Roaming the USA in an Airstream Adventure With Their Trusty Goat
Meet Frankie, the pygmy/Nigerian dwarf cross goat with an incredible travel resume Covering 25 states and 50,000 miles, she's undoubtedly the most well-traveled goat in the US Join this adventurous couple as they explore the country in their Airstream, making unforgettable memories along the way
Frankie, a pygmy/Nigerian dwarf cross, has traveled to at least 25 states and covered over 50,000 miles, making her one of the most well-traveled goats in the United States. Accompanied by her devoted owners, Cate Battles and her husband Chad, Frankie spends several months of the year traveling around the U.S. in an Airstream. The couple, who have been married for around a decade, have made it a tradition to explore the country with their beloved goat.
Cate tells CNN Travel that they were unsure of how well she would take to traveling, but Frankie ended up being a natural. Over the years, they have explored the deserts of the Southwest, the Midwest, and states like Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, gaining over 20,000 Instagram followers along the way.
Kid on board
Pet goat Frankie spends several months of the year traveling around the US in and Airstream with her owners Cate and Chad Battles.
Cate Battles/Argosy Odyssey
"Frankie has followers on every continent except Antarctica," Cate mentions. "I need to find someone in Antarctica who would want to follow her."
How did this pair, who used to run a bar together, come to have a goat as their companion on their travels?
Cate had been yearning for a pet goat for years. She was elated when a friend took her to a Tennessee farm and gave her Frankie. They brought Frankie back to their home in Asheville, North Carolina, where she quickly became a cherished member of the family, living with Chad's children.
But by the following year, the Battles had sold their bar, the children had all moved out, and they were looking to the future.
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"We were considering what the next stage of our life would entail after our children had left the nest," Cate said. "We ultimately decided to choose a new town and state and do some traveling."
Although they had traveled together in the past, they had "never tried the camper lifestyle" and were excited to give it a go.
They bought a used 1976 Airstream Argosy in 2016 and started renovating it after moving out of their house. "It was basically just an empty shell," Cate recalls. "There were no walls. I think we even found a mummified bird in the insulation at some point."
While Chad, who owns a draft line cleaning and maintenance, completed all of the renovation work himself, Cate, a writer and artist, "did the paint job."
Travel buddies
The Battles say that their travels revolve around Frankie, but they wouldn't have it any other way.
Cate Battles/Argosy Odyssey
The colorful design is based on "This Land is Your Land" by American folk singer Woody Guthrie, and showcases spots like the Redwoods, which are referenced in the song.
Unsure how Frankie would adjust to life on the road, they left her with a friend during their first trip. They spent six months searching for the perfect place to settle and ultimately chose Grants Path in Southern Oregon after narrowing it down to six states and three towns.
The next year, they sold their house and made the decision to embark on a cross-country road trip from the east coast to the west coast of the US, with Frankie accompanying them on this adventure for the first time. Although they had taken her on brief camping trips in Western North Carolina before, she had never experienced an extended road trip, leaving them uncertain about what to anticipate.
However, the Battles were thrilled to find that Frankie seemed to enjoy the experience.
"She had a great time," adds Cate. "Every day wed go out for hikes."
Since that initial journey, the couple has traveled with Frankie for periods ranging from two weeks to as long as six months. Their cocker spaniel Maggie, who passed away in 2019, also accompanied them on their earlier travels.
The couple's first date was a road trip, and now they travel the world together. The Battles especially enjoy visiting the desert, as it is extremely pet-friendly with plenty of public land.
"Cate mentioned that we have the freedom to explore, so we take advantage of that. We have a strong appreciation for the Pacific Northwest, especially the beautiful forests and waterfalls. Frankie especially enjoys the Oregon Coast because of the 'fun rocks to jump on' and has a great interest in slot canyons."
Traveling with a pet, especially a goat, poses unique challenges. Cate acknowledges the limitations and describes how they take turns visiting places that don't allow goats.
