For six years of full-time RV life, we spent six to seven months on the road, settling down in Arizona for the winter to keep out of the cold. In our seventh year, we crammed six or seven months’ worth of travel into three and a half months, making for an RV summer in fast-forward.
Long drives and fun excursions
That meant long drives, as we didn’t let the shortened season detour us from traveling across the country to the East Coast. We averaged 347 miles per drive, or about five hours. Our longest was 553 miles between Amarillo, Texas, and Taylor, Arizona, making for an incredibly long day. Thankfully, we gained a couple of hours that day crossing time zones. Our shortest drive was 124 miles between Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Athol, Massachusetts.
Some RVers only get to travel two or three months in the summer and make the best of it. We did too, finding time to explore the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, the Sullenberger Aviation Museum (in honor of the pilot who landed a plane on the Hudson River after a bird strike), James Madison’s Montpelier, a Civil War battlefield, and Cadillac Ranch.
We also vacated Tagalong and spent a couple of weeks on tour with a B-25 WWII bomber from the Commemorative Air Force and a week in Arizona meeting our grandson and playing with our granddaughter. And we fit in a week to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with friends.
A variety of stops
We stayed two nights at Bass Pro Shops, two nights at Love’s Travel Stops, one night at a rest area, one night at a Discount Tire store, two nights at campgrounds, six nights with Boondockers Welcome hosts, and many nights moochdocking at the homes of loved ones.
Highlights of the summer included catching up with friends and family and slowing our pace for two weeks on our Texas property near the Gulf of America, where we enjoyed peaceful surroundings and new experiences.
Challenging circumstances
We faced some of our most significant challenges this year as full-time RVers:
These sobering moments made us stop and weigh the risks of our exciting lifestyle. Despite them, we’re not ready to wave a white flag in surrender just yet.
Taking things in stride
Years on the road have taught us to be more flexible and willing to change plans as the need arises based on weather, family events, vehicle conditions/maintenance, and other things. That’s what made the transition to this truncated summer possible.
Do we wish we spent more time on the road this year? Absolutely. Arizona summers are hot. We didn’t miss them. But we’re grateful that we’re able to hang out with family and friends in the state, have our health, and can work on projects to get a mobile home ready to rent for the winter season.
Life is unpredictable and short. We’re happy to be taking advantage of opportunities to travel, make memories with loved ones, challenge ourselves through new ambitions, and grow.
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