A Break From The Road…..

The first phase of our elimination tour is in the books. We are currently paused in Tennessee, near Sevierville, at the foot of the Smokies, a tourist Mecca. We will be back in Missouri next week after a breathtaking swing through Oklahoma, Northern Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Washington State, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, , Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky, before our sojourn in Tennessee. To date we have travelled 11,077 miles. This jaunt has taken six months allowing us a fair measure of the regions across the west and northern plains. It has been challenging and rewarding, as we have met many folks and been exposed to the regional difference in people and geography.

We will be in Missouri for a month, catching up on medical appointments and to look at several properties we have identified as possible final camps. America is a magnificent country, but nothing thus far has blunted our zeal for Missouri. Weather extremes have played a big part in evaluating out of state home sites but the real kicker has been the wonderful attitude and practicality of Missourians. In fairness, we plan to winter in the southern and southeastern part of America, regions we have some experience with. What, in general terms, have we learned?

RV travel is refreshing, challenging and great fun. Sharon has been the navigator and logistics officer and has consistently delivered great routes, parks and side visits. This is a major undertaking, not to be taken lightly. If your unit is much longer than 30’, you will miss out on some terrific camp possibilities although there is a proliferation of up scale parks being developed including the terrific park we are currently in, having been open for two weeks! We have yet to be too cold or too hot, as our unit has performed exceedingly well with a few minor issues but nothing particularly challenging. We have become adept at both establishing camp and breaking down. We have travelled many secondary routes with only a few “wagon trails” but we marvel at the reliability of the modern trailer given the occasional stretches of poor road. We travel at a consistent 60-65 MPH, easier on the trailer, the driver and passenger. Sharon handles her share of wheel time and is completely able to set up and break down the trailer. She has mastered all of the systems, not surprising given her farm background. She is an outstanding first officer.

Cirrus, the Ram has been flawless. I am a maintenance oriented guy and we have kept up precisely with oil changes and tire rotations and truck as well as RV washes. We enjoy ramp presence, brought about by being appearance oriented. Road meals are expensive as are up scale parks being developed. We have handled minor medical issues at Urgent Cares and Wal-Mart has supplied most of our in house foods as well as Rx requirements, flawlessly. You do not need an expansive wardrobe in this lifestyle, nor do you NEED a big Class A motor coach. We subscribed to Star Link, making television super easy and greatly facilitating our ability to keep up with the world.

When we explain our circumstances to folks, they marvel at our freedom and talk about our experience as a dream for their future. We are not finished as we will be back out in short order but are looking forward to having sticks and bricks to back us up. We watch the real estate market carefully with an emphasis on Missouri. We are looking forward to a home, pool and a new family member in the form of our next Lab who will be named Malachi or “Kai” for short. It is easy to see how folks sell out and live, permanently, on the road. As much fun as we have had, we are still enamored with the American dream of permanent home ownership. We intend, health permitting to have our cake and eat it too! To that end, I tripped yesterday and tumbled onto a stamped concrete pad, requiring stitches in the palm of my hand and a return to the surgeons for a likely re-tear of the right rotator cuff. Haste at our age is obviously counter productive. Soon I will detail our favorite stops so far… until then, have a great week.

SR