 When we decided to transition from sticks and bricks to full-time RV living, we went all in. Over a period of two years, we minimized our belongings and got our house ready to sell. We moved into our fifth wheel, closed on the sale of our home, and embarked on traveling the country, seeing amazing sights, and visiting friends and family. For five years, we’ve told people our truck, rig, and the clothes on our backs are the only things we own in the world. We can’t say that anymore after purchasing a half acre of property in Southeastern Texas, between Corpus Christi and Houston. Why did we buy property after five years of full-time RV living? The main reason is so that we have a place to go in case something happens that prevents us from continuing to travel. We watched a video early on of a fifth-wheel accident on a slick, snowy mountain pass. The accident left the RVers out of their traveling home for at least eight months. We’ve seen mostly good things in our expeditions across the country, but we’ve seen some bad things too, such as a semi-truck laying on its side in the middle of the highway. It was quite sobering to realize that could just as easily happen to us and our home.  Having a piece of land gives us peace of mind that we have a place to regroup. Sure, we know lots of people across the country. And many would take us in, at least for a time, if something were to happen. But it’s nice to have a place to call our own.
Why we purchased property in Texas We purchased property in Texas because we got an excellent deal on it. We could have bought land anywhere, but we didn’t want to pay a lot. We found this property, thanks to a couple on our last transatlantic cruise, at a great price and were able to pay cash for it. The land is in a small fishing community where people keep an eye on one another’s things and look out for each other. We already have a connection there (the couple we met), and we like the area. It’s near the Gulf of America, offering close beach access. We also chose Texas because it’s easy to get to on our travels to and from Arizona to visit family and friends. Temperatures are warmer in the South in the spring than they are in the North, so staying south on our travels at that time of the year makes sense. And Texas is another state, like South Dakota, that makes it easy for full-time RVers to make it their place of domicile. There’s no state income tax, and vehicle registration expenses and sales tax are low. Does this mean we’re settling down? No, we’re not ready to settle down yet. We really enjoy our nomadic lifestyle. Our property has utilities to it and offers us a place to park our rig for free — once we remove a tree and add a culvert and driveway. We’ll probably spend up to a month there on our way to Arizona in the fall and a month there in the spring, at least to start. The property gives us a place to build on if we decide to someday. We revel in those kinds of projects and are having fun dreaming. But we’re not ready to hang up our full-time RVer moniker anytime soon. You might also like How I balance work and life in 400 square feet.
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 I’m not sure when we first heard about a life-size Noah’s Ark in Williamstown, Kentucky, but ever since then, I’ve wanted to see it. When planning our 2025 RV travel season, we made visiting the boat of biblical proportions a priority. Answers in Genesis (AIG), the company behind the project, chose to build the floating zoo replica in Kentucky to create jobs and attract tourists to the area. AIG also owns and operates the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, outside of Cincinnati, about an hour north of Ark Encounter. Here’s what our ark experience was like. Answers to common questions As we pulled off the highway, a vast parking lot came into view, with no indication of an enormous vessel on the property — other than a large sign announcing “Ark Encounter.” That made us more intrigued. We stopped at a booth, paid the parking fee, parked Gulliver, and walked to the only building we could see. There, we bought our tickets and boarded a shuttle, which took us down a mile-long, windy road, giving us glimpses of the ark along the way. After disembarking, we entered the Answers Center to hear Dr. Tim Chaffey, the man responsible for building the exhibits at Ark Encounter, address skeptical challenges about Noah and the ark. (The Answers Center provides a schedule of speaking content each day, covering topics such as the building of Ark Encounter, animals after the flood, and animal habitats.) Dr. Chaffey answered common questions, such as:
We gained some new insights but were eager to investigate the ark, so we exited the building and moseyed toward the engineering marvel. We had to pass through a towering rainbow arch to get there.  Orderly refuge As the boat came into view, it didn’t appear all that big against the boundless forested river region of Northern Kentucky. But as we got closer to the 510-foot long, 85-foot wide, and 51-foot high wooden vessel, we gained greater appreciation for its size. Peaceful music played as we wormed our way under the structure to a ramp that led to deck 1. Orderly animal cages stood two levels high in the middle of the interior of the structure, surrounded by clay water jugs secured in wooden crates along the walls. For some reason, perhaps because of Hollywood, I had thought the animals roamed freely in the boat. It suddenly became clear that taking care of about 6,750 total animals for a year required order. Set up like a museum, the displays included plaques that told us important facts about caring for and feeding the animals, as well as what kinds of animals were represented. In all probability, we learned, Noah took young animals that required less food and water and created less waste. A see-through cutaway model depicted the internal design of the ark and how decks and animals were likely organized to provide the most efficient division of labor by Noah and his family. Life on the first cruise ship We went up another ramp to deck 2, where we found bigger animal enclosures taking up more floor space and surrounded by higher wooden walls. Each cage displayed a male and female animal of some kind. We saw the hyena kind, the alligator kind, and the giraffe kind, just to name a few.  We also found exhibits of Noah’s study and workshop, as well as one about disposing of animal waste that was quite interesting. But the big draw on this deck was the tall wooden door through which Noah, his family, and all the animals would have entered. The Bible says in Genesis 7:16, “The Lord shut him in,” indicating that God closed those big, heavy doors.  Deck 3 gave us a glimpse into what the humans’ living quarters might have been like, where they would have rested. We even found a kitchen stocked with food for a year “at sea.” That was another thought that hadn’t occurred to me about life on the ark but would have been essential to survival on a yearlong “cruise.”  This deck also featured exhibits about life after the flood and fascinating details about fossils.
