If you have been following our newsletters, you know my husband and I have been working our tails off building out our very own converted school bus. We have totally downsized our footprint and we have hit the road, traveling across the country to visit stores and meet as many of you as possible. We'll be keeping a running log of our happenings here, so check back for updates!

OCTOBER

If it’s fall where you are then ENJOY IT! I’ve been traveling for nearly 3 weeks (CT, GA, TX) on different work events and let me tell you…it’s not fall in TX yet! 

I can’t begin to describe how much I’ve missed the dogs. Tim’s been looking after all four (4!!) and he’s frazzled, but I can’t wait to get back and be licked to death by my pups. I’ve been getting daily videos and photos with them swimming, sleeping, and getting in Tim’s way when he’s “redecorated”, whatever that means. We’ll see in 2 days!

Tim and I got back to Seattle in early September and it’s been a whole lot of rushing about, meeting with the team at the Makery, and “street parking”, which was a new one for me! Turns out we’ve been able to have the most wonderful views and walk the dogs in some beautiful areas, and then commute to work, although in a gigantic purple bus!

The Makery has been buzzing as we had to remake the new Omega Oils as stores reordered more quickly than we expected. If you’re one of the people that’s been waiting for the new silicone caps to arrive before ordering, well good news…they came early, we’re using them on all bottles now, and from personal experience, they work really well. Easy to “squirt” and they don’t drip.

Seeing the staff in person and not in zoom has been really nice. And while we’ve been back we got to recognize them and elevate them into new roles. Emily has been a godsend in organizing our trade shows, and she’s going to be my right hand in growing our retailer sales…which is something I’m really excited about. Being on the road is brilliant, but it can be exhausting and hard to stay in touch with everything day to day.

Tim’s about to start heading south where I’ll meet him somewhere in Oregon. If you see us on the bus…wave

  • oregon driving

  • bus 1, tree 0

  • canon beach

  • blanca goes hiking

AUGUST + SEPTEMBER

Hello Hello everyone!

What a whirlwind couple of months it's been! After an incredible trip to the UK to see family and a quick explore in Austria, it was back to the US to be reunited with our furry pack. Let me tell you, five weeks is a LONG time to be away from your pups and I'm not sure who was more excited - them or us!

A huge thanks to Tim from the Guiding Leash for taking such amazing care of them and doing an incredible job with their training. The dogs are now pros at walking in formation and getting in and out of the bus. Their recall has improved greatly, earning a solid B+, unless there's water nearby - then all bets are off! Austin leads the charge, with Kingsley hot on his heels, and the girls bringing up the rear. Blanca, our little mermaid, can't resist a good open water swim. Any tips on getting her back to shore are much appreciated.

Our drive to Colorado was breathtaking, this time driving through Iowa and Nebraska which stands out as a lovely part of the drive. We managed to visit fruit, lavender and hemp farms, and speak to the farmers about how they grow and harvest their crops.

Navigating buslife and finding perfect parking spots has been quite the adventure. We discovered that Cracker Barrel parking lots are a lifesaver on cross-country journeys, and started to make more use of "Harvest Hosts", an app that connects you with local businesses and farms for overnight stays, supporting small businesses while providing a comfy spot to rest. Finally we made it to Steamboat Lake State Park in Colorado which was breathtakingly nice with its tranquility and stunning scenery.

On the work front, we launched our new omega oils in stores to a fantastic response. The team had a great time sharing the story behind these products at the SuperZoo trade show in August. 

Well, that's the scoop for now. We're Seattle-bound for Labor Day and excited for the adventures ahead.

Until next time, keep wagging and wandering!

Kat 🐾💙

  • steamboat lake

  • smiling pups

  • staying by a farm

  • tranquil trail

JULY

Hello Hello! It’s been 12 weeks since I left Seattle with the dogs and we’ve now driven through…WA, OR, CA, NV, AZ, NM, TX, OK, CO, KA, IL, IN, KY, MO, OH, PA, NY, MA, RI, CT, NH, ME!! Along the way I’ve got to see the landscape and local culture change, the pups have experienced over 40 dog parks, and we’ve all had a brilliant time visiting all the stores we drove past.

