This trip evolved. Originally it was planned to just fly out to see Rod Ivers one more time. He left the area fairly suddenly, and even though I did go over to say goodby the evening before he left I still wanted to see him again. I planned for October after my medical tests that had already been scheduled were finished. It kind of morphed into running up in a rental car to see Favorite Neighbor after she fell and it became apparent she would not be back down to Mesa for the winters again. I have family in the area (more or less) where Rod lived, so this plan was doable.
Well, the medical tests came back showing breast cancer, and I was tied up with that until the end of the year. Rod died in January. It was winter in MN. The trip got put off. Once I had the Class A I pondered taking it, but Mom was getting so weak once she went of her thyroid medicine because of the side effects of taking it for over 35 years I stayed put. Once Mom got straightened out and was feeling so much better, and I had the Class A, I turned the trip into a visit with family as well as the trip up to see Favorite Neighbor.
The motorhome performed wonderfully. It is 20 years old, but runs very well. It worked well for Mom and I traveling as well. I turned the passenger seat around to face the living room in the evenings and she sat there and read while I went back to my bedroom and got on my computer. It is comfortable to ride in while driving, and nice to be able to stop anywhere. I had enough on my mind with this being my first long trip in an RV that we mostly stayed in RV parks. We did boondock one night at the Kansas Star casino and that went well, even though there was a huge storm during the night.
I managed to dodge the storms while traveling, and most rain fell during the nights. It seemed a blessed trip in many ways. I got used to driving in a stiff broadside wind. At one point I told Mom that I wouldn't know how to drive on a flat, good road with no wind. I never had all three at the same time on the way out. It was better on the way home.
Some take away thoughts:
It sucks not having a car while traveling. We did no sight seeing at all. I was not comfortable taking the motorhome far off the interstate. This is my nerves and lack of experience, not the motorhome. The size and worry about getting into and out of parking lots is the issue. After paying for fuel on this trip, which averaged $100/day of travel, I don't have the money to set up the motorhome to pull the car. This is an ongoing issue. I'm still pondering.
I was ready to get 'home'. Mostly back to the Southwest. I apparently have a strong sense of 'place'. I need to factor this into future plans. I said going into this that, given that I 'retired' with little money I might just end up going from the Valley (Mesa/Apache Junction) in the winters and to Payson in the summers to follow the weather and that was ok. I don't need to make any decisions right now as I'm in a good place right where I am.
For now I need to sit tight, pay some bills, sort and get rid of a bunch of stuff and chill. The car issue, and not having it if I leave in the motorhome or the cat issue if I take off in the car and tent camp is my biggest hurdle. I don't have to solve that right now.
I don't see this as a 'bad' plan for the present.
ReplyDeleteSome thoughts: Will Bosley wear a harness? If he will, add a leash and he could go car-camping with you. What about a motorized bicycle/scooter for the motorhome? It will be interesting to see what you come up with.
That is great that you first journey went well, get some experience and you will feel more comfortable with it. But like you said having a car would make a huge difference, hope you can make it happen and you will enjoy the lifestyle much more.
ReplyDeleteYikes! $100/day for fuel x 30 days in a month = $3,000! That's if you travel like you did every day :-) I don't think I'd like living in an RV full time. I think I'd prefer a truck with camper shell to sleep or tent camp w/propane stove to cook meals. I mostly tent camp now and love it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a tent camper as well and when I pulled my 5th wheel across country I didn't do much sightseeing because I just couldn't get the hang of hitching/unhitching to make it worthwhile. I thought about a motorbike or motorcycle but since I've never ridden either one, I'd be afraid to start now. It just seems too unprotected. I'm sure you will work things out as you get used to your new life style..
ReplyDeleteThat is what it costs driving a MH! No one can afford to drive like that forever so you have to stop and smell the roses along the way. You have to take longer to get where you are going. Push it for say, one day out of three and find a cheap RV park or boondock for the other two and this brings your costs down to a much more reasonable $30 or $40 per day and you get to see the country on it's way past.
ReplyDeleteSightseeing -the activity of visiting places of interest in a particular location.
ReplyDeleteThen there is seeing the sights. Look up synonyms for sightseeing and you will find a huge list of activities that do not require a 'toad'.
I travel about 5,000 miles every year going from camp to camp where I stay for 1-3 months at a time. While there I do not do any sightseeing. However, I do not drive Interstates so I do manage to see the sights.
Consider what is important for YOU. Perhaps seeing the same things that 'The People' queue up to see is it but need not be so.
Sounds to me that your trip had so many goals that were met in spades. The gift that the many visits were to your Mom and to Favorite Neighbor were golden. The challenges of the fact finding mission in the rig were well met. Your walk; your priorities. My privilege to read of it, and vicariously enjoy!
ReplyDelete