As of the day this is published, we celebrate yet another birthday. However, which host is it?
Miles the Chug Terrier has completed one full revolution of the sun on this earth! For the uninitiated, "Chug Terrier" is a portmanteau of his mix of breeds: Chihuahua, Pug, and Rat Terrier. He became a part of the Freedom Rolling family in June of 2021, just after completing Trip 1. Our other fur baby at the time, Maggie, was feeling a bit depressed and lonely, needing a friend in her life. When we first acquired Miles, he was all of two pounds, and you could hold him in the palm of your hand. Watching him hop around the front yard brought joy to our lives as he trained himself up for our upcoming adventure. Maggie was a great teacher to Miles, as he was able to learn life skills, including the service which he continues to provide our hosts to this day.
Miles' first adventure came in the form of Trip 2, the only trip involving all four of us. Although still a little small to be able to get in and out of the trailer on his own, it was his first encounter of what "home" would be. By now, he was able to be collared and leashed, with everyone enjoying walks on the grounds. As he grew, he started to become a sensation on Freedom Rolling's Social Media pages. Many flocked to our sites to see the Chug Terrier in action. He really became a TikTok star! More training and growing, and with finally being able to get up our old porch on his own, he was now ready to be on the road! Even the first time we went "home" for good, the start of Trip 3, he made it up and down those trailer steps.
One year after being born, and he is the bona fide star of Freedom Rolling! He is coveted in person by people in at least eight states, and potentially more with his online following. He's absolutely in love with playing in the water, whether it be the streams at Franconia Notch in New Hampshire, the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, or his own personal play pool we got him in Missouri. Just seeing his joy when using the hose at our workamping job in Arkansas is such a happy moment. He has since grown to 15 pounds, and we are blessed to have a healthy fur baby with us on this adventure. He gets plenty of opportunity to interact with other pups, whether it's customers stopping by at the workamp, or at the dog park in town. This playful little boy has a great life, and he seems to be very much enjoying it himself.
So happy birthday, Miles the Chug Terrier. You help to orient our Internal Compass just as much as the natural world around us, and here's to many more years of joy and happiness.
Another anniversary is upon us. No, it's not a celebration of 247 days on the road as of the day this is published, although the slightly quixotic nature one can develop in this life may make you think of that, since we do experience this 24/7.
No, it was actually one year ago that we started giving full-time RVing serious consideration. The idea of full-time RVing hasn't been a foreign idea to us. Ever since we first met, we've spent our lives on the road. Sure, we had a couple home bases, but always wanted to be out there exploring the country. Even during our corporate days, preliminary talks of all-remote work gave us a chance to think this lifestyle could be a possibility, though the idea was quickly nixed by the corporate board, so we were stuck. We did our best to make do with what we had, building a life as best we could while curtailing outside pressures. However, with the further suffocating nature of the location to where we were tied at the time, coupled with the accurately perceived closing of corporate chapters in our lives, along with the collapse of depreciating possessions around us, it was definitely time to figure out a new path.
Full-time RVing, as is documented by many in the life including us, isn't exactly something into which you can just jump at the snap of a finger. Have a plan going in, even if it all goes haywire once you're on the road and have to make a few adjustments. Assuming you're not of retirement age, unless you're taking a corporate life with you, which is becoming less likely due to their demands of you being stationary yet citing "service reliability", you're going to be self-employed. Have a "rock" on which to base yourself, and then expand from there. We can still remember driving towards a nature preserve thinking about what the name of our travel brand would be. Miles of word association happened before we finally clamored upon what you see today, "Freedom Rolling". We start with a website and a blog, expand to social media, and who knows what sort of other ventures we'll try.
Looking back at the actual transition, it really hearkens unto us why we chose the name "Freedom Rolling" in the first place. The "Rolling" part is somewhat obvious, since we're living on the road, we'd be "rolling" across the country. However, the "Freedom" part is really the interesting one. Our original plan was to try this out for two months, see if we like it, and then make it a permanent choice. However, when you own a house, especially in a location that has a zoning board enforcing insane ordinances that basically prohibit you from traveling for more than a week in the summer, two months became two one-week spans. Take the time to take stock in your current situation. How "free" do you want to be, and how does that fit with where you are now? For us, if we're not tied to a location, that's our freedom. It does come with its own sacrifices, just as any life does, but you figure it out as you go forward.
