To celebrate the US launch of BODIE ON THE ROAD: Travels with My Rescue Pup in the Dogged Pursuit of Happiness we’ve rustled up 20 goodies from our favorite pit-stops from Los Angeles to Portland and you can win the WHOLE DARN LOT!
Yep, that’s one lucky person winning all 20 items – everything from Kennel N.5 organic dog furfume to Bo Derek’s Pet Care range and a gift box of Moonstruck’s yummy Chocolate Lab truffles!
Have a peruse of Bodie’s Road Trip Booty then we’ll tell you exactly how to enter the easy-peasy comp!
(Chapter 8 – Bo Derek on a Bicycle)
When Bodie and I stopped for coffee in Los Olivos, just up the road from Santa Barbara, we saw a stunning blonde cycling down the road. ‘Look Bodie – Bo D!’ At least that’s what I wished I’d said. Anyway. Turns out this animal-loving movie icon has a wonderful Pet Care range and you will be receiving the trio of Shampoo, Conditioner and Tearless Face Wash, featuring the special ingredient of Meadowfoam – given its name because when in bloom is resembles white foam blowing on the ocean… Sigh.
NOTE: I was lucky enough to interview Bo Derek on location in the Santa Ynez Valley so keep an eye out on the blog for a special post with her discussing all things dog!
AJNE – KENNEL N.5 FURFUME FOR DOGS
(Chapter 14 – Kennel N.5)
A truly enchanting experience awaits both you and your dog at Ajne organic perfumier. There’s an Alice in Wonderland quality to the ornate bottles set on gilded tables and it’s a fascinating process matching a scent to your current mood and aspirations. Bodie keeled over in a state of bliss when owner/creator Jane introduced him to Kennel N.5 furfume – perfect for rescues and designed to calm the nerves. Perhaps, as with Bodie, people will also stop and gasp, “Your dog smells so good!”
MOONSTRUCK CHOCOLATE LAB TRUFFLES
(Chapter 29 – The View from Mount Tabor)
The original Moonstruck Chocolate Café in Portland looks like something out of a 1940s movie. Peering inside, my eyes lit up at the sight of the Chocolate Lab Truffles, complete with darling heart-shaped nose and piped collar. I treated myself to one but you will do 18 times better with an 18-piece gift box! I also wanted to show you the ultra-cute Critter Collection which adds a cat, mouse and rabbit to the mix – the perfect gift for any animal-lover or pet-sitter in your life!
(Chapter 13 – Beach Encounter)
Ever since laying hands/paws on Timberwolf’s Alpine leash at Diggidy Dog Pet Boutique in Carmel I’ve been as loyal as a dog to its robust weave and non-slip, cushioned-grip handle. No more palms that look like they’ve been roping cattle! Timberwolf will surprise you with one of the 20 colorways, including the intriguingly-named Infinity and Gravity. So far Bodie has sported the Burgundy, Chocolate and Green combo with collar (pictured) but Aquamarine is on our summer shopping list. I know you’ll love it because it’s sturdy but so comfy.
THE BEAR & THE RAT COOL TREATS FOR DOGS
(Chapter 28 – Puppy Love)
One of the cutest moments on our road trip was watching Bodie and his big dog love Winnie taking turns to lap at a little tub of creamy chill in Molly’s Portland garden. This really is Bodie’s favorite treat for a sunny day and we love that The Bear & The Rat use natural ingredients including real yoghurt. (You may also recognize the product from Shark Tank!) You will be winning 2 boxes with 4 tubs in each, one Bacon & Peanut Butter flavor, the other Banana & Peanut Butter, as pictured here…
COASTAL CANINE – YEAR’S SUBSCRIPTION
(Road-trip Reading from California’s Central Coast)
Bodie and I love this magazine soooo much. The other day I found an issue from 2009 – and I’ve moved house 4 times in between so it goes to show just how treasured these tomes are! Each season it brims over with good-hearted dog stories and I’m chuffed to say that Bodie and I made our debut on the pages of the Summer 2018 issue (read it here) and you can look out for us again in the Autumn 2018 issue as you’ll be receiving a year’s subscription!
HOLLYWOOD ENDING by BELINDA JONES
(Chapter 11 – The Big Sur Bakery)
Continuing the pin-up girl motif… This is the romantic comedy I was supposed to be home writing when Bodie and I took off on our road trip! Bodie actually plays himself, but is owned by Hollywood leading lady Marina Ray. The story is told from the perspective of her make-up artist, Stella, and most of the action takes place at the wondrous Hearst Castle, where the movie stars from the Golden Age would chink champagne. You’ll also learn more about William Randolph Hearst’s great love for Dachshunds! (I’ll be sending you a signed UK edition.)
SNOOPY PLUSH & CHARLES M SCHULZ MUSEUM TICKETS
(Chapter 17 – The Snoopy Museum)
Everyone loves Snoopy but you’ll fall in love with the artist who created him at the Charles M Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. As well as two tickets to view the amazing range of exhibits (including an exact replica of his studio) you will receive a Peanuts plush, either for you to cuddle or your dog to tussle! 2018 is an extra special time to visit as there are lots of special events planned to celebrate the Year of the Dog, including local artists painting actual dog houses for a charity auction!
(Chapter 37 – A Fairytale Ending)
This aptly-named bar is where Bodie and I toasted the end of our road trip, next to one of the fairytale-like windmills in the Danish community of Solvang. Your gift is a surprise but I for one love the vintage print Wandering Dog scoop-neck t-shirts – I bought one on our visit and then promptly left it on the patio of our dining stop so I’m due a purchase on my next visit – June 15th 2018 for a book signing!
DRAGONFLY COFFEE HOUSE – 16oz TRAVEL MUG
(Chapter 26 – The Pack Run)
This charming independent coffee shop was the pick-up point for Bodie’s Portland pack run, and basically made me want to move to the Alphabet District so this could be my daily latte-and-laptop spot. You will receive a sleek 16oz double-walled Travel Mug in either aqua or white, with the prettiest Dragonfly Coffee House logo so you can sip in style. (And if you’re ever in the hood you get a 25 cent discount for using your own mug!)
TREES OF MYSTERY – COASTAL REDWOOD SEEDLING
(Chapter 34 – Trees of Mystery)
This whopping 49-foot chainsaw sculpture of logger Paul Bunyan lured us off the 101 and into to the Trees of Mystery… Before we knew it, Bodie and I were soaring level with the Redwood treetops aboard the Sky Trail gondola. You will receive two tickets to this A+ roadside attraction plus a Coastal Redwood Sapling, ready to plant. They grow everywhere from Cali to Georgia to Florida so before too long you will have your very own mysterious tree!
GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND – CAR SHADE & TRUCKER CAP
(Chapter 35 – Guardian Angels)
After attending a moving and inspiring Guide Dogs for the Blind Graduation Ceremony at the campus (click to learn more about the tours in California or Oregon) we’re gifting two items to shield you and your road-trip-mobile (aka car) from the sun. On the left (with Zoe) is a navy trucker cap with cotton twill front panels, mesh mid and back and 7 position adjustable snap. On the right (with Connor) is a collapsible nylon sunshade measuring 50″ by 30″, easy to fold and store in a seat pocket.
TAMAR GELLER’S BESTSELLER THE LOVED DOG
(Chapter 8 – Bo Derek on a Bicycle)
Oprah called her “a life coach for dogs and their people!”, she’s worked with A-listers from Natalie Portman to Owen Wilson and for me she appeared as a Guardian Angel at the most timely moment – Bodie had just run into traffic as we were headed for Hendry’s Beach in Santa Barbara and I was so shaken up I thought I’d never again get up the nerve to let him off leash. But then I saw Tamar Geller strolling on the sand and I knew everything was going to be alright! You will receive signed copies of Tamar’s two wonderful Loved Dog books.
NOTE: I just witnessed Tamar working with a beautiful but anxious Rottweiler mix at her home in Bel Air and saw improvements in under an hour. Post coming soon!
YO EL REY ROASTING COFFEE BEANS & COFFEE BEAN SOAP
(Chapter 20 – I Heart Weed)
It was 6.30am when Bodie and I rolled up to Yo El Rey Roasting in Calistoga. There was such a sense of peace here amid the haiku and artworks, I wondered, “Is there really an option to unhook from all the mind-mangling media, to snug yourself between a couple of signal-blocking mountain ranges and enjoy the more sensory pleasures in life?” Voted Best Coffeehouse in the Napa County, you will receive a bag of their fine fair trade beans and a special Organic Yo el Rey Exfoliating Coffee Soap!
