Our goal this week is to go from the dead of winter (7 degrees when we left Maine), to Spring in the Carolinas, and right through to summer in Islamorada, Fl in one month!
Although the skiing at Sunday River Ski area in Bethel was fun, and teaching people how to ski (or get better at it) is rewarding, and playing music once a week to an appreciative crowd is awesome – I miss shorts and flip flops.
Time to get on the road.
For the last couple of weeks we have been tearing down the mud hut, removing the skirt insulation, and digging out from ice and snow to pull out in early March. Saying goodbyes to new friends is always a bit sad, and answering the inevitable question “Will we see you next year?” (probably not!); but all sadness is easily replaced by the anticipation of the ‘road’.
With family stops is Marion, NC, Atlanta, GA, and Valdosta, GA as well as business and friends stops in Jacksonville and Sebastian FL – the 2800 miles will not be so hard to take.
Shelly is very much looking forward to working with our newest service dog in training Gunner where she is outside in something warmer than 10 degrees and ice everywhere! Coconut palms and beaches are sounding really nice about now!
We are working on the next video and will have it up shortly!
This is the last day of an RV “Rally” at the Elkhart 4H Fairgrounds in Goshen, Indiana. Today is day four. We will be pulling out in the morning and driving all of 35 miles to a local winery who allows RVs to stay overnight.
The general rule for travel is 2-2-2. That means: drive no more than 200 miles, get into your camp before 2PM and stay 2 days. We are pretty good at the first two, but the staying two days is hard if you are bored! Sometimes you want to stay longer when commitments or cost dictate otherwise.
We are finding this life to be different than boating, and enjoyable. It is much, much easier in many ways with a corresponding increase in cost. We are able to cover a lot more ground, and it is easy enough to drop off the path to explore if desired at a moments notice.
One of latest revelations is online membership sites (at about $40/year) that allow us to find people who welcome RV’s to their house to stay, and another site that lets us search for wineries, farm and historical sites that also allow RVer to stay overnight for free.
With some state parks and private campgrounds charging as much as $45 per night, anyplace we can stay for free with the additional benefits of meeting great people or wine tastings are greatly appreciated!
Our routine seems to be yoga for Shelly in the morning while Goose and I run, then she readies the inside while I get the outside ready to go. Normally we are on the road by 930 or 10.
We are staying off the interstates as much as possible although it means the trip takes twice as long. The trade off for having things to see is well worth it for us. If we are in to our next stop and set us by 3 or 4, there is plenty of time for a hike or a visit to something interesting. If we like what we see we might stay another day or three. No hurry!
Tomorrow we begin to head in the general direction of Branson, MO. Looking at the wineries available to us it might take us two weeks to travel the 700 miles!
We already have started putting put feelers to find where we might hole up for the winter and ski but who knows?
It’s all good. We are having a great time, living the way we like – but we know it not for everyone!
Some interesting finds along the road:
In Alligator Point, FL, we walked along the beach where the most common item was the roadbed from previous hurricanes.
You CAN take you Mother in Law with you in a 5th wheel for a week and not hurt each other! We had fun poking into places in North and South Carolina.
The road from Weaverville NC across the Blue Ridge into Tennessee was a wonderful trip. Up and down, around the sharp corners, along the river and through the mountains. Very cool.
Cumberland Gap. This place is amazing. If you don’t know it is really a gap in the Appalachians that has been used forever to pass over the mountains. Buffalo and other animals, then Shawnee, Cherokee and many other tribes used it (The Warriors Way) before Daniel Boone came through three times from Virginia to help open up Kentucky and the Ohio Valley. Then they called it Wilderness Trail. He walked through the Gap at least three times and 115 miles north to settle Boonesboro, KY. He first came through in 1787!
Boonesboro was built on the Kentucky River – and has the nicest, natural, fresh water sand beach in the world! The replica fort is worth the visit.
Indiana is a beautiful state. Who would have thought?
The Amish have settled much of the Goshen and Elkhart Indiana area with beautifully kept farms. We pass horse and buggies on the road and shop for fresh, natural farm products sold inexpensively at their stores.
Next target is Branson, Missouri. No particular reason why other that we heard nice things about it!
If you have friends or relatives around our path we would be happy to visit them for you if they can accommodate a 32′ 5th wheel RV!
Happy summer!
Why We Do What We Do…
Life is a Yume! (That’s Dream in Japanese!)
We decided a long time ago it was infinitely better for us to be doing what we love doing all the time and working when we can.
Learn how this is accomplished by scrolling through the menu. There is lots of good stuff there from years and years of writing!