We got all packed and were ready for just about everything. We fixed Niko up a mid sized carrier into a luxury travel compartment and I think he liked it all except is was too close to the back stereo speakers. We let him our at just aout every stop to smell the dirt in each state. Too bad there weren't no other ferret butts to sniff. We fought high headwinds and crosswinds at night on black ice frwys and blowing snow going past Elk Mtn in WY and in 12 miles past Cedar City Ut, something made me pull over and When I did, the temp ga shot up high and she started smoking. Another few miles and I could of lost the engine. Dug out the extra coolant and limped back to town and bought a wate pump and in the dark and the cold put on the water pump in 1 1/2 hours. bone cold and dead tired, we made it to CJ's 24 kt shelter in Las Vegas and she agreed to keep Niko while i went to Calif to get my niece and her friend. The girl at the AG station ask me if I had brought any ferrets with me and I proudly said yes and said but you gotta find him. Before she could get started tearing the van apart, I whipped out my litle cute stuffed toy ferret (I SAID TOY) which she then proceeded to tell me how much she loves them and helps FA save them. It was 4 am and only one lane was open and while we awere talking, a guy behing me got impatient as tried to go around me. He got yelled at by the really nice lady at the ag station. She loudly told him that he would be able to go when I got done telling ferret stories. shoulda sat there for another hour. (just kidding) Without any sleep, went to Bellflower to pick up niece and her friend and went to state line and got a room. Got up in time to go protest and Poor CJ, who was really sick came to protest with a couple of loyal volunteers. It saddens me that she was the only shelter in Las Vegas Represented. You are not included here MC my friend. I don't know who the other shelter is in Vegas, but I would sure hate to be a ferret in your shelter when you can't even come into your own town and support us in closing these stores down. I don't want to hear excuses, I , and the volunteers I had standing there with me didn't make any excuses in driving through miserably conditions for 2000 miles to help a cause in your town and CJ could hardly stand she was so sick, yet we did what we could and by golly we did make a difference there. According to one lady who was there for two days, her husband is one of the best friends of the mayor there and she got thrown out of the store for no reason, before we had any dialogue with her. At least a dozen folks stopped by to tell us of animals bought there recently that just died shortly after getting them home and even more came by to tell us they were thrown out of the store for no reason. she blocked traffic on a busy thourough fare just to cuss us and threaten to sue us. On the last day there, I filmed my kids being thrown out of there for no reason. I went to the local animal control officer who was conviently parked in the parkinglot writing guess who a citation for several violations. After he heard my horror stories of this place, he went in and wrote her up for some more. I, and the crew to went to Vegas to challenge this Pet Store want to thank everyone for their donations, food, and hospitality while on this trip, including the nice folks at Natures Way vitamins who welcomed me to their co. Christmas party, and especially Sherry Nichols for the invitation. It was lots of fun. Niko, our shelter mascot got to play with new ferrets at CJs and in Bountiful where I delivered a bag of TF. He really enjoyed this trip and I think we became really close on this trip. He slept by my head at every motel we stayed at. On our last day in Utah, we were all packed up and ready to leave when the master cyclinder went out on the van. I drove around for 1/2 hour with no brakes looking for a parts stores and finally bought a new master cylinder and put it on. We then drove straight through to Home, Sweet Shelter, and was greeted by man yof my kids who I missed so much while gone. It was 4am, when I started to catch up my e-mail when I read Wolfys post and nearly pee'd on myself with laughter. wolfy, you are too much girl! I just might have to ask your husband if we can borrow you on ur next road trip.LOL! I hear that those folks in the Meadows pet store are catching a lot of flack and they certainly deserve what they are getting I am still tired and am going to go now, Take care all, hugs, Ferretguy [Posted in FML issue 3259]