Reflections on an Unforgettable Summer Road Trip After months on the road in our camper, we’re finally back home in Florida. Actually, we’ve been back for a little while now, but the days have been a blur—settling back in, preparing for two hurricanes, and cleaning up the aftermath. It’s been nonstop, but we’re thankful to … Continue reading Home Again, Home Again
After enduring over a week of stifling heat at Grammi’s family farm, we found ourselves yearning for cooler weather. The kind of invigorating weather that makes you feel refreshed, not like you’re trapped in a slow cooker. So, naturally, we asked ourselves, “What better place to cool down than the Smoky Mountains?” But true to … Continue reading Our Journey to an Epic Smoky Mountain Adventure
Every family has a place where memories are etched into time—a place where stories are born and passed down, weaving generations together. For Grammi, that place is the family farm. It’s where her father and his siblings grew up, where she spent her childhood playing hide-and-seek in the cornfields, climbing through a maze of hay … Continue reading The Family Farm
Imagine stumbling upon a hidden gem where history and community spirit embrace you at every turn, a place that radiates friendliness and a welcoming vibe. That’s exactly what we discovered when we rolled into Darlington, Wisconsin. Nestled within the rolling hills of Lafayette County, this quaint town of just over 2,500 residents might seem like … Continue reading Adventures on the Trail in Southern Wisconsin
It was a night we won’t soon forget. The kind of night that sneaks up on you when you least expect it, catching you off guard and leaving you with a story to tell for years. We had just left Itasca State Park, the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi, and were continuing our journey south, … Continue reading From Stormy Nights to the Wisconsin Dells
As we hit the road, leaving behind the beauty of Voyageurs National Park, a sense of melancholy mixed with excitement washed over us. Wouldn’t you know it? The sky finally cleared, blessing us with a sunny farewell. We had reached the northernmost point of our summer journey, and now it was time to start our … Continue reading Itasca State Park
Whenever we plan a trip to a new destination, we often form a mental picture of what we expect to find. Yet, despite our detailed research and meticulous planning, we never seem to get it quite right. This can be either a good thing or a bad thing. Our travels are often a mixed bag … Continue reading Voyageurs National Park
With a couple of free days on our hands, we found ourselves deliberating our next move. Eventually, we heard the call from Minnesota’s North Shore. Scenic Highway 61, renowned for its hidden gems and breathtaking landscapes, hugs the shore of Lake Superior. This route, stretching for 145 miles from Duluth to Grand Portage, promises everything … Continue reading Discovering Minnesota’s North Shore
“New territory.” I’ve heard those words countless times. Whenever we venture onto a road we’ve never traveled, heading toward places we’ve never been, Grammi almost always declares, “New territory.” She does this, I think, to remind us both that our travel goals are to seek out new places, find new adventures and new experiences, and … Continue reading Discovering New Territory: A Journey Through Bayfield, Wisconsin
Imagine a place where rugged landscapes meet the vast expanse of a great lake, where the air feels crisp and invigorating and the skies seem bluer than anywhere else. Picture a wilderness, both timeless and enchanting, where the sights and sounds of nature join in harmony. This is where Michigan’s Upper Peninsula comes face-to-face with … Continue reading Exploring Michigan’s Lake Superior Coast
Is a detour to DeTour Village on your itinerary? According to the Oxford Dictionary, a detour is a roundabout route taken to avoid something or to visit somewhere along the way. In our case, we are taking a road less traveled to visit someone along the way. Maybe it’s not truly a detour. As I’ll … Continue reading Detour to DeTour Village
As I approached the Mackinac Bridge for the first time, I felt a sense of awe. There stood “The Mighty Mac,” a beacon of human ingenuity, rising majestically against the horizon. Stretching five miles across the Straits of Mackinac, this stunning engineering masterpiece connects Michigan’s Lower and Upper Peninsulas. Two towering 552-foot-high pillars support an … Continue reading Our Visit to Mackinac Island
We have one of those maps stuck to the side of our camper. I’m sure you’ve seen them before. The kind where we add a sticker for every state we’ve visited. After five years of crisscrossing the continuous United States and gradually filling in our map, a gap remains: three prominent states at the top … Continue reading Our First Trip to Michigan
Travel Day While making the trek from Silver Springs Campground in Stow, Ohio, to Potato Creek State Park in north central Indiana, our tire pressure monitoring system’s alarm started blaring like a baby wanting a bottle. One of the trailer tires was deflating faster than I could shout, “Oh $@&t!” I pulled into the first … Continue reading Adventures in North Indiana
Ever feel like you’ve hit a brick wall? After the past few days, that’s exactly how Grammi and I felt about the five or six-hour drive to our next destination. Emotionally spent and facing the daunting task of towing our travel trailer with an untested repair, we lingered until noon before coming up with a … Continue reading Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Our journey to the Ark Encounter took an unexpected turn when we first arrived at Big Bone Lick State Park in Kentucky. On our way to the campground, something alarming happened. It was a serious thing, threatening to end our journey and send us home. We learned that we may have narrowly avoided what could … Continue reading The Ark Encounter
With our kids now off on their own adventures, Grammi and I are ready to embrace the open road. While towing our camper to a new campground, I focused on the highway in front of me, and a familiar tune popped into my head. It was one of those songs that stubbornly kept playing over … Continue reading The Homer Hull Carter Cabin
Grammi, our youngest daughter, her family, and I continued our fun-loving caravan to Bardstown, Kentucky. This leg of the trip was dedicated to exploring and experiencing the rich history and unique flavors of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Known as the ‘Bourbon Capital of the World’, Bardstown and its surrounding areas of Lexington and Louisville proved … Continue reading The Bourbon Trail
After bidding farewell to F.D. Roosevelt State Park, we set our sights on our third stop in Georgia, the renowned Cloudland Canyon State Park. Nestled on the western edge of Lookout Mountain, this park promised beautiful landscapes and abundant hiking. It is one of the largest and most scenic parks in the state, with thousand-foot-deep … Continue reading Cloudland Canyon State Park
After three delightful nights at Florence Marina State Park, it was time for our merry caravan to hit the road again. With trailers hitched and spirits high, we set off for the short journey to F.D. Roosevelt State Park. If you’ve never experienced the thrill of following another travel trailer, it’s a bit like a … Continue reading F.D. Roosevelt State Park
