Scenes from the road...with a cat.

We have this awesome cat named Mr. Bingley. (Yes, I'm an unabashed Jane Austenite. Travis tolerates this and sometimes even fuels it.) Mr. Bingley is a funny boy with a ton of personality. He's more like a dog than a cat half the time. But is he a good traveler? That was the question concerning me for a few weeks before our move.

Our first leg took us from our home in Charleston, SC, to Gulfport, MS. Travis was a champ and graciously drove the U-Haul all the way by himself, while I drove our car with our cat, Mr. Bingley. Honestly, the idea of driving an animal who screams all the way to the vet put a bit of trepidation in my mind. Before we got on the road this time, I gave him a sedative the vet had given me. He still screamed, though, and since we had a 12-hour trip ahead, I opened the door of his carrier to see what he would do. This was the eventual result:

Turns out I have an adventurous boy on my hands. He preferred sleeping in the carrier after all, but only if the door was open and he could choose to stay or leave. He was a delightful traveling companion as I listened to my audio book. A cuddly, drugged cat in my lap while on a long interstate stretch? Yes please.

He also had a good time in our hotel room.

That big lump is him, playing under the sheet. He was a joy to both me and Travis throughout the long journey, and continues to be a happy little buddy while we settle into our new home. While unpacking, he discovered a new favorite place:

...which Travis then upfit for him, using his favorite blanket:

 Needless to say, Mr. Bingley has thrived through all the changes. An unexpected blessing and a definite answer to prayer.