A Few of My Favorite (RV Life) Things

Plenty of people live in an RV for a season and then return home, and some people try it out for a while to see if they like it for several months. I tend to be an all-or-nothing person, and with just a few short trips under our belt after acquiring our fifth wheel in March, we rented out our home in North Carolina and commenced full-time RV life in June.

Travel Photo Scripture Memes

I have a new favorite hobby, and it is quite therapeutic for me. I've been wondering how I might ever use the hundreds of photos I'm taking on the road. One day while I was meditating on the way our travels are drawing me closer to God through the beauty of His creation, it came to me: No words I pen could do justice to these experiences. However, there is a Word that perfectly describes everything I see. God's written Word contains all of the wisdom I'll ever need and also has the exact words for which I've been searching. Here are my first attempts at merging my travel pictures with Scripture. Follow the hashtag #travelphotoscripturememes on Instagram or Pinterest if you'd like to see future images (although I will probably post them here periodically, too).

{photo of Mount Shasta, Oregon}

{photo of trumpeter swan family at Riddle Lake, Yellowstone National Park}

{photo taken from Mount Pisgah, Maine}

{photo taken in Mount Ennis, Montana}

{photo of the Lower Falls of Yellowstone River}

{photo of Montana sky near Helena}

{photo of Niagara Falls}

{photo taken from inside a pueblo cliff dwelling in Walnut Canyon, Arizona}

{photo taken at Meteor Crater RV Park, Arizona}

{photo taken in Yellowstone National Park}

{photo of Riddle Lake in Yellowstone National Park}

{photo of Delaware River taken near the point where New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania converge}

Red Bluff Rollercoaster: Our Trip on Route 36

This week we went on one of the craziest trips we’ve taken yet.

We left Medford, OR and arrived in Red Bluff, CA. It seemed such a shame to be so close to the West Coast and not see the Pacific Ocean and the redwood forests. So we decided to plan a long day to drive there, followed by a day of rest to recover.

It was only 140 miles or so, but the maps told us it would take over three hours because the mountain highways had lots of twists and turns. No problem; we can handle that.

However, these were not just your typical winding mountain roads. Oh, no. About 30 minutes in, we wondered when the rollercoaster ride would end. The constant turns were bad enough, but the road also shot up and, before you knew it, back down quite quickly – just like a rollercoaster, I tell you. We surmised that a tractor-trailer would high center on those hills. When the small, rolling, twisty hills with terrain that looked like a scene from the ranch on the original “Parent Trap” movie had worked their way up to the mountain passes, we thought we might get some relief. Although the hills had ceased, the twists and turns steadily grew worse, and as we went up and down mountains and followed switchback paths, we also saw that the edge of the road was frightening. Just inches away were deep drop-offs with steep ledges. Yikes. 

I had brought books to read and my computer, but it wasn’t long before I became too queasy to look down. I didn’t even crack the books. My oldest son was riding with my parents, and the two younger ones were with us, playing happily on iPads. I wondered if that was a good idea, but they said they felt fine. I personally was glad I hadn’t eaten breakfast, and I had no intentions of putting food in my stomach until this crazy carnival ride ended. I already felt like I had consumed far too much deep-fried food and then jumped on The Twister at the fair – and stayed on the ride for several hours.

We came upon some construction (which looked like a treacherous and nearly impossible job to do on this road), and just when the pilot car began leading us through the mess of workers and machinery, my 5-year-old said twice that he “so” needed to get out of the truck. We were all feeling that way, but that exact moment wouldn’t work, and he didn’t specify why he needed to exit.

Then it happened. He was looking down (at my iPad, no less) and suddenly emptied the contents of his stomach all over his clothes, booster seat, and the iPad (which at least is protected with an Otterbox case, but still.) We pulled over as soon as possible, and I cleaned up the best I could. Gone are the days of needing a diaper bag and bringing along an extra sets of clothes, so I promised to buy another shirt somewhere. As I looked around at the other passengers of both vehicles, I realized we were all pale of face and white of knuckle. And we weren’t even halfway.

I tried to ignore the puke smell and enjoy the scenery, which really did have a rugged beauty. If I had been plopped there blindfolded, I never would have guessed I was in California. I didn't have the presence of mind or stomach to take many photos but managed a few from my phone now and then.

We saw very few people. Forget finding a town, store, or gas station where we could get out, use a bathroom, and walk around. When I did see a gas station once, it looked run down but boasted unleaded fuel for the modest price of $4.89 per gallon. That’s an entrepreneur if ever I saw one.

We passed a couple of areas with campers and tents that looked like they might be gypsy camps or hippie communes. At one place where we stopped to stretch and calm our churning stomachs, we saw a couple emerge from the woods, and they were speaking a foreign language that sounded European, which wasn’t very reassuring since we had begun to suspect that we might have ended up in another country accidentally.

Well, at long last we made it to the beach. In total, it took us four hours, but we got to show our kids the Pacific Ocean for the first time, and we even saw a seal bobbing in the waves. The sun, the sand, and the waves were perfect. It was our dog’s first time at the ocean, and we all laughed at the way he barked when the waves came in as if he were being chased and must attempt to scare off his would-be attacker.

We debated not moving again for a couple of hours, but we were too close to the Avenue of the Giants not to drive down through at least part of this famous stretch of redwoods. The boys were astounded, and my husband had also never seen these majestically towering trees. We didn’t regret coming.

But we still had to make the trip back.

Driving four hours to spend less than an hour at the beach, drive for 30 more minutes, and spend less than an hour in a redwood forest, only to turn around and drive the four hours back, at that moment seemed like insanity. We debated looking for hotels, but we knew the drive home would look no better the next morning. Better to get it over with.

If we thought a twisty road with steep drop-offs and incredibly fast elevation changes was bad in the daytime, we were in for a treat: It’s even worse at night, with deer popping out from around corners with the path ahead shrouded in darkness. Yet just before darkness came some breathtaking views.

When we finally pulled up in front of our home-sweet-RV, my middle son sighed and proclaimed, “When I grow up, I am never taking my kids on that trip!”

It didn’t take long to decide that one day of rest wouldn’t be enough to recuperate. We extended our stay an extra day, and my husband and I even booked massages, an available amenity at the Durango RV Resort.

We told a few locals that we had taken Route 36 from Red Bluff to Fortuna, and we got some interesting looks and comments.

“You’re brave! The 36?” (That’s how Californians refer to their highways.) “Betcha didn’t take the RV down that road!”

“That’s the growers’ paradise.” (Growers, as in, you know, a different kind of weed … which might explain the “camps” we saw.)

“Who threw up? Someone always throws up.”

“Lived here my life and won’t ever take that route.”

Well, buddy, I can assure you that I won’t ever take that route again. There are other ways to the Pacific Ocean and redwood forests, and we will find them because we will make the time to do so.

I Googled “Route 36 California” a couple of days later and was amused by the comments I found:

“Most likely the craziest elevation changes you will ever see. Truly resembles a rollercoaster in spots.”

“Lots of places without guardrails, and long drops, so be careful!!! Every road will seem very trivial after you ride this.”

“This road will have you going up a hill, making a right at the top, and before you can even see over the crest, as you’re still turning right, the road goes left.”

“This is a road to stay alert on and not become over confident.”

“It was an amazing 140 miles of twisties, hairpin turns, periodic straight-aways and scenic views (or so my wife told me) as you won't have much time to look around.”

“Prepared for that queasy feeling you get after four solid hours of a rollercoaster ride.”

“You will never be so happy to make it to the coast and relax after this one.”

“After this, every road is easier.”

That sums it up pretty well. So, was it worth it? That day or the next, I might have said no. As the misery of the drive wears off, and all I have left are some amazing photographs (and an iPad that smells faintly of vomit), I’m happy that we went. I’m grateful to my husband for making it happen. 

Take a look for yourself. What do you think?

Full-timing: Four Months and Counting!

Today marks four months since the day we moved into our RV. In four months of exclusively living on the road, I have made time to blog only one time, and that was more than three months ago. I actually love to write and rarely struggle with writer’s block, but I am working on overcoming a little bad habit called procrastination. For today I’ll lean on the old “better late than never” adage and maybe a “there’s no time like present” for good measure.

My three children, ages 5, 7, and 9, have visited 24 states. (The RV has only graced 23 due to that “minor” breakdown-in-West-Virginia episode in which we continued to Ohio sans RV.) We have struggled to get started with and keep up with some of our school material, but we are getting into the groove with that now. On the other hand, the boys have earned several junior park ranger badges and visited more national parks, museums, and historic sites than many people may see in a lifetime. The checklist person in me hates to skip a day of spelling or math, but the free spirit in me loves showing my children the country, and deep down I know the traveling and sightseeing are enriching their education beyond what a textbook can do.

I hardly know how to sum up four busy, fun, sometimes stressful, sometimes exhilarating months. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I’m including some of our favorite travel memories through photos. I hope you enjoy them! (And I hope this puts me on the path of blogging much more regularly.)

Our new home ... which broke down on our first day of living on the road:

After our extremely stressful first day,

we needed the respite we found at the home of team members in Canton, Ohio.

We continued on from Canton to Niagara Falls for a business event and once again found that being at the mercy of staying in others' homes gave us the opportunity to build relationships we otherwise might not have enjoyed. A gorgeous family day at the falls was just what we needed to connect and take a deep breath together as a family after the breakdown ordeal.

