Georgia to Tennessee 4/11/22

 The two cats and Maddie snuggled with us overnight in the hotel.  The bunnies also slept peacefully. While Mike got ready, John and I left early with Maddie to retrieve the large animals first, and then load up Zeke and the other three cats.  Mike took the two “hotel cats” with him in the car.  The road at the remote pet boarding facility was battered clay, which forced us to drive slow.  Fiona the cow had plenty of time to communicate with the neighbor’s cattle while we made our way slowly by.  The bull seemed quite interested.  Perhaps they were discussing their lives as cattle in Florida versus Georgia.  Perhaps the bull was making passes at Fiona.  Whatever they said, it seemed to be an interesting conversation.  

About an hour past Atlanta, the highway began a slow, curvy climb into Tennessee.  I enjoyed seeing some unusual rock formations in the Smokies.  I felt a deep longing for mountains ever since I left my home state out west.  I don’t like the heat.  I would prefer snowy mountains to anything, but Colorado has changed so much since I joined the US Navy, back in 1997.  During visits, it wasn’t MY Colorado anymore.  I felt the same about California, where I lived as a kid.  It’s entirely unrecognizable.  It ceased being MY California a long time ago.  I never considered living in Florida.  In fact, a year and a half before meeting my husband, my USN ship made a port visit to Mayport.  A bunch of us took a rented van across the state to swim with manatees, which was incredible.  Despite that, on the way back to the ship, partly because it was August, perhaps, but mostly because it never gets cold enough there, I said I would never live in Florida.  Then, I met Mike.  His family was there and he’d been away too long.  What I found in Florida were excellent state parks, beautiful oaks hammocks, pine forests, abundant grass for livestock, and a nice place for our young son to grow up on our farm.  Our son will carry his home state of Florida with him everywhere.  He will always have that common experience with his dad, which is a treasure for them both.  As we were leaving, he had zero regrets, but I know from experience that all too soon, it won’t be HIS Florida anymore.  

Tennessee had some beautiful areas where the Smokies peek through suburbia, but it’s also a place that wears its emotions on the outside for all to see.  Billboards proclaiming, quite rudely, political sentiments interrupted the views with strong emotions and anger.  Honestly, it kind of killed the mood.  I had hoped to explore a bit more of the side roads, but the negativity dissuaded me.  The weather was also a factor.  Strong storms were moving in while we settled the horses at the fairgrounds in Murfreesboro.  The small animal boarding facility was relatively easy in comparison.  Once again, we settled the one dog, two cats, and travel cage with two rabbits in at the hotel.  I had pre-packaged meals for all the animals, so it was easy.  Maddie and I went for several walks, despite the stormy weather.  We had some business to do at the local branch of our new bank to ensure closing would happen on time.  It was quite stressful, but with the help of a local banker, we got it done.  I sent her flowers after our trip to thank her for her extraordinary help.  

Florida to Georgia 4/10/22

All the animals arrived safely in Minnesota, with the exception of the two Cuban tree frogs we captured on our old farm in Florida and made into pets (they are invasive in Florida).  They succumbed to the cold despite our precautions.

The days were hot and muggy when we left Florida on April 10th.  The two horses had been professionally hauled up north several days before and were at a boarding barn adjusting to the change in their summer coats (we sent along their blankets).  We left with Maggie the Shetland Pony, Tony the mini donkey, Fiona the Dexter cow, and three pet goats (Nancy, Lisa, and Leslie) all in the trailer.  Our first stop was in central Georgia.  Our trailer has open bars on the sides for ventilation and a canvas top.  Perfect for hauling in the heat.  The cow and goats have been sharing a pasture for six months so they have bonded.  

Inside the truck were four house cats in carriers, plus one barn cat in a carrier, two dogs in the backseat, two rabbits, and the two frogs in a plastic container with appropriate holes, damp paper towels, and a few cricket snacks.  

Inside my husband’s electric car was a pet blue death feigning beetle in a small cage with a little fruit for food.  One of the reasons for stopping so soon was to give the animals a break and because of the range of the electric car.  

The terrain was very similar to northern Florida as we headed up I-75.  Just before crossing our first state line into Georgia, we were required to stop and present the health certificates to a Florida agriculture inspector.  All of the paperwork was organized and easy to present.  It only took about five minutes.  The types of trees and plants stayed about the same, but the soil changed a little as we neared Perry, Georgia.  There were more hills and we could see some of the rich red clay the area is known for.  The weather was very similar to Florida and didn’t bother the animals in their summer coats.  

