Goin' to Chattanooga!

[Doxherding Karen]

Hey there hoomans and puppers!  The Herd and I are going to Chattanooga, Tennessee in August.  We will be camping across the Georgia state line in Cloudland Canyon State Park.  They have camp sites available and cabins as well.  I am getting a car for the trip, so it will be quite an adventure!

Six years ago I took three teenagers, Guinness, Cooper (the bordercollie/lab doxie-wanna-be) and went on a 13-week, 15,000 mile camping tour of the western United States.  So four doxies to Tennessee should be doable. 

My 17-year-old son is in Parkridge Valley Medical Center's affective disorders unit.  He has bipolar disorder and it's a long story as to how he ended up there, but he is getting the kind of psychiatric care he has needed for the last four years, so I am very grateful that yet another midwest state has programs for teenagers with mental health issues.  Here in Maryland he would be living in a foster home until he ages out of care at age 18.  Tennessee has him until his 19th birthday, if he needs that long a stay.

So while his staff workers are o.k. with the Herd coming to visit, I may need some place for one or two to go and chill for a couple hours at a time.  If any one lives near Chattanooga and would like to pupper sit, please let me know.  It would be a huge help.  I am trying to do this on a shoestring, so evey little bit helps.

I'll be driving from Baltimore, leaving Sunday Auust 12th and my return is kind of fluid.  That's one of the joys of camping with the Herd - we can just go! 

I looking at buying a Toyota Yaris liftback, which has a fold flat back seat for gear and pooches.  Roscoe rides shotgun, 'cause he is the most well-behaved in the car.  Merlin and Beau  and Guinness will ride in crates.  Guinness will yip the entire time, unless I hold him in my lap.  But since I have recovered from my stroke, I prefer keeping my mind - what there is of it - focused on the road.  So he'll probably ride in with Beau.  I'm hoping to do some practicing in July before I go.  I don't need the practice, the puppers DO!

So get ready for an adventure!  I'd like to blog it.  What is Chris' blog address and can I use that site or does anyone know a blogspot?

[papbouv]

Oh my sounds like you will have you r hands full hope you enjoy your trip please do be careful,sorry to hear about your son Mental Illness is hard to deal with at any time but do hope he will get the help he needs.
Papbouv

[PattyInAK]

Sounds like its going to be an amazing trip.  I envy you, I just love road trips!  I would love to ready your blog.

[Kari]

I think a blog is a great idea - it will be so fun to read!! I hope you have a wonderful time! Sorry we can't help with the dog sitting - we live in San Diego  !

[Doxherding Karen]

I think a blog is a great idea - it will be so fun to read!! I hope you have a wonderful time! Sorry we can't help with the dog sitting - we live in San Diego  !

Oh,yeah, I think Chattanooga to Santee is a bit of a stretch!  Blogspots, anyone?

Karen

(How nice to be able to message without know-it-all-doxies reading over my shoulder - they're eating right now!)

[Kari]

Blogspots, anyone?

Some friends of mine use the following site:

https://www.blogger.com/

[Teresa]

We were in Chattanooga last summer and will be back there again this year July 27-29. It is a wonderful city and they have gone through a huge downtown revitalization recently. You will have to see the Passages area beside the Aquarium (which is awesome, also). The Passages is where the Trail of Tears started and it is a series of steps with water flowing over them and is just really neat. Of course they have an awesome park along the riverfront and all kinds of other things, many of which are cheap!
When Meghan did her internship she worked with children and adolescents with mental illness. She was in Nashville and was so impressed with the number of facilities Tennessee had for children, teens and adults. They also had a lot of state-run facilities. When she came home to S.C. she was really disappointed in our lack of mental health care. She made the point that if we treat it in a person when they are young and get it controlled, the problems are much less when they are adults.
Can't wait to read your blog, i think its a great idea!

[David C.]

Well, if you want to hit Damascus before jumping off, I'm sure the Zs would give the Herd a good send-off.   Of course, we're only about 45 minutes from you, so you wouldn't be too far into the trip!

[krs123]

Let me know how that park is for camping. We love to go camping although we are trying to sell are pop-up camper because our hooman kids are getting to big for that, plus we have a boat to pull now. Mabey we could tent camp or better yet, cabin tent. I take it they allow dogs there? How about in the cabins? Have a great trip!!!
Kim

[Doxherding Karen]

Let me know how that park is for camping. We love to go camping although we are trying to sell are pop-up camper because our hooman kids are getting to big for that, plus we have a boat to pull now. Mabey we could tent camp or better yet, cabin tent. I take it they allow dogs there? How about in the cabins? Have a great trip!!!
Kim

They allow puppers and have cottages than run 95 - 115 per night in season.  I'm demented, so I'm going tent camping with the Herd.  And we'd love to stop in Damascus and say "YEE-HAA" to the Z's!

It's Cloudland Canyon Stat Park in Georgia, right acreoo the state line fom Chattanooga.

[TerriL]

I suppose Florida is to far from Chattanooga to get to pupper-sit!  If you should decide to come our way let me know!  The more the merrier!  My husband LOVES Chattanooga.   I'm an ocean girl so it wouldn't work for me, but he would live there in a heartbeat!  Enjoy the trip.  Camping with the quad....God bless you!  :)

[LUVMYGUNNER]

When your camping please be careful so you don't loose any puppers.

[Valerie]

Well, I was born in Chattanooga!  I would help out, but unless you have a time machine to go back 33 years, I wouldn't be much help! 
Chattanooga is so nice now- much nicer than I remember it being as a child.  The camping with the herd should be an adventure- I hope you keep a blog so we can all follow along!

[Sandishooligans]

Sounds like a grand adventure, indeed!  Darn, I'm in CA.  TN is just a little far for herd sitting.  You have such a great positive attitude.  YOU GO GIRL!