When you embark on a journey such as this, there are both things and loved ones you may leave behind. When you do, you may have to return to come face to face with some closure, which is what Freedom Rolling has sadly had to do. When these sorts of things happen, especially unexpectedly, you may find yourself making long trips without the RV. Here's some tips on how to make this happen.
First, remember when we talked about emergency planning? This is one of the times where it's going to come into play. You'll be using that "go bag" and other provisions. You might need a few extra things, such as dress clothes for a slightly-more-formal event, and hopefully you kept some when you first packed. Thankfully, there's going to be enough time to get these together, so you don't have to rush. However, because you were ready, you'll find the extension of the trip much less stressful than it already is.
Remember taking a look at the route and your packing and timing? Once again, chance has favored the prepared mind. Figure out what's going to work best for you. A thousand miles in one shot (or at least something close to that) might sound doable going there, but not necessarily so much so coming back. Do you even drive it? Public transportation (i.e. trains and planes) may sound like a possibility, but you must also consider the route, especially when certain cities may not be a very good place to be. If you do drive it, and it's probably the least expensive of the options... Are more than one person able to drive, and are they all comfortable with the route? When you reach a destination, it's certainly something to keep in mind, especially if where you need to be is on the opposite side of the country.
The other obvious thing to consider is where you happen to start. Will you be allowed to leave the heart for what could potentially be a couple weeks? Do you need to pay extra camp fees? Are you going to be effectively forced to bring your RV along, further complicating matters? There have been horror stories out there about RVs being declared "abandoned" because no one's there for a while, and just like that the home is gone. Be sure to take that into consideration as well, because not everyone will be able to drive heavy, and you won't be able to go as far as you would in a day without the rig.
So if you're Following your Internal Compass and something comes up, never fear, because you'll be ready to handle it.
Looking for a nice breakfast spot? Try this place on for size.
Welcome to Papa Pete's, Home of the Giant Pancakes. Papa Pete's is located along the Molly Stark Trail (State Route 9) near Bennington, Vermont. Travelers heading into or out of New England while looking to route their way around Bennington won't miss this conveniently located place. The building itself is a bit on the small side with limited parking if they're busy and you happen to be towing your home. Though they've since limited their hours to mornings from Thursday to Sunday as of the time of writing, it is going to be worth the wait even if they happen to be crowded.
When Papa Pete's says they are Home of the Giant Pancakes, they aren't joking around. Instead of a traditional plate, these pancakes will be served to you on a pizza pan. As for utensils, you can forget that knife that comes with traditional flatware, as they'll provide you with a pizza cutter. Naturally, because you're in Vermont, the pride of the state in pure maple syrup is included. They do have a "full stack" challenge of three pancakes if you dare, although some of us have difficulty with two. Even if you're not in the flapjack mood, there are plenty of other breakfast options available.
Overall, Papa Pete's brings great food and great value to the table. We found this place by accident, but were glad we did. Granted, our last visit was prior to the drop in hours so the lunch menu items likely won't be available, but it's still worth a return trip with the friendly staff. Even if you want to try their challenge, it's not going to break the bank, unlike some of the other popular "pig out" locations across the country. They do take pride in their cooking means, and it shows in the taste of their food.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you to New England, give Papa Pete's a try.
Looking for a good burger? Try this place on for size.
The next time you head to Billings, Montana, make a stop at The Burger Dive. First opened in 2010 by Brad Halsten, the Burger Dive has been the quintessential place to find a good burger while driving along Interstate 90. While there, choose from a variety of burgers, fries, and milkshakes, along with a few other options that may be to your liking. The Burger Dive has won several awards both locally and nationally, including Best Burger at the World Food Championships in 2016. Television foodies may recognize this place from one of their favorite food documentary programs.
We had made two visits to this place way back in 2016, before the burger award was given, as part of our trip to the Pacific Northwest. The inside of the restaurant had a bit of a "retro" feel to it, but unlike similar major chain restaurants, had its own unique stamp. It was a convenient lunch stop both times, but the very good quality of burgers that made us want to stop again on the way back.
The awards that The Burger Dive received are definitely well deserved, and we can see why they attracted the attention of a food documentary program. From what we understand about this place, the popularity has risen immensely to where our judging of visit would be unfair from then to now, the prices have doubled since the last time we were there, and there were newspaper rumors of a change in location within the city. If it's anything like what we experienced then, this will be a terrific place to have another great burger.
So next time you're driving through Montana, Follow your Internal Compass right to The Burger Dive.
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.
If you've ever driven the highways of South Dakota, even so much at the point of barely crossing the border, there's one place you'll see advertised time and time again.
