The End of Our Journey – Test Drive to Assateague
Our wonderful dog Bindi did not do well on our journey to Cape Breton and back. Every time the RV was moving, she was panting, shaking and pacing, these symptoms worsening the longer we drove. We now see that the accident we experienced in the Spring of 2019 had affected her ability to travel comfortably. While Cheryl recovered physically and we both regained our enthusiasm for long distance travel, Bindi’s symptoms did not improve. We tried many things to help resolve the problem, including prescribed medication, a device that helped patients with PTSD control their symptoms, and homeopathic remedies. Colin even built a new seat between the front two that raised her to our level and took her to the park in the van most days so that she could get used to it again. It seemed like she was improving. We planned a day trip to Assateague National Seashore to see how she would deal with a longer journey (3 hours each way). Sadly her symptoms remained, worsening as we drove. She had a great time running on the beach and we thought that being tired out would help her settle on our drive home. This was not to be. Her symptoms worsened on the journey back to Annapolis and she was in a sad state by the time we reached home, recovering quickly as soon as the RV stopped moving.
This left us in a predicament. Our travel plans were all geared around long trips, stopping off to visit friends on the way. Florida, Arizona, Colorado, California, and Oregon. This would mean leaving Bindi at home for many weeks, either with friends or with a pet sitting service. We reached the conclusion that this was not an option. We thought about keeping the RV through the end of the year to make some short trips, particularly as traveling in a self sufficient RV like ours is probably the safest way to travel at the moment. Eventually, in mid-June, we decided to put the RV on the market for sale, motivated in part by the very high demand for vehicles like ours during the pandemic. Within two weeks, we had an offer at the listed price and the sale was completed over the weekend. We said goodbye to our house on wheels, on Tuesday.
We don’t yet know what new adventures might be in our future. Travel plans are impossible at the moment. Colin is continuing with his photography exploits and we both enjoy our musical efforts. Cheryl is swimming three times a week and Colin is hiking local parks about 4 miles a day with Bindi so we are not ‘throwing in the towel’ to old age yet. This website might morph into a photographic site without the travel emphasis.
We’ll keep you posted…
Thanks to our friends for supporting our site with your wonderful comments…
Colin and Cheryl, 9th July 2020
Dear Cheryl and Colin, We are so sorry that Bindi was not able to get over his experience, and you have had to give up your travel plans and wonderful van, yet I also sense that this was absolutely the right decision. We send our love and hope to see you again when we travel through Annapolis again. Nancy and Fred
So sad to hear this. You did everything to have her trust the RV once again.
The most impressive, to me…was her little seat between you two. I felt that was the blue ribbon for her little beating heart.
Anxiety wise…. 😔😔💚💚😢😢
Just heart broken…. sad I won’t see you in AZ….. but 99% for my little Bindi.
I kept telling Latte, her Bestie will possibly come this winter….😔😔
So heart broken for Bindi…. and you both of course.
I just wonder, if you could buy something else, RV wise….. different….
that would not bring the tragic memories back. This 2nd vehicle was exactly the same…. Bindi’s trama just never left “””that vehicle. ????😢….
Poor little love….Tears from Barb and Latte…..
You two gave 100% to surround her with support and trust. Hugs to all three of you……
I’m so sorry Bindi was unable to recover enough to continue your long trips, but happy for you that you knew “the right thing” when it was the right thing. It sounds like you are keeping very busy, and a day will come again when you can set out for whatever adventures call you!
I’ll look forward to staying in touch in the meantime.
Merritt
Hi Cheryl and Colin,
Our friends. I know that selling the MICMAC was traumatic enough, so my heart goes out to you for selling the land yacht!😔 Hopefully everything will turn around in the near future. Bindi may react differently to new surroundings and you will be on the road again next year! Hope to see you guys when things get back to some simblest of normal! Love and hugs, Bonnie and Harry🤗😌😷😘
Je comprends le dilemme…C est un peu la même chose pour nous avec nos 2 chiens et 1 chat.. choix cruel.
Sorry to hear this. Hope you will still find a way to come visit us!
A sad ending of one chapter, but I’m sure another will start up soon, or as you say, other side-characters will become the leading roles instead. The last 3 months have shown me how happy I am to go nowhere for a while – although I admit that might not be everyone’s perspective! Wishing you all fun and contentment. Love, Vanessa x
Thanks for the update – we’re disappointed we won’t see you in Colorado this year, but with everything going on that probably wasn’t likely anyway.
We wish you all good times, and hope we can all meet again soon,
Love
So sorry to hear. We’re In month 5 of a 3 person lockdown at my house due to my vulnerability to Covid-19. It’s interesting what becomes important at this stage in life. You made a no brainer decision in my opinion. 10-15 years ago I would have said “you’re crazy just get a new dog”! Miss you guys. By the way the Michaud’s just lost Lola if you haven’t heard. They are requesting no calls as it’s too upsetting.
Dearest Cheryl and Colin, Thank you so much for keeping me in the loop. I’m so sorry to read this latest news of poor Bindi’s fearfulness on trips in the RV. I feel sure though that it won’t be long before you’ll both have your thinking caps on coming up with other adventures. Irish Blessings to the three of you with much love, Maura
So sorry about Bindi’s PTSD. Sorry you changed your travel plans and sold your van. Sorry I won’t be seeing you this summer. But, you make a committment to your pets to treat them and care for them as family. You absolutley made the right decision.
My sister’s little pooch has issues on long car rides too, though not as severe as Bindi’s.
Stay safe, Stay well,
I wonder if Bindi knows what a dedicated set of friends she has, that you would re-arrange your wonderful travel plans so that she could be with you.
Now we know that the creativity the you two enjoy means that you will find another outlet soon, and maybe even before the current conditions begin to ease. We know you will, with Bindi right there with you. A ‘n D ‘n J