Goodbye, Jewels: Honoring the Dog Who Inspired Our Journey

Jewels wasn’t just our dog—she’s the reason Kerouac’s Cruising exists. Her wild joy, desert miles, and need for open space pushed us out of the city and onto the road. Today, we share the hardest chapter: why we chose to say goodbye, how we knew it was time, and how she changed everything.

In this episode

• The storm and the sunshine: Jewels’ separation anxiety, desert hikes, and endless swims
• How her spirit shaped our move from Tucson to off-grid life in Northern Arizona
• The health declines we watched for (incontinence, wobbly legs, hearing loss) and the moment we knew
• What the final day looked like—swims, snuggles, and being with her to the last breath
• Loving a dog through goodbye, and letting that love keep shaping the way we live

Timestamps (approx.)

00:00 The legend of the couch-eater with a marathon heart

01:46 Why this episode hurts: the day we let Jewels go

03:40 Toys, Kongs, swims, and 100° Tucson shade-hops

04:57 From city to Northern Arizona: choosing land for a dog who needed space

05:48 Off-grid roaming (and the occasional “late to work” dog search)

06:32 Bringing home Norman and the return of Jewels’ sparkle

07:02 The declines we couldn’t ignore

07:55 The truck jump, the face plant, and making the call

08:42 Second-guessing vs. compassion: how we decided it was time

09:51 Holding her until her last breath

10:00 Why Kerouac’s Cruising will always carry Jewels with us

Links & things we mentioned

• 📸 Video collage celebrating Jewels’ life — https://youtu.be/-8uzlgWdECo
• Blog: https://kerouacscruising.com/goodbye-jewels-the-dog-who-inspired-our-freedom/
• 🐾 Resources for pet loss support: Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day communities; Pet grief hotlines; books like Goodbye, Friend by Gary Kowalski

Join the conversation

IG & FB: @kerouaccruising • Email: join@kerouaccruising.com

Share a photo and a favorite memory of your pup—tell us what they taught you.

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