Welcome to Wall Drug, an iconic oasis in the middle of South Dakota. Situated along US 14 and Interstate 90, this place has become a popular stopping point for motorists going between Rapid City and either Pierre or Sioux Falls. Wall Drug began as a simple drug store founded by Ted Hustead in the 1930's. With a simple drug store in a fledgling town suffering from the depression, and Mrs. Hustead unable to sleep from all the tourists driving by, she decided to try something different to help the business. Why not offer them free ice water so long as they stopped at Wall Drug in the hopes of purchasing something else? To help, she made several roadway signs spelling out a "jingle" to attract the drivers. The rest, they say, is history.
Today, Wall Drug is still very much an icon of pride for the city of Wall, the state of South Dakota, and just about anyone seeking to travel this country by road. The drug store still exists, and the backyard is still offering free ice water, although it is now self-served. Several more merchants have brought their western-themed wares to turn Wall Drug into a bustling plaza attracting thousands of tourists daily from all across the country. Perhaps check out the large dinosaur as you enter the city from the east. Have a bite to eat in their restaurant. Check out the shops both within Wall Drug and across the car parking street. Let the children play for a bit in the Wall Drug Backyard at the center of the plaza. Perhaps stop at the chapel for a moment of prayer and reflection. Even if you're only filling up a jug with free ice water, there's something for everyone.
The City of Wall is approximately 50 miles east of Rapid City, 300 miles west of Sioux Falls, and 117 miles southwest of Pierre. As you drive that way, be sure to check out all the different hand painted billboards, from various offerings at the store to how they have been featured on national media. Even the international public have taken themselves to creating their own homemade signs showcasing the distance to Wall Drug, many of which can be found on the walls of the building near the Wall Drug Backyard. The city is so aptly named because of the "wall" seen to the south, otherwise known as Badlands National Park. The city does have an assortment of other amenities, although the drug store is what has placed Wall SD on the map.
So the next time you're Following your Internal Compass, don't despair if the road seems long. Make a stop at Wall Drug.
Once again in a new series, time to hit the links and throw some discs. What, discs you say? Not clubs and balls? What sort of sorcery is this?
Many parks today are placing disc golf on their grounds. For the uninitiated, this combines then fun of throwing a Frisbee or similar brand disc with the challenge of a golf course. Mind you, a typical Frisbee-brand disc is not used in playing, as there are specially made discs made for all different sorts of distances and curves for any throw you wish to make. Instead of your traditional hole you'd see in golf, the "hole" is a metal bowl-like structure with suspended chains above, all mounted on a short pole or hung from a tree. Hazards range from tall grass to tree branches and trunks, and sometimes a small stream. The course length is a bit shorter because throwing the disc covers less distance than hitting a ball, but there's a good amount of ground to cover for a full 18-hole course.
We first tried disc golf a few years before getting the RV. Picking up a good deal on a starter pack of discs at the Mall of America during one of our road trips, between hectic work schedules, home improvements, and inclement weather, time was finally found to play a bit. The first ever match was at Clay Park Central in Liverpool NY. Located within a municipal park, this is a much more challenging course to play, even more so when there were no maps or signs explaining the course along the path. If it wasn't for painted hole numbers on the tees, we would have been completely lost. Plenty of hazards exist, and the course is designed to play the entire 18 holes in one go, meaning an awkward hike was awaiting for us, when we only wanted to play 9 holes.
Although each hole has a "par", for us, Match Play is the way to go. During match play, the "winner" of the hole is determined by who gets the disc in the "hole" in the fewest number of throws. If each player uses the same number of throws, the hole is "halved". Unlike James Bond and Goldfinger, there aren't any big prizes for winning a hole, not even who has to dump and flush the black tank. However, we'll keep score during the series so you can root for who you want. Each "match" is going to consist of 9 holes since that's what we usually play at a time, although we may be inclined to go for all 18 at a course, whether across two sessions or all at once. For those curious, a "starter pack" consisting of a distance driver (Innova Sidewinder, 9/5/-3/1), mid-range (Discraft Hawk, 0^), and putter (Innova Colt, 3/4/-1/1) are what we are using, and we'll make an update if we get new discs. She gets the distance driver while he gets the mid-range disc as the handicap, and the putter disc is shared as desired.
Not too much of specifics are remembered with this match other than her winning, and there's some question as to how many holes were actually won, but we have agreed to the following score:
Front 9: His holes: 1 Halved: 5 Her holes: 3
Back 9: Not played
Course Record: Him 0 - 1 Her Holes Record: Him 1 - 3 Her
Looks as if she has the advantage. How long will she be able to hold this? Stay tuned as we Follow our Internal Compass points towards the next course.
For Miles, it's state number 25. For the map, it's just another bit of coloring. For the humans of Freedom Rolling, one little day trip means so much more.
With a non-trailer trip into North Dakota, the hosts of Freedom Rolling have finished visiting every state in the Continental United States together. All of the lower 48 have been seen, side by side. This is not to say they hadn't previously seen what they were missing separately, with one of them having a trucker in the family, and the other visiting all of the lower 48 states in a single vehicle that was decommissioned just before leaving the old home for good. However, some of the states were first achieved with the other, and with the relationship rooted in our desire to be on the open road, it's only fitting that this be accomplished.
