Happy New Year!
Like many we've been reflecting a lot on the places we've been and the people we met in 2013. We've even drawn up a tentative travel schedule of our planned travel destinations for the new year.
But I've also come up with some new goals, above and beyond the specifics of where and when we'll go. I call it my Roadtreking self improvement list.
Here are the things I want to learn or do better with in 2014:
1) Stop, look and listen more – Last year was a crazy year, travel wise. We covered over 35,000 miles in our Roadtrek eTrek, criss-crossing North America. While we loved every mile, I have to conceded that we missed a lot. Sometimes I was so focused on where I was headed that I missed things I should have noticed where I was at. I want to slow down, stay longer and more throughly investigate the places we visit. There is no hurry.
2) Take more and better photos – I think I'll take a photo class this new year. I want to learn more about light and composition and wildlife photography. Same with video and video editing. Most of my skills I picked up as a television and newspaper reporter, on deadline, covering time sensitive news stories. I want to follow along and learn from some of the amazing photographers I've met this year. And I want to tell more stories with stills.
3) Read and learn more about the history of the places we visit – Every town has a local history book at the library, a local historian who we can contact to understand what makes the locale unique. The places we visit all have a story to tell and coming to understand that story and use it in enriching the stories I'm telling will be part of my journalistic due diligence this year.
4) Eat better and exercise more – Travel can wreak havoc on our health. We will prepare more of our meals from fresh, healthy whole foods and local veggies and produce in our RV kitchenthis year, instead if eating out. We will avoid at all costs fast food from the chains. I will bring bicycles with us on our trips and we will cycle, hike, kayak and workout in some way every day, no matter where we are, doing something to be physically active to work up a fat-burning sweat.
5) Do more RV mods and maintenance – Inspired by Roadtreking friends like Campskunk and Roger and Lynn Brucker, I will learn more about simple mechanical and fix-it ways I can keep our RV running great. I will also look at ways to maximize interior space through DIY projects. Along with these, I will learn more about how the various components work and what I can do to make them keep working.
How about you? What are your RV goals for 2014?
13 Responses to “Our 2014 Roadtreking goals”
Comments are closed.
May 17, 2014at11:48 am, Tami Ingraham said:
2015?
May 17, 2014at9:06 am, Kara Ragan Fowers said:
Daron Fowers
April 03, 2014at6:47 am, Chaz Anderson said:
Turn around the idiot
March 31, 2014at7:57 pm, John Benson said:
Here some great modification blogs that you might find helpful.
Andy Baird – one of the best I have seen
http://www.andybaird.com/Eureka/pages/index.htm
Downing website
http://www.downingplace.com/Journal/RigMods.htm
Red Rover website
http://www.redroverroadtrek.com/
March 31, 2014at7:40 pm, Gary said:
Re: # 5 goal
I added a one gallon pressure tank to keep the pump from running every time I turn on a faucet or flush the toilet. It is an easy and inexpensive install.
January 06, 2014at10:31 am, Phyllis said:
Yes, re: number 3. As retired librarians, let us assure you that the libraries and archives welcome your visit and reward your curiosity, often with life changing and transformative results. While traveling or resting in your “stick and brick” homes, you can find something to read that will illuminate your journey. Recently I’ve been reading books by Craig Childs about the Four Corners region. Recommended.
January 06, 2014at9:51 am, Jack Tyler said:
Mike, let me second your idea about visiting the local museum archivists in the interesting if small towns you visit. We did this on arriving in Ft. Benton, MT having heard family stories about forefathers homesteading there. Within 30 mins we were shown pictures of those forefathers, the cabin they built, and were told about family in town we didn’t know about. That one visit completely changed our lives, all because of the local historical knowledge of those archivists.
January 02, 2014at5:07 pm, Peggy said:
These are great goals, I copied some of them for myself! This has been my first 6 months full timing and while I have seen some amazing things, or ordinary things turned amazing, I have gone too fast. I want to do more dry camping and exploring.
January 02, 2014at3:01 pm, Bob Jaye said:
No. 1 is a big issue of mine. Always has been….
January 01, 2014at7:01 pm, Phyllis Hytnen said:
My goal is to get a Roadtrek, go to the coast regularly, bicycle, walk the beach, swim and listen to nature. Three nights, three days each visit is good whenever I can free myself up for that long. Maybe visit family and retreat to the mountains and woods as well. SS Agile would be the right size.
January 01, 2014at4:37 pm, Campskunk said:
i find travel actually improves my health – i eat better and get more exercise when i’m on the move, and gain weight when i’m sedentary. another advantage of fulltiming for me.
January 01, 2014at1:47 pm, Sharon said:
Gotta agree with all of this, Mike. Even if only part of this is accomplished, it’s a win. I figure it’s not how many miles I go, it’s what I do with them! Happy 2014 to you and Jennifer.
January 01, 2014at1:31 pm, Rolland said:
Great goals Mike, one of mine is to email you some questions and learn from you.