The Freedom Rolling Blog
Travels Before the RV: Franconia Notch and the White Mountains
Most of us, when we take stock of ourselves, find that we have a “special place” where we like to go. It may be a city, a business, or even a parcel of nature. We here at Freedom Rolling have a special place where we have visited every year, and is one we hope to continue visiting for years to come: Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire.
Located along Interstate 93 and US Route 3, Franconia Notch State Park is a nature reserve in the White Mountains of New Hampshire along the Pemigewasset River. Some of its features include Cannon Mountain, Echo Lake, Flume Gorge, Lonesome Lake, and the Basin. It was also once home to the “Old Man of the Mountain”, a unique rock formation shaped like a man’s face. This formation has since collapsed, but a historic site dedicated to this once-standing formation continues to exist. The famous Appalachian Trail runs through part of Franconia Notch, making it a destination for drivers and hikers alike.
Franconia Notch State Park - Official Site
Nearby to Franconia Notch, whether for a day with nature or a chance to do some boondock camping, is White Mountain National Forest. Situated in both New Hampshire and Maine, White Mountain National Forest is home to many of the tall peaks of New England, including Twin Mountain, Mount Cabot, and the tallest point in New Hampshire, Mount Washington. Several other state parks also grace this area, including Crawford Notch, Jericho Mountain, and Grafton Notch in Maine.
White Mountain National Forest - Official Site
We first discovered this place by a bit of a happy accident during the early part of our dating in the fall of 2013. We had been talking about doing our first road trip for a while, but needed a destination. We knew that this was one of the few points along the Interstate Highway System that is still only two lanes, so we decided to head there. A few hours and a couple of states later, we arrived and chose to stop at the Basin. This is one of the most peaceful and tranquil locations either of us had visited, and is a common setting for many of our Christmas cards. But why stop in New Hampshire? We typically continue up to US Route 2, the Presidential Highway, to make our way to Maine to further enjoy White Mountain National Forest.
One trip was good, but why not make a return visit? Summer of 2014 saw our return to Franconia Notch and White Mountain National Forest, this time with a family dog in tow. Sadly, the pooch is no longer with us, but it was an absolute pleasure to take her to another part of the country, and also great to be in a family and pet friendly environment. Franconia Notch ended up also serving as a pre-honeymoon destination in 2015, and every year since then, around the time of late summer and early autumn, we find ourselves once again enjoying this location. Our pup has also been able to enjoy the Basin and the forest since adopting her in 2019.
The next time you’re in northern New England, why not give Franconia Notch and the White Mountain National Forest a try? And who knows, maybe it will become a special location for you on your travels. All you have to do is follow your internal compass.
WRITTEN May 05, 2021 at 02:00 PM
TAGS: before the rv, new hampshire, maine
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RV Essentials: Kitchen Needs
There are many essential items we will need for RV living, several being in the kitchen. We’re going to go in depth about what items we will bring, and what we think we will need on this journey of full-time RVing. We’ll go over each item we are bringing, and what purposes they have. With being full-time, we have to make sure we have equipment that serves multiple functions.
Instant Pot
The Instant Pot can do 7 functions in one appliance. We can make rice, pressure cook, sautée, stew, and other functions. We have made curry, short ribs, rice, and other stuff in it. It takes the place of the slow cooker.
Nu-Wave
The Nu-Wave is an induction hot plate which heats and cooks foods evenly. It is small and easy to store. We have pans that work on electric, gas, and induction, so this way we don't carry different sets of pots and pans. It also helps if we run out of propane to use on the grill, but still have electrical power.
Magic Bullet
This tiny magic blender works wonders. It is multi-purpose, which is a number one priority while RVing full-time. We love making milkshakes and banana smoothies. We also can make different sauces, ice cold mixed drinks, and even use it as a food processor.
Immersion Blender
The blender is good for blending hot soups or homemade red sauces. The attachments include a whisk which is great for whipped creams, pancake batter, or cake mixes. Also a small food processor that can chop onions, garlic, and even some soft spices and herbs.
Of course, there are certain utensils that are a must-have. We will definitely have measuring cups, some mixing bowls, cast iron pans, and also the grill!
If you have any comments or questions leave them below. Always remember to follow your internal compass!
