Camp Dawg

OUR QUEEN OF THE REZ has gained her wings. Filled with gratitude for so many years together, we sent our Piper smothered with love over the Rainbow Bridge. Having recently celebrated her 100th birthday, her wobbly hips along with other medical challenges told us the time we dawg people all fear had arrived. We held her close at our Ojai vet’s office and thanked her for sharing her beautiful life with us. Having spent most of her life in the Ojai Valley, we are grateful for the little things and that it was here she would gain her wings and fly free.

From the very beginning when we scooped up this adorable RezMutt on the Navajo Nation, life was a carnival ride with two large mutties. Boone & Piper shared their days with us in Ojai, Lake Tahoe, and four years of full-time life in a 220-square foot home on wheels before settling in Bend, Oregon earlier this year.

We naturally assumed that Boonedocker would show our new dawg ‘the ropes’, however, we quickly learned Piper was our Alpha Girl. Over the years numerous monikers emerged and included Piper Princess, Pooh Girl, our Key West Cutie, the Princess of Ojai, Baroness of Bend and the occasional Clown Dawg, which was a well deserved title. With her expressive eyes – and ears – this girl could capture your heart in no time.

Piper came fully equipped with a clock in her belly that told us when it was exactly 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The changes as we traveled the country across time zones could be a challenge, but we worked it out along the way. Our girl’s singing abilities when I pulled out the harmonica were off-key yet similar to my harmonica abilities and with her eagle eyes she would easily spot ’the dawg bag’ in our hand when we returned from dinner out. She, of course, thought that was the only reason we left…to get her a snack.

Piper loved Jack & Betsy and those early Ojai pajama walks!

Little did we know the special gift this girl possessed was the magic and comedy she sprinkled into our lives daily. Thank you for 14-1/2 years of joy, along with your high degree of skills as clean up dawg in the kitchen or wherever a scrap of food landed! Godspeed, Princess Piper, and rest well until we meet again.

Piper B. Polk

August 27, 2011 – December 24, 2025

THE OVERLAND EXPO, a four-wheel feast for those who love to wander, pulled into the Deschutes County Fairgrounds in Bend, Oregon and we jumped at the opportunity to check out the latest in travel conversion trucks and vans with our g’boy, Jack. The day was mind-boggling, informative and a bit overwhelming!

And while Jim and I reminisced about our four years of full time traveling the country in our Classic Airstream with no home base to tie us down, it was a total joy to once again connect with the GOAT of full time living, Mali Mish!

The Lin family has been full timing for 17 years now and has checked off over 50 countries on their Bucket List. They began in a 25′ Airstream, which they won’t part with; moved into an outfitted Sprinter van for Europe; and are now in the beast shown below. I get excited to check states from my list and they’re checking off countries! Did I mention Dan & Marlene have accomplished this while home schooling and raising their three beautiful children? Well done, Mish, and best wishes as you continue your journey!

SIN CITY, as toasty as it can be in June, was the perfect meet up with my bestie of almost 50 years, Suzy. Kenny Chesney heard we were in town and threw an excellent party at The Sphere to welcome us along with 17,998 other lucky fans.

This is an immersive concert experience not-to-miss if you make your way to Las Vegas. The venue was amazing and the crowd pretty beachy and laid back. At a cost to build over $2 billion dollars, The Sphere is over 300 feet high and 500 feet wide. Picture an almost entire wrap around IMAX theatre and you’ll get the feeling.

The mesmerizing experience inside The Sphere almost made the entertainer secondary….almost. Other artists are scheduled to perform but next up at The Sphere will be The Wizard of Oz. Just imagine the flying monkeys, the tornado, MunchkinLand, the yellow brick road and the Wicked Witch on her bike enveloping you and all 30 stories tall!

We ended our desert holiday with the required concert t-shirts and dinner at the Capital Grille, an always amazing place to dine. Cheers!

SOMEHOW between a sunset hilltop wedding at Auberge du Soleil overlooking Napa Valley and a summer lunch sitting on the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon, 33 beautiful years have flown by. So many memories made and so many more dreams that await!