Each day I set off in the car with the dogs in search of a park for a morning run to wear them out. Moxey then slowly follows me in the bus and each night we park up and work on completing all the loose ends. We’re now 95% complete and have officially started living as full time bus nomads!

With 4 (big) dogs it’s definitely a squeeze but we’re getting more organized. Feeding the dogs in such a small space needed some real discipline so we’ve got the same order for feeding, and getting on and off the bus. First is Kingsley, then Blanca, Harper, and finally Austin. They learned the order quickly but Austin hates being last so is always like a rocket when it’s his turn.

We’re going to be traveling through July so the dogs are now with one of our customers who is an amazing trainer. So while I’m away Tim from the Guiding Leash is taking care of my babies and elevating their training, recall, and getting them to sit on a log in a really cute pose so Moxey can get some nice photos 😋

To watch the dogs go to @guidingleash on instagram and you can see their progression.

  • mabel poppy when she turned up

  • blanca meeting mabel poppy

  • visiting the pupology store team

  • kingsley posing in some flowers

follow Kels and Jay!

CHECK THEM OUT

MAY-JUNE

Well y’all, the last few weeks have been filled with bus building, retailer visiting, new product designing, and even more dog rescuing! I left you last month on the cliffhanger that we’d decided to foster a TX stray that we named Kingsley. He’s a gorgeous white German Shepherd that has spent 18 months roaming the area we’ve been recently staying. To say he’s a gentle soul is an understatement. He integrated into our little pack so well that we’re going to keep him, and we’re redesigning the bus to accommodate him.

Half way through April a tiny puppy joined us...8-10 week ol’ Mabel Poppy arrived after a massive thunderstorm. She was exhausted, riddled with fleas, and could barely stand. We started to nurse her back to health but things went downhill and we suspected she had Parvo. It was touch and go whether she’d live but a week in intensive care and a new monoclonal antibody treatment and she’s now the proud pup of our bus builders, Kels and Jay.

I've also visited over 20 incredible retailers in Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. I love being on the road because I get to meet enthusiastic pet owners, all with hearts as big as Texas itself. And I get to tell the story of why I started Austin and Kat, and share our products with a new audience. Stores are set up a little bit differently than Seattle, but all in all, it’s the same vibe - everybody wants to take really good care of their pets and help give them a better, longer, happier life.

Here's to many more miles, smiles, and wagging tails! 🐾💕

MARCH + APRIL

Well, y’all the journey has begun! I’ve finally set off to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with the dogs and my husband Tim on an 18 month roadtrip around America in a (nearly) converted school bus! We’re halfway through the conversion and are finishing things in Austin (naturally), Texas with some help from our friends Kels and Jay, veterans in the art of renovating school buses, vans, and Airstream trailers.

I got to drive up picturesque mountain passes, rolled through lush California’s farmland, navigated the sprawl of LA, and drove through some amazing desert scenery. Sunsets have mostly been stunning, but we hit a patch of rain storms in the south which was amazing with the clouds and lightening over the covered landscape.

While Tim was all about driving, my daily routine revolved around the dogs, ensuring they adapted well to this nomadic lifestyle. I stayed in hotels where managers were nice, and some were just plain MEAN! The dogs have had morning walks around lakes, playful runs in dog parks, and done loop after loop after loop around downtown hotel lots - but each day has brought its own small adventures. Mostly, the dogs have thrived, although Harper does lots of panting for the first hour each day before she settles down.

While Tim was all about driving, my daily routine revolved around the dogs, ensuring they adapted well to this nomadic lifestyle. I stayed in hotels where managers were nice, and some were just plain MEAN! The dogs have had morning walks around lakes, playful runs in dog parks, and done loop after loop after loop around downtown hotel lots - but each day has brought its own small adventures. Mostly, the dogs have thrived, although Harper does lots of panting for the first hour each day before she settles down.

  • tinkering in the parking lot

  • getting hands on

  • meals on the go!
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