I had a restless night as my mind raced with anticipation and excitement. Tossing and turning, I checked the clock frequently until finally shutting it off before it rang out at 5 a.m. “An early start is wise,” I muttered to myself, trying to be convincing. “We’ve got a long day of driving ahead of … Continue reading Providence Canyon State Park
Spring is the season when the days begin to grow warmer, the flowers begin to bloom and the birds sing a cheerful song. It is an awakening. A time to rise and rejuvenate. Even here in Florida, where the change in seasons is hardly noticed, spring brings an inherent feeling of revitalization and renewed hope. … Continue reading Our Spring Tour
Beginning in 2019, every spring and summer, we traveled around the country in our travel trailer while blogging and sharing our adventures with family and friends. We were having the time of our lives seeing epic places and meeting people along the way. Surprising to me, the blog was growing as people started to follow … Continue reading Let’s Try This Again
Monticello, located just outside the city of Charlottesville, Virginia, was the plantation home of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and 3rd president of the United States. The main house sits atop the summit of an 850-foot high peak on the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a National Historic … Continue reading Monticello
For me, and I suspect for others, mornings are a time of transition. Moving from a dreamworld to the realm of reality takes a little time. It was not always that way. When I was younger, that transition was easy. I could spring out of bed and immediately start my day. I could function without … Continue reading The Virginia Foothills
In our previous blogpost, Grammi and I were in West Virginia exploring the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. I ended that post while we were hiking the Rim Trail in the Grandview area. If you have not yet read that post, I urge you to do so by clicking the link here. I … Continue reading Cliffside Amphitheater and Sandstone Falls
Those evocative words—the opening lyrics of Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver—epitomizes West Virginia. We have long sought to visit there. Pasted on the side of our travel trailer is a map showing all the states we have been. There was a blank spot where West Virginia belongs. Finally, on our forth year … Continue reading New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia
The next stop on our 2022 summer adventure was at Warriors Path State Park located in northeast Tennessee. We squeezed in at site 50 between two other campers. It was not a spacious site—not like I have come to expect at a state park. It felt more like a private park where campers and RVs … Continue reading Warriors Path State Park and Jonesborough, Tennessee
Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of our most favorite places on earth. This lush valley surrounded by tree covered mountains is Mother Nature’s masterpiece. It is a place where wildlife thrives. Primitive log farmhouses, barns, churches and old cemeteries dot the landscape revealing a rich history. We have been … Continue reading Cades Cove—Great Smoky Mountains National Park
We departed Reed Bingham State Park and merged back onto I-75 North. Two-hundred and fifty-one miles lie ahead. I took some care planning our departure time—not too early to avoid Atlanta’s morning traffic and not too late to avoid the forecasted afternoon rain. There is one stop planned. That stop, will be at Buc-ee’s, located … Continue reading Lake Sidney Lanier and the Georgia Aquarium
After driving 250 miles, we pulled into Reed Bingham State Park in Adel, Georgia. In my book, towing the camper 250 miles is a good day. We chose Reed Bingham State Park Campground because it was not too far off the interstate and it was halfway between here and there. We thought it to be … Continue reading Reed Bingham State Park
Getting READY for the next adventure took some work. It was not as simple as packing some clothes and throwing a few groceries in the fridge. Because this trip will be our longest with the travel trailer since last summer, we went through every drawer, every storage box, every compartment, making sure everything was in … Continue reading Ready, Set, Go!
We first heard of Buc-ee’s a couple of years ago when we were staying at a campground outside of Houston. A nephew who lived nearby came for a visit. It was during that visit when he asked, “Have you been to Buc-ee’s yet?” My first thought was he was talking about a souvenir shop for … Continue reading What Is All The Hype About?
Sitting outside with a warm cup of green tea, I took pleasure in the cool morning air. A peaceful calm lingered over the campground. Beams of golden light pierced the tree’s canopy splashing highlights onto the monochromatic early morn. Only the awakening songbirds were heard. I cherish the quiet serenity that comes with dawn. It … Continue reading The Golden Isles
Did you know there is a national park in the middle of South Carolina? Well, I didn’t—not until about three years ago. While perusing a book about all the national parks, I discovered Congaree National Park. I said to Grammi, “Hey, there’s a national park in South Carolina. We’ll have to visit it at our … Continue reading Congaree National Park
We said farewell to our friends as we pulled away from Silver Springs State Park. They were packing up to go home after a week of camping. We, on the other hand, were continuing northward for more adventure. Our destination, 240 miles away, was Skidaway Island State Park in Georgia. We arrived mid-afternoon, checked in … Continue reading Skidaway Island State Park
In April, we went on a 17 day camping adventure. We have been anticipating this trip for a while so we begun the journey with a feeling of exuberance. We stayed at five different campgrounds in three states. Over the next few weeks, I will share where we went and what we did. Our first … Continue reading Silver Springs State Park
Last weekend, on May 1st, Grammi and Grampa celebrated their 40th anniversary by renewing their wedding vows. Surrounded by family and friends, the ceremony was officiated by their very own son-in-law, Pastor Danny Bennett of St. John’s United Methodist Church, Winter Haven, Florida. The event, hosted by the couple’s daughters, took place on the dock … Continue reading Renewed Vows
The spring fed Chassahowitzka River is located on the west coast of Florida about an hour or so north of Tampa Bay. The Seminole Indian name pronounced cha-suh-hoh-wit-skuh means hanging pumpkin place. The pumpkin variety, once a staple food for early native Indian tribes, is now believed to be extinct. Locals call the river Chazawhiskey … Continue reading The Chassahowitzka River
You may of noticed I have not been very active with my blogging lately. Frankly, there hasn’t been much inspiration. We are on a travel hiatus which does not bode well when writing a travel blog. In addition, with everything that is happening in the world, my mind is preoccupied with the news. I worry … Continue reading What is Next for Grammi and Grampa?
Whenever I awake in the morning and open my eyes to remember I am in our camper and not at home, a euphoric feeling fills my soul. I am eager to rise and excited to see what new adventure awaits. However, this morning I was reluctant to crawl from under the blankets. It was not … Continue reading Three Rivers State Park in North Florida
We recently went camping with a small group of retired co-workers — some I have known for more than forty years. The group, organized about five years ago, mostly camp in Florida and always during the winter months. Grammi and I usually take our camping trips spring through fall — so up until now, we … Continue reading Two Florida State Parks Worth Visiting
Sky Valley located 3,300 feet above sea level in the mountains of north Georgia, a stones throw from the North Carolina state line, is the highest incorporated city in Georgia. Once Georgia’s only ski resort before the slopes were permanently closed in 2004, life in Sky Valley now centers around the country club facility and … Continue reading Sky Valley, Georgia
The year 2021 began with our family at a mountain cabin in Hiawassee, Georgia where we celebrated the start of the New Year. And now as I begin to reflect on our travels and adventures this past year, I sit on the balcony of yet another mountain cabin overlooking beautiful Sky Valley, Georgia. We have … Continue reading A Look Back at 2021
Grammi and Grampa’s family Christmas gathering is in the books! Our children and grandchildren came this past weekend for a joyful celebration. I know…it’s not quite Christmas yet, but it was necessary to celebrate a little early. It is an off year for us, which means our children will spend Christmas with their spouse’s families … Continue reading Christmas Joy
Sand Key Beach is located just to the south of Clearwater Beach on Florida’s gulf coast. The gorgeous white sand beaches have attracted visitors for many years. I have been coming here since I was a child. Of course, it is not what it once was. The secluded beach hidden behind the dunes and sea … Continue reading Sand Key Beach
Camping during the week of Thanksgiving is a family tradition. It began years ago when our children were young. We would meet friends I knew from high school, pitch a tent and spend a week roughing it in the woods. We would cook a turkey in the smoker and prepare the sides on the camp … Continue reading Wekiwa Springs State Park
I was awake early this morning to take my daughter and her family to the canoe launch. On the way, two turkeys trotted across the road. I laughed and yelled for them to keep their heads down one more day. Now I sit and contemplate the day while I enjoy a quiet morning breakfast. As … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving
As a retired couple, traveling together in a RV is a long held dream. We love it. We have traveled to many places and seen some amazing things. We have met kindhearted folks from all across the country. Nonetheless, there is no better camping than when you bring the family together for a group camping … Continue reading Myakka River State Park
A word of warning. This post is not the usual story about our travels. Honestly, I’ve been struggling on whether to write it. However, I feel I must. I did not want to end this year’s travel blog without a final chapter. This post is a personal account about the circumstance of our journey home … Continue reading A World Turned Upside Down
Our trip around the northwestern United States has been highlighted with visits to all the National Parks in that part of the country with one exception — Grand Teton National Park. Grand Teton is only ten minutes from Yellowstone National Park’s south gate. We were at Yellowstone National Park a couple months ago, but did … Continue reading Grand Teton National Park
Ever since I first heard the name Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, it has been a place of wonderment and intrigue. As a young boy in the 1960‘s, I was fascinated with our country’s space race to the Moon. From the moment my mother lugged our only black and white television into … Continue reading Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
In the previous post, I said we were leaving Washington State and heading back east — a decision helped along by the ever increasing difficulty of finding a campground with vacancies. I’ve shared before why we don’t make reservations too far in advance. We feel the advantages out-weigh the disadvantages. However, during certain times and … Continue reading Getting There Is Half The Fun
Something we keep seeing during our 2021 RV adventure is the names of Lewis and Clark — the famed explorers that lead the Corps of Discovery Expedition from 1804 – 1806. It started in St. Louis when we took a riverboat ride on the Mississippi. The captain announced that around the bend was the Missouri … Continue reading Lewis and Clark National Historical Park
We have one more area of the Olympic National Park to explore — Staircase. It is located in the southeastern corner of the park. We talked with a few people who said we should not skip this beautiful area. So we took a couple of days and checked it out. We found an available campsite … Continue reading Olympic National Park — Staircase Rapids Nature Trail
We moved to another campground. That’s right, we left the lavender farm and moved just 28-miles to Elwha Dam RV Park. It has great reviews with a long list of amenities like large full hook-up sites, modern bathhouse, laundry, camp store, wifi, community center, yard games, gated security, and much more. Best of all, it’s … Continue reading Olympic National Park — Hurricane Ridge and Lake Crescent
Ninety-five percent of the Olympic National Park is a designated wilderness area having very little development and few roads or structures. It remains wild and rugged. The Olympic Peninsula Loop is a scenic highway that encircles the Olympic National Park. Over 300 miles long, it primarily follows U.S. Highway 101 connected by U.S. Highway 12 … Continue reading The Olympic Peninsula — Dungeness Spit and a Lavender Farm
I have fallen in love. It’s crazy — I know. But that is the only explanation I have. Smitten by a renewed vitality and an overwhelming feeling of exuberance, I yearn to spend as much time as possible with my new love interest. Grammi is okay with this. In fact, she has fallen in love … Continue reading Olympic National Park — The Hoh Rainforest & Pacific Coast
Towering to a height of 14,410 feet above sea level, Mount Rainer stands as an iconic symbol of the Pacific Northwest. The majestic snow covered mountain has twenty-five named glaciers — the most of any peak in the continental United States. It is a place where rivers begin, wildlife thrive, and summer wildflowers light up … Continue reading Mount Rainer National Park
We set the camper up at another municipal park, this time at Gust Backstrom City Park Campground in Morton, Washington. Municipal campgrounds are often overlooked by many RVers, but we have learned they are a great option. Built with local tax dollars for the enjoyment of local residents but open to all, these parks often … Continue reading Mount St. Helens
Grammi and I are walking toward the end of a wooden pier. My arm is around her. It’s an attempt to shield her from the stiff cool breeze coming off the Puget Sound waters — but she still shivers. Seagulls overhead dart into the wind then playfully use their wings like sails to soar away. … Continue reading A Little Luck Brings Happy Days
We are at Pine Near RV Park and Campground in Winthrop, Washington. Located on the east side of the North Cascades Mountains in the Methow Valley, it is a place where many people, like us, start their journey into the North Cascades National Park. Our plan is to spend a few days enjoying all this … Continue reading North Cascades National Park
We are on the move again — destination west. There are national parks in Washington State we would like to visit. But we are feeling tired. Now I know what you might be thinking, “You guys seem to be on a permanent vacation. How can you be tired?” Believe me, it can sometimes be exhausting. … Continue reading Rest and Relaxation
Six months ago, we were poised with our finger on the button watching the clock count down. It was the morning Glacier National Park was opening their campground reservations for the season. Grammi had her laptop, I had mine. We had selected the days and the sites we wanted. We had a backup plan and … Continue reading Glacier National Park
Our adventure continues as we enter the Seeley-Swan Valley. This gem of Montana is a popular four season recreation playground. Nestled between the Swan Mountains to the east and the Mission Mountains to the west is a wonderland of unspoiled nature. Dozens of natural lakes linked together by streams and rivers rest within this narrow, … Continue reading The Seeley-Swan Valley
Located a couple of hours north of Yellowstone National Park is Montana’s first state park — Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park. Proclaimed as a national monument in 1908 by Theodore Roosevelt, it was subsequently transferred to the state of Montana in 1937. It features one of the largest known limestone caverns in the northwest. … Continue reading Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park
In our last blogpost, Yellowstone National Park — Part 1, we shared our first three days exploring the vast northern parts of the national park. We stayed at a campground 35-miles outside the North Entrance. We were awestruck with so much beauty as we tried to see as much as we could. Yellowstone is enormous. … Continue reading Yellowstone National Park — Part 2
Yellowstone is the granddaddy of National Parks. Within the boundaries of a single national park you can find abundant wildlife, unique geothermal features, subalpine forest, high-elevation lakes, deep canyons, pristine rivers, dramatic waterfalls, lush valleys, and snow capped mountain ranges. There is nowhere on earth quite like Yellowstone National Park. Early explorers who surveyed the … Continue reading Yellowstone National Park — Part 1
We stayed the night at Huntley Project Museum. It is a Harvest Host location conveniently located near the midway point to our next campground, effectively splitting a seven hour drive into two days. We had no idea what the Huntley Project was all about, but we were willing to find out. We arrived around 3:30 … Continue reading Pompeys Pillar and The Huntley Project
Continuing our quest to visit the national parks, our next stop was in the gateway town of Medora, North Dakota. We parked our travel trailer at the Medora Campground, literally walking distance from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park – South Unit gate. It is a city owned campground located on the Little Missouri River with … Continue reading Theodore Roosevelt National Park
We are at Reuter Campground in the Black Hills National Forest. We will be here for three nights. Having spent the past six days exploring the southern part of the Black Hills, we only have half that time to see the northern part. We won’t see it all. Hopefully we will see the best places … Continue reading Devil’s Tower and Spearfish Canyon
Our adventure continues as we head to the Black Hills of South Dakota. It’s a magical place with a rich history and fabled stories of the old west. The small isolated mountain range arising from the Great Plains was given its name by the Lakota Indians because of its dark appearance from afar. However, the … Continue reading Custer State Park and The Black Hills
We arrived at our campground by mid-afternoon. We checked in, found our site and set up. The campground was nothing more than a gravel parking lot with maybe ten to fifteen feet between campers, but we were glad to have full hook ups and the location near Badlands National Park was desirable. We were just … Continue reading Badlands National Park
It took us four days to cross Iowa and Nebraska on our way to the Badlands in South Dakota. Each day we would drive 250 miles, more or less, before stopping for the night. We were in no hurry. We searched for places to stop along the way where we could have lunch, stretch our … Continue reading Heading to South Dakota
After we left the St. Louis area, we drove to the family farm near Minonk, Illinois. Grammi’s cousin Dan, the third generation to own the farm, and his wife Julia were wonderful as always, providing us with a place to park the camper and making us feel at home. Grammi’s sister moved back to this … Continue reading Starved Rock State Park
Why do I write a Blog? That is a good question, one I often ask myself. “Why am I doing this?”, I say aloud as I pull at my hair. I struggle to write. So much time and effort goes into every blog I post. It is a love/hate relationship and I sometimes wonder if … Continue reading Why Do I Blog?
Our journey through St. Louis was a lesson in history. St. Louis’ location along the shore of the Mississippi River near the confluence of the Missouri River led to its development as one of the twenty-five largest cities in the United States. The water highways of the nineteenth century, including among others, the Ohio and … Continue reading Gateway Arch National Park & Other History Lessons
Some years back, my father bought a timeshare. I know…timeshares are a bad investment and come with a laundry list of problems, but I would never buy one for myself. My father, however, enjoyed the benefits of his timeshare. He especially liked staying in Branson, Missouri. “Son, if you ever get the chance, you should … Continue reading Passing Through Branson, Missouri
We just spent six days with our daughter Jessica and her husband Bryan in northwest Arkansas. Bentonville is Bryan’s boyhood home. His parents and siblings live there. Since we were passing through the area, they decided it would be a good time to fly up and show us around. So as it goes with most … Continue reading Highlights From Our Visit to Bentonville, Arkansas
We finally made it to Arkansas. Our two previous attempts were sidetracked before reaching the state line. Driven by our pursuit to visit all the U.S. National Parks, we are staying near Hot Springs National Park in an U.S. Army Corp of Engineer (USACE) park called Brady Mountain Campground. Located on Lake Ouachita, it’s yet … Continue reading Hot Springs National Park
Have you ever suffered from campsite envy? You know…when you look around and wish you had a different spot in the campground. It’s when you might say to yourself, “Wow! I wish I had that spot.” or you might say, “Look! Those people have a really nice site”. It happens to us all the time, … Continue reading South Abutment Campground
We are in north Alabama at a Thousand Trails park called Hidden Cove RV Resort. As Thousand Trails members, we can stay at no charge. We try to stay in Thousand Trails parks whenever practical and this was the perfect time to stop for a few days on our way to other places. We didn’t … Continue reading Our Adventures in North Alabama
We had 225 miles to get to our next campground and a storm was in the forecast. Looking at the weather radar showed a spectrum of orange and red color spanning across several states. We wanted to get out ahead of it. One stop for fuel, then we successfully bee-lined it to our campground ahead … Continue reading It Was a Washout
That’s right, after days of preparation, we are once again towing our camper across the highways of this beautiful country. The direction is set but the final destination is yet to be determined. Along the way we hope to see more national parks, explore new places, meet interesting people, and experience all life has to … Continue reading On The Road Again
This week is the two year anniversary of the purchase of our Grand Design Imagine XLS 22RBE travel trailer. As you can see from the picture above, we were all smiles. It was a happy day, one we had looked forward to. We were filled with excitement as we anticipated long journeys to places we’ve … Continue reading Review of Our 2019 Grand Design Imagine XLS 22RBE
Nearly every morning, sometimes even before breakfast, Grammi can be seen making lunch. She relies on a handful of goto options like hummus wraps, pasta salad, or peanut butter and banana sandwiches and methodically places everything neatly into a handy insulated picnic backpack. No matter what adventure we have planned for that day, she makes … Continue reading Today’s Lunch Spot
We continued our trek to north Florida after a short overnight stay at O’Leno State Park. You can read about that stop in our previous blog post. We avoided the interstate highways and chose instead to travel the more scenic country roads. Though it takes a little longer, we do this when we can because … Continue reading Torreya State Park
Grammi and I were going to met up with our daughter and her husband for a long weekend camping trip in north Florida. It was going to be about a six hour drive. That is a long day of driving for us while towing the camper. So we decided to split up the drive and … Continue reading O’Leno State Park and the Disappearing River
It is raining cats and dogs! I am not sure where that phase came from but that is what my grandmother would say whenever there was a heavy downpour. Of course if you live anywhere in the U.S. outside of Hawaii, you already know that severe weather has dominated the news all winter. We’ve heard … Continue reading Our First Time Camping — We Were So Young and Dumb
I have memories of my father sitting at the kitchen table thumbing through a stack of papers. He wore a white undershirt and had a yellow number 2 pencil tucked behind his right ear. His fingers danced across the keys of an adding machine as the tape ran down to the floor. With his shoulders … Continue reading Our RV Living Expenses For 2020
Grammi and I were a little sad that we couldn’t spend Christmas day with all our children this year, but getting together for a week afterwards more than made up for it. We rented a wonderful three story log cabin with five bedrooms, a hot tub, game room, and a spacious balcony overlooking a stunning … Continue reading Hiawassee, Georgia
Here we are in the third week of the new year and I haven’t made a blog post since before Christmas. There seems to be so much going on…so many distractions. I’ve been struggling to find time to clear my head and organize my thoughts. It’s not like there isn’t something to write about because, … Continue reading A Simple Adventure
Finally, we are done! The gifts are wrapped. The food is prepared. We’ve checked our list…twice. Now we wait. For as long as I can remember, Christmas Eve has always been a time for family to gather at our house. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, all came to our house to feast, and to celebrate. We … Continue reading Merry Christmas and Joy To All
Something hidden begs to be found. There was a recent story in the news about the discovery of a treasure chest hidden a decade ago in the Rocky Mountains by Forrest Fenn. Much has been written through the years about Mr. Fenn, a wealthy art dealer, and the pursuit of his hidden treasure. He left … Continue reading Geocaching
Even before we bought our camper in April of 2019, we were hearing all about the Blackstone Griddle from the different RV forums we follow. The Blackstone Griddle, if you’re not familiar, is a gas grill with a heavy steel flat top cooking surface similar to what you would see at a fast food diner. … Continue reading Blackstone Griddle Review
Can you believe we have already been home from our months long adventure for five weeks? And wouldn’t you know it, I no sooner get the camper readied “for it’s long winter’s nap” than we are hitching up again for a two week camping trip. It’s not like I didn’t know we were going camping … Continue reading Thanksgiving at Anastasia State Park
Have you ever dreamed of escaping to an island paradise with white sand beaches and palm trees that gently curve toward the sun, a place where marine life and sea birds thrive, a place where you can spend hours combing the beach for seashells while playfully dodging the oncoming waves? Have you ever imagined walking … Continue reading Honeymoon Island State Park
Traveling to beautiful places and exploring nature is a dream for many of us. It seems to always be in the back of our mind. “Someday I’m going to travel the world”, you might say to yourself. But life happens and time seems to slip away. The “someday” we dream of remains perpetually out of … Continue reading Ten Safety Tips for Getting Outdoors During COVID-19
When we left our home state of Florida back in March, we set out for Big Bend National Park in Texas. It was to be the first of many national parks we planned to visit this year. Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit causing closures to most of the 62 national parks. To their credit however, the national … Continue reading Our Top Five National Parks — So Far
Now that we’re home, we are getting back to a normal routine, albeit I must confess I’m not sure what normal is anymore. We’ve been busy. There is always much to do after being away for so long. We’ve barely had time to reflect on this year’s adventure. We’ve talked to some friends and neighbors … Continue reading A Recap of Grammi and Grampa 2.0
We are living our dream. We have been traveling the country in our travel trailer for the past seven months visiting state and national parks. With COVID-19 ever present, we take precautions by following social distance guidelines. We wear a mask in public, and other than the necessary trips to the grocery store we pretty … Continue reading THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SIGHT OF ALL!