A memorable experience After a three-hour tour of the ark, we took the elevator to the ground floor, which led to a massive gift shop. We wandered around for a while before purchasing a few trinkets. Then we boarded a shuttle to return to Gulliver, eager to sate our hunger. We could have eaten at one of the various options on the premises, including a buffet, but we thought it might be less expensive off campus. If you’re in the area, Ark Encounter is worth a visit. In addition to the ark, the property houses a zoo, a virtual reality experience, a playground, and zip lines. Tickets and parking are a bit costly, but when you see the ark and recognize the vision, work, and cost that went into creating it, it’s easy to understand the reason for the price. We left with a greater appreciation for Noah and his family, life on the ark, and what went into building and designing it. You might also like A Jurassic adventure.  We don’t like to stay at campgrounds. As full-time RVers, we prefer to boondock, living off the grid while relying on our solar panels to power the electricity in our fifth wheel. Our next favorite option is moochdocking, where we camp on the property of friends and family and mooch their electricity and water. (Thank you, friends and family!) Sometimes, however, we have limited choices for where to stay, especially in the hot summer months when we need reliable electricity to operate our two air conditioners. That’s where we found ourselves for a late-June stop in Nashville, so we booked a campground. And staying there paid off. Complimentary event tickets Two days before our scheduled arrival, we received a phone call from the campground offering us free tickets to the iconic Grand Ole Opry on our first night in town. We had heard nothing but good things about the home of country music, so we gladly accepted. While registering at the campground, a friendly worker handed us our tickets and a map with excellent directions to Opry Mills Mall, where we could park for free for the event. We set up our rig and then researched our options for grabbing a bite to eat before the show. After parking at the mall, we navigated on foot to the Bavarian Bierhaus on the property to partake of some amazing German sausages, sauerkraut, and potato pancakes. That may sound like odd food for Nashville, but Music City actually has a pretty significant German contingent, and even an area referred to as Germantown.  Satisfied and running low on time, we hailed a Lyft to whisk us across the parking lot in the sudden cloudburst. As our driver neared the Opry, the downpour eased, and we laid eyes on the building and a throng of people.  Not being big concertgoers, we weren’t sure what to expect. We found the way to our seats and settled in for what turned out to be a night of appreciating incredible talent. Seven musical groups — including Jamie O’Neal, T. Graham Brown, Eric Paslay, and Riders in the Sky — each played three songs. Comedian Brian Bates also took the stage and shared some jokes, making the crowd roar with laughter. This concert was part of the 100th year of the Grand Ole Opry, a show built on tradition. It’s transitioned from a barn dance to Ryman Auditorium to its current 4,400-seat locale in a building bearing its name. Its heritage continues with a six-foot circle of oak from the Ryman stage taking center stage in the Opry House. Downtown shuttle access Located about 12 miles from downtown Nashville, our campground also offered access to shuttle service (for a cash fee) into town. This provided a convenient alternative to fighting traffic to try to find a parking spot large enough to accommodate our big dually truck. At the end of a workday, we boarded a shuttle to the Country Music Hall of Fame. From there, we walked a block to Broadway, aka Honky Tonk Highway. Honky-tonk after honky-tonk blared live music through open floor-to-ceiling windows.  We embarked on a progressive dinner while sampling the sounds of up-and-coming artists hoping to make it big. We noshed on laredo rolls — pulled pork egg rolls over queso sauce — at Broadway Brewhouse and brisket tots at Ole Red. Then we ventured off the beaten path to Printers Alley, a former publishing street, where we meandered to an English pub for a Nashville take on shepherd’s pie — extra cheese and no brown gravy. From there, we wandered down to Cumberland River to work off some food and take in the sights. Then we found ourselves in another honky-tonk, The Valentine, where we devoured mango habanero chicken wings and grooved to some popular live country tunes before boarding a shuttle back to the campground.  Pro tip: If you go to Honky Tonk Highway, take small bills to tip the performers. Location, location, location When booking a stay in the Nashville area, we wanted a campground as close to the city as possible. Two Rivers Campground had a reasonable price and a great location near the Grand Ole Opry, Opry Mills Mall, and the Gaylord Opry Hotel. After returning from downtown, we decided to explore the hotel based on the advice of two friends. To avoid a parking fee, we parked at the mall again and worked our way to the hotel entrance. Voluminous plants created a jungle, complete with waterfalls, in the imposing atrium. I felt like I was at Disneyland. On the other side, we felt like we had been ushered into New Orleans. Southern-style buildings housed eateries and shops. Walking past them led us to a river, where we could even book a boat ride if desired. We’re glad we heeded our friends’ advice to check out the hotel. We’re also grateful we booked a campground in Nashville.
You might also like 4 entertaining things to do in Branson, Missouri.  En route from Eutaw, Alabama, to Nashville, we encountered the first Buc-ee’s of our 2025 travel season. Since we needed fuel and a potty break, we decided to stop. That turned out not to be such a good idea. Here’s why we should have avoided the Buc-ee’s stop. Darkening clouds We pulled off the freeway and onto the Buc-ee’s property in Athens, Alabama. Seeing the first set of fuel pumps open, we took advantage of it, dodging our plan to go to the less-popular end of the line. This would allow us an easy out when we were ready to leave. After about 10 minutes of quenching our thirsty Gulliver on our first Buc-ee’s visit with Tagalong, we walked to the store to use the restrooms. Thanks to Buc-ee’s’ abundance of facilities, neither of us had to wait. Impressively, we got in and out of the restrooms, grabbed some snacks, paid, and were out of the store in about seven minutes.  Dark, mean-looking clouds greeted us as we emerged. Not liking to drive our RV in rain, we knew we needed to hurry and get on the road. As we re-entered the freeway, the clouds burst. We had waited too long. Bob maneuvered our rig to the shoulder of the on-ramp so that we could determine a game plan. The weather radar showed brightly colored red, yellow, and green cells plaguing the area for up to five hours. We couldn’t park on the on-ramp that long, so we decided to move on. Weathering the storms The clouds grew darker, the rain came down faster and heavier, and visibility decreased greatly. We slowed to a seeming crawl, our wiper blades moving furiously to try to stay ahead of the deluge.  I kept checking the weather radar to glean our chances at escaping the worst of the storms on our way up Interstate 65. It looked like we might make it. But then it didn’t. We pulled off an exit and sat on the off-ramp shoulder this time while Bob revisited the radar. He seemed to think the worst of the weather might be behind us. So we pressed on.
Dark, dripping clouds gave way to lighter-colored, dry clouds. After a little while, the sun peeked out. It appeared we truly had made it past the worst and would steer clear of rain the rest of the way to Nashville. And we did. Learning lessons I should have examined the weather radar while Bob was fueling, as soon as I first noticed the dark clouds. I thought they wouldn’t affect us in the direction we were headed. I didn’t realize thunderstorm cells surrounded our route. If we hadn’t stopped or had left after discovering that, there’s a good chance we could have avoided the storms. When we reached our destination, we found a sopping door mat and carpeting inside our rig. I used a towel to absorb as much of the excess moisture as possible and put the mat outside to dry in the sun. We learned an important lesson about checking the weather radar anytime we see dark clouds before embarking on a drive, especially when towing. We also discovered it is possible to get in and out of Buc-ee’s quickly. And we found that sometimes it’s best to keep going to stay ahead of weather. You might also like Our top RV lessons in 5 years of RV travel. |
AuthorThis is the travel blog of full-time RVers Bob and Lana Gates and our truck, Gulliver, and fifth wheel, Tagalong. Categories
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