We found an RV park with horse stalls for the cow, goats, pony and donkey.  They were a little surprised we wanted stalls for the cow and goats (they shared one), but they accommodated us nicely.  Most of the dogs and cats went to be boarded at a kennel for the night.  We dropped the small animals off first bouncing down a bumpy rural driveway.  We slowly passed a herd of cattle that Fiona communicated with extensively.  Perhaps they were comparing forage preferences.  With such an open trailer, Fiona could enjoy the view and check out the neighbor’s bull while we dropped off the dogs and cats.  It was quite a conversation.  

Our older dog, elderly cat, and a cat that needs medication, stayed with us in the pet friendly hotel.  We managed to bring the rabbits inside with their travel cage.  The man at the desk didn’t say a word when we passed by.  

The next morning, we left the hotel to round up the animals and hit the road again.  We picked up the dogs and cats first.  Rocky and Tiger didn’t eat because they were too stressed that first night.  Ralph, the barn cat finished his food.  We brought their own food so things would be more familiar, but traveling with cats can be difficult.  When we arrived to pick up the large animals, they greeted us enthusiastically.  All was well, but Fiona must have bumped against the sliding stall door hard because it was pushed outside the track.  We had cleaned out the trailer the night before so the clean, dry trailer awaited them the next morning.  Fresh hay in nets was available for all.  

The trailer has two compartments.  We started out with the two largest animals (cow and pony) tied to each side in the larger back portion, and the goats with the mini donkey loose in the front portion, but for Day 2, we paired the cow with he goats in the back and the pony and the donkey in the front.  That worked out much better.  The only downside to that first stop in Georgia was that I accidentally left all the grooming equipment for the horses, cow, and goats behind at the RV barn.

A Journey

 The idea came up a year ago next month.  My husband was burning out at work.  The way his job is structured punishes him for doing things the right way.  He came home distressed, worried, and aggravated.  It had been getting worse for several years.  Something had to change.  He had already explored other companies in the area without success.  The either had the same system as his current employer, or are going to transition to the same system soon.  So, we threw the net wider.  We strategized and pondered where we could live and still have a farm as well as good jobs.  Over the next several months, we focused on the Midwest.  My husband and I have lived in the region before, but the state we chose is new to us both.  Our son has never lived outside of Florida. The prospect of living in the snow made him absolutely ecstatic.  The job for my husband is spectacular.  He will be doing exactly what he does best facilitated by a supportive environment.  The job prospects for me are also much better in the Midwest than here in Florida.  

The question became, how do you move a farm?  The answer has taken nine months of decisions and planning.  We found pet homes for our sheep because they were bred for the heat and humidity of the South, not for the snowy cold of the north.  We found homes for the laying hens because of the problems associated with traveling with chickens.  It was a good thing too, as there is another bird flu epidemic in some of the areas we will be traveling through.  We found another farm to buy up there that will meet the housing needs of all the animals we are bringing with us.  Since our trailer isn't big enough for all the livestock, we arranged the shipping of the two horses to a boarding stable to await our arrival.  All the paperwork, testing, tagging, blood drawing and vaccinating is almost complete.  The final health certificates will be this coming week.  

Traveling itself became a three month long project.  We limited the hours of driving to seven per day, for safety reasons.  Each stop had to be carefully arranged to accommodate pets and livestock.  This is not an easy thing to do.  Hotels don't let you tie your cow out back.  So, each stop has rented stalls, pet boarding, and pet friendly hotels.  That's two different drop off and pick up locations at each stop and a third stop for a hotel for the three of us.  With three stops between here and our final destination, we will need to be very organized to pull it off successfully.

The traveling farm will be leaving soon.  The list of animals is:

2 dogs

4 house cats

1 barn cat

2 frogs

2 rabbits

(2 horses shipping separately)

1 cow

3 goats

1 pony

1 mini donkey

All the animals will have their food packed up into portions to make it easier for the pet boarding places (and us) at each stop.  Bedding, litter, crates, carriers will also be packed.  Each cat has their own carrier and all the carriers fit in the truck, along with the dogs and rabbits (in a small shared cage).  The frogs get tucked in under the seat in a traveling cage.  The large animals will have hay nets, hay, bedding, and feed packed up for the trip as well.  A first aid kit will also be on hand as well as containers with water.  The truck and trailer have been inspected and tuned up for the trip.  All the animals lead well and have properly fitted halters.  They are also all trained to load and unload nicely.    

Fun fact:  Only one of our animals has ever seen snow.  That would be my BLM Mustang mare.  For the other outdoor animals, it will be a whole new experience!  

We're hoping for good weather, but we'll remain flexible.  

Practicing eating from hay nets.

Woolly enough for the cold.

What's snow?

Snack Bags 16

 

Snack Bags 15

 

Snack Bags 14

 

Snack Bags 13