Our first soul has been retired.
The Ford F150 has been sold. Although this truck was very good as a starter vehicle and allowed us to explore what we have thus far, it's the end of the road with us. Even with the tow package upgrade, she was still only able to pull about 6000 pounds. Although our present heart fits the bill, it won't last forever, and we need options to be able to get something a little bigger. Farewell, F150; may she serve another owner well.
Enter into Freedom Rolling's lives soul number two, a Dodge Ram 2500. With nearly double the towing capacity and already being setup to be able to take on a Fifth Wheel, she is a welcome addition to the Freedom Rolling family. The one major change to our basic expenses, though, is that we say goodbye to the relatively inexpensive unleaded gasoline, and hello to diesel fuel. There's still some need for gasoline with the generator so we haven't lost our spare completely, but diesel will bring some new challenges and new procurements, along with some options should we wish to find another rig.
So join us as we Follow our Internal Compass with our new found soul.
Do you want to keep driving south along the coast of Texas until you run out of this country? You're about to find a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow.
Welcome to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, or "RGV" as it is known locally. The RGV is one of the southernmost points in the Continental United States, second only to Florida. This section borders both the Rio Grande itself, which separates Texas from Mexico, as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Metropolitan areas on the United States side include Brownsville and McAllen, connected by the lowest highway number on the Interstate Highway System, Interstate 2. The RGV is accessible by several US highways, one of which is in the process of being upgraded to Interstate 69E, as part of the "NAFTA Superhighway".
While in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, one of the highlights of the trip will be a drive along Texas Highway 4 towards Boca Chica Beach. Along the route, catch a view of the Palmito Hill Battlefield. Fought during the War Between the States, this battle was unique in that it was fought after the southern generals had already surrendered in Virginia, yet their forces were able to claim victory. Head further down the road to see one of the newest and awe-inspiring developments: Starbase, Texas. Starbase is used to develop the SpaceX company's newest rocket at the time of writing, Starship. Although the road is closed during tests and launches, drivers will actually be able to drive right next to the development warehouses, the stacking high bays, the launch tower with test stands, and even see some of the rockets both retired from flight and presently in development.
If the rural life isn't your cup of tea and want something a little more bustling, head east from the highway to South Padre Island. Right along the Gulf of Mexico, this island community has built up to quite the resort destination, with high-rise condominiums and Winter Texans abound. See a dolphin or two as you take the bridge from the mainland, and park at one of the free day-use public accesses to spend time at the beach. On a clear day either on the island or along the Texas Highway 48 connector on the mainland, you may even be able to see the aforementioned Starbase and some of its activity from a safe distance.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you southbound, consider making a stop at the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
As of the time this article is written, it has been about a year and three-quarters since we've taken to living on the road. Now being more experienced on the road and figuring out what we want, it's time for some kitchen upgrades.
First thing's first, that kitchen sink. OK, so this one was slightly borne of necessity with a cold spell and unsuccessfully trying to drip. Don't worry, it wasn't the full sink itself, just the faucet. Those rigid sticks that can only spin back and forth just don't work well anyway, especially if you use a filtered water pitcher. So let's upgrade to a Project Source pull-down pre-rinse kitchen faucet. Not only is the water flow good, there's a spray feature, and the nozzle also comes off the mount to use just off the sink. Best of all, it's still of an appropriate size to fit into the small kitchen! Thanks to a couple of friends for helping us install this, too.
When you spend all this time on the road, you figure out what sort of things on which you want to chow down. After all, you can't live an entire life on hot dogs and s'mores with the more-than-occasional visit to the fast food joint. For us, having spent a lot of time in the south, partially thanks to one of our friends on trip 9, that has become smoked meats. Needless to say, with Christmas having been around the corner, we were able to procure ourselves a table top smoker from Buc-ee's. Some of you following us on social media may have seen us coming up with some creations on a smoker; who knows what will come next? As with everything, there's a bit of a learning curve to get it going, but we'll get there.
For the final upgrade we've made thus far, it's time for a new outdoor grill. This was once again borne of necessity, with our old grill having some propane issues, but it was really the setup of the grill itself that wasn't working all too well. Enter the Expert Grill Pioneer 28-inch Portable Propane Gas Griddle. After putting it together and seasoning the cast iron with avocado oil, this is bringing good times in cooking! There is a slight trade off in the lack of grill marks, but we'll leave you to judge that importance for yourself on social media. The larger cooking surface opens up many more options for what to make, there's no more having to fiddle around with water in an under-pan, and cleanup is a breeze.
There may be more kitchen upgrades down the road as we Follow our Internal Compass, so who knows what will come.
Cooking, cleaning, cr- Oh wait, we're not talking about the three "C"'s, but rather our wonderful adventures with the three bodies of water, or "seas", surrounding the Continental United States.
We begin all the way back in June of 2016, a random road trip in order to "mark off" more of the southern states. Staying a little east of Pensacola, Florida came the first experience of one of the seas surrounding this nation: The Gulf of Mexico. The first taste of the water was love that we fell in, and we mean that literally. It wasn't serious enough to abort the trip, as we had continued on towards Louisiana, but it does remain one of our favorite bodies of water, having spent a trip workamping there, albeit on a sound separated by the gulf by an island, but still a nice location. Those looking to check out the Gulf of Mexico will obviously know about the beaches of Texas and the west side of Florida, but don't count out the rest of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, as Alabama and Mississippi can be just as beautiful. Louisiana may be a bit on the swampy side in some places, but can be just as enjoyable as you head to the west.
Fast forward a few months to August 2016 and our second incredibly ambitious road trip across the country, this time to the northwest. One side trip to Long Beach, Washington met our second of the seas: The Pacific Ocean. When many think of the Pacific, they associate it with California, but once you cross the Cascade and Olympic ranges, you're in for quite the time. As the densely populated areas of Western Oregon and Washington are about 30-40 miles inland, the coast will seem off the beaten track, but that just makes for a more special and exclusive visit. Without all the hustle and bustle, you really have a chance to just sit back and enjoy yourself, perhaps even watch the sunset over the water. The Pacific might be a little bit of a trip depending on whether you're in Washington, Oregon, or even Northern California, but find US 101, and it is very much worth it.
It may come as a surprise that our third visited sea was the closest to where we were living at the time, and that's the Atlantic Ocean. One random day trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and not only do we get the third sea, but the vehicle that was used reached its 48th and final state in the Continental United States. Visiting the Atlantic can be a bit precarious, as Northern New England, especially Maine, is quite rocky, and the beaches of Atlantic City in southern New Jersey aren't all that well kept. However, spend a couple of hours on the beach, and you will find its incredible healing qualities for your body. It will be no wonder why so many say that they enjoy "long walks on the beach", and although it sounds a bit cliché, don't knock it 'til you've tried it. Along with the Mid-Atlantic, the Atlantic beaches of Florida and North Carolina are worth a visit. You can also find the Atlantic Ocean in Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
Will your Internal Compass bring you to one of the three seas of the country? Perhaps it's worth a visit for you.
Trip 11 is a bit of an odd duck for us, as we're considering several locations within the same state for this one. However, what was originally going to be two locations is now three, and potentially more.
Needless to say, we have had some really terrible luck once again with a workamping job at a campground. There was another change in direct reporting almost immediately after we arrived, and although this time we tried to stick it out for a safe place in the winter, it just wasn't meant to be. We won't go into details about what happened in order to protect the innocent, but at least there weren't any dramatics required. However just like trip 7, or any future trip involving workamping for that matter, we won't mention nor review the specific location, not only to protect the interests of those who utilize our services, but for the fact that a good review would be conceited, while a bad review would mean we didn't do well at our jobs.
On the bright side, and this is probably why we'll continue to consider campground jobs in the future, there are many wonderful people we met during our relatively short time at this location. They were very friendly and welcoming to all three of us with the Freedom Rolling crew. This has always been a great reward for us not only at the campgrounds, but at the other long-term workamping job that we had during trip 9. There are too many to mention by name, both human and canine, but we do sincerely hope that they are well, and that they are continuing to follow us by either the blog or one of our several social media outlets.
In the meantime, we are trying to stick around the same area because of local arrangements, albeit at a different spot or spots. The internal compass definitely wants to be here, but we'll see how long it lasts because it is a popular destination. At least once the months begin to pass, options open up as to where else to go, and we're already planning for the summer location. We'll find out together what happens in the future.
Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Day!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?!
Def'nitely not here...
'Cause it's over sixty degrees,
Leaves are still on the trees,
And white stuff on the ground has disappeared....
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,
Lights are on the rigs...
And the one thing you clearly smell,
As the barbecue grills swell,
Are products of pigs!
An hour to run at the beach is something they beseech,
As it is a great time to play;
Getting a broom and cleaning the rec room,
Is what truly fills out the day.
And people planning their next trip when it gets hot in May....
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?!
Def'nitely not here...
With the campers all in the pool,
Frozen drinks keep them cool,
While staffers drive some golf carts that they steer....
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas?!
Not a good benchmark;
But there isn't a need to strife,
For it is a way of life,
At the RV Park!
As full-time RVers living on the road, we can't move around and stay at gas stations all the time; eventually we must find somewhere to park. However, as we pull into an area, the debate begins: Do we go public, or private?
Public campgrounds are usually a great choice for the short-term stay. These usually come in the forms of state parks, county parks, and sometimes municipal or national parks. The prices are usually going to be a bit lower because these departments run by their respective government are non-profit organizations. However, they do come with some drawbacks. Usually you won't find all the site amenities a private park may have, and the park amenities may be limited. For example, if you receive mail from a service, you likely won't be able to have it delivered to you. Furthermore, they're typically limited to a short-term stay, with maximums anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month. These are great for the in-between.
Private campgrounds are another beast in and of themselves. They may have more amenities, but the prices will be slightly higher owing to the need to make a living. You have to be careful about the "fine print" when reserving, as some of the owners may be unscrupulous and seek to nickel-and-dime you. Most private campgrounds are very receptive to the full-time RVer, though. They'll be willing to let you stay for a month or two at a time provided you pay for electric, and they'll also have instructions on how to get your mail. Price isn't always bad, either, as they will partner with discount houses geared towards the RVer.
When it comes time for workamping, going public or private is also a question. With public, you're almost guaranteed to be working for site only, but the terms aren't always as long. Salaries are more likely, but are not always available, at private grounds. Sometimes, you may not even be staying in a campground at all. Some salaried positions will have you doing odd yet interesting jobs, such as managing a storage facility or selling Christmas trees. The possibilities are endless, and can also bring potential investment ideas to not give yourself passive income, but to give a chance for other prospective full-time RVers to live this life.
So whether it's public or private, both have their advantages and should be considered as you Follow your Internal Compass.
Trip eleven saw yet another campground visit. About an hour north of Houston just outside the city of Livingston lies Rainbow's End Park, a sponsored private campground where a four-night stay was had.
Grounds: Rainbow's End is a few miles outside the city of Livingston as a rural community. The term "community" is used because, along with the campsites, there are a number of privately owned "deeded lots" interspersed across the grounds that look to be owned by RVers and are part of a homeowner's association of sorts. If you're looking to use a boat, Lake Livingston is about 15-20 minutes away.
Sites: The park has over 175 sites able to be rented by travelers to the area. Online reservations were found to be difficult, and we had to call in the reservation. The majority of the sites are back-in, though there are some that are pull-thru. Nearly all of the sites have full hook-up, varying between 30 or 50 amp maximum electric depending on the site, with a couple of "dry" spots. The pads are sand and fine pebbles, while being reasonably level when dry. Our site was located in the wooded area, though there are some that are more open. The sites in this part of the campground are tightly packed without much room outside.
Staff: Of the staff seen, most were fairly friendly, although the check-in person seemed a bit hurried. Some of the signage they placed around the park bordered between being comical and being over the top. We had no issues that needed to be rectified, so no information on maintenance quality.
Amenities: Rainbow's End is unique for its amenities in that not only are they shared between campers and homeowners, but in that most are geared towards the park's sponsor, whose national headquarters is at this place. The bath houses have squeegees inside the showers with expectations for the women (but not the men) to "squeezee" the walls, however the laundry facilities nearby have some of the cheapest prices ever. The pool was closed during our visit despite warm temperatures, but the dog parks are spacious and well kept.
Atmosphere: The other campers were relatively friendly for the most part. The park is geared towards an older clientele, with amenities and activities planned in accordance. Hardly any families were seen, and no playgrounds exist.
Overall, Rainbow's End Park receives a 7 rating out of a possible 10. The price paid is dependent on membership, and although it is competitive with parks in other parts of the country, it isn't the best value for the young full-time RVer. If you're a member of the sponsoring club, this is a great spot for a couple nights, if only just to take care of administrative business.
On today's adventure through Texas, we take you to... ...a convenience store chain. However this place isn't your run-of-the-mill off-the-highway gas station.
Welcome to Buc-ee's, one of the most beloved brands in Texas. Bu-cee's first started by Arch Aplin in 1982 as a modest convenience store in Lake Jackson, about an hour south of Houston. Since the turn of the century, the company has seen a significant growth increase, both in terms of locations and physical size of the stores. It is not uncommon today to see a Buc-ee's with dozens, or even hundreds, of gas pumps, as they also boast of having the cleanest restrooms, according to a Cintas study. As of the time this was written, the chain holds two world records: Largest convenience store at its New Braunfels location, and Longest car wash at its Katy location. Locations today are found not only in Texas, but other places in the south and midwest.
As you walk into Buc-ee's with its beaver logo, you see a massive amount of retail space with rows upon rows of product. Alongside the traditional offerings you'd see on the shelves of a convenience store, be on the lookout for the wall of jerky. Dozens of flavors adorn both the wall and the display islands around the store, ensuring everyone has something they enjoy. As you head towards the coffee and prepared foods stations, you may hear the staffers yelling, "Brisket on the board!" The center station has several workers preparing fresh barbecue brisket sandwiches for you to enjoy. Be sure to grab a bag of "Beaver Chips" on the side. In fact, you'll see several "Beaver" products in the store, as a tribute to the founder's childhood nickname, "Beaver".
As with any pit stop, a restroom break may be needed. As you walk towards these facilities, check out the legitimate artwork on the wall from local artists. As everything seems to be bigger at Buc-ee's, the restroom is large with individualized stalls. Once out, you'll find that Buc-ee's is much more than a convenience store, as they have all sorts of different odds and ends, from camping and grilling supplies, to branded home decor merchandise. Who knows? Maybe you'll be able to upgrade your small camp stove to a portable wood smoker.
So the next time you're driving around Texas, Follow your Internal Compass right on over to Buc-ee's.
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