Introduction to Travels with Murray

Denis and Sue at Pismo Preserve

Hello, we are Denis and Sue! Since I do not think anyone other than friends would be reading my blog, I do not think this is news to any of you. In April 2024, Sue retired. We both want to travel but I am not quite ready to retire. Calvin is still in College and who knows what's going to happen with the economy these days. So we bought an RV and I am going digital nomad (I prefer digital commando but that implies I am not wearing pants) and we are setting out with the dogs on a west coast adventure. Travels with Murray seems a bit of a diss of Klaus but Murray sounds more like Charley(1).

We bought our 2008 Itasca Latitude 37 class A rig in August and installed a bunch of lithium, solar panels, and Starlink; bought an older Honda CRV to tow behind; took it on a couple of short weekends to get used to it; and packed up our stuff and the dogs and left La Mesa behind. We are still searching for the name of the RV, we are currently on Riganante but are open to suggestions (It really does need a name). The air suspension is super cush and it has a big rig horn that makes you jump out of your skin. We should be able to go totally off grid for quite a while.

Murray in his Jazz years!

This is Murray P. Kingleton, As he likes to remind us he is a Senior Poodle. He recently retired from his position of HR manager. We are not sure where he actually worked but he hired and then fired Klaus every day for the past eight years.  He has no idea of  what is coming and I do not think he would approve, but since he cannot actually talk, he gets no say in the matter.

Klaus the sailing bichon.

Klaus is a bit dim witted but makes up for it by being a jolly little dude. He is pretty much a go with the flow kind of fellow. His turned out feet make him look like a harp seal and he is working on his potty training(2).

The route.

Anyway, that is us. We are planning about 6 month trip around the western US and into Canada (if they let us in). We are starting up the west coast of California with stops in Pismo Beach, Monterrey, Angel's Camp, Clear Lake, and Avenue of the Giants in Redwoods National Park. Then through Oregon with a couple of stops on the coast then inland to Eugene to see Sophia. Then Portland and Washington before crossing the border to Canada. Across to Banff and down to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone. Finally down through Utah for all the National Parks there and home sometime in September we think.

That's all for now. First stop Pismo Beach. We will try to post weekly and see how it goes.

Footnotes(3)

(1) Travels with Charley is a book by John Steinbeck about his travels in a motorhome with his poodle. There is some controversy about Steinbeck embellishing the details but it is still a great read.

(2) The rescue informed us that Klaus has been working on his potty training. Frankly, we do not think he is working very hard.

(3) Thanks Elaine for the footnotes and fun facts idea. I always loved reading this part of your blog.