As we continued our leisurely trek across Oklahoma toward Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, we stopped for a few days at Supply Park Campground. We were pleasantly surprised by this beautifully maintained campground with grass lawns and shade trees located on the shore of the 1,800 acre Lake Supply Reservoir. It’s operated by the … Continue reading Sad News and a Change of Plans
Fall is upon us. I don’t need to look at a calendar. I feel it. Traveling in a camper for months on end, I lose track of the days. Somehow though, I know what month it is. An innate instinct tells me it’s time to start preparing for the migration back to our home state … Continue reading Black Mesa State Park
We had reservations at Pinon Flats Campground at Great Sand Dunes National Park. We were thrilled to get a site in the national park and were looking forward to our stay. The day before our scheduled arrival I received an email stating that “due to winter storm damage, the campground will be temporarily closed.” It … Continue reading Great Sand Dunes National Park
It is time to say good-bye to Colorado’s Western Slope. We’ve been here nearly three weeks. The days are turning noticeably shorter, the nights cooler. The multitude of travelers are beginning to dissipate. We love this area. It’s so beautiful. A hint of fall color is beginning to emerge. I wish we could stay to … Continue reading Garden of the Gods
Our stay at Ridgway State Park near Ouray, Colorado was too short. We were enjoying the area very much and found plenty of adventure. You can read about that here. We wanted to stay longer. Even after five days, we weren’t ready to go. We tried to book a longer stay at the state park, … Continue reading Grand Mesa Scenic Byway, Colorado National Monument and Other Adventures
I started writing this as part of another post but quickly realized my rant was starting to take off to a point where I felt it necessary to make this the subject of its own post. I only hope the information I share will someday be helpful to you when you shop for “NEW” tires. … Continue reading DOT Date Code and My Tire Buying Experience
It was shortly after we bought our camper at the beginning of last year that I started telling people one of my goals was to visit all the national parks. Now mind you, it’s not something that just popped into my head. I’ve dreamed of seeing the national parks for as long as I can … Continue reading Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
We are still in Colorado at Ridgway State Park only 15 miles from the town of Ouray (pronounced you-ray). Getting here was a beautiful drive through the mountains along Colorado Highways 145 and 62. We reserved five nights, Sunday through Thursday. There is no availability for the weekend. Our campsite is located on a ridge … Continue reading Ouray, Colorado and The Million Dollar Highway
We arrived in southwestern Colorado on a hot mid-afternoon. We drove here from Moab in a futile attempt to escape the smoke from the wild fires in the north. Like a cloudy day, a gray smokey haze chokes the sunlight from the sky. There’s a lingering odor that reminds me of a damp smoldering campfire … Continue reading Mesa Verde National Park
We completed our quest to see Utah’s Mighty Five when we visited Canyonlands National Park. The largest of Utah’s national parks encompassing 527 square miles, it’s divided into four distinct sections. Our journey took us to Island in the Sky. It’s the most visited district in the park because of its proximity to Moab. Island … Continue reading Canyonlands National Park
In the previous blog, I described how we saw people floating down the Colorado River in inflatable rafts while we were driving along the Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway (UT-128). We stopped to watch rafts lazily drift around a bend before being swept down a bumpy cascade of white water. The exhilarating screams heard from … Continue reading Rafting Trip on the Upper Colorado River
From our campsite in Thompson Springs we went to Arches National Park. To get there we took a route recommended by our campground host. It was a little out of the way but this drive is not to be missed. The Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway (UT-128) is 44 miles of breathtaking views. Driving south … Continue reading Arches National Park
Our style of camping is to stay flexible and not book campsites too far in advance. We like the freedom this gives us. A case in point is when our daughter came to visit last week, we were able to make adjustments without affecting future reservations. Additionally, we sometimes meet people that recommend places we … Continue reading Sego Canyon
Sunday 6:25 a.m. — I’m sitting with a hot cup of black coffee perusing the news on the iPad. The sun peaking over the distant mountains begins to push back the chill that settled overnight across the desert. I’ve heard not a peep from Grammi who is still snuggled under a pile of quilts and … Continue reading Bryce Canyon National Park
We’re in Utah, home of The Mighty 5. That’s the name given to Utah’s five national parks. On this quest of ours to visit the national parks, we’ve been looking forward to this part of the trip. Zion, Arches, Bryce, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands have some of the most iconic landscapes anywhere in the United … Continue reading Capital Reef National Park with a Special Visitor
We left California. What an amazing place! There are a variety of landscapes that seemingly change with each turn in the highway. Deserts, beaches, forests, mountains, hot springs, volcanos and so much more gives nature enthusiast ample places to explore. Having nine national parks, the most of any state, there are vast spaces of undeveloped … Continue reading The Loneliest Road to Great Basin National Park
We like to take advantage of our Thousand Trails membership when we can, so after leaving the campsite near Lassen Volcanic National Park we went to Snowflower RV Resort in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was well within our 300 mile daily driving limit. When we arrived, we joined a line of campers waiting to … Continue reading Summit Tunnel Hike
The Pacific Ring of Fire is a seismic belt surrounding the Pacific Ocean where most of the earth’s volcanos and earthquakes are found. Located along this belt in North America’s west coast are nearly twenty major volcanos with the potential to erupt. Mt. St. Helens’ eruption in 1980 is a significant example. Located on the … Continue reading Lassen Volcanic National Park
The next stop on our RV adventure is Redwood Meadows RV Resort in northern California. We’re just ten miles from Crescent City. We chose to be on the northern fringes of the Redwood National and State Parks to see the towering redwood trees and to also explore the southern Oregon coast, checking off two things … Continue reading The Redwood National and State Parks
I tried for days to get reservations at Crater Lake National Park. Each day I got the same result…”No Availability, Campground Full”. Finally, after becoming frustrated with their website, I called. I was immediately place in the cue, “your estimated wait time is… twenty-five minutes”, an animated voice would say. Fortunately, my patience paid off. … Continue reading Crater Lake National Park