Take some time and listen to that internal compass. One year ago, the opportunity arose for us to follow it, and it may soon do the same for you.
Calling all aspiring spelunkers! Time to grab your head lamps and head to Southwestern Missouri for a unique experience and opportunity.
Just north of Springfield, Missouri lies Crystal Cave. Like many of these natural wonders, these caves have been developed for thousands of years. Situated on property owned by the Mann family, Crystal Cave became one of the oldest caves to be a tourist destination in Missouri, dating all the way back to 1893. A fun family outing for many years, and after generations of ownership including both family and trusted friends, as well as varying levels of commitment to upkeep, Crystal Cave was recently purchased and rehabilitated to once again become a place to experience.
While at Crystal Cave, take one of the hourly guided tours of the inside of the cave. Pass through some of the locally repurposed fencing and gates before entering the awe-inspiring first room. While inside, be sure to visit many marvels such as the Upside-Down Well, the Cathedral Chamber, and one of the most exciting, Jacob's Room. See a number of Helictite features within these caves, which are similar in location to stalactites, but come in a formation similar to a corkscrew, believed to be a result of the soil above. Although the cave is not easily accessible to those with limited mobility, features have been added by the present ownership to make the chambers easy to traverse for even the largest sized of guests.
If some of those in your party are claustrophobic, or you're waiting for your tour of the cave to begin, never fear, because the Crystal Cave property has plenty more to go around. Take a ride on a small train through the grounds, learning about the area. Step inside the gift shop and play a nine-hole round of mini-golf. Experience some of the nostalgic game machines found in the penny arcade. Perhaps pan for some gems and fossils as you sift through the dirt to find these treasures. Or just view and read about the history of Crystal Cave and the surrounding area. Plenty of choices await you when you visit.
So the next time your internal compass takes you underground, follow it into Crystal Cave. Nature will be your teacher as you re-charge yourself through exploration.
Is your internal compass telling you to go west? Want a lovely mix of scenic and urban life? Perhaps the Pacific Northwest, and the Columbia River Valley, is for you.
Serving as the border for much of the states of Oregon and Washington, the Columbia River is one of the largest tributaries west of the Rocky Mountains. Take a drive along Interstate 84 east of Portland on the Oregon side, and you'll pass through the towns of Cascade Locks, Hood River, and the Dalles. Hop off the highway around the area of the Columbia River Gorge and visit the numerous waterfalls. Take Scenic US Route 30 and head through the hills to find even more breathtaking views. If wineries are your thing, not only does Oregon have dozens of locations to offer, but head across the river along State Route 14, the Lewis and Clark Highway, in Washington for several more. The "Bridge of the gods" in Cascade Locks is one of the options to cross the river, along with a couple free options to the east.
Perhaps the amazing mountains of Washington are what you seek. Head north as the river bends in that direction, and bring yourself to Castle Rock, Washington. Castle Rock is the town standing at the foothills of Mount St. Helens, famous for its volcanic eruption in 1980. Drive along State Route 504, and you'll be able to see the forests and how they we re affected by the lava flow, on your way of Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Several stops along the way give a chance to view history of the area, both before and after that fateful eruption. While on that "mountainous" crawl, check out Mt. Adams to the east, as well as the over 14,000-foot behemoth to the north, Mount Rainier. Visit the National Park for the largest mountain of the state, or drive around to see this glorious peak from all angles.
Heading back to the river, time to head further west to the river's mouth, and the Pacific Ocean. US Route 101 spans the river not too far off the coast. To the Oregon side, Astoria awaits, home to the Columbia River Maritime Museum. On the Washington side, head towards the town of Ilwaco and Cape Disappointment. If you're not into something too rocky, then just a little north won't be too much of a disappointment, as plenty of beaches lie along this peninsula to be able to enjoy the ocean. If the animals call out to you, visit the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, where migratory birds call home for part of the year.
If your internal compass tells you to head northwest, then the Columbia River Valley is not one to miss. You may just find it to be one of the best places you have ever visited.
So you've finally decided to take the plunge to go full-time RVing. You left a nice office or retail job, all this great work experience, and you think it might help. Time to throw all of that out the window, because you're in for a fun time.
When you're on the road, in order to make ends meet, you'll find that you're going to be doing just about everything. If you're a jack of all trades and master of none, this lifestyle is perfect. If you're a master of something, though, you'll end up becoming a jack of all trades in no time flat. Your corporate life isn't a complete waste, though, because you can at least use those experiences to better what happens around you, especially when it comes to workamping. Transition will be tough, but after a while, you can make it work. Plus, when looking for workamping jobs, the more you have under your belt, the better.
What sort of odd jobs might you encounter on the road? Everyone and their mother says they're an RV mechanic, even if it means they changed a tire on their rig a couple years ago. Vehicle maintenance is usually the big one. Sometimes, you may find yourself with other odd jobs. You might find yourself replacing electrical outlets at the business where you're parked. Heck, you may even be erecting a barbed wire fence around a facility in the middle of what would otherwise be winter. You name the odd job, and there's probably someone out here that has done it.
If there's one thing that is definitely worth bringing along for your RV adventure, it's a good set of tools. Almost assuredly you'll use each one within the first month, and within a couple more, will be replacing bits and blades. Even the stuff you don't think you might need, like an angle grinder or reciprocating saw, have one for yourself. A good company will help reimburse you for the consumable tools, and although they may prefer you to use theirs first, it's understandable if you're more comfortable with the power and capability of your own stuff.
Following your internal compass isn't an easy life, but you'd be surprised at what you learn to do out there on the road, and what you can put to good use.
As of the time of writing this, several places around the world have seen truck convoys criss-cross their respective countries. In a way, they're doing their own version of travel and boondock. In the RV world, this is a way of life going from place to place, and our ways aren't that much different, especially after lessons learned.
There are two incredibly important consumables when on the road or out in the wild. The first, and probably most important, is water. It's required for the body to function properly, and is the main culprit for these sorts of events ending prematurely. Under general circumstances, you want to plan for one gallon of drinking water per person, per day. You'll have a little wiggle room for hot and muggy weather, where you'll consume at least double what you normally do, but a few extra gallons wouldn't hurt should those days be in the forecast. Remember that water is relatively weighty, so keep this in mind when positioning everything. Also keep in mind that this is on top of any water in your "potable" tank that you carry, and would use for boiling, dishwashing, cleaning, and other applications you may take for granted. You might not use much during strict travel days, but always good to have and not need, than not have and need.
The second most important consumable is an obvious one, and that's fuel. Stories came during the aforementioned convoy activities about providing diesel to those participating. When in the RV, propane is one of the most important fuels, but also gasoline and, in some cases, diesel fuel. Sure, you'll need to power a truck or motorcoach, but what about a generator for appliances? Not everything runs off 12-volt direct current, and batteries only last so long. Maybe carry an extra tank or two with you. Also remember, when traveling, you use more fuel when you have to pull more behind you, so keep that in your plans, and also have that reserve, using it only if you're stuck in the middle of nowhere.
There's one other "consumable" to keep in mind, especially when traveling, but it's not exactly something you directly pack. It's the energy within your own physical body. Travel takes its toll on every person, whether you're driving the rig, sitting next to the driver thumbing through large books of maps, or kicking from the back seat shouting, "Are we there yet?!" Really figure out not only how much you can do in a day, but how many consecutive days you can do that. When you're boondocking, consider what you'll be doing during the day. How much energy will that take out of you? Can you fit in a sort of "rest day"? Finding your limits can take practice, and you probably won't get it right the first couple of times, but eventually you learn your needs and can plan around them.
When following your internal compass, be prepared for what you consume, and what you wish to use. Never take anything for granted, plan for more than what you think you need, and be ready for the adventure that awaits you.
To go full-time RVing, whether alone or with a family, you already have to be slightly crazy. However, after a few months, especially with outside dependencies who have pre-determined the "acceptability" of this lifestyle, or lack thereof, it can drive you absolutely insane. So how do you keep your sanity?
One of the main drivers of insanity as a full-time RVer is space. Is it really the amount of space you carry with you, or merely the perception of the same? Sure, the home is much smaller than your typical suburban house, and because people have grown so accustomed to the castle, it's all you might see. Once you step outside the four walls, you begin to see the space you truly have. Millions of square miles surround you, and it is your oyster. Some of the most prominent people in history have been explorers. Sure, people thought they were crazy, but it was those four walls that made them that way. You might not have a paragraph about which your descendants read in the fifth grade, but maybe you won't become insane by feeling trapped.
With the space comes the proximity to the family. Let's face it, with a moving home and a single vehicle, you're going to be with your family a LOT. It doesn't matter how well you got along before you packed it all up, either, because being around each other for that long will drive you bonkers. So how do you make it work? Figure out a way to have some "alone time". Take different jobs for workamping, different schedules, or even different locations. Maybe one person is outside "the walls" while another person is inside. Most importantly with doing this, though, is to make sure the time is respected. If you're calling the other every half hour, are you really giving them that space?
One other important thing, and it even applies if you full-time on your own, is to give your body a chance to relax. Just like the stationary lifestyle, a delicate balance between work and play is needed. You may have decided to get into the RV to "re-tune" yourself. Give yourself that chance! Nature provides plenty for you to be able to do this. Sure, one set of issues may have been traded in for another, but the fear of them becoming overwhelming doesn't have to burden you. Take a little time, gather yourself, and then you'll be able to have more focus and concentration on what needs to be done.
Following your Internal Compass no longer has to become a nightmare of insanity. There are plenty of ways to re-focus yourself, and it will become something to enjoy for a lifetime.
For some, it's part of the summer pastime of grilling. For us full-time RVers, it's our life blood. We're using propane grills almost every night, propane stoves on the others, and powering some of our appliances with propane when not hooked to electricity. How can you, whether in one place or on the move, keep your propane needs in tip-top shape?
Let's take a look at that propane canister. If you have a built-in tank on a motor home, you have a gauge, so things are fairly easy. Disposable canisters are nice, but if you're doing more than a weekend trip to the woods, you're probably not using those. In camping stores, you might see those stick-on measurement tools to tell you how much is in your tank, but you don't need to waste your money on those, especially when they only sometimes work if you've used your tank, and then it's almost never accurate. Instead, grab a bathroom scale and weigh your tank. You may have seen some of those markings on the top lip and thought it was Greek, but never fear, because Freedom Rolling is here to decipher it for you!
First important marking on your tank will be marked "TW". This stands for "Tare Weight", or in other words, the weight of the actual tank itself if it were completely empty. Second weight measurement that is important is marked either "WC" or "WCW", depending on the manufacturer. This is your "Water Content Weight", which is how much water would weigh if it were to fill your tank. "But wait a second, water isn't propane!" Well, to figure out how much is "full", we take 42% of the water content. If you don't have a calculator, it's pretty easy: Cut the number in half, and then subtract from that the original water content number with the decimal point moved to the left one place, and you have a safe approximation of 40%. If your hose is still hooked when you weigh the tank, you'll have to take that into account as well, but that's usually only a couple of pounds.
After you've used up your propane, or you're getting low, just like the gasoline in your truck, it's time to fill. Those cages in front of the general store may seem tempting, but you'll want to stay away from them most of the time. They are notorious for short-filling their tanks below the legal limit and selling the exchanges per canister at a high markup. Instead, find a place that will fill your tank to the legal 80% limit, and preferably by the gallon. There are many privately-owned campgrounds that will do this for you, even if you're not staying there. Household propane retailers will usually also sell this, as will some big-box warehouses, though they charge by the canister rather than the gallon. Prices vary as you go, but a 20 pound tank usually goes for about 4.5 gallons of liquid propane. It's only able to fill 80% because liquid propane greatly expands when the tank is in the sun, and could burst the tank if it's filled any higher.
Before you take your tank to fill, there's one more marking to look at on it, and that's the manufacture date, listed as month and two-digit year. In most cases, a tank needs to be re-qualified after 12 years, or sooner if it's been beaten up quite a bit. Sometimes, there's an additional date on the tank itself for re-qualfication, the length of allowed time varying based on the type. You could find a DOT-licensed re-qualifier, especially if it's a larger tank and there isn't much noticeable rust damage. However, this is the one time where the cages at the general store may not be a bad idea. Examine the tanks before you purchase the exchange. If you can find one for the same size and manufactured within the last 2-3 years, then the short-fill unit cost could be offset by what it'd take to re-qualify and fill your old tank, and it might be worth it to you to have a tank you can use for the next decade.
Never have any more fuel fears as you follow your internal compass. Keep your propane tanks full and happy, and you'll be ready to have the time of your life.
Every time to travel to a new state, whether or not you're RVing, you might look at your surroundings and think, "Hey, that's an interesting idea!" or "Why would they do such a thing?!" Well, here's some of the things we've found on the road that were a bit interesting, at least at the time we went there.
You look down at the road, and the pavement abruptly changes without any signs of new construction. That's right, you've crossed a state line. Sometimes, even the markings are drastically different. Take crossing the border between Missouri and Arkansas. The solid yellow lines in Missouri are so close together, you could probably barely fit a quarter in between. Once Arkansas hits, the lines end up quite a bit wider with the rumble strip in between, so you don't feel like you're going to clip someone driving right by you. One other blatantly obvious state line difference is in California, and whether or not you have to visit their "agricultural checkpoint" (it's not on every road, but they're quite serious about people importing fruits, vegetables, and ferrets), you begin to see the "Call Box" every now and again. It may seem archaic in the cell phone area, but the state is quite mountainous, so you never know when service will drop.
The state line change isn't the only thing; some states will have quirks of their own. Consider Texas, where along just about every interstate highway, you have one or two frontage roads. When the system was developed, these roads became a sort of compromise between the "express" needs of the highway, but locals not wanting to lose their businesses. This gave rise to the "Texas Diamond" interchange in populated areas, where the driver goes from "express" to "frontage" before getting to the major intersection with dedicated U-turn lanes. In speaking of "highways", Vermont has something quite interesting in their "super-two" highways. A "super-two" is a two-lane limited access highway commonly found in the Northeast with limited space, and usually does not permit passing, similar to a wider highway. However, Vermont uses the "super-two" as a workaround to speed limits enacted as a response to the National Maximum Speed Law from the 70's (since repealed in 1995), so they allow passing as with any other state's typical two-lane rural roads.
Traffic statutes and related patterns also have some interesting quirks as well. Florida's traffic signals are almost exclusively horizontal, as opposed to the vertical ones you find in other parts of the country. In Southern Missouri, they very much enjoy using right-turn yield ramps at intersections to limit stops that would otherwise use emissions. In speaking of right turns, although there was a nationwide push to allow right turns on a red signal after a full stop, New York City remains the only place in the country where turns on red are forbidden by statute. Be careful about left-on-red with those one way streets, as there are a few states that still don't permit it. Enjoy the higher speed limits one state beyond west of the Mississippi and east of the ocean, but remember they're still lower elsewhere. And although you should obey the traffic laws of all states, be especially prudent in Virginia, as radar detectors are illegal, fines are insanely high (reckless driving misdemeanor for 10-over on the interstate), and some jurisdictions don't let you plea by mail.
So while you Follow your Internal Compass, take some time to marvel at the interesting quirks of the road networks in each state you pass.
When we say to "Follow Your Internal Compass", many equate this to a spiritual journey. Almost anything can be defined as spiritual, though. What about someone's religious morals? How does one "keep their faith" while on the road?
When you're a full-time RVer, basic literature is not that bad of a thing to bring along. Just a simple book of scripture is all it takes, whether it's the Holy Bible passed down from your grandparents, or perhaps another book of teachings passed down or found in a store for your religion of choice. When you find a place to park, whether it be for a night or longer, drag that book out and go through some of it, even if it's a couple chapters. It might take a while to get through the whole thing, and maybe you'll want to skip around from time to time. It's all about your journey in discovering your faith. Plenty of religious groups are also distributing small magazines at no cost to you, and there's also radio stations and podcasts dedicated to this topic, so give those a try.
Religion is more than just prayers, readings, and a few old hymns; it's also about community building. This is probably the most difficult part of your faith to keep while on the road. Most of our personal interactions are only temporary, as we'll move on after a short time. Even if you devoutly follow one particular sect of faith, one congregation could be vastly different from another, so you can't always depend on that. Social media is certainly there to keep in touch with like-minded people, but they aren't always there to help you on day-to-day activities. At the end of the day, if you're a family traveling, the best moral guidance you'll have is with each other.
We know what some are thinking: "Why is another Bible thumper lecturing me about this topic?!" This is what comes to mind when you sell off the roots and go out into the world with your home in tow. For some people, it makes them question their faith. Is Sunday morning more than just filling a pew and throwing a dollar in the bowl? Is there something to all that stuff they were preaching about? Rather than grounding yourself in land or structure, you find something much more personal, much more meaningful. We don't receive direct answers from our faith, but it's a good start to figure out where to go.
Following your Internal Compass doesn't have to lead to despair. Just keep the faith in whatever you believe, and you will find yourself prosperous in your journey.
Copyright 2021-25 Freedom Rolling.
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