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.
Part of the fun of being a full-time RVer is, after packing everything up and checking the lights, pulling out of the park and heading to your next destination. However, like with everything else in life, it comes with its own set of challenges.
The first thing is to remember what you're pulling. You aren't going to be able to maneuver as easily as you would with a smaller vehicle, so don't try quickly changing lanes unless it's an absolute emergency, like unsecured debris flying out the back of a pickup truck. Secondly, use truck routes and take advantage of truck parking areas if you need to stop in a city for provisions. Except for the campsite, backing up should be a last resort. Pull through when you can. Most stores won't mind you taking up several spaces in the back, although the lots with heavy traffic will ban RVs, so be careful. Obviously you're not going to fit in a drive-thru, so call for instructions if you get to a food shop and there's no way to walk in; they'll usually try to accommodate, as your green is as good as anyone else's.
The one big thing to remember, when you're pulling, especially if you're using an engine that takes octane gasoline and/or ethanol (we don't use a diesel truck but this may also apply), your miles per gallon are going to suffer immensely when you're "heavy" (i.e. pulling your RV) vs. when you're "light" (i.e. not pulling your RV). You can try to help things out a little bit by using hypermiling techniques you learned during gas crunches in history, but it won't get too much back. As an example, with the soul of our adventure, we're able to get around 20 MPG highway and 15-17 MPG city/winding-rural when we're light, but only about 10-11 MPG when heavy. However, going into elevation is a completely different bear, as we've found ourselves to only get about 7-8 MPG when heavy in transition from the midwest to the mountain west, and transition from the south to southwest is anticipated to be the same. Be financially ready and plan accordingly, as gas stations are few and far between the further west you go, especially when using US highways instead of interstates.
Don't let any of this get you down, though. Driving with the RV in tow is plenty of good fun, even just as much as taking a nice Sunday drive while light to somewhere around you. It will take a little practice, especially when it comes to backing into your campsite and understanding how your rig moves, but after a while, it becomes as familiar as riding a bike, even if you take a few months break from a long-term stay. Have a plan, try to stick to it, cut down on the unnecessary detours, behave like a truck on the road (except for the honking because it just doesn't have the same impact), and the journey will bring as much joy as the destination, if not more, as that's one of the perks of living on the road.
So as you Follow your Internal Compass, have a wonderful time pulling your rig all across the country.
When you're finishing a long day of travel, chances are that you want to park for a bit, but don't necessarily want to shell out for a campground. There's one particular option that seems quite tempting.
Situated all across the roads of this country, both two-lane and four, rest areas give the driver a chance to take a break. However, most states have been cracking down on their rest area usage. Whether it's lobbying from hotel owners, governments believing the homeless population will increase, or evidence of crime, rest areas have been severely limiting stays, banning overnight parking altogether, or completely closing down these roadside stops. Leniency is shown to truckers because of electronic logs shutting off the engines, but even then it's not always welcome. Thankfully, the state of Kansas still allows overnight stays, although only one night, and as it should be since progress should be made to the next destination.
Many think of interstate highways when it comes to rest stops, and they aren't always in the best of shape with thousands of motorists using the facilities, coupled with limited maintenance, to where they take a beating. When you look at the roads less traveled, you may see somewhere much nicer. Enter the Cherryvale rest area, situated at the US 169 exit off the US 400 super-two highway in Eastern Kansas. Not only is it a fairly quiet place to stop for the night, but if you have a pup with you, there are a few walking trails in between the pollination areas to help bees continue to thrive. It is a bit off the beaten track being nowhere near an interstate highway, but when RVing, these aren't such bad roads to take.
One added benefit to the rest stops in this state, as well as several other midwestern and southern states seen during the escapades of Freedom Rolling, is the addition of dump stations. These are beneficial not only for those with RVs, but also some truckers. Dump stations are offered as part of the cost to maintain the rest area, and typically include a simple sewer manhole with a water outlet. It's not recommended that the potable water be filled with this, since the piping is designed for flushing purposes only, as opposed to drinking. However, if you've just left a campground without a sewer hookup, it's not a bad choice for lightening your load.
So the next time you Follow your Internal Compass, whether on the highways or byways, don't forget to take a break every once in a while, and maybe you'll find a good way to not only completely recharge, but take care of your added carrying.
When RVing, one of the most important things, given the moniker of the "soul" of the adventure, is the traveling vehicle. That makes you able to get from place to place, it's your true mark of freedom. However, like everything else, it's important to keep the soul in check.