A quick flight to Los Angeles and we were celebrating California’s newest teenager, Betsy! Then it was off to Disneyland with my one and only request…matching t-shirts! Actually, I’m surprised we pulled this one off with two teens in the mix!

ON A BEAUTIFUL SPRING AFTERNOON, following a peaceful morning and a family walk filled with sunshine, our Boonie Boy crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Snuggled on his blanketed bed on the deck and smothered in the warm sunshine he so enjoyed, we told him what a good boy he had been and how much he was loved. A check up and x-rays at the vet the day before revealed an unknown long-time tumor on his left shoulder which was the cause of an occasional limp. That same limp had turned into an ongoing concern which the prescribed meds no longer helped. 

Boonedocker’s first photo at 1-1/2 years courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society 2011

This boisterous boy entered our lives when we volunteered at Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. Healing our hearts by volunteering for the week following the loss of our Golden Retriever Tucker, Jim and Boone locked eyes over breakfast and the adventures began. Starting out in our 19’ Winick Bambi Airstream, we headed from Kanab, Utah to Mesa Verde National Park. The next morning breakfast was cooked up and in the blink of an eye he absconded with a pound of crispy fried bacon from the picnic table. We feel from this time forward he knew he had it made.

We arrived home to Ojai where we introduced g’boy Jack to Boone – June 2011

Ojai morning walks with Jack, g’girl Betsy, Piper (rescued in 2013) and Papa Boone. This name was chosen for Papa by the g’kids – 2015

Between that first hello and our final snuggle, this handsome RezMutt from the Navajo Nation in Arizona had rolled in an Airstream from Alaska to Key West; San Diego to Maine and all parts in-between. He enjoyed a decade of the good life living in Ojai, California; the past four years living full time in our Airstream Classic; and six weeks at home in Bend. He loved meeting new dawgs and quickly turned into a puppy and encouraged a good game of chase. At the top of his list were walks, which basically turned into sniff-fests; golf cart rides, dawg parks, a warm fire at cocktail time and a good muttie butt scratch. In his definitive black & white tux, he was always dressed for the occasion and when I pulled out my harmonica, he was the soprano singer in the family hitting the highest notes.

Alaska to Key West

….Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, Kentucky, Utah

Boone & Piper living the Airstream life!

He loved Ojai along with adventures at his Tahoe mountain home!

We are forever grateful to have had so many years with our Camp Dawg. Those who share their life’s journey with a dawg know the absolute magic they bring to the game. Thank you for the beautiful memories and wet kisses, sweet boy. Godspeed and rest well, Boonedocker.

Boonedocker B. Polk October 24, 2009 – April 9, 2025

Channel Islands National Park has been at my front door for almost 25 years while living in Southern California, yet I never ventured the 22 miles out to sea….until now.

Located off the mainland of Southern California, Santa Cruz Island had fewer than 150 people on the island the day we visited which included passengers from two ferry boats that made the early morning crossing, along with a handful of National Park staff and maintenance. To stand on this basically uninhabited island and realize that just a short boat ride away there are 25,000,000 people in Southern California, really put the pristine, welcomed quietness of this national park into perspective.

With my 14-year-old grandson, Jack, and backpacks filled with lunch and drinks, we boarded the ferry for the one hour, 15 minute ride across the channel. My other sidekick, g’girl Betsy, who would have enjoyed this adventure, was enjoying a long weekend with her Nana.

Known as the North American Galapagos, visitors we chatted with on the ferry came from around the United States to experience this unique national park. Established in 1980, the five islands of Anacapa, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz, make up approximately 250,000 acres with Santa Cruz Island the largest at 100 miles, or 64,000 acres. The extensive marine sanctuary which surrounds the island is phenomenal and the crystal clear waters allowed us to see kelp 15-18 feet deep clinging to the ocean floor from our viewing point on the pier.

We chose an easy hike with a 350 foot climb to take in the vistas and to see the coast of Southern California from a completely different viewpoint. With a past history of ranching, a few implements remain along with a visitor’s center on the island. Lucky for us we spotted both the island scrub jay, a brilliant blue jay; and the island fox, the largest native island resident, yet no bigger than a large house cat. Both critters are to be found only here on the Santa Cruz Island.

