road trip

As the kitties and doggies are finishing eating Samwise and Ranger go
outside to check on the weather. There has been reports of severe
weather in the area. The heavy rain has let up and the sun was breaking
through the clouds.

At the edge of the parking lot they spot a mother cat and 5 kittens
walking toward them. She and the kittens are wet. She takes another few
steps and Ranger and Samwise notice she it limping. They head toward the
mother cat. " Do you need any help?"
"Yes, my pickup slid off the road and into a ditch." Samwise reaches
into his pocket and using the remote opens the door of the RV."You can
get inside and dry off." Ranger runs off to the dinner to get others to
help. Iowna is the first one at the RV right behind Ranger . " Don't be
afraid, I'm a friend of the kitties." One of the kits reaches up and
touches Iowna nose. Iowna feels the kit shivering. "You need to get dry.
Iowna reaches around and finds a blanket for the kits.

Samwise

On 4/28/14 2:00 PM, ann791 wrote:
As the kitties and doggies are finishing eating Samwise and Ranger go
outside to check on the weather. There has been reports of severe
weather in the area. The heavy rain has let up and the sun was breaking
through the clouds.

At the edge of the parking lot they spot a mother cat and 5 kittens
walking toward them. She and the kittens are wet. She takes another few
steps and Ranger and Samwise notice she it limping. They head toward the
mother cat. " Do you need any help?"
"Yes, my pickup slid off the road and into a ditch." Samwise reaches
into his pocket and using the remote opens the door of the RV."You can
get inside and dry off." Ranger runs off to the dinner to get others to
help. Iowna is the first one at the RV right behind Ranger . " Don't be
afraid, I'm a friend of the kitties." One of the kits reaches up and
touches Iowna nose. Iowna feels the kit shivering. "You need to get dry.
Iowna reaches around and finds a blanket for the kits.

Samwise

After making sure that everykitty is wrapped in blankets and getting
warm, Harri invites the momcat and a handful of volunteers into her
bigrig RV. Momcat directs her south a few miles, where the kitties spot
a well-worn pickup securely lodged in a ditch.

Ranger and Samwise dig into the gear box under the side step of the RV
and find a heavy chain. Ranger wraps the chain around the safety hooks
on the front of Harri's rig while Samwise threads the other end around
the frame rails of the pickup and snugs the chain as tight as he can.
Ranger stands aside and Sawmise sits behind the wheel of the pickup as
Harri shifts the big transmission into low and starts backing slowly,
pulling the pickup over the edge and on to the road. Samwise steers the
pickup cleanly onto the shoulder, and Ranger unhooks the chain and
starts putting it back into the gear box. Ranger and Samwise both climb
under the pickup and determine that the axle isn't completely broken,
but it's in definite need of service.

Harri backs the rig close to the pickup, then Ranger rigs nylon tow
straps and heavy rubber bumpers so they can safely tow the truck back
into town. While they're on the way Harri places a call to Mikey Furface
and describes the situation. She doesn't describe the contents of the
call to the other kitties, she just sort of smiles as they get closer to
the diner.

ann791 wrote in rec.pets.cats.community:

As the kitties and doggies are finishing eating Samwise and Ranger go
outside to check on the weather. There has been reports of severe
weather in the area. The heavy rain has let up and the sun was
breaking through the clouds.

At the edge of the parking lot they spot a mother cat and 5 kittens
walking toward them. She and the kittens are wet. She takes another
few steps and Ranger and Samwise notice she it limping. They head
toward the mother cat. " Do you need any help?" "Yes, my pickup slid
off the road and into a ditch." Samwise reaches into his pocket and
using the remote opens the door of the RV."You can get inside and dry
off." Ranger runs off to the dinner to get others to help. Iowna is
the first one at the RV right behind Ranger . " Don't be afraid, I'm
a friend of the kitties." One of the kits reaches up and touches
Iowna nose. Iowna feels the kit shivering. "You need to get dry.
Iowna reaches around and finds a blanket for the kits.

Samwise

'Be at ease Little KIttahs' Says Iowna as she curls about them and with
a look brings in Cash who's big enough to warm all of them. They form a
little round of warmth. Daisy-chan runs up and purrs as she helps the
MotherCat with her little ones. REalizing the floor is cold, she jets
off and grabs the smaller memory foam (Iowna can share with Cash) and
tucks it under the kittahs.

Iowna starts licking little kitty bellies as that's important stuff for
little puppies to keep them healthy. She kinda figures babies are
babies. Sniffing to Momma cat, she says she has this in hand and to
have her paw checked. Curling about them, she shows she's a Mommie
type.

Cash pops up his head and asks" kin I help? I am just a wind break now
but I kin help you get to a doctor kittah anna she's real good!"


--

On Monday, April 28, 2014 10:07:02 PM UTC-4, cshenk wrote:
ann791 wrote in rec.pets.cats.community:



As the kitties and doggies are finishing eating Samwise and Ranger go

outside to check on the weather. There has been reports of severe

weather in the area. The heavy rain has let up and the sun was

breaking through the clouds.



At the edge of the parking lot they spot a mother cat and 5 kittens

walking toward them. She and the kittens are wet. She takes another

few steps and Ranger and Samwise notice she it limping. They head

toward the mother cat. " Do you need any help?" "Yes, my pickup slid

off the road and into a ditch." Samwise reaches into his pocket and

using the remote opens the door of the RV."You can get inside and dry

off." Ranger runs off to the dinner to get others to help. Iowna is

the first one at the RV right behind Ranger . " Don't be afraid, I'm

a friend of the kitties." One of the kits reaches up and touches

Iowna nose. Iowna feels the kit shivering. "You need to get dry.

Iowna reaches around and finds a blanket for the kits.



Samwise



'Be at ease Little KIttahs' Says Iowna as she curls about them and with

a look brings in Cash who's big enough to warm all of them. They form a

little round of warmth. Daisy-chan runs up and purrs as she helps the

MotherCat with her little ones. REalizing the floor is cold, she jets

off and grabs the smaller memory foam (Iowna can share with Cash) and

tucks it under the kittahs.



Iowna starts licking little kitty bellies as that's important stuff for

little puppies to keep them healthy. She kinda figures babies are

babies. Sniffing to Momma cat, she says she has this in hand and to

have her paw checked. Curling about them, she shows she's a Mommie

type.



Cash pops up his head and asks" kin I help? I am just a wind break now

but I kin help you get to a doctor kittah anna she's real good!"


Squeakytoy and Samanfa look on, ready to help if needed.

Samanfa says: "Yoo did gnot gnow Maggie May butted she is wookin down from da Bridj and she lubs how efferybuddy hepd da mommy an da bittees."

Tears, mostly happy tears, stain her furz

--
Will in New Haven

Harri backs the rig close to the pickup, then Ranger rigs nylon tow
straps and heavy rubber bumpers so they can safely tow the truck back
into town. While they're on the way Harri places a call to Mikey Furface
and describes the situation. She doesn't describe the contents of the
call to the other kitties, she just sort of smiles as they get closer to
the diner.


So, Miz Momcat, how did you an yourz kits come to be stuck in da ditch?
An walkin in da rain?

[The still-wet momcat tucks her blanket a little tighter around her
shoulders before she answers.]

Well, first, my name is Princess. Me and my kits were barn cats at a
farm out past Crete. A few months ago the hoomins decided to sell the
farm to a big agricultural company. We were still ok, as there were
plenty of mices to catch for food, but then last week the company
decided they didn't need the barn any more so they were going to tear it
down. There are a lot of coyotes and wild dogs running around not far
from the farm, so I decided that we couldn't stay around there and try
to find a new shelter. So I packed the kits into my old pickup and
started driving south. I had heard about a kitty truck stop somewhere to
the south, and thought I'd see if I could get us there and see if I
could find any leads on a new place to live. Until then me and the kits
were going to live in the truck. But now it doesn't look like that's
such a good idea.

[Harri had been listening closely to Pricess' story.]

Harri: Well, as a matter of fact there is a kitty truck stop down there.
It's in the town of McLean, IL, and it's called the Dixie Truckers Home.
It's not a human truck stop any more, just a restaurant, but it's one of
the biggest kitty truck stops in the nation! Back when I was on the road
with my Paw a trucking kitty was kind of rare, but now a lot of kitties
run big rigs to deliver to kitty businesses.

As a matter of fact, we're headed there before too long. You're welcome
to ride with us. And I know some kitties there that are looking for some
help, so they might be able to give you a job. And I also know a place
right by the Dixie where you and the kits could live, and it even has a
place where you can keep your pickup out of the elements. Want to join us?

Well, first, my name is Princess. Me and my kits were barn cats at a
farm out past Crete. A few months ago the hoomins decided to sell the
farm to a big agricultural company. We were still ok, as there were
plenty of mices to catch for food, but then last week the company
decided they didn't need the barn any more so they were going to tear it
down. There are a lot of coyotes and wild dogs running around not far
from the farm, so I decided that we couldn't stay around there and try
to find a new shelter. So I packed the kits into my old pickup and
started driving south. I had heard about a kitty truck stop somewhere to
the south, and thought I'd see if I could get us there and see if I
could find any leads on a new place to live. Until then me and the kits
were going to live in the truck. But now it doesn't look like that's
such a good idea.

[Harri had been listening closely to Pricess' story.]

Harri: Well, as a matter of fact there is a kitty truck stop down there.
It's in the town of McLean, IL, and it's called the Dixie Truckers Home.
It's not a human truck stop any more, just a restaurant, but it's one of
the biggest kitty truck stops in the nation! Back when I was on the road
with my Paw a trucking kitty was kind of rare, but now a lot of kitties
run big rigs to deliver to kitty businesses.

As a matter of fact, we're headed there before too long. You're welcome
to ride with us. And I know some kitties there that are looking for some
help, so they might be able to give you a job. And I also know a place
right by the Dixie where you and the kits could live, and it even has a
place where you can keep your pickup out of the elements. Want to join us?

[The Harrimobile towing mom-cat's pickup pulls into the parking lot at
the Gemini Giant where everycat is standing around the parking lot,
getting ready to hit the road again. Mikey Furface is also there with a
crew of mechanic-cats. When Harri pulls in and stops, the mechanic cats
swarm over the pickup. A few minutes later Mikey comes looking for the
mom-cat.]

Good morning! My guys have looked over your pickup and figured out what
all you'll need to get back on the road. The axle really needs to be
replaced, and it looks like your main springs are cracked so we need to
replace those too. But we can have all that done really quick!

[The mom-cat, Princess, looks sadly at Mikey.] That sounds good, but I
have absolutely no toonas to pay for that stuff. My kits and I are
moving to a new home because our old one is getting torn down, and the
stuff packed in the truck is all we own.

Mikey: Not to worry! We got a grant from the Mme. Anais Feline
Automotive Appreciation Trust just for situations like this. The grant
will pay for all of the work that needs to be done. And since your
pickup is a classic, we'll even make sure to use genuine restoration
parts instead of after-market replacements. We can get you all set up so
that you can show your pickup at classic car shows if you want to!

Harri: These guys do good work. They are the ones that built this custom
RV for me. Why don't you let them do the repairs, and while they're
doing that you and your kits can ride along with us to the Dixie
Trucker's Home. Mikey, could you guys deliver the repaired truck to her
down there?

Mikey: Absolutely!

Princess (sobbing happily): Fank you! That would be great! And my kits
would love to ride along. Are you sure we wouldn't be a burden?

Harri: Absolutely not! THe more the merrier. And look, the staff from
the restaurant are bringing out a bunch of catering trays with nice,
warm goodies. Why don't you and your kits make yourselves comfortable,
and Amelia will bring you guys some nice warm food?

[Everybody gets all settled in and loaded up, and the kittycycles take
the lead as the convoy hits Route 66 again. The restaurant wait staff
waves at the travelers, who all wave back. The convoy leaves Wilmington,
IL behind and look forward to arriving in McLean, IL.]

both
On 5/5/2014 10:05 AM, Community Kitties wrote:
Well, first, my name is Princess. Me and my kits were barn cats at a
farm out past Crete. A few months ago the hoomins decided to sell the
farm to a big agricultural company. We were still ok, as there were
plenty of mices to catch for food, but then last week the company
decided they didn't need the barn any more so they were going to tear it
down. There are a lot of coyotes and wild dogs running around not far
from the farm, so I decided that we couldn't stay around there and try
to find a new shelter. So I packed the kits into my old pickup and
started driving south. I had heard about a kitty truck stop somewhere to
the south, and thought I'd see if I could get us there and see if I
could find any leads on a new place to live. Until then me and the kits
were going to live in the truck. But now it doesn't look like that's
such a good idea.

[Harri had been listening closely to Pricess' story.]

Harri: Well, as a matter of fact there is a kitty truck stop down there.
It's in the town of McLean, IL, and it's called the Dixie Truckers Home.
It's not a human truck stop any more, just a restaurant, but it's one of
the biggest kitty truck stops in the nation! Back when I was on the road
with my Paw a trucking kitty was kind of rare, but now a lot of kitties
run big rigs to deliver to kitty businesses.

As a matter of fact, we're headed there before too long. You're welcome
to ride with us. And I know some kitties there that are looking for some
help, so they might be able to give you a job. And I also know a place
right by the Dixie where you and the kits could live, and it even has a
place where you can keep your pickup out of the elements. Want to join
us?

[The Harrimobile towing mom-cat's pickup pulls into the parking lot at
the Gemini Giant where everycat is standing around the parking lot,
getting ready to hit the road again. Mikey Furface is also there with a
crew of mechanic-cats. When Harri pulls in and stops, the mechanic cats
swarm over the pickup. A few minutes later Mikey comes looking for the
mom-cat.]

Good morning! My guys have looked over your pickup and figured out what
all you'll need to get back on the road. The axle really needs to be
replaced, and it looks like your main springs are cracked so we need to
replace those too. But we can have all that done really quick!

[The mom-cat, Princess, looks sadly at Mikey.] That sounds good, but I
have absolutely no toonas to pay for that stuff. My kits and I are
moving to a new home because our old one is getting torn down, and the
stuff packed in the truck is all we own.

Mikey: Not to worry! We got a grant from the Mme. Anais Feline
Automotive Appreciation Trust just for situations like this. The grant
will pay for all of the work that needs to be done. And since your
pickup is a classic, we'll even make sure to use genuine restoration
parts instead of after-market replacements. We can get you all set up so
that you can show your pickup at classic car shows if you want to!

Harri: These guys do good work. They are the ones that built this custom
RV for me. Why don't you let them do the repairs, and while they're
doing that you and your kits can ride along with us to the Dixie
Trucker's Home. Mikey, could you guys deliver the repaired truck to her
down there?

Mikey: Absolutely!

Princess (sobbing happily): Fank you! That would be great! And my kits
would love to ride along. Are you sure we wouldn't be a burden?

Harri: Absolutely not! THe more the merrier. And look, the staff from
the restaurant are bringing out a bunch of catering trays with nice,
warm goodies. Why don't you and your kits make yourselves comfortable,
and Amelia will bring you guys some nice warm food?

[Everybody gets all settled in and loaded up, and the kittycycles take
the lead as the convoy hits Route 66 again. The restaurant wait staff
waves at the travelers, who all wave back. The convoy leaves Wilmington,
IL behind and look forward to arriving in McLean, IL.]



The kits are having fun waving to the truck drivers they pass. The
driver blows the air horn and the kits wave some more.As a truck passes
one of the kits, a black one with white on her chest stretches up the
window to see better. The truck driver does a double take at the kitten.
He gets on the radio, I'm trying to contact the driver of the big rig I
just passed. I'm in the blue semi."

Harri: The big rig is part of our group. Can I help you?

My name is George and one of the kits look like someone I know. Where
did you find the kits?

Harri: Their truck went off the road and they are traveling with us.

George: There is a rest stop ahead about a mile. Would you mind stopping
so I can see the kit closer?

Harry gets on the radio and tells everyone to pull into the rest stop.
After all the vehicles are parked George walks up to the big rig.The
door opens and the kits jump out to play. George reaches out to pick up
the black kit to get a closer look. She looks just like her mother.

Princess sees a big gray cat pick up one of her kits. She rushes over
and can't believe what she sees. " George is it really you?" He sets
the kit down and wraps a paw around Princess. "I was trying to get back
before the kits were born but I couldn't with all the big storms. Where
are you going?"

Princess: The barn was being torn down and i was driving south when our
pickup truck went off the road. They have been helping us. We are headed
south and they said there is a job at a truck stop, maybe there is one
for both of us.

Harri: I'm sure they can use both of you. They can always use good help.

The kits are having fun waving to the truck drivers they pass. The
driver blows the air horn and the kits wave some more.As a truck passes
one of the kits, a black one with white on her chest stretches up the
window to see better. The truck driver does a double take at the kitten.
He gets on the radio, I'm trying to contact the driver of the big rig I
just passed. I'm in the blue semi."

Harri: The big rig is part of our group. Can I help you?

My name is George and one of the kits look like someone I know. Where
did you find the kits?

Harri: Their truck went off the road and they are traveling with us.

George: There is a rest stop ahead about a mile. Would you mind stopping
so I can see the kit closer?

Harry gets on the radio and tells everyone to pull into the rest stop.
After all the vehicles are parked George walks up to the big rig.The
door opens and the kits jump out to play. George reaches out to pick up
the black kit to get a closer look. She looks just like her mother.

Princess sees a big gray cat pick up one of her kits. She rushes over
and can't believe what she sees. " George is it really you?" He sets
the kit down and wraps a paw around Princess. "I was trying to get back
before the kits were born but I couldn't with all the big storms. Where
are you going?"

Princess: The barn was being torn down and i was driving south when our
pickup truck went off the road. They have been helping us. We are headed
south and they said there is a job at a truck stop, maybe there is one
for both of us.

Harri: I'm sure they can use both of you. They can always use good help.

We're headed for Dixie Trucker's Home a little ways up ahead. Are you
running a load or are you empty? Either way, you're welcome to run with
us, and if you're not under a load maybe you could help us get Princess
and the kits settled.

George: Absolutely! Oh Princess, I'm so glad I found you! I managed to
get back to the form, but when I got there the barn had been torn down
and none of the few critters I could find knew where you went, just that
you guys had left in the old pickup. I know a guy at the Dixie place,
he's been trying to get me to go to work for him in the shop. I guess
maybe this would be a good time to do that!

[After the kits get their fill of playing everybody climbs back into
their RVs and climbs back onto their kittycycles and head off down Route
66. They drive past the nuclear reactors at Braidwood, past the Riviera
Restaurant (a street car diner). and on through Dwight and the historic
Marathon Oil station. As they pass through Cayuga the catch sight of the
Cayuga Barn, with it's rooftop billboard advertising the Merrimac
Caverns. In Pontiac they marvel at the old police headquarters, built in
the shape of a pistol. A few miles later they pull into McLean, and find
the Dixie Trucker's Home. It has now become
a Road Ranger service station, but around behind the public building the
kitty side of the business is still thriving. A few dozen kitty big rigs
are parked there, and the kitty diner is doing a good business. As the
convoy pulls up, Amelia climbs out of Harri's rig and sniffs the air.]

Amelia: I smell cheeseburgers! I can has cheeseburger!

Harri: We just left the Gemini Giant a few hours ago, how could you
possibly be hungry again? Oh wait, this is Amelia I'm talking to, of
course you're hungry.

George: here, let me introduce you all to some good folks. Princess,
kits, why don't you all walk with me.

[The kitties shut down their engines and exit their vehicles, and
everyone follows George and Princess and the kits into the diner. When
George walks in everybody in the diner shouts "George!" and he waves
back. He leads his family up to the counter, where he flags down a
tuxedo kitty girl.]

George: Fluffy, this is my wink, Princess, and these are the kits I've
been trying to get back to.

Fluffy: Well, I'll be! It's an honor to meet you kitties. George has
been talking about you for the longest time, and about his frustration
trying to get back home to y'all. It's good to see that you all are
together again.

[Amelia takes a seat at the counter beside the group.]

Amelia: It sure is! It's such a good thing to see that I'll buy everyone
whatever they want to eat. We need to celebrate! I'll start out with a
double cheeseburger, please.

Fluffy: Well, I'll be! It's an honor to meet you kitties. George has
been talking about you for the longest time, and about his frustration
trying to get back home to y'all. It's good to see that you all are
together again.

[Amelia takes a seat at the counter beside the group.]

Amelia: It sure is! It's such a good thing to see that I'll buy everyone
whatever they want to eat. We need to celebrate! I'll start out with a
double cheeseburger, please.

[As the kitties are sitting down to yet another lunch, Mikey Furface and
hos crew are rolling Princess' pickup out a teleporter just outside the
diner. Princess sees the commotion and watches, and Mikey comes in to
join everyone.]

Ah, there you are! We got your pickup all done. We replaced the axle and
the leaf springs, tore down the engine and replaced the valves and crank
bearings, and rebuilt your transmission. It should run as good as new
now! And since my guys really appreciate classic pickups, they polished
and waxed the exterior and recovered the torn-up upholstery too. And we
used all authentic parts, too.

Princess, giving Mikey a hug: Oh, thank you! And thanks to the
foundation that paid for it. That was so kind! But you might not have
heard - my wink found us! This kitty over here is George, the daddycat
of my kits.

Mikey: Hey, cool! Pleased to meet you, George! You've got some great
looking kits.

On 5/7/2014 9:28 AM, Community Kitties wrote:
Fluffy: Well, I'll be! It's an honor to meet you kitties. George has
been talking about you for the longest time, and about his frustration
trying to get back home to y'all. It's good to see that you all are
together again.

[Amelia takes a seat at the counter beside the group.]

Amelia: It sure is! It's such a good thing to see that I'll buy everyone
whatever they want to eat. We need to celebrate! I'll start out with a
double cheeseburger, please.

[As the kitties are sitting down to yet another lunch, Mikey Furface and
hos crew are rolling Princess' pickup out a teleporter just outside the
diner. Princess sees the commotion and watches, and Mikey comes in to
join everyone.]

Ah, there you are! We got your pickup all done. We replaced the axle and
the leaf springs, tore down the engine and replaced the valves and crank
bearings, and rebuilt your transmission. It should run as good as new
now! And since my guys really appreciate classic pickups, they polished
and waxed the exterior and recovered the torn-up upholstery too. And we
used all authentic parts, too.

Princess, giving Mikey a hug: Oh, thank you! And thanks to the
foundation that paid for it. That was so kind! But you might not have
heard - my wink found us! This kitty over here is George, the daddycat
of my kits.

Mikey: Hey, cool! Pleased to meet you, George! You've got some great
looking kits.




Samwise: "A cheeseburger sounds good. I'm ready for second lunch". As he
eats he has a map spread out on the table looking at the route they will
be taking.
"Are there any landmarks or attractions we should stop and see on our
trip? I haven't been this far west on a road trip before."

Samwise