The next stop on our journey brought us to Washoe Lake State Park about 8 miles north of Carson City, Nevada. Nestled in the sagebrush on the southeast side of the lake is a very nice campground with 49 first come, first serve sites. Each site is paved with water, electric, fire ring and covered … Continue reading Lake Tahoe to Virginia City—A Bonanza of Fun
In this blogpost we continue our adventure in the Yosemite National Park. If you haven’t read the previous post, may I suggest you take a look back to our last entry. Having two weeks to roam around in this park has provided me with so much to share. I just couldn’t do it in one … Continue reading Yosemite National Park—Part 2
We are staying at Yosemite Lakes RV Resort just five miles from the west gate of Yosemite National Park. We are thrilled to have a shaded site on the river. Swimming, tubing and fishing are popular activities. Trout can be seen lurking in the holes and shadows of the crystal clear water. Sitting behind our … Continue reading Yosemite National Park
Traveling west on I-40 we crossed into California. This is the first time grammi or I have been to this state. From the Sierra Nevada Mountains to it’s Pacific coastline, from the Redwood Forest to the Mojave Desert, California has a vast variety of landscapes to explore. No need to visit the major population centers … Continue reading The Giant Sequoia Trees
We had reservations for four nights in Las Vegas but our daughter said we should check out Lake Havasu City, Arizona. We’ve been to Las Vegas before. There really wasn’t anything in particular drawing us back and we were a little less than excited to go back during this time. Lake Havasu City seemed to … Continue reading Lake Havasu City
Grammi and I went to the south rim of the Grand Canyon with our daughter Jessica and her husband back in March of 2016. It was the first and only time either of us has been to that incredible natural attraction. It is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and indeed a … Continue reading Grand Canyon National Park
The last few days in Verde Valley were just as good as the first. We certainly haven’t become bored with the scenery and we continue to find much to explore. Montezuma Castle National Monument located in Camp Verde, like all national parks has been closed during the pandemic. We’ve been checking the website daily to … Continue reading Montezuma Castle and other Adventures
Learning about a new area we’ve traveled to can sometimes be a challenge, especially when we only have a few days there. Normally, one of the first things we look for is the local visitor center. They are filled with brochures and maps to all the points-of-interest. Most of the time there is an information … Continue reading Devil’s Bridge, Arizona
We’re at another state park. This time in Arizona. Unlike the previous state parks, this one is open for camping. Arizona has kept the state parks open during the pandemic deeming them an essential service. From what I’ve seen so far during my short time here is that Arizonians love this state parks. Because of … Continue reading Catalina State Park
We’ve met some small challenges in our travels through the desert southwest. Mostly the fact that much remains closed, including the national parks. Our travel theme this year was to visit as many national parks as possible. We’ve been hearing they are beginning to reopen some of the parks. That’s encouraging but we haven’t found … Continue reading Hueco Tanks & City of Rocks
There was a melancholy feeling when we hitched up the camper and pulled away from Medina Lake RV Park. After all it was our home for more than seven weeks. We have many fond memories of our time there. But those feelings were soon replaced by a giddy anticipation of new adventures that lie ahead. … Continue reading Carlsbad Caverns
Let me start out by expressing my heartfelt appreciation to all the mothers who work tirelessly and sacrifice so much for their children. They are the foundation on which families are built. It is by their labor we all exist and they do it willingly while enduring long days and sleepless nights. It is often … Continue reading It’s a Happy Mother’s Day
As part of Texas’s phased plan to reopen the economy, governor Greg Abbott reopened state parks for day use only. A limited number of day passes are available for visitors to purchase and print online. This minimizes contact between park staff and guest. Additionally, all visitors must follow the CDC social distancing guidelines and wear … Continue reading Lost Maple State Natural Area
Our current situation hasn’t changed too much over the past couple weeks. We are still hunkered down in the Texas hill country northwest of San Antonio … but that’s not all bad. We have fallen in love with this place. It is so quiet and peaceful here. The scenic views of the lake with the … Continue reading A Mundane Campground Life? You Be the Judge.
We’ve recently completed the first month of this years travel adventure and have been working on our monthly expense worksheet. We track what we spend and categorize our expenses so we can see where we are spending our money. That way we know how much we spend on fuel, food, camping fees and so on. … Continue reading How Much Does It Cost To Travel In An RV?
We’ve made the decision to stay put and isolate ourselves for as long as we can. We did not come to this decision lightly. We are away from our family and friends and that weighs heavy on our heart. We are in an unfamiliar place in an unfamiliar state, but we feel that going home … Continue reading Hunkered Down
We don’t have a lot of adventures to share as we are trying to work through all the coronavirus madness. The country is closing down around us. Schools are canceled. People are not going to work. Store shelves lay bare. Governors are issuing mandatory stay at home orders and self quarantine orders. State and national … Continue reading Slowing Down, Looking for Options
Tonight we are parked in a Thousand Trails campground about an hour or so west of Houston, Texas. We have kept to ourselves since we’ve checked in around two o’clock this afternoon just like we’ve done everyday and everywhere we’ve been for the past couple weeks. It took us over a week to travel the … Continue reading The Road to Texas
A wet and windy day made for a somewhat stressful drive to St. Andrews State Park. It wasn’t so much the rain as it was the 30 – 35mph wind gust. We stopped for lunch at a rest stop on I-10 and another RVer in a class C mentioned his struggles with the wind which … Continue reading St. Andrews State Park
Grammi and I started working on getting the camper ready weeks ago.. We’ve made some upgrades and went through the process of inventorying everything we have on board. We purged some things we didn’t really use last time reducing the clutter and lightening the load. I believe we’ve learned what we need and what we … Continue reading The Adventures of Grammi and Grampa 2.0
A few days ago, when we were deciding where to go next, we called a dear friend to see what she was up to. We’ve been friends with Bonnie forever, she is like family. We’ve shared lots of activities and spent a lot of time together. Our children grew up together. So when Bonnie said … Continue reading Friends, Family and the Journey Home.
