Here Are Your Worst Stories of Traveling With a Pet

Christmas 1987. Took a family trip in the motorhome to northern Cali to celebrate with my grandparents. Nothing unusual there, but the day we arrived, a stray cat showed up on their doorstep. Cold weather, very hungry kitten, long story short we adopted him. On the way back home, the motorhome was backfiring a lot. No biggie, but a bit of a freaked-out kitten, until we got to Eugene. MASSIVE backfire, so we pulled over to check things out. The muffler was now three times its normal diameter, with a huge rip down the side. After limping the motorhome to the driveway of family in town, and prying the cat off the ceiling, we bedded down and replaced the muffler the next day. Head back out the next day, getting to a rest stop just south of Portland. Me being 17, my parents asked if I wanted to drive. Sure, why not? Start out, get just about to freeway speed, and the front of the motorhome starts shaking and bouncing all over the place. Pull over to the shoulder, making sure my parents know I didn’t do anything wrong. Check things out, can’t see what is going on. Pull forward a bit, and one of my parents notice the right front wheel isn’t turning. Get to the end of an onramp, back down it, and over to a service station a block away. Dad convinces them to let him use their tools and garage bay, and 5 hours later (with MUCH cursing included), he finally gives up and calls a tow truck. The first place they take it to gives it one look and about 5 minutes and says they can’t do anything about it. Get towed to a 24-hour truck repair shop, and they have a go. Almost 20 hours of work later, they let us know that the bearings had disintegrated, and welded the hub to the axle. All of this activity with a new kitten who lived to be 18, and was one of the most laid-back cats you will ever see. Unless you threatened his dogs, then he would go toe to toe with any dog. But that’s another story.

Submitted by: Phydeaux