Category Archives: Dog friendly travel

Packing checklists

There are three types of people in the world: those who make lists, those who follow lists and those who have no need for lists. If you fall into the third category . . . well, can’t help you. But we are list makers (and followers) because it’s a time saver (why reinvent the wheel each time around?) and it helps us avoid the hair-tearing-out frustration of needing to buy Item A, when we know we have a perfectly good Item A at home.

To make your life easy, we’ve assembled a Packing checklist that’s divided into camping items and people items.

If you’re travelling with a dog, you’ll find a detailed Dog Packing Checklist at this page.

Pet-friendly Travel

We’d never think of leaving Rigby behind. We like to joke that the camper van is essentially a large dog kennel. It gives her space to stretch and is a safe place for her while we might be out and about.

Taking a dog (or cat) along on travels is becoming popular for both families and especially for snowbirds who are heading south and west for long-stay holidays.

Words on the page

Our stories and articles appear in Canadian magazines and online.

Spring and fall, we load the van – with everything from guitars to laptops – toss in a thick bundle of maps, several notebooks and roll down the road. We meet great people, gather wonderful story material and then write, write, write. Browse the links to some of our pieces in print:

BIG TRIP #1: ROOTS OF AMERICAN MUSIC: 9,000 km through the Southeast U.S.

Music Trails of the American Southeast1

BIG TRIP #2: TUNES, RUINS & STARS: 13,000 km across the American Southwest

American Southwest

BIG TRIP #3: HUGGING THE ATLANTIC COASTLINE; MUSIC INLAND: 7,064 km

Google Maps Big Trip #3 PDF-page-001

BIG TRIP #4: ROCK & ROLL: 10,950 km exploring western U.S. National Parks

 MISCELLANEOUS

Meet our “canine concierge” Eleanor Rigby

rigbyclose_editedBreed: Border Collie mix (she was a pound rescue, so that’s our best guess)

Age: 12 years old

Has an unusual attachment to: Craig and a stuffed squirrel that squeaks

Best qualities: travels like a pro; smarter than most people; loyal to a fault; the perfect concierge

Absolutely hates: thunderstorms; fireworks; lawnmowers

 

RV TRAVEL, PET TRAVEL, FOOD & TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

We travel. We write. We publish.

Travels With Rigby is for web surfers who are looking for practical information on frugal RV travel, travelling with your dog (our pooch is Rigby), finding irresistible eats and sussing out music destinations. We’ve clocked the miles and visited the sights and these are the best from our travels: the who/what/when/where/why highlights for those that love music, food and the camping life.

You’ll find tips and info on:

  • Best ways to travel with your dog.
  • Foods we found irresistible.
  • Practical ways to travel by small RV.
  • Campsites and parks we’ve loved.
  • Planning realistically for gas costs, cell phone coverage, etc.

About us . . .

Travel writers. Foodies. Music lovers. Can’t go anywhere without our dog. Josephine Matyas works full-time as a freelance writer, specializing in travel and food. Craig Jones has got street cred: lots of miles on the road crisscrossing Canada as a professional musician, followed by just as many years tapping away at a computer keyboard.

We’re book authors – our award-winning book on the roots of the blues is Chasing the Blues: A Traveler’s Guide to America’s Music. Find it online or order from your favourite bookstore. For a modest shipping amount, we can also send you a signed copy – just reach out through our contact form.

We write for websites, newspapers and magazines. We also blog on this site when we are on the road. Yes, we are “old school” if that means research, writing and paying attention to grammar, quality and fact checking. But as for the platform – print and digital both. 

It’s been an experiment: Taking her expertise (travel writing) and his experience (on the bandstand, teacher and writer), stirring it together and seeing what happens. Add a camper van (a 2007 Roadtrek 210 for those who need the specs), an easy going dog, a file full of maps and a GPS/wireless backup camera nicknamed “Hal” that sometimes toys with us (we prefer the maps).

Several times a year we pack up High Cotton (the Class B RV), take the dog for her trim, top up the gas tank and hit the road for a month or two at a time. We post links to articles we’ve published (see Words) and blog short bits and pieces while we are away from Home Base (Ontario, Canada).

LISTEN TO JO’S CBC RADIO INTERVIEW ON TRAVEL IN CANADA!