Alas, you need a second mortgage to board fur-kids in northern Delaware. There are a lot of places listed but none that I know of personally, that I trust.

Kirkwood Animal Hospital at least has the vets on the same property in case of emergencies but though I'd used them for decades as vets, after they were bought out by VCA, they are less user-friendly and more commercial.

There are a lot of private pet-sitters in the area and there is a boarding place that the DuPont executives use but who can afford it and do you really want your furkid learning expensive habits from their campmates? (But Mommmmm, I really NEED an Armani raincoat!)

Yes, we do have to cut the apron strings, don't we? The only time my babies have been away from me was when the house burned to the ground a few years back and they spent a week in oxygen tents in the vet hospital. I visited them every day and the staff cried to see the four of us huddled on the floor hugging each other.

The only thing saved from the fire was my dogs. Thank God. Lost all my cameras, computers, lost my Trek bike but all I cared about was the dogs. God Bless the neighbor and the firemen who kicked down the door and rescued them!

As for what bike to use on the Creeper Trail. Apparently a young kids used a bike with training wheels so I think our options are open.