The challenges we face on the road--pacing ourselves and in-transit excitement

August 2, 2017

Pacing Ourselves

Last week at the Corps of Engineers park, we met a couple that had been on the road for 3 months, compared to our two.  They had already been to Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, California, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, and Iowa...and probably more!  The longest they stayed in one place was 9 days.  I got tired just listening!  In our case, our challenge is to balance out the desire to see more places with our physical and financial abilities to keep moving.  We're finding we need quite a bit of down time to keep enjoying ourselves.  This morning, Chuck and I both slept until after 10:30.  I think we've worn ourselves out!

August is going to be a busy month with a week in Arkansas seeing doctors, friends and family.  Then up to Iowa to see the state fair, and hopefully some family.  Then to Kentucky to see some of Chuck's online friends.  Then to Virginia to visit friends.  We've decided that September is going to be a month in one place, not visiting anyone.  Now we have to decide where to go!  We've been looking at New England, since we'll be on the East Coast.  There's so much to do there, we could probably fill an entire month.  AND....there are beaches for me to get some fresh air and sunshine and just relax.  With school back in session, we should have the sand to ourselves during the week.

Another option would be somewhere in Eastern Virginia, where we could get to DC, Maryland and Virginia Beach.  There's a lot of history in Virginia that would be worth exploring.  We could also head to North Carolina or South Carolina beaches.  Note the beach theme.

Anyway, we should be making that decision soon, since we probably need to make reservations wherever we go.  After that, we'll need to figure out how we're getting back to the middle of the country.  We'll probably have to be back for doctors again in early December, and then we're headed to Texas for a couple months starting mid-December.

In-Transit Excitement

I'm finding that the longer we stay in one place, the more I enjoy it.  Of course, when we move is when things can go wrong.  Chuck bought a tire-minder system to monitor our tire pressure.  Of course, it is alarming every time we go anywhere, due to malfunctions or losing the bluetooth signal.  It's supposed to make us less worried, but so far it's making us (me) stressed.

And then, of course, there is me vs Google Maps in figuring out the way to go.  Because we have a Beast of a vehicle, that is tall, our goal is to stay on truck routes to avoid having to worry about low clearances or too narrow of roads.  Google doesn't know that.  Most of the time, I just use a map, but sometimes we want to speed things up and let Google show us the shortest routes  Then I have to look ahead a few turns and tell Chuck when to ignore Google and listen to me instead.  Keeps me from having much of a chance to nap or relax!

Then there is Setting Up at the new place.  Is the site long enough, wide enough, level enough?  Does the power work?  Can we even get into the campground?  Are there overhanging branches?  Are the slides going to hit anything?  Will the slides work this time?  What fell over and got stuck behind the slide this time?  Did the cabinets and drawers come open mid-trip and what fell on the floor?

One day, these things will all be routine, not stressful (I'm hoping), but I have to admit, there is no feeling like the feeling when we've arrived, are set up, and don't have to do it again for a while.