3652.5 is a pretty significant number for us. It’s more than a number. It represents our nomad life.
10 years.
That’s a long time. It’s a lot of gas, setting up the RV and detaching, route planning to a T, RV/truck upkeep, backing the RV up into campsites (Brainerd, Minnesota was a tight squeeze), and driving in nice and not so nice weather (Texas and New Mexico).
But it’s also a lot of great memories of friends we have made, of places we have loved (Grand Teton, Death Valley, the PNW, the California coast, sequoia forests), places we didn’t love (two short people carrying a heavy canoe through the Boundary Waters isn’t ideal), tons of hikes, lots of wildlife (black bears, grizzles, moose, fox, kits, wolves, otters, manatees, a porcupine), crazy adventures (slot canyons, ATV rides, repelling, sailing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, horseback riding, caves), and everything in between.
The last year and a half has been interesting. Jennifer injured her back while sleeping (a very strenuous activity apparently) and Brad experienced heat exhaustion. It’s made for a low key bit of time as we are both still recovering. And it’s made us both limited in participating in the activity we love most: hiking. We are getting there though and it’s given us a new appreciation for our health, fitness, and all we have done. And all we still want to do.
We moved back into the RV in September and it’s like we never left. Except for all the repairs. It’s due to the age of the RV, sitting in storage for 2 years, and the -3 temperatures in Missouri over the winter. Here we go:
*Roof cleaning
*Wheel bearings re-packed
*New fireplace
*New toilet
*New fridge
*All new faucets
*Propane leak-outside and stove so
a new stove too
*Basement water leak
*Main electrical cord burned (that was scary).
Fun times, right? And now it’s 95 and humid in Missouri so we had to purchase a portable air conditioner and have blackout curtains on every window and skylight so it’s like living in a bat cave. Oh! That’s another activity/animal we saw: in Texas, watching bats fly out at dusk. Super awesome.
We visited 2 new states since September (Arkansas and Oklahoma) and hopefully soon we’ll add 2 more (Kansas and Nebraska). We also have traveled outside the country (with no RV, lol) to Grand Caymen, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Bimini. It’s been been quite the 10 years and who knows what the future will bring. If there’s one thing we have learned the last 10 years, it’s to go with the flow with a side of having faith knowing all will work out, be calm, enjoy the moment, and take a deep breaths.
Happy trails everyone!
Roaming Free In An RV 