As of the writing of this, readers may look at the map and notice about 20 states missing. What gives? In the 48 state accomplishment, the hosts are certainly counting adventures before the RV, and were there a few of them! The Great Lakes and Northwestern states were accomplished during a vacation in 2016 to the Pacific Northwest. With a honeymoon in Las Vegas, the remainder of the southwestern states were covered. California was all of one exit beyond Primm while trying to kill time for the room to open up, but they saw the call boxes, so it counts. South Carolina came in 2019 during the first trip to the Space Coast of Florida just after driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, although had previously touched it during the first ever road trip together. The rest were accomplished during day trips, including a hockey game in New Jersey, an encounter with Lula in southern New England, and an impromptu trip to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, where the hosts continue to promise themselves not to take 500+ mile day trips, and seemingly continue to break that promise to this day.
With that goal being said and done, what's next for Freedom Rolling? Obviously making the rest of the states to be a "not black" color on the map is one of them. Hawaii is a little tough for a drive, and Alaska will require some extreme preparations and favorable conditions, especially with the drive through Canada. The rest of the lower 48 should certainly be something that is easily able to be accomplished. Some of the National Parks are certainly on the bucket list for any RVer. There are a few destinations each of the hosts would like to visit. It all just comes down to following your internal compass.
Most who hop into the RV and visit this wonderful country hope for sunny days and fair weather. However, sometimes you'll end up with a rainy day. Never fear, there are always ways for you to turn the raindrops into lemon drops and gumdrops.
The Freedom Rolling hosts are no strangers to precipitation. As we first started to travel in just the lowly SUV, nearly every trip, major or minor as it may be, seemed to have some sort of rain or snow with it. Even in Las Vegas, known for its desert climate, the rain had followed us. Ironically enough, one of the destinations where we didn't see rain was around Seattle, known for its nearly consistent amounts of precipitation. That wasn't to say we didn't experience it at all during that cross-country road trip, as the hailstorm in western South Dakota along the way was quite interesting. We've certainly had our shares of not-so-nice weather, including seeing a tornado form a couple miles outside the passenger window along the interstate in Illinois, as well as a tropical storm on the beaches of Florida.
So what's a full time RVing family to do when the weather isn't so nice? After all, many of our activities are outdoors. For those in the middle of a longer-term workamping stay, it isn't that bad of a day to have to take care of that, as you're not going to have too many customers. Some may use this as a time to "catch up" on things inside the RV, or even plan the next moves. You may have brought some indoor entertainment with you, but who really wants to stay cooped up in this life? Why not take some time to drive around. Explore the nearby city and its architecture. If you really need a destination, museums may be a good choice. The sidewalks may not be as bustling, but if you're not into crowds, that's usually the best time to look over everything.
So the next time the weather isn't so nice, don't let the internal compass just flood. Turn the raindrops into lemon drops and gumdrops, and oh, what a rain it will be.
For some, whether with or without the home along for the ride, the journey itself is the most gratifying part of a road trip. Sure, the destination can be a focal point, but why miss what you could otherwise see along the way? Enter one of the most famous drives in the country.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is an over 450-mile scenic drive through the Appalachian Mountains. Spanning through West Central Virginia and Western North Carolina, this road is maintained by the National Park Service, yet remains one of the properties that does not charge a fee to travel. Those towing a rig are permitted to travel this parkway, although caution is advised along this windy road with breathtaking views. If you wish to travel the entire length, give yourself a couple days to really soak it all in.
Those starting from the northeast can hop off Interstate 64 around Waynesboro, just a bit west of Charlottesville, and past the southern edge of Shenandoah National Park. Start heading south, and once you get used to the tight curves and lack of significant guard rails, a number of overlooks allow for views of incredible valleys and expansive wilderness. It's an easy going road, so take your time and soak it all in. If a break is ever needed from the parkway, the road visits the outside of Roanoke, or you could hop off just a little before that onto the US 501 and visit Lynchburg, the home of Liberty University. Campgrounds such as Otter Creek and Rocky Knob are found along the parkway in Virginia.
Mile marker 217 is reached, just past the Chestnut Creek Bridges, and a welcome to the Tar Heel State of North Carolina. Continue along the parkway seeing the peaks of Fodder Stack, Meditation Mountain, and Tomkins Knob. The campgrounds of Doughton Park, Julian Price, and Linville Falls will give you a chance to take a rest in North Carolina. A bit further down the way, make a stop in Asheville, made famous by the author Thomas Wolfe. Those continuing to travel to the southwestern end will eventually make it just outside Cherokee and US 441, at the border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
If your internal compass tells you to be literally on the road, never fear in following it. The Blue Ridge Parkway may just be one of the options for you.
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.
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