Trying out the truck, the tent and our navigational/improvisational skills on our way to Siltcoos Lake, Ore.—before we spend the next four months roadtripping.
Lesson One: The tent does not exist to comfort the dog.
We drive Highway 101, along the coast from Santa Cruz to the Smith River, the only last-free flowing river in California, and camp in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, at a site next to the river. Ophie finds her doggie paddle, we cook carne asada over an open fire, and see bright stars that don't have to compete with any city lights. We fall asleep listening to the river flow. Ophie sleeps at our feet...until she doesn't. She crawls under my sleeping bag; my knees bend over body. She crawls between me and the tent, and continually stands up, looks over at Patrick and sighs. Finally, she steps over me, collapses
between our two sleeping bags, and stretches her legs into my neck and tailbone. I can't move, pushed between the dog and side of the tent. At one point, I try to roll over. I don't make it, but I manage to move my neck enough to see Patrick and Ophie, happily, comfortably spooning, while I'm immobile. They sleep soundly. I think it's time for the dog to sleep outside the tent.
—Jessica
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