Lessons Learned on the Road (with a dog)

I've learned a couple of things traveling with Max that I felt the need to share:

1) Have a plan for pit stops that have bathrooms facing the outdoors v. having to go inside to the bathroom. This is because you can't leave the dog in the car on a hot day (or really cold one, I suppose, but I didn't have that problem)...and you can't bring a dog into a restaurant or convenience store that sells food (though I did BEG one man running a gas station that sold some food, and promised to clean up any messes, of course).

Answer: SONIC!

And you have the added bonus of having lots of people in their cars sitting around watching your stuff and they have shaded places to sit in your car to eat with your dog.

2) You will also need a way to FIND the Sonics!

Answer: iPhone...or more specifically the Around Me app for iPhone.

This locates your current coordinates and tells you what is closest to you in various categories from food to hospitals...or it will tell you where the nearest thing you ask for is (if it's within 100 miles), like Sonic.

3) When traveling on turnpikes or along long, windy country roads or unfamiliar territory with lots of tall trees AND your fuel gage is low, it's good to have a way to find out where the nearest gas station is. It's even better to know if cheaper gas is just around the corner, or a block or two off the highways.

Answer: iPhone...or Gas Bag app! Not only does it locate area gas stations, but it often has the prices listed (this is entered by users), so you know where cheaper gas is...it also has a function that helps you keep track of prices and mpg, etc.

4) Be careful of hot cars...did you know that cars with windows closed can get so hot that the air expands and the windows blow out? This from AAA books, and a Grand Canyon info site.

Answer: Crack the windows!