Update on our travels: It’s been a few weeks since out last published video. A lot has happened since then. What was going to be a once a year visit to South Texas for routine doctor visits and family time has turned out to be a whirlwind of obstacles and heartbreak. A week ago, we said good-bye to our loyal companion, Brewy. She was rushed to the ER early in the morning and was laid to rest from massive internal bleeding caused by cancer.
Everyday routines have been a struggle; she was a part of our lives in the most minute way from getting up early in the morning to let her outside for a bathroom break to hearing her pidder padder late at night to get a drink of water. We planned our lives around her, making sure to include her in as much of our traveling adventures as possible. Now this big part of our little family is gone, and we miss her tremendously.
In the midst of this sudden tragedy, we were frequenting the local vet for one of our cats. He underwent surgery due to obstruction in his intestines, a malignant tumor. It was removed and he is starting to receive chemo treatments. He’s responding well to the treatment.
We are just days away from heading north to our summer jobs in Minnesota. Our usual excitement to get back on the road is replaced with crippling feelings of heartache and loss. We know this trip will be difficult as it will be our first without our precious Brewy and our happy little roadside experiences with her. We’ll also be vigilantly watching our cats, not only Sammy with his recent illness but the other two, as well. Brewy’s absence is profoundly affecting all of us, humans and felines.
We have a backlog of Dry Camping and Travel Tips by Levi in the process of being edited. Most, if not all of them, have footage of Brewy. As much as we love seeing her in photos and videos, these happy memories make us very sad knowing that those wonderful times have ended. As debilitating as it feels now, we will continue on down the road, sharing our journey through the good and bad times.
In Episode 9 of Dry Camping and Travel Tips, Levi talks about the importance of stopping and stretching your legs throughout a day’s drive. The more opportunities you can make this happen, the better. Besides filling up your tank and giving everyone the chance to use the restroom or get a bite to eat, stopping for at least 15-30 minutes gives everyone time to get the blood pumping with a little walk after being sedentary for awhile. Pets likewise, need to have time to walk around, relieve themselves, and have some food and water without being jostled around in a moving vehicle. We typically stop at rest stops or gas stations, but try to find small hiking trails or roadside attractions to enjoy and learn about along the way.
As mentioned in the video, in memory of Brewy, we are inviting our readers to donate to PetSmart Charities. If you would like to donate, visit the site here.