(An electrifying place...)

After Niagara Falls, we had no plan and more than week to kill before our RV repairs would be complete. We started driving and ended up back in Ohio, where we found more wonderful team members who spent time with us, took us into their home, and became lifelong friends.

Being in the area also gave me the opportunity to have a last-minute dinner with team members

in Cincinnati and enjoy The Creation Museum with my family.

When we finally got our RV back, we had only a few days to make it from West Virginia to Maine. Following a few stressful days on the road, including getting stuck, losing an awning to a telephone pole, and nearly running out of fuel, we welcomed peaceful, joyful, and memorable moments with friends, water, and each other in Maine.

A 7th birthday called for trip to Hershey, PA!

Next we took the train from Elizabethtown ...

to Philadelphia.

(My 7-year-old got his wish to see the Liberty Bell on his birthday weekend.)

From Philly we went to visit dear friends in Winchester, VA and took a day trip with them to Harper's Ferry, where we saw civil war reenactments, a lovely old church, and beautiful scenery.

I conducted an essential oils class in Lynchburg, VA and a business meeting in Roanoke, VA
on our way back to North Carolina. We had only been away six weeks at that point,
but we were all overjoyed to be back in our "home" area to see familiar places and faces.
We got to see many friends, meet three (!) new babies who had been born in our absence,
and connect with team members via events big and small.

Next up was a stop Chatanooga, TN, where I conducted a class to introduce essential oils 

to some new friends, and we took a day trip to see Rock City, too.

("Fat Man's Squeeze")

(Balancing Rock)

(An overlook of 7 states)

(My biggest boy's first time rock climbing with his mama!)

We were excited to arrive in St. Louis, where we reunited with wonderful friends and I taught
a business training and oils of the Bible class for team members. The kids were sad to part ways
with their buddies here and also really enjoyed the famous arch and The City Museum
(maybe the most unique, if not the coolest, museum ever!)

We took a quick trip over to Kansas City. I met a couple of team members for dinner, and our family enjoyed the old train station, a neat science museum inside of it, an aquarium, and great barbecue.

 We headed north and stopped in South Dakota, where we just had to visit the Minuteman II site
and the boys could learn all about what life was like for their daddy when he worked on the Minuteman III missiles in Montana (waaaay back when he and I first met 18 years ago!)

We couldn't resist a quick stop at Wall Drug!

The Badlands of South Dakota were windy, amazing, and truly memorable.

The Black Hills area was one of our favorite spots ...

(Inside Wind Cave)

(It was fun to watch the fat prairie dogs!)

(We didn't stop at the Crazy Horse-in-progress, but I managed to get this drive-by shot
that shows in the bottom left corner what the completed carving will look like.)

(Spearfish Canyon)

(Trail ride at the wonderful KOA resort near Mt. Rushmore)

(Mt. Rushmore by day ...)

(And by night, where all of the veterans in the audience are honored during the lighting ceremony. We were proud to see my husband honored among them!)

(Another climbing wall, but this time my boy made it to the top! I was proud
to see him keep trying to reach this goal without giving up.)

(One of the best parts of South Dakota was getting to camp alongside friends from North Carolina, who were on a whirlwind 3-week tent camping trip across the U.S.)

We arrived in Montana just in time to celebrate my dad's retirement and help my parents
transition into RV living. We were privileged to be part of a going-away dinner on their
friends' ranch, where we had fun farm experiences that included a mouth-watering
farm-to-table meal where every delicious item came from the farm.

(My parents, our new neighbors, on the left!)

I was so happy when the smoke cleared and we could see that beautiful big sky!
These shots are from our campground near Bozeman, where we spent almost a week
while my parents wrapped up their lives in Great Falls.

One of the biggest blessings of my business is being able to see my childhood best friend
and her family, and we loved every minute with them in Bozeman. My youngest son decided his
best friend is their youngest child and only son, and watching them play was just precious.

We met back up with my parents at Yellowstone
and loved our first adventure with them as our neighbors.

 (Black bear mama and cub sighting!)

(My junior rangers getting sworn in)

(5-mile hike with my husband and oldest son)

(Wolf and Bear Discovery Center, where the boys got to hide food for Sam, the 1,000-lb grizzly)

(Geysers, fumaroles, mud pots, and waterfalls -- oh, my!)

 Craters of the Moon in Idaho

 In Boise, we enjoyed family and the World Center for Birds of Prey.

Views of the Columbia River and Mt. Hood, Oregon

Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum

(home of the Spruce Goose)

And that wraps up our first four months on the road. Happy fall, from Oregon with love!