Escapees September-October 2023

camping chair chat

Woody the RVing Cockatiel While many RVers have dogs and cats that travel with them, we had Woody, a female cockatiel. In over 30 years of travel, I cannot recall ever seeing another RVer traveling with a bird, although, I am sure there are some out there who do. W oody came to us as a young bird given to my wife, Roberta, who loves all types of birds. She loved and related to Woody, as did I, and Woody loved to travel. Traveling

truck, with the fi fth-wheel trailer hitched up, Woody would sing to us the fi rst few hours on the road. No matter the weather or other conditions she was always cheerful and enjoyed the location. The road noise and the sound of the cars at the race tracks never seemed to bother her. There are many stories with Woody, such as us touring Tombstone, Arizona, with her in a pet chest pack and her nipping various cats that sniffed her cage wanting bird for lunch. She would misbehave at times, such as getting out of her cage in the fi fth wheel. She was always looking to fi nd hiding places, and protested loudly when we retrieved her. She liked nibbling at book bindings and when we said “no” to this and other activities she was not to be involved in, she would turn away and pretend she was not doing anything wrong until we looked away. Then like a two-year-old child, she would get right back

in a cage on the back seat, she went everywhere with us. For many years we followed a racing circuit every summer weekend, all over the north eastern U.S. Every weekend as we were getting ready to leave, we would ask Woody if she would like to go camping. She would chirp loudly and dance all over her cage. Once in the

14

ESCAPEES Magazine September/October 2023