WRITTEN May 04, 2021 at 07:34 PM
TAGS: rv living, equipment
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Traveling with your Fur Baby
RV living or camping with a pup can be difficult sometimes. In this article, we will give you some helpful hints and tricks that have been successful for us. Even the pup needs to be comfortable when it comes to traveling and sleeping.
Our pup is spoiled, but also what they call an elderly dog. If you meet her, you wouldn't even realize how old she is. She also has separation anxiety, which gets worse when we start to travel. She needs to be right next to us, which used to pose a problem when we had the Trailblazer. She is six years old, and we knew that it would be easier if she could be next to us. That problem was fixed when we purchased our truck. A bench seat works like a charm. When we took our first long trip in the truck, she did fabulous. No CBD chews were needed. She fell right asleep before we hit the second block. Yes, that is right, we use CBD chews for her. We try to be all natural with our pup.
Making the pup comfortable in an RV or tent will be quite different. When we had the tent, we needed to make sure that she couldn't escape out of it. We still made sure she was comfortable. We bought her a bed that is raised off the ground so she wasn't sleeping on a hard surface. Face it, no one wants to sleep on a hard surface, so why treat your pup any different? Now she will have her own bed, which is the couch. Of course, she will still have her raised bed for chilling at the campsite. Make sure they have their all time favorite toy. She has a dragon. She has had it for two years and hasn't wrecked it. We take it everywhere with us. It keeps her calm, and of course she plays with it, which keeps her occupied and out of trouble.
We make sure we carry two different foods for her. We carry her standard dry food, which is a limited ingredient diet food. She has massive allergies. Then, we also have soft food that has actual chunks of meat and veggies with us. Without soft food, we have noticed she will go days without eating if we let her. So that soft food is there for when we first arrive. Remember to have fresh water for them, and here is a hint: DO NOT let them drink out of the river, or any body of water, especially if they are not used to it. They could get sick, which is something you do not want to have to worry about.
Have your vet's number on file, and also the closest emergency vet's number. Our pup has some health issues, so I always make sure to know where the closest emergency vet is. You might be thinking, “Wow, she treats her pup like a child.” Well, she is like a child. She depends on us as a family to take care of her needs, whether it is us making sure her nutritional needs are met, or making sure that her health needs are met.
The other big thing to think about, when taking the pup or any pet to a campground, is making the reservations. Make sure 100 percent that they take the type of pet you have. Some campgrounds only allow dogs and cats, but not exotic pets, like birds or something along those lines. The other piece is making sure that they take your pup's breed. We as a family unit have to be careful with where we book, and make sure we are looking in the pet section of the policies. Our pup's breed is widely subjected to discrimination, so while looking at campgrounds, we need to make sure we really read the fine print.
Hopefully this article will help you and those fur babies. Remember to follow that internal compass!
WRITTEN May 03, 2021 at 12:00 PM
TAGS: rv living, pup
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Our Equipment! Part 1
We have acquired the soul of our RV adventure!
Stay tuned for more on our travels, and remember to Follow Your Internal Compass.
WRITTEN May 02, 2021 at 06:30 PM
TAGS: rv living, equipment
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Freedom Rolling Q&A
From time to time, we get questions about our RV adventure. Today, we'll be giving our answer to a few of those inquiries, and we'll be including more Q&A sessions from time to time.
- What made you guys decide to leave it all behind?
Living on the road is something we've had in the works since we got married, since road trips have been an integral part of our relationship. We were at an important crossroads in our lives a few years ago, deciding whether we would buy a house or live on the road. Sadly, career was viewed as important at the time, and job obligations required us to stay where we were, with a second job acquired to build up savings after buying the house. With neither of us having job obligations for our own reasons, we figure this is the best time to try something new.
- How will you get mail, packages, or anything important?
With most business affairs taking place online these days, a large chunk of the paper trail has been replaced. However, for the times something physical is needed, we'll be using a mail service. For full-time RVers, this also serves as the official domicile address for tax and registration purposes, and once we're comfortable with the lifestyle, we'll dive in as well. The service sends pictures of the mail and packages, and gives you the option to have it sent where you're either staying seasonally, or even a trusted friend or family member.
- If and when you have kids, how will you adjust and educate them?
Living with children on the road will have similar challenges that living with them at home have. As for educating them, they will be primarily home schooled to learn "the three R's". The good news is, on the road, hands-on education is much more practical, and they would have a much better chance at applying the knowledge they gain. The National Park Service also helps greatly with educational opportunities through their "Junior Ranger" program, of which we'd take full advantage. It is our hope that they will also have social interactions either with kids also camping where we will be, or even some locals in the area.
We'll have more questions and answers in the future, but until next time, remember to Follow Your Internal Compass.
WRITTEN Apr 29, 2021 at 06:00 PM
TAGS: qna
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Before the RV: Road Trips and Building a Relationship
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.
WRITTEN Apr 28, 2021 at 08:00 AM
TAGS: before the rv
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RV Living, Tent Camping, and Car Camping
As we progress toward the joy and comfort of RV Living, we remember the times we’ve camped in a tent, as well as sleeping in the back of a Chevy Trailblazer more than once. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of both Tent and RV camping, and how we expect it to change from place to place.
Tent camping is different than RV living. Tent camping is a lot of work with setting up and tearing down. We imagine the same will be true with RV living, but it might be a tad simpler in setting up and tearing down. When we mention tearing down, it is exactly as it is written: We tear down camp while making sure we are putting things back where they belong. Our tent is currently sitting on our porch with the fly out. Why, you may be asking? It was wet when we tore down camp last year. You shouldn't put a wet tent in the carrying bag, and that is something we hopefully won’t have to worry about when RV living, besides the awning. The good thing about tent camping is: If you want to camp someplace where there’s no room for a travel trailer or motor home, you’re able to do it. Also, it is super hard to take the pup tent camping with us. We can’t go to certain states where it gets warm, or even be able to go enjoy stuff without bringing her along. Do not get us wrong, we love bringing her places with us. But museums, restaurants, theme parks, and similar places frown upon taking her with us. I don’t know why, she is the cutest thing ever! Also, the weather really could cramp your style when tent camping. When it rains, it pours. Literally countless times, we have been soaked and couldn’t put our tent completely in the bag, or if we did, as soon as we got home, we pop up the tent and pray it dries before the next rains come.
We are getting ready for our RV living adventure where we can take the pup with us. So when we go someplace where she isn't allowed (sad face), she will be able to have the comforts of a house, but on the road. This means A/C, a nice comfy bed, and of course, her favorite food! We all enjoy the comforts of home, so we will need to make it home. Home is where our heart is, that has always been traveling and seeing the USA. We will need to learn how to tow the travel trailer, which doesn't seem awfully hard, but that backing up can be kind of a tricky thing. So that is something we are not used to doing. All we had to do was put some poles in some fabric and pop it up! Also, sleeping will be kind of a change. Currently, we have a king size bed. Even though we have a travel trailer now, we still have a smaller bed as if we were tent camping. That’s how it worked out; we have a smaller rig, but it will have the needs that we have right now. It will also be a lot easier to bring our nephews along if they want to camp with us. Last year, we brought one of our young nephews camping with us in a tent in bad weather. When we say bad weather, we thought the tent was going to collapse because of the wind and rain. We all stayed dry because of the tarp over us, but it was super crowded and uncomfortable, with no room to keep him entertained. Luckily now, all we have to do is go into the cabinet and pick out a board game for them to play!
When going between tent camping sites, and even before tent camping, we slept in our Trailblazer. Now sleeping in the car or SUV is actually frowned upon in many states. When we traveled before, we would try to get to our destination and set up as quickly as we could so we could enjoy the couple days we had. You know, that work thing we adults have to do always called us back way too early. So, the SUV was the perfect place to sleep before getting to the destination. All we had to do was move the bags up front, climb in the back where our futon was, and lay our heads for the night. You may be asking, “Well, where did you park?” The answer is: Truck stops were a saving grace. We would go in, grab a shower, fill up the tank, and then head back to the Trailblazer with the gas receipt in the window. We always practiced safe sleeping in the SUV. When we say safe sleeping, we mean that we had the windows cracked, the doors locked, and always made sure we had the keys readily available if we were asked to leave. Which only happened once, but we found another place nearby. One state, in particular, has strict rules on sleeping in your car while at a campground, and that’s Florida. So we always suggest calling or looking up the laws and regulations when in a state. We have camped in our tent in four different states: New York, Florida, Louisiana, and Washington State. Our favorite, by far, was Washington.
We hope, with this article, it gives you some information on Car Camping, Tent Camping, and RV Living. Drop us a comment if you have any questions or advice. And as always, we hope you continue to Follow Your Internal Compass.