While it is possible to take the family cat or dog with you, is it a good plan? I’m going to consider the implications of taking a dog along for the ride but many of the considerations will also apply to travelling with cats, admittedly a less common choice of companion.

I think the really hard part is that we are strongly attached to our canine friends and it’s really hard to avoid the thought that they may feel abandoned or even worse, may transfer their loyalty and affection to someone else.

If you have been on extended holidays before and have placed your pet in the care of another family member or in kennels, you’ve probably noticed that the dog has not been traumatised by the experience. Most dogs will quickly adapt to the new pack leader and the new routine or environment. In fact, it’s not all unusual for breeders to take back their puppies once they’ve reached adulthood and these dogs generally fit straight back in to the family routine.

If you have a pedigree dog, your breeder is probably someone to approach for advice. They may well know of one of their other clients who may be willing to look after another dog for a while. Many show dog and working dog families keep small packs of dogs and one more often makes little difference.

So it largely depends on you having access to a family member or friend who enjoys your dog’s company and admittedly, not everyone is so lucky. And, let’s be honest, you will miss your pet and your family when you leave them behind, some more than others. This also assumes you are returning home eventually. If you are not then you may need to consider finding a permanent home for your pet.

The alternative is to take the pet along with you. This option will change the nature of your journey in many ways.

Firstly, you will need to be especially careful with the weather and climate. As a human being, you can duck extremes of weather by hiding out in shopping malls, hotels, museums and the like. These places rarely welcome animals. Extreme heat is perhaps the most common challenge and motor vehicles heat up very quickly even in relatively mild weather.

Pets also have the habit of shedding their hair and sharing body odours. I recall one dismal trip when Taffy, our border collie, found something really ripe to roll in at the very start of a camping trip. The solution was to take him for a swim on a handy beach in the middle of the night and to this day I’m not sure if he was being washed or drowned. A smelly dog in a car or van isn’t great company even on a good day.

While you are travelling along, you need to keep windows open and sound systems turned down which may not suit you all day long. You may also need to make more frequent stops than you’d prefer.

To top it all off, you’ll arrive at the caravan or camping ground to find “No Pets” signs everywhere and you’re not allowed into the local national park where camp sites are cheaper.

Should you be lucky enough to find a pet friendly site, you will still need to supervise your dog 24/7 unlike at home when you can shut him up in the house or yard and go off elsewhere. The vehicle has become his new territory and he may defend it somewhat noisily against innocent passers-by. You won’t be popular.

So really, it’s what they call a ‘no brainer.’ Unless you have no other option, don’t take your pets. If you have to, you really need to plan ahead.

These Life Be In It sites may help in finding some pet friendly locations:

http://www.holidayingwithdogs.com.au/

http://www.holidayingwithdogs.com.au/holidaying_with_cats.htm

Being part of a social group is great and such friendships will be part of the special blessings of your journey. On the other hand, beware the risk of isolating yourself too much from the local population.

The tourists around your campsite often merely visit the places that the locals wish to make public and generally pay full commercial rates for accommodation, meals and other services.

By contrast, the locals know where the better, more private and free campsites are to be found. They know how to find cheap local produce at a good price or the best catered meals. They know who to go to when things break down and who to avoid.

The locals know the shortcuts, the bad roads and the best routes. And they know where and when the hazards are likely to appear on the roadside.

So to travel Australia like a local, the first thing you need to do is connect with the locals.

How Do I Find a Local?

The best approach is to look friendly and be friendly to everyone you meet.

Take the police, for instance. While the police officers you come across may not necessarily be locals on country roads, they will know the area fairly well and are often worth a chat if they are not busy at the time.

Most small towns will have a cafe and a pub. Pick a quiet moment to start up a chat with the bartender or waiter and they’ll soon start introducing you to the locals in the vicinity. They will be as curious about you and the way you are travelling as you will be about their home town and lifestyle.

Service stations and roadhouses are also a good source of information when you are filling up your fuel tank. They’ll usually have brochures for the local attractions but can often tell you more useful stuff like where the fish are biting and what bait people are using.

You will often find a community library in a small town usually hosted by the local school. Pop in to browse the local papers, access the internet, bone up on local history and pick the librarian’s brains. You may even get a gig doing a ‘show and tell’ about your home or occupation in one of the classes. If so, the school children will be an excellent fount of local knowledge.

On the weekend, go the the footy or whatever local sport is on and chat to people at the bar or canteen. It’s never hard to find someone ready for a yarn and you’ll probably find a cheap meal there while you are at it.

Surfers and fishermen will know where to find their mates. Jetties are always worth a walk, too.

Of course, lots of towns these days have Information Bays and tourist information services but you’ll need to do a big of digging or ask a few questions to find the roads less travelled, the less commercial places.

Use Your Own Networks

If you have a hobby or are involved in the kind of business that you may run into along the way, by all means use your contacts. For example, if you train sheepdogs, your fellow competitors will always enjoy a yarn as you pass through their country. If you are an artist, look out for galleries along the way and connect with kindred spirits. If you sell cars for a living, pop in on the other dealers along your route and swap ideas on the latest sales campaign.

There’s no need to impose. Set up camp first so that it’s clear that you’re just chatting and then see where things lead. Your objective is to find out what the locals know about where they live so that you can see what the tourists miss.

If as often happens, your new mates offer you a bed or a campsite, always remember Benjamin Franklin’s advice:

Fish and visitors stink after three days….