Enjoy sea kayaking? On Santa Cruz Island you can rent a kayak along with the mandatory helmet to discover one of the largest and deepest sea caves in the world, Painted Cave. Camping, with reservations, is also available to those interested in spending a quiet island evening with minimal amenities.

No time to visit the Islands? The visitor’s center in Ventura provides a well produced historical video of the islands along with topographical maps and the ability to work on your Junior Ranger badge.

It was great to experience this national park with my grandson. My only regret is not getting out to the islands sooner – and more often – over the years. One of the least visited national parks, it’s definitely worth the effort.

In January I slipped away for a week long sabbatical at my Happy Place, Key West. No race to run, to place to be, just a little ‘me time’ by the sea.

A little late to game, I only discovered this tropical destination while on a cruise in 2019. Since that time I have returned each year to this sweet & salty island. Lucky to have had two winter seasons here in our Airstream, I’ll now settle for a week here & there and make the island magic happen.

• Hyatt Sunset Harbor, my island home for a week

• Island architecture

• Jimmy Buffet’s island studio

….and food & drink, of course!

• Until next time, Key West!

WE DID SOMETHING! The Four Mutties have found a nest to call home in Oregon. With a population of 104,560 + four new residents, Bend, Oregon is located on the Deschutes River and boasts four seasons. We know this because we’ve experienced all of them over the past few weeks. Situated in the high desert, this central Oregon town is surrounded by the Deschutes National Forest and is a destination spot with recreation, breweries, river rafting, hiking, skiing and don’t forget…The Last Blockbuster!

Our nest-to-be-feathered is a perfectly sized ‘lock & leave’ abode which will make it easy to hitch up the Silver Palace and continue exploring; but will also provide that comfortable landing spot to call home, a cool respite among the Ponderosa pines and birch trees. With four years of full-time Airstream living and countless adventures of life on the road now in the rear view mirror, we have returned to the state where Jim was born & raised. Oregon provides many wonderful memories for Jim growing up; and for me with time well spent with Jim’s parents over the years. I guess you could say this is truly a home coming.

However, with over 40 years of living in the Golden State and 26 round-trip cross country excursions under our belts, we’ll keep our aluminum adventure pod nearby as we roll north and south with the Greater Los Angeles Airstream Club. As we move to most-timer status in our Airstream, thank you for riding shotgun on our full time adventures over the past four years!

The Cali-gonians,

Lynda, Jim, Boonedocker & Piper

OUR JOURNEY CONTINUED WEST with an overnight stop at the Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska. Brimming with all things American car related and speed, this museum promises to be an amazing stop for both car and history buffs. Founded in 1992 by Bill & Joyce Smith of Speedway Motors fame, the 250,000 square foot museum can keep you exploring for an entire day with rooms filled with every era of American cars including the Indy Pace Cars, motorcycles, movie memorabilia, art and more.

This visit was made especially nice as we were greeted by curator Tim Matthews; and John MacKichan, museum host and former builder/racer, to view the museum’s display of a couple collections Polk Associates recently appraised. The Russell collection of quarter-midgets, the sport which Kurt and his three sisters participated in growing up in Southern California; and the Bonneville Salt Flats record-setting piston powered car, ‘Speed Demon’, by owner/driver George Poteet. To say this museum has something for everyone is definitely an understatement.

Jim with John MacKichan with his owner built and driven Salt Flat racer

Kurt Russell and his winning quarter midget race cars

George Poteet’s record-setting Salt Flat piston powered car, Speed Demon

A surprising discovery for me was Motordrome Riding! Who knew you could ride a motorcycle – parallel to the ground – along a wooden metrodrome!? I was in awe of these courageous women! If you’re rolling through Nebraska in an Airstream, the museum is a Harvest Host stop. Plan to make a day of it!

Next it was up and over the Rocky Mountains with a stop at my much-loved Maroon Bells outside Aspen, Colorado for a brisk hike and some downtime spent along the Colorado River before we made our way to Las Vegas, Nevada. While in Vegas, we celebrated both Jim’s birthday and Boonedocker’s start of his 15th trip around the sun. Happy birthday, boys!

October’s first snow (above) and a spring time view of the Maroon Bells

My happy birthday boys!