy's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    WV
    Posts
    2,301
    Thanked: 1216
    Sounds like a wonderful trip, putting Achilles in the crate would have made me nervous with one of mine too.

    As for the "incident" Lilly Tomlin's character Edith Ann little dog Buster comes to mind, where she says he likes to dance on ladies legs. LOL
    Hidden Content

    Coleman - CGC blk lab 6/02/97-2/25/08 adopted
    Tootsie - choc lab 10/19/99-8/03/13 adopted
    Bailey - CGC newf/fc 7/12/00-07/15/14 rescued
    Ginger - BT 11/16/05 - 10/14/19 rescued
    Sarah - blk lab 6/22/06 - 12/30/19 rescued
    rescued felines - AJ - 8/00 - 1/11, Merlin - 5/20/05-8/23/21
    Tucker - 8/3/10, Penny - 7/7/13, Toby - 6/14/21

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to labsnewfy For This Useful Post:

    Mr Kleb (05-30-2015)

  11. #7
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    10,985
    Thanked: 6722
    What a good travel partner! Sound like, other than the discomfort of the ferry ride, Achilles had a great time, making new friends.
    Hidden Content
    Kissing Bandit

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to POPTOP For This Useful Post:

    Mr Kleb (05-30-2015)

  13. #8
    Senior Dog Scoutpout's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Tri Cities Ontario
    Posts
    2,296
    Thanked: 1111
    sounds like he's a great traveller! ya, i'd be concerned about leaving my dog in an unfamiliar kennel with the load noises, or down in the car hold too.....i have a too-vivid imagination of what could possibly go wrong.
    sounds like otherwise a really good trip!

  14. The Following User Says Thank You to Scoutpout For This Useful Post:

    Mr Kleb (05-31-2015)

  15. #9
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    SE, PA
    Posts
    4,406
    Thanked: 1992
    I love the picture with his tongue sticking out! Achilles is a very handsome traveling companion.
    Hidden Content

    Tammy
    Maxx and Emma Jean

    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to Maxx&Emma For This Useful Post:

    Mr Kleb (05-31-2015)

  17. #10
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    here
    Posts
    2,200
    Thanked: 2001
    Thank you for the comments and compliments.

    Oh, there was one other incident. Just after leaving home I stopped at an ATM to get some US dollars, taking all of 3 or 4 minutes. I returned to the car to find Achilles in the front, licking the passenger seat. How odd, I thought, hope he isn't taking sick. Took me a few minutes to realize . . .

    'Crap you ate my bread smeared with peanut butter!'

    A few more photos.

    Achilles hates the vacuum cleaner.


    Another photo of Katey, an incredibly sweet girl.


    Koko, the other host.
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

    I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .

  18. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Mr Kleb For This Useful Post:

    Dallas dawg (06-02-2015), MikeLynn (05-31-2015)

 



Not a Member of the Labrador Retriever Chat Forums Yet?
Register for Free and Share Your Labrador Retriever Photos

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •