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Happy Holidays Any Time!

| Updated Sep 21, 2014

 

quotes-sayings-life-best-roy-goodman-happinessEarlier this summer, Olga, my RT Adventurous, went to the RV spa for some revitalizing treatments and beautifying. She got 2 new uber batteries. The retractable step was repaired from when I’d hit a big piece of metal in Michigan. All the tanks were cleaned and a hole in the A/C cover was found and fixed. The entire living area, including things like fridge seals, was checked. She had a wax, polish and a facial. It’s time to show her off. In addition, like my dog and me, she needs her exercise to keep fit.

It’s been a great summer, I love my city and my home. I have had a lot of fun and kept busy. Plus, I recently returned from an amazing trip to Africa. I experienced things I never would anywhere else in the world (and would return in a heartbeat) but that was a scripted trip with a detailed itinerary and was jam packed everyday._MG_4941

The way I tour in my RV is the opposite type of travel- dinking around with no reservations, the route mostly dictated by whim. Sometimes I do a little planning when I am visiting people or it’s a busy area and I need a reservation. But most of my trips begin like this: “I think I’ll head to _____ for a while, I’ve never been there.” I simply get the itch. Now, it’s been a few months, probably the longest stretch that I haven’t taken her out, and I am longing to put some of those white lines behind me. I’m thinking of heading north and there’s a chance I might hook up with a friend for a couple of days. But I’m not sure and that is part of the fun.

Why this happens, I can’t explain, I just have this visceral need to go road tripping. It’s not as if my home life’s boring, but there’s nothing like sitting in the driver’s seat with great tunes on the stereo (or not), co-pilot dog (who is useless with directions), both of our heads handing out of the window and drooling on the side of the van, tooling down some back roads, headed aimlessly across new country. Maybe I feel like driving a long way, maybe it’s only 5 miles between camps. I might stay one night or 10.

One summer I decided to just zip up to Iowa for a few days. Why Iowa? Why not? I’d heard it was pretty. I was going to head up to the north east corner on the Mississippi, but barely made it across the border from Missouri, because it was such beautiful Amish country. Near or far, it’s a surprise every time.th

I stay in all manner of areas, boondocking or hooking up. I don’t restrict myself to a particular sort of trip. I like people and don’t know a stranger, but sometimes I want to go solo and enjoy the solitude. That is another reason why I love RVing. No guides, groups, hotels or restaurants unless I feel like it. There is no sniffling, coughing, babbling stranger jammed up against my side, on a long plane ride to another airport and a cancelled connection. I get to choose my seat mates if I want them. Plus I have my own perfect pillows, no luggage restrictions and the dog gets to come (after that bath…) Whatever mood or inclination, this type of travel can accommodate.

th-1So I am making my packing list and checking it twice, because it feels like Xmas, Kwanza, a Bat Mitzvah or whatever… I have big, unwrapped presents sitting in front of me, called North America, and I can’t wait to unwrap another one.

 

 

Mike Wendland

Published on 2014-09-21

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

One Response to “Happy Holidays Any Time!”

September 21, 2014at9:53 am, Dave Miller said:

I was wondering what happened to Laura. Come up to northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. The colors are really starting to POP! We are heading out for a fall color trip around Lake Superior in just over a week. No plans or reservations either. Just 2 weeks of ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Welcome back, Bigfoot Dave

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