Before the RV: Road Trips and Building a Relationship
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It takes a very special relationship to live on the road. At the time we first met each other, when she says, “I love to travel on the road but hate to be behind the wheel”, and he says, “I also love to travel on the road and I like to drive”, you know it’s going to be a good match. However, there’s much more to thriving on the road together than just desire.
Our first road trip came in October of 2013. Originally, we wanted to visit some family, but they weren’t available. We still had a few days together, so why not just go forward with the road trip? Our first major trip covered 11 states and nearly 2,100 miles over the course of 3 days. Although we enjoyed each other’s company on the road, one of the things we learned was that an aggressive driving schedule, limited stops, exclusive car camping in rainy weather, and semi-undesirable provisions wasn’t going to work. One thing to always keep in mind, though, is to not get discouraged. Couples are always going to have some sort of disagreement, and you have to sometimes find what doesn’t work in order to figure out what does.
Fast forward through dating, engagement, a wedding, and come 2015, we reach our next major road trip: Honeymoon in Vegas. Two weeks, 20 states, 5,400 miles, and nothing but love and the open road. This one involved a departure from our typical “camping” excursions, as we found ourselves renting motel rooms. It’s a special occasion, and the car camping wasn’t all that good, so let’s try the other extreme. The trip was packed with fun and excitement, including rain in the desert, a tornado forming nearby in the Midwest, and learning about how to adjust our bodies to both different time zones and altitude. We did learn that although the accommodations were nicer, camping was going to be more economical.
The year 2016 turned out to be a busy one in terms of road trips. First up was in June. This time, the family visits happened, but we wanted to get a few more states under our belts, so we decided to extend it. The trip became five days, 13 states, and nearly 3,000 miles. This trip was a bit of a milestone, in that it began our tent camping experiences. And no better way to start it than with a torrential downpour in the Louisiana bayou! With a knowledgeable wife when it comes to camping, though, we turned out just fine. Always make sure, when developing any sort of relationship, whether platonic or romantic, that the combined whole is greater than the sum of the parts. While there, we also were able to get to our first major sea, the Gulf of Mexico. Certainly a great place to visit if you get the chance.
No rest for the weary, though, as August brings another major road trip. Two weeks, 14 states, and over 6,500 miles! It was our first chance to visit the Columbia River Valley and the Pacific Northwest. And wouldn’t you know, with the reputation Seattle gets for their weather, it was sunny! This, however, is where we got our camping routine down to a science. Tent camping at the destination, and car camping on the way to and fro. We’re feeling like old seasoned pros. In addition to the valley, we were also able to experience Mt. St. Helens, driving around the impressive Mt. Rainier, and even getting to our second major sea, the Pacific Ocean.
Tack on a few day trips, another long one to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Space Coast in Florida, some semi-local tent camping excursions, and with no major fights, we’re ready to make our RV adventure happen! We look forward to you joining us, whether it’s in person, on our website and social media, or merely in spirit. And always remember: Follow Your Internal Compass.