How are we ever gonna camp again?

Very sad news to report. Our RV security alarm and all-around best camper, Nick the mighty German shepherd, was diagnosed with bone cancer on July 2nd. We said goodbye to him July 8th.

How will we ever go camping without him? We bought the darn RV just for him, after all. He thought it was his big shiny kennel. You couldn't ask for a better traveling dog--he just loved getting into the RV and he so looked forward every day to 3-4PM when we'd pull into a (preferably leafy) state park. He'd wake up from his day-long nap, play ball, have dinner al fresco (weather permitting), and enjoy the new surroundings. What a great life. New trees to sniff and p-mail to read at every new stop.

Here's Nick in his morning till mid-afternoon riding spot: the front dinette seat, looking out through the windshield to see if any tree-lined roads (the kind that lead to state parks) are coming....

He wasn't generally allowed to be in his traveling seat when we were eating, but this was just too cute.


And he was always up for a nap:


I think this is my favorite portrait--on an iPhone, even. Taken April 2010 at Great Sand Dunes National Park. (Nick never liked those mean ole national parks with their dog restrictions. Give him a state park any day.)

Such a good camper:







And he loved going for rides at home in the car, too. Always on guard duty.

We will miss you, Nicky boy. No dog will ever fill your collar.