I always enjoy seeing drivers pull up next to us at stoplights and do a double-take when they catch sight of Chaucer's happy face on one of our door magnets. Some read the words out loud ("Come Adventure with Me!" and Chaucer's website address). Others call out to fellow passengers. A few grab something to write with. And almost all smile or laugh.

Dog-loving NASCAR fans now have the opportunity to see a photo of their own favorite pooch on the side of a car--and not just a typical family vehicle either.

You're planning the family vacation, or an extended business stay in one city--and just don't want to leave your four-legged sidekick at home. You're booked into a dog-friendly hotel so there's no problem keeping your pooch with you at night, but what to do with him during business meetings, or the days that the family's activities don't include outdoor, dog-friendly fun?

A nearby kennel that offers "doggy day camp," or some form of group play, is one answer. Just be aware that many such kennels require a screening interview with you and your dog first. Such policies ensure the safety and enjoyment of both your own dog and those already in the program. While this policy is just a minor step when seeking a day program in your hometown, it can become a hassle when traveling.

Day boarding is one alternative to enrolling your dog in group play. When your dog is "day boarded," she stays in one of the same runs as those used for overnight guests. Day boarders can often participate in such extras as individual playtime, additional walks, even swimming sessions.

At Chaucer's favorite PetsHotel in Tucson, I always choose day boarding over what they call "day care" (their daily program that includes both group playtime and individual quiet periods). Why?

Not until last November's cross-country trip with Chaucer and Brontë chronicled in earlier postings here did I realize how desirable it is to have ready access to leash-free areas to exercise a large dog while on the road. Chaucer, that proper little terrier, has been content for years with long walks on a long leash. In his opinion, the only point of a gate is to get on the other side of it--whether by jumping or by latching his paws into the chain links and climbing. Brontë, the galumphing lab puppy, is much more social by canine standards. Those nice long walks several times a day only whet her appetite for activity. Did I mention she's a lab--and a puppy?

As often happens, from personal need arose a business idea. Let's start a section of Chaucer's website that lists off-leash dog parks within a certain distance--say five miles--of interstates, something that wouldn't be too much of a detour. We'll invite fellow travelers to submit places they've found, and gather information from local sources around the country.

It was fortunate then--considering the many other current projects and plans related to Chaucer's site, to say nothing of his line of children's books, oh yes, and those business books we've been publishing for eight years now--that I soon discovered that someone else already had this brilliant idea and executed it online!

The Final (Bug-Free) Stretch of Highway Home

New Mexico is chile country, and people here have serious opinions about whether it's better red or green. At the small restaurant inside a trailer on the campground property, they serve both...of course. This is a real local spot, frequented (this morning, at least) more by area residents than overnight campers. People chat from table to table about serving in the Korean War, the need for skilled workers to lay a new pipeline on one of the reservations, a recent festival in Gallup.

The Boy enjoys pancakes--complimentary for all guests--while Carmen and I feast on breakfast burritos. Sausage, potatoes, cheese, mixed with green chile and wrapped in a fresh (not supermarket-aged) tortilla. Delicious! And not just because we've been camping for five days:  The chile--this version chopped and simmered with a little ground beef (everyone's recipe is slightly different)--is clearly straight from the kitchen, not from the canned goods aisle or the freezer section.