Mom and Dad thought it would be fun to take me along on an overnight trip. A long car ride? A hotel stay? This was going to be good.
We were going to a place called Lake Arrowhead. It was up in the mountains, Mom said, about two hours away. What she didn’t tell me was that the last part of the ride was up wiggly, curvy, elevation-climbing, switchback roads. I began to feel a little green around the edges about halfway up, and then at the very top, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Yup, I threw up. Gross.
Dad was driving, and Mom told him to pull over. Good thing she had lots of napkins in the glove compartment, and she cleaned up quickly, then patted my head. “Poor Charlie,” she said. Yeah, poor me. I didn’t feel well at all. Finally, Dad pulled into the hotel parking lot and the car stopped moving. That felt better.
They walked me into the lobby with my black leash attached to my bright red collar. The lady at the front desk said I was so cute (of course) and asked what kind of dog I am. Even I don’t know! I’m a Heinz 67 I always say. The lady handed Dad a placard that said “Dog on the Loose” and told him to hang it on the outside of the door to our room. “Housekeeping will not go into your room and inadvertently let your dog loose if you’re not there.”
They got a key for a room on the first floor and we all went to check it out. It smelled like dogs everywhere! Down the hallways and all over the room–I sniffed along the baseboards, by the sofa, in the bathroom, and out on the little balcony. The room had a big bed, a TV like at home (well, smaller), a couch and ottoman, I guess for your feet, and a desk and a chair.
Mom and Dad talked about going out on a boat ride in the lake, but you can’t rent boats in Lake Arrowhead because it’s totally private. I was secretly glad we weren’t going to do that. I didn’t think my stomach could handle it. Mom brought out a water dish for me and a food dish. I didn’t feel much like eating, but I did take a drink of water.
What I did do after I got my bearings, was jump around. From the bed to the ottoman to the sofa and back again. This was like a playroom for just the three of us and it was going to be fun!
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More to come from Charlie Bear in his next post. In the meantime, here’s what we learned about motion sickness: http://bit.ly/oa35f2
Aww Charlie, I’m sorry your got sick and had to throw up. One of my guys..we have 9..all rescues..get’s car sick when he goes for long rides with me.
John,
You have 9 rescues? Wowzer. That must be a fun place with all those butts to sniff and furry bodies to snuggle with. Thanks for the well wishes on car sickness. I’m sorry one of your guys gets sick too. Oh well, we have other good traits. : )
Wiggles to you and the gang,
Charlie Bear
Glad you’re back in touch, Charlie Bear! Love hearing about your episodes.
Marianne,
Me too — I’m happy Mom Peep is writing for me again. I have so much to chat about!
Thanks for the comment.
Wiggles and Woofs,
Charlie Bear
Poor Charlie, I know exactly how you feel. Took me a long time to learn to control my motion sickness but I still suffer sometimes and even have vertigo when I’m not going anywhere! Your mom & dad were good to take such care with you. Keep your meclizine handy…
Dear Jean,
It’s not fun to get sick, but thankfully it was over pretty quickly and we had a grand time. Sometimes when the earth moves a bit here from the tectonic plates, I get a little quesy. Maybe that happens to you, too?
Much love and Wiggles and Woofs to Crosby,
Charlie Bear
Dear Charlie Bear,
So sorry you got sick. So far, no carsick problems for me, but I haven’t yet ridden through the mountains. I’m kinda jealous. Maybe they’ll take me soon.
Your friend in Georgia.
Dear Julie and Clyde in Georgia,
I like the rides around town, but the mountain roads — you can have ’em! It is pretty up there, and I’ll tell you all about it in the next post (what we did, where we went), but next time….beam me up, Scotty!
Wiggles and Woofs,
Charlie Bear
Dear Charlie Bear,
I don’t even need a bumpy car ride to upchuck. Sometimes my furbrother Skippy or I just let it all out on Mom’s carpet. What a gooey, stinky mess. She never yells, though. She just says, “Oh, phooey. Look what one of them did!”
It usually happens right after Skippy or I eat rabbit turds or squirrel droppings in the yard. (Of course, we do that when Mom’s not watching.) Then, we all pay for it later when one of our breakfast meals is all over the floor.
So don’t feel badly if you only upchuck in the car. That’s pretty darn good.
Love, Honey Bunny
Honey Bunny,
I feel better now! Thanks for reassuring me.Your Mom sounds pretty darn nice not to get mad at you and Skippy for upchucking on the carpet. I marvel at what a deep love and affection these Peeps have for us. Pretty fantastic, huh?
Many Wiggles and Woofs to you and Skippy,
Charlie Bear
Dear Charlie Bear,
I am so sorry you suffer from motion sickness when you travel. I have never had that problem. I love to ride and my mom takes me with her whenever she can. She won’t take me if she is going to the store or something like that because she won’t leave me unattened in the car, but any other time, I get to go with her. I like to sit up in the front seat and look out the window. If she’s going really slow, she will let the window down and let me hang my head out. Boy do I love to ride. I hope you get over your motion sickness soon and learn to enjoy it as much as I do.
Your pal,
Jake
Hi Jake,
You are so lucky. Having a quesy stomach is no fun at all! I do like car rides to the store like the big pet one where I get to go inside, and those don’t make me sick at all. And like you, Jake, I like to feel the wind in my hair! Almost feels like flying!
Woofs and Wiggles to my Pal,
Charlie Bear
So glad you got to go for a fun trip, Charlie Bear!
And I’m like you — I get car sick very easily. Even when I drive. And a drive up into the mountains? You were very brave. I don’t like being in high places.
Hope to read more about your fun adventures!
barbara
Barbara,
Yeah, it wasn’t like car rides around here in town. Those are short hops and not all twisty-turny. But you’ll find out that I had TONS of fun up there once I got my land legs!
Woofs and Wiggles to you,
Charlie Bear