Mom announces that we are going on another trip before winter sets in. Fred explains that winter means it gets cold and may even snow. That doesn’t sound like a good time for a trip, so I do hope Mom is correct. She says that we will go to Big Bend National Park. Even though it is still in Texas, it will take us two days to get there. I hope she picks a good place for us to spend the night while we are traveling.

We start off early in the morning, and like before, I think I will be safe nestled under the pillows. We stop along the way for a picnic. Late in the afternoon, it starts to smell really, really bad in the van. Fred says the smell is actually coming from outside the van. I try to be patient, but the smell continues. I crawl out to sit next to Fred while I yell at Mom to make the smell stop. When she doesn’t do that, I march to the front of the van where I can reach up and pat Dad as he sits in the passenger seat. I yell at him. He reaches down to pet me, while I try to tell him I don’t like that smell. Mom asks Dad how anyone could stand to live in either Midland or Odessa with that smell. I guess Mom and Dad don’t like it either. It seems like forever before the smell goes away.

Mom comments that it gets dark so early, before she finds a place for us to camp for the night. It has been a long tiring day, and we are all happy when it is time for bed. The next day we drive for a few more hours before we arrive at a campground that Mom says is in Big Bend. She and I walk along the roadway in the campground to go to a sign where she writes on a piece of paper and drops it in a slot in a post. As we start walking back, she tells me that we are now registered to spend two nights here. This must be a special place because in the past, we usually stay one night, and then keep driving the next day. As we are going back, we walk past a group of young men who ask Mom if they can pet me. She asks me if it is okay. They squat down so that I can easily reach their hands. They seem like nice young man. They tell Mom they are visiting from Sweden, and never expected to see a cat walking in the campground. I wish I could tell them that I’m not just any cat. I am a dog-cat and walking on a leash is normal for dog-cats. They say I will be a special part of their trip. They even take my picture. Later I learn that although Mom took lots of pictures, none are of Fred or me. I hope those boys keep the pictures they took of me.

I like Big Bend, because it smells so much better than the road did the day before. Mom and Dad leave Fred and I in the van while they go hiking. Later a Ranger stops at our campsite. He also wants to pet me as well as Fred. He warns Mom not to leave me out alone. He is afraid a Javelina might get me. Mom reassures him that they only leave me out on my lead while they can watch me. I don’t think I would want to meet a Javelina, but I really like camping here.

Mom says we are going to take a different road home this time past San Antonio. After our two days, it is time to get on the road again. We spend the night at a rest area. Dad doesn’t like the sign that warns about rattlesnakes. I don’t like that I really can’t play outside after my walk. I’ll be glad to get home.