MOTHER’S BISTRO T-SHIRT & DOG TREAT RECIPE
(Chapter 28 – Puppy Love)
Bodie and I breakfasted al fresco at Mother’s Bistro in Portland – cornflake-encrusted challah French Toast for me and a side of crispy bacon for him. I love the whole vibe of this place – rustic but glam and so welcoming. Not only will you be receiving one of their signature chandelier t-shirts (with Call Your Mother written on the back!) but executive chef/owner Lisa Schroeder got her sous chef Daron to create a special Pumpkin & Peanut Butter dog treat recipe, just for this competition – because Dog Mamas are mother’s too!
CUSTOM BODIE ON THE ROAD BANDANA
Talk about an exclusive! Much of Bodie on the Road was written while staying at a pretty, polka-dotted Airbnb in Atascadero – 40 miles from Hearst Castle and 30 from the Ollalieberry Pies of Cambria. We got to know host Ellen and her lovely Lab Dash and now she has turned her impressive sewing skills to creating a set of travel-themed dog bandanas with Bodie on the Road embroidered on one of the reversible sides. You get to pick the design – can’t wait to see your pup sporting your favorite!
TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY by JOHN STEINBECK
(Chapter 36 – Travels With Charley)
Bodie and I visited Steinbeck’s hometown of Salinas on our trip and learned more about his cross-country travels with Poodle Charley. This book was first published in 1962 but, over 50 years on, how’s this for poignancy: ‘For all our interwoven breeds drawn from every part of the ethnic world, we are a nation, a new breed: American.’ His take was that, regardless of where you live in this vast country or what your country of origin may be, being ‘American’ overrides all else. As well as wise and insightful, it’s a highly amusing read. (Your copy will come to you via Powell’s of Portland.)
(Chapter 13 – Beach Encounter)
There was a moment on a misty Carmel beach when a handsome stranger decided to show me just how far a ball can fly when propelled with the ingenious plastic arm known as a Chuckit Launcher. I hope your dog as much fun as Bodie going full tilt after the ball – it does your heart good to see them at max power, doesn’t it?
BLUE DOG CALENDAR from the GEORGE RODRIGUE GALLERY
(Chapter 14 – Kennel No.5)
George Rodrigue is famous for his Blue Dog paintings, inspired by the legend of the Cajun werewolf dog in his native Louisiana. Bodie and I had once a couple of nights in New Orleans so we especially loved the Mardi Gras and swamp themes on display at the Rodrigue Studio in Carmel (see pic). You will receive the wall calendar for 2019 featuring 12 striking Blue Dog artworks. Bodie tells me he’s keen to try the ‘flying carpet’ mode of transport…
And finally…
DORIS DAY ANIMAL FOUNDATION BOOK – DORIS DAY’S BEST FRIENDS
(Chapter 12 – Cocktails chez Doris Day)
I first introduced Bodie to the wonders of Doris Day via Yappy Hour at her Cypress Inn hotel in Carmel and in honor of that happy occasion, you’ll be receiving a copy of Doris Day’s Best Friends, benefitting the Doris Day Animal Foundation. The book celebrates Doris’s lifelong love affair with animals with over 200 photos of Doris with her “Favorite 4-Leggers!” Images range from heartwarming to humorous and take you behind-the-scenes of her film and television career. Many are from Doris’s private archive and never-before-published. If all that isn’t enough, the Introduction is by Doris herself and the Foreword by Betty White.
BODIE’S ROAD TRIP BOOTY COMP – HOW TO ENTER:
The subtitle for the Bodie book is Travels with a Rescue Pup in the Dogged Pursuit of Happiness so we’re going for a happy dog theme!
- Email a pic of your dog in his/her happy place (can be dogs plural) to bodieontheroad@gmail.com with Bodie’s Road Trip Booty in the subject line.
- Include a couple of sentences explaining where your dog is in the pic and why your dog is so happy here. (Can be somewhere you go all the time or just visited once on a trip – the choice is yours!)
- Sing a song with ‘happy’ in the title to your dog. Okay, you don’t really need to do this, but why not? (We are currently enjoying Happy Together by The Turtles.)
- Pop over to our Instagram page @bodieontheroad and click Follow!
That’s it.
CLOSING DATE: 5th November 2018
We will contact the short list to get your mailing address as maybe we have a few runners-up prizes waiting in the wings..
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
- All entrants must be US residents as prizes will have to be mailed to a US address.
- All photographs must be the work of the sender – this will be verified before the winner is announced.
- Selected photographs will be showcased on bodieontheroad.com
- Number of entries limited to 5 per entrant.
- Good luck!