She also mentions that national parks in the US are usually not very welcoming to pets on hiking trails. Therefore, they plan to do a brief solo hike to see the main attractions. After completing the separate trails, they will regroup and head to a public area for a family hike together in the afternoon.
Roaming free
Frankie takes a stroll during a 2020 visit to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
Cate Battles/Argosy Odyssey
Cate emphasizes the importance of being responsible land stewards by adhering to regulations and avoiding areas where goats are prohibited. This is particularly crucial when traveling through regions with wild bighorn sheep and mountain goats. "It is vital to keep them separated from domesticated goats to prevent the spread of diseases," she clarifies.
"Some areas are restricted for livestock and pack animals, so extensive research needs to be done. Thankfully, they were able to secure special permission to walk certain trails with Frankie by contacting the park superintendent in advance."
The woman who turns Airstreams into beautiful homes
Having Frankie along with them also means that they tend to make more stops while driving between towns and states.
Cate mentioned that goats usually eat throughout the day. She explained that they will drive for a few hours, take a break for bathroom stops, and let the goat eat some blackberry bushes, hay, or grass before continuing on. She also mentioned that the goat is easy to travel with and has been potty trained since she was young.
Frankie typically eats "regular goat food," but Cate acknowledges that she is "quite pampered" and frequently gets special treats. "We give her a sliced banana every morning for breakfast," Cate says. "She absolutely loves it."
Frankie's social media account has been active since 2006, but their popularity soared when the Battles were featured in the Discovery TV series "The Bond" last year. The series focused on the relationship between humans and animals. "We've been all over the country and we'll pass someone on a trail and they'll be like, 'Is that Frankie?'" Cate recalls. "So it's really, really funny."
Cate loved the opportunity to connect with other goat owners and delve into goat-related conversations while being featured on the program.
According to Cate, "Goats are like family. They are amazing teachers and we definitely form a strong bond."
Airstream living
Cate admits that Frankie is "incredibly spoiled," and is treated to a sliced banana for breakfast every morning.
Cate Battles/Argosy Odyssey
Frankie spends a lot of time with her owners, but she also has many goat friends. Cate even organizes local playdates for her, and when they travel on extended road trips, she sets up goat playdates along the way.
"We want to ensure that she has ample opportunities for socializing with other goats. Despite her belief that she is more human than goat."
On their most recent journey, they traversed the country from Oregon to California, Nevada, Arizona, and followed Route 66 through New Mexico to Oklahoma.
After that, they traveled to Tennessee, then continued through North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, and Wyoming before returning to Southern Oregon.
Although they would love to take Frankie out of the US and possibly visit Canada in the future, they are deterred by the strict regulations for transporting animals.
Cate says, "We're not going to subject her to quarantine or anything like that. So there are definitely a few obstacles to traveling with a goat. But this country is so vast. There are plenty of places to explore together."
The Battles have been living in an Airstream for seven years and are fully committed to the lifestyle, unable to imagine living in a house again.
"When you own a house, it becomes your place," says Cate. "You see the same scenery every day and don't really get to experience a whole lot."
You will spend the majority of your time indoors, but having the Airstream allows you to explore the country in a cost-effective manner. Traveling has been a transformative and enriching experience for us.
They have been busy doing maintenance work on the trailer, drawing a lot of attention on the road, and as a result, they haven't been able to travel as much as they usually do. However, they are eager to hit the road again and are planning to visit Arizona and Southern California before heading to Baja, Mexico.
They recently welcomed a new addition to the family, a dog named Corndog, and share that both Frankie and Corndog are loving the extra companionship.
Although Frankie has adjusted well to Airstream living and the Battles enjoy traveling with her, they acknowledge that the situation could have been different. They emphasize that they wouldn't necessarily advise other goat owners to do the same.
Cate explains that they had Frankie before they knew about their lifestyle and they are committed to keeping him for life, as they don't believe in rehoming animals. They view their animals as lifelong companions and are determined to make it work, which has ultimately been successful.
"She likes to explore the world with us. She enjoys it just as much as we do."