First thing is to make sure everything on the vehicle is in good working order. Many RVers are choosing to "live" in states that don't have mandatory annual vehicle inspections. Sure, it's nice you don't have to pay a bureaucrat to tell you your horn doesn't work, your window has too much tint, or the bumper has a tiny orange spot. That doesn't mean you can't take the time to check these sorts of things out for yourself. Figure out what's important both from a legal standpoint, as well as being able to get from point A to point B. You're likely already doing light checks on the trailer when you hook up, so check the truck as well. One of the best vehicle tools you can have is the OBD2 scanner, which gives you Check Engine light codes. Auto parts dealers sell them at a reasonable price, and though they'll try to convince you that you can just go to them to get it read at no cost, it's something that has been needed to be used in the middle of nowhere.
Preventive maintenance is something you may have been doing in the stationary life, and in the RV world, it's no different. Oil changes, air filters, tire rotations; the list goes on and on. Sometimes you're in a position where you can do these things yourself, and other times you may be in an area where it has to be done professionally. Tire pressure has become a bit of an interesting point. Many service stations have started charging for air, with one major midwestern brand, at the time of writing this, swapping out the "free" pumps for credit card operated ones. Some stations will offer it at no cost to the consumer. However, at the time of writing this, there is a brand of big box hardware store that is offering air at no cost to the customer. The RV can usually fit because contractors are always bringing trailers. The store also carries a number of consumable products you're likely to use, so if you feel obligated to buy something, that's usually a good choice.
So while you follow your internal compass, make sure you have the means to actually follow it. Keep that soul in check, and you'll be able to see all of this great country.
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.
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.
Think about the last time you went to the fuel pump. You probably looked at the price, and who doesn't. But did you notice everything else? What could those other things be doing to your vehicle?
The next time you're traveling, and you're at the gas pumps, look at the octane rating. For those using premium gasoline, you're already doing this, and the same goes for diesel. However, if you have your typical unleaded vehicle, make sure you're getting 87 octane or higher. In several states in and around the Rocky Mountains, specifically seen in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah, and parts of the Texas Panhandle, you might see regular unleaded, but it's rated at only 85 or 86 octane. Sure, vehicles tuned at the higher altitudes may be able to accept these lower octanes, but your vehicle probably won't. You'll start to get engine knocking and do some serious damage. So pay attention to those octanes, and don't ruin your ride.
Since the gas spike of the mid-2000's, refineries have started to mix ethanol with their gasoline. You have to be careful, because just like lower octanes, too much ethanol will ruin a vehicle's engine. In the first few years of its usage, there were some states, such as Iowa, that would offer 15% ethanol gasoline. This is way too much for a traditional engine, and will cause problems. The state has since reduced to 10% which is OK for the modern engine, but they still regularly offer ethanol-free gasoline at a decent price, as you'll see a hit in fuel economy with ethanol. Older engines were not designed to run with ethanol whatsoever, so they'll need pure gasoline. There are "FlexFuel" vehicles out there that could do it, but do make sure it's properly dispensed. Once again, pay attention to what's sold to you, and make sure your vehicle has been designed to handle it.
So the next time you make a long trip, watch what you put in your tank. Your internal compass may tell you to go somewhere, but always make sure you can get there safely.
Once again, it's time to travel! The RV lifestyle makes us migratory, so it's time to head south. However, plans may not always be as they seem.
When getting ready to travel, it was previously mentioned that you want to give at least a little bit of extra time when getting to your destination. Along with this, it's necessary to have some flexibility in your route, and not just for construction, either. As we embark on this trip, all of a sudden we receive word about some inclement weather. Ida tell you all about it, but it's all over the news. Bad puns aside, this is where you want your co-pilot to be giving you updates about road and weather conditions around you and your route. In today's day and age, cellular data makes this easy and is what we use, but for those not able, there's always talk radio on the half-hours. As we track the storm, given our destination, instead of heading directly to our end location, we'll take a little trip east before heading south. Sure, it might mean a little more in gas costs, but compared to what it could be, the preventive measure is worth it.
When you live in the RV full-time, mobility is your greatest advantage. With enough advance notice, if work obligations permit, pack everything up and get out of dodge if needed. When looking at routes to get to and from your destination, never limit yourself to the interstate highways. In fact, you may not be able to reach some of the higher speed limits in the west, as clogged as they may be, so taking the state and US highways may be your best option. Remember that everything you have is with you, and it isn't that stable if you choose to abandon it, when compared to a house. But an "evac" doesn't mean you can't tow. Stick to the less-traveled byways while everyone else jams up the interstate, leave a little room for merging and swerving traffic to keep it all moving, and you and your home should be just fine.
