Those that have been following my blog know that our black lab Smokey filled in for me on occasion. Well, I am sad to report that he recently passed away just a few months shy of his 15th birthday. While I was looking for a file on my computer the other day I found his next blog installment.
“After weeks of boondocking in the Mojave Desert the weather turned cold and we left a few days early heading back to civilization and warmer weather. Now as a dog I like boondocking in the desert. “No leash, no worries is my motto” as I am seldom leashed while camped in the boondocks. Being back in civilization we had to stay the night in a RV park , which meant I was back on the leash although this park was dog friendly. Feral cats roamed the park keeping the mouse population in check and they had a dog run with this cool green stuff.
Now after weeks in the desert I had almost forgotten about that stuff you humans call grass. Closing the gate to the fenced dog run my owner let me off the leash to roll, sniff all those smells and take care of doggie business. On the way back to the RV I saw and smelled a weird cat, it was black with a white stripe and a bushy tail. I wanted to go check it out but my owner said something about Pepe Le Pew and ushered me back to the trailer saying it was a good thing I was on my leash. Well while this place wasn’t the boondocks it was nice to be back on grass and check out the interesting smells and strange critters. Until next time, woof!”
Smokey my friend, camping just isn’t the same without you.
RVing with four legged friends, one of the best adventures in RVing!

Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
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