Questions about traveling alone with my dog

[Verna]

Stacie, I just got back from 2 weeks in the Southwest. Sunny Day always has her tags, but I also keep her Vet records. I've only been asked for them once and that was from a vet when Sunny was sick--yes, that can happen.

If you have an iPhone, I used 3 apps on my two week trip to the Southwest.

Campwhere shows state and city parks, along with BLM. Loved the app. Valley of Fires in NM was a BLM with paved sites, electric, hot showers for only $18 per night. Magnificent area, great views and good info as to how the lava got there, and a walking path thru the lava. I would never have looked for the site without the app. I was looking for a site near Riodosa at a lower altitude, and I found it.

Allstays shows all campgrounds. A small mom and pop RV campground outside of Joplin, MO that was quiet, clean restrooms, hot showers, electric for $17 per night. That and my teardrop was all I needed for a last night on the road.

iExit shows what is at each exit--food, gas, other things.

[deleted]

Verna thanks for the info and links! They will be very helpful on my trip. I'll be loading all of the apps you recommended onto my phone.

[GerryS]

Don't forget Dark Skies -- a short term weather forecast. It predicts (freakishly accurate) the weather exactly where you are (to the city block or so) for the next hour.

Thinking about firing up the grill under dark clouds? Check the app...."rain starting in 7 minutes, lasting for 12 minutes" might be your forecast. Is usually right. Great for those "Do I need an umbrella?" Questions.

[deleted]

Thanks Gerry. I'd never heard of that app before. That'll be handy for all of the time, not just when I'm on the road

[deleted]

I have come up with one specific question: Since I'd like to keep leaving the dog alone in the car to a minimum, what is the best way to keep cold food cold in a cooler? I know I can buy ice as needed at a supermarket, but would lining my cooler with foam board of some type help to insulate it and keep the ice from melting at a slower rate of speed? Basically I'd like to be able to keep a dozen eggs, and leftovers from a restaurant or the second half of an open can of food until the next meal. My cooler is small but large enough that I could add interior insulation if that would extend the ice for a decent amount of time.

[coop74]

Go to a truckstop and check out there 12 volt powered coolers... Small,cheap,easy to use

[Verna]

Stacie, check out Nevadatear's pics of her cooler "cozy". She made an insulated beat cover for her cooler.

I put two flannel dog quilts on top of the cooler to keep it cooler. I even put the outdoor rugs on top of the cooler to help keep the sun at bay.

[deleted]

Thanks so much. I'd love to have a 12 volt cooler, but it would have to be really small since my trailer is only 4'x6'. I did look into them a while back and it looks like the affordable ones keep things cooler than the ambient temperature but since I live in CA the ambient temperature could be 90º+ at times. That means the cooler would only be cooling to around 70º so I think the ice chest will be a better fit.

For the most part this is going to be more of a traveling trip than a camping trip so I can keep the cooler in the car on the passenger side floorboard where the AC vents out into the footwell for 8 hours a day, which should help a lot.

I found Nevadatear's cozy (it's gorgeous) but this intrigued me even more. That's what I'm thinking of doing but lining with foam board at least 1.5" to 2" thick on the sides and an inch each on the top and bottom. If I add the silver reflector I wonder if it's better to add it on the inside of the foam or the outside between the cooler and foam. Or maybe it doesn't matter.



Below is a link to the cooler I have. It's short, flat, and rectangular.
Exterior dimensions: 22"L x 13.5"W x 8.25"H
Interior dimensions: 16.38"L x 11.13"W x 6"H

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-24-Can-Party-Stacker-Cooler/23787687?adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=21486607510&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem