Six months on the road. 20 states visited. One foreign country visited. 8,103 miles driven in the motorhome. 7,823 miles driven in the car. 44 campgrounds called home. 37 Junior Ranger badges earned by each child. Over 6,000 photos taken. Countless memories made. Countless pizza slices consumed.
An old friend told me, tongue firmly in cheek, “I’m really tired of seeing the awesome photos with everyone smiling in front of gorgeous nature and natural phenomenon. Where are the fight scenes?” That got me thinking. I promised in my initial post (Welcome) to “document the good, bad, beautiful, and ugly.” Have I failed in that endeavor? I don’t think so.
As reflected in my posts, we are having a great time. Occasionally, not so pleasant realities detract from the experience. I have dedicated an entire web page to documenting mistakes made and problems encountered traveling across the nation (Oops!). I’ve made clear that we are not immune to weather extremes (Memorials and Mammoths). I have graphically described how bad roads mar travel (A Salute to Teddy). I exercised considerable restraint, but still expressed my frustration, in telling the story of two novice paddle boarders blown over a mile down a mountain lake and unable to return on their own (Hail, Glacier!). I clearly conveyed our displeasure with the Orca-free Orca whale tour (To the Sea). That sometimes our kids do not want to hike is no secret (International Olympic Adventure). And I would hope that you could imagine the long faces and somber mood as it became apparent that the bird we “rescued” died en route to Monterey SPCA (Motorin’ Around Monterey).
While I strive to hit the high and low points, more mundane things, both good and bad, never make it into a post. These things, especially when considered in the collective, can have a tremendous impact on our experience over time. Here are some realities that have colored our experience but have not made it into the Blog. In no particular order…
- At times we get on each others nerves. Tight quarters and the challenges associated with moving every few days can fray nerves. But it has not been nearly as bad as one might expect when a family of 4 spends 6 months living in 250 square feet with a single bath. That fresh air and spectacular views are usually just steps away helps.
- The night sky as seen from the many rural areas we have camped is mesmerizing. It never gets old.
- Fire restrictions have severely restricted our ability to enjoy campfires. On the plus side, they have severely restricted our s’more intake as well.
- Figuring out where to go, how to get there, where to fuel up, and what to do when we get there is exhausting.
- Updating the blog is often a chore, especially when connection speeds are poor.
- We enjoy movie nights, especially when Grammy and Pops were with us. We have knocked out the entire Harry Potter series. In preparation for the new Star Wars movies, we have also rewatched the first six episodes (in episode order for the discerning fan).
- Grocery shopping is a pain even back home. Grocery shopping at a different store every week is a real pain, assuming you can find one that doesn’t charge $8 for a gallon of milk.
- Siblings bicker. Going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip does not change that. Indeed, it enhances the opportunities to poke, prod, and verbally spar with each other. Of course, it also provides ample opportunity to share new experiences together.
- Though we are together all the time, we still enjoy playing board games and card games together.
- Sometimes school is a pain. Computer glitches and poor explanations can really be frustrating. And then there is school in general.
- Our small fridge does not hold enough milk.
- I’ve noticed that restaurants in rural areas that are close to popular hiking destinations often have inflated reviews. I call this the “hiker halo.” Most anything tastes good when you have hiked all day and few culinary options exist.
- There is a 75% chance that if you see a tourist carrying a selfie-stick and/or iPad they will invade your personal space, jump in front of your camera, or both. That figure rises to 98% if they speak a language I don’t understand.
- RV sites can be unlevel, too narrow, configured such that your picnic table resides squarely over your neighbors sewer connection, or all the above.
- By and large, people across the nation are friendly and accommodating. This can make all the difference.
- Otherwise normal people transform into MMA fighters inside a RV laundromat, especially when few machines are in working order. That these people are all packing rolls of quarters like a mob enforcer increases the likelihood of mayhem. Can we get a dollar bill changer or a credit card swiper on these washer and dryers? This is the 21st century after all.
- How does the toothpaste get in the kitchen?! It is only a few steps away from the bathroom, but still.
- I now have 12 addresses in my Amazon address book that I will likely never use again. There’d be more, but it is often tough to coordinate the delivery schedule with our anticipated location. That means more Walmart time and that is never good for anyone.
- Arriving safely at a new spot still provides a sense of satisfaction and excitement for what lies ahead in our new place.
Well, there you have it. Hopefully you have a better feel for what it is like for us to explore this great land in an RV. Am I missing anything? Feel free to comment below.