So definitely follow your internal compass, but don't let it slam you into bad weather. Consider a byway detour. Who knows? Maybe you'll encounter something you'll like but never thought of visiting.
When you're driving around the midwest, take a look at the roads around you. You may notice an underpass or overpass every mile in some areas. It may seem odd if you're not used to it, but it's by intentional design.
Back in the original days of the United States, when the country was combing over its newly won or purchased territories, organization was needed. The land ordinances, created by the Founding Fathers, called for the land to be split into square mile chunks. Four 160-acre parcels would then be allocated, with a chunk reserved every now and again for a "city center" to handle official affairs. Postal roads would be established along the boundaries in many cases to help the land prospectors access these lands.
Today, evidence of this grid setup is still seen and very commonly used today. In North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska, farm roads about a mile apart are given numbers, sequentially increasing from their starting point of the state border. This starting point can vary in other states. In Indiana, when driving along US Route 20, the numbers are a percentage of a mile north and south of the highway itself. In Detroit Michigan, counting begins at the Detroit River, separating the United States from Canada. If you've ever wondered where the term "8 Mile" originates, it references this grid setup, being 8 miles from the start of the grid. In Ohio, letters and other names may be used for these farm roads, but the grid still very much exists.
The grid in these areas isn't perfect, either. In some cases, a land owner will own a couple square miles in succession, and will let the road going through their land fall out of maintenance. Not to fear, the grid still remains mostly intact, and there's another intersection down the road. Maybe, as you're driving along a state or US highway, you'll have to take a detour. If you use their signs, they're take you sometimes 20 miles out of the way to another US or state road. Why waste the gas, especially if you're trailing your RV with you? Trust the grid. Use the farm roads. They're able to handle a small amount of heavier traffic, as these farms have to make deliveries somehow. Be mindful that a number of these are dirt roads, so take weather and kicking up dust into account. Also try to keep to just the area needed. Some municipalities ban through truck traffic as a result of the road being a good shortcut, so keep local ordinances in mind.
So the next time you're following your internal compass in the midwest, know that you'll always have a way to get there. All you need to do is trust the grid.
As part of the not-so-risk-free trial for transitioning towards the full-time RV lifestyle, a shakedown trip just isn't enough. So we now go on our first real trip: One week in North Carolina. To get there, though, a travel day, or in our case days, is needed.
As was mentioned in the previous trip, driving with the RV is quite a bit different from just driving a car, or even a pick-up truck without something in tow. However, the fuel costs were quite exorbitant. Merely going approximately 650 miles one way made quite a dent on the pocketbook for fuel. And that's with the mistake of both filling AND splashing the tank in a high priced state. There wasn't much of a choice because of how much of the trip was done there, but some clever planning can help. Know what states are relatively cheap for gas, and try to do fill-ups there, with large or small splashes elsewhere.
The traffic was quite the interesting dynamic. When you have one person who hates heavy traffic, a driver who thrives in it, an easily anxious pup, and then add an additional 25 feet of length to the back, you can have an interesting travel day. Usually you want to avoid rush hour times on your trip if you can help it, but why not experience the Capital Beltway during the evening peak, even if it's only for masochistic tendencies? Surprisingly enough, the pup did just fine with it, but you really must have potentially different habits when driving with a trailer. You're not going to be able to weave through traffic, so commit yourself to a lane. Try to get a feel for how things flow. Make sure you allow for more room from the guy in front of you, but be ready for "that driver" who will cut into the spot and slam on the brakes. Also be sure there's enough room in the back before you switch lanes. And don't get too annoyed if everyone's passing you; you're not necessarily going to be able to get up to full highway speed when pulling, and some states will have a lower limit.
With our first trip came our first "boondock", courtesy of a popular gas and travel station chain. We filled up to make sure we were a customer, and were able to secure a spot in the lot to park for the night. Needless to say, the trailer was quite warm on the inside, despite a cool breeze outside, and the shock of southern workers turning on the heat and wearing sweatshirts in 60 degree weather. Opening some windows to get the air flowing certainly helped, and although it wasn't as comfortable as a few times during our car camping days, we made it work.
Posting here from North Carolina, it is a bit on the hot side, but a very nice place, and a great journey to get here. More on the area will come in a later post, but for now, remember to follow your internal compass.
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