North Carolina is home to many small idyllic towns with friendly folks. Places where one might expect to see a diner with home cooked meals and fresh baked pies. Maybe there’s a park with children playing on a see-saw under the shade of a big elm tree where their mother’s sit on a nearby bench … Continue reading Mayberry, USA
Family vacations were a rarity in my youth. My parent’s lived paycheck to paycheck. They didn’t have money for such opulence. But one time, somehow, they managed to find the means to take my brother and I on a camping trip to the mountains. I couldn’t have been more than six or seven years old … Continue reading The Blue Ridge Parkway
We entered Shenandoah National Park at Front Royal Station, the northern end of the 105 mile long Skyline Drive. I have the National Parks Senior Pass so we weren’t charged the standard eight dollar fee. We leisurely towed our camper through the ubiquitous green forest watching for wildlife. The F250 easily handled the climb up … Continue reading Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park
Grammi and I have been talking about going to Washington D.C. for the last few weeks. It’s been years since the last time we where there and I remember feeling like we rushed through the Smithsonian Museums and National Monuments. I’ve always wanted to go back and take more time. However now isn’t a good … Continue reading The Yard Crawl
You might be a chocoholic if… • you’ve ever unconsciously eaten an entire bag of chocolate kisses while reading a good book. • you’ve ever tried to sneak a piece of chocolate from a giant Whitman’s Sampler box at a Christmas party only to spill the entire content on the floor causing everyone to turn … Continue reading You Might Be A Chocoholic
Grammi and I are sitting at a small round table under a large covered patio. A glass of dark porter sitting in front of me. We just ordered dinner from a menu offering vegan dining. A great sounding band is playing a mixture of contemporary rock and a bit of country. The sun is setting … Continue reading Cooperstown
Day One It’s another travel day. I think I’ve developed a routine and might be getting a little faster disconnecting everything and packing up. We drove through some beautiful wine country with rolling vineyards as far as you could see. We’re staying at Four Mile Creek Campground. It’s a State Park about a thirty minute … Continue reading Niagara Falls
The night before leaving Cumberland Falls, grammi and I perused through maps and clicked on websites looking for another adventure. “What about Niagara Falls?” grammi said with a slight upward inflection in her voice. Hmmmm…I wasn’t planning on going that far north but if she’s thinking about it…maybe. We have never been there and it … Continue reading Traveling Through Ohio
“What time is it?” grammi asked. “It’s almost midnight,” I said without hesitation. “Do you see anything? “ No, not yet,” I replied. Although gathered on a small platform below, I could see the silhouettes of dozens of people. From the overlooks above, was an occasional flash of light from a camera or cell phone … Continue reading Moonbow
We have been looking forward to these next few days since before we left on this adventure. We are going to Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee to meet up with our daughter Amber and her family. They are on a two week camping vacation and asked us to join them for a few … Continue reading Fall Creek Falls
The campground at Gun Creek was so nice we thought we would try our luck at another Army Corp of Engineer (ACE) campground. Tailwater Campground in Kentucky, is one of four ACE campgrounds around Barren River Lake. Once again we had a wonderful site. This time we were on a ledge overlooking the Barren River … Continue reading Bowling Green Baseball, Moonshine and a Sinkhole
Without a reservation but an idea as to where we were going we bounced our way down the Illinois highways. Bounced along because this state has the worst roads we’ve encounter so far. At one point a guy on a motorcycle pulled along side at a traffic light to tell me the door to the … Continue reading Rend Lake and Franklin County Historic Jail Museum
Scattered throughout the cornfields of central Illinois are a number of small towns. These towns are the center of commerce and education for the people who live and work in the area. Although grammi says her family moved around a lot when she was young, there is one town she considers to be her hometown, … Continue reading Grammi’s Homecoming
After considering our options, we chose our next campground for its proximity to Cincinnati. Indian Lakes is another Thousand Trails campground in southeastern Indiana less than a hours drive to the area where I grew up. It’s an opportunity to see the old neighborhood and visit family. We arrived at the campground by mid-afternoon. We … Continue reading Old Memories
Our quest for adventure has no clear path. We try not to look too far ahead. You might say we are flying by the seat of our pants. So far…no worries. We like finding bargain camping where we can. We have stayed in state and national forest where we get senior discounts and, of course, … Continue reading Spelunking
In the early years of our country, frontier boatmen floated flat boats down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers with cargo to markets in Natchez and New Orleans. They would sell everything, including the logs that made the boats, and then return to the Ohio valley on foot. The path they took northward was a well … Continue reading Natchez Trace
No… we are not exploring the ancient ruins of the Aztecs. We did not fly away to Egypt to see the pyramids. We are still exploring the U.S. and traveling the highways with our camper. But we did discover a great pyramid and we did see the home of a king…”The King of Rock ‘n … Continue reading Kings and Pyramids
Leaving Kolomoki State Park, we began a 240 mile northwesterly journey. The first couple of hours we twisted and turned over a two lane country road. An on-again, off-again misty rain made it impossible to adjust the wipers causing me to constantly fiddle with the control. I hadn’t turned on the radio yet as I … Continue reading Rickwood Caverns
Flexibility is something we as RV travelers desire. Let’s say we love the place we are at and want to stay longer, or we hear about a great place nearby that we should go see. It’s the freedom to do what we want, when we want that drove us to travel in a RV camper … Continue reading Changing Directions
Bear Lake campground was really a very nice place. The sites were spacious and the views were gorgeous. The Blackwater Forest area had an abundance of things to do and see. Having no cellular service is a plus for someone seeking to just relax and unwind. I can see us returning someday to enjoy more … Continue reading Gulf Island National Seashore
The day after dropping Ivy off was a moving day. It was a little more than a two hour drive to our next campsite. We’re at site 23 in the Bear Lake campground in the Blackwater State Forest on a ridge overlooking the lake. There is a large oak tree for shade. The gravel site … Continue reading “No Service”
We were making preparations to leave our mooch-docking spot at our daughter’s. I had the camper hooked up to the truck and was making the final walk-around before pulling away when grammi came out with her eyes welled up. “What’s the matter?” I asked. “I’m about to cry” she replied. “Why are you going to … Continue reading A Last Minute Surprise
After days of preparation we stood there in our driveway in front of the camper and stared at each other. “Is that It?”, I asked grammi. “Are we ready to go?” “I think so”, she replied. We pulled away wondering what we may have forgotten. We weren’t too far down the road before we started … Continue reading The Birthday Party
The excitement is building. The time to go is near. Plans are being finalized. Reservations are being booked. There is a lot to consider when leaving your house for an extended period of time. There’s house-sitting, lawn care, mail collection, banking and bill pay, and the list goes on. There is so much to do. … Continue reading The Excitement is Building
The shades on the widows in the camper work very well. I woke up Sunday morning in the darkness of the camper feeling for my phone. I wanted to check the time. Holy Cow! It was 9:45. When have I ever slept that late in the morning? We wanted to check out around noon and … Continue reading Colt Creek State Park
It’s been a few years since we’ve been camping. However, stuck way in the far reaches of the attic were storage totes with all our old camping gear. We found some things we could use and started the task of organizing and loading the new camper. Grammi loaded the inside with dishes and utensils. She … Continue reading Maiden Voyage
We arrived at Lazydays on Thursday to pick up our new camper. We did a pre-delivery inspection and received a two hour explanation and demonstration on how to operate it’s systems. They installed a hitch and sway bar on our truck that was included with the purchase. We got a tour of the service department … Continue reading Taking Delivery
When our children were younger family vacations were camping trips. We would travel from our home in Florida to the Smoky Mountains or the Blue Ridge Parkway and places in between. We would load the minivan with camping gear and head out to “enjoy the great outdoors”. Each year we looked forward to those two … Continue reading The Day Has Arrived!
The Adventures of Grammi and Grampa 