Not quite barefoot weather, but with the Atlantic Ocean in our backyard, we couldn’t resist beginning our week’s stay at Huntington Beach State Park with a nice long walk. We gawked at all the waterfront “cottages” just out of reach (usually) of the high tide line, although there must have been a recent storm with rough seas. Many of the private deck stairs had been, or were in the process of being rebuilt.
Today we picked up Minnie, our little vacation home on wheels. After 10 days on the road, we are more than happy to to leave hotel life behind.
Reg directed the truck toward the blue sky and we were off.
It took awhile to clean and organize our space, but we’re already feeling pretty much at home. Reg and I have always battled over the thermostat, so while the wind howled outside, I bundled up to keep warm. Reg poured a cold drink and celebrated our return to traveling with Minnie, anticipating the adventures that await.
It’s been nearly a week since we arrived home, enough time to feel as though we never left. Funny how that works. Although we’ve made two other trailer trips across the country, this was by far our most ambitious, spreading from as far south as Sedona, Arizona and north into the state of Maine.
For years Reg and I discussed the wisdom of a truck and trailer purchase. It’s nearly impossible to justify the cost, so when we finally decided to take the plunge, we promised each other we would use it…a lot.
In the 6 years we’ve been trailer owners, we’ve done a pretty good job of keeping that promise. Thinking back through all our trips we figure we’ve spent the equivalent of 14 months worth of nights snuggling in a bed that is really just a little too small to be truly comfortable.
So, how did we fare on our 2022 road trip? Not bad considering all the doom and gloom reports of high gas prices (they were) and limited campground availability (they weren’t).
● Number of days on the road – 107
● Number of nights spent in campgrounds – 84
● Average cost per night – $58.00
● Miles traveled – 13,000
● Number of gas fill-ups – 45
● Total gallons purchased – 925+/-
Our cheapest gas was in Amarillo, Texas where we filled up for $3.40 per gallon on April 5.
Our most expensive gas was at Stove Pipe Wells in Death Valley where we paid a whopping $6.09 per gallon. Needless to say, we added just 6 gallons, enough to get us back to civilization and a somewhat more palatable gallon price of $4.69.
Our most affordable campsite was in Ozark, Arkansas, an Army Corp of Engineers site that set us back $9.00 a night. We spent two nights.
The biggest campsite splurge was in Williamsburg, Virginia where we were promised a lovely, large, quiet campsite for $108.00 (!) per night. When it turned out to be an equally short distance from a busy highway and a train track that ran commuter trains at all hours, Reg complained and got us a bit of a refund. This is all part of the fun…
53 days of hikes or walks for a total of 222 miles.
5 days of bike riding for a total of 79 miles…We had hoped to do more.
In the 6 years we’ve been trailer camping, we’ve visited 44 of our 50 states. It’s not likely we will add Hawaii to our list. Will we ever add North Dakota, Florida, Delaware, Rhode Island and Alaska? It’s hard to say. For now, Minnie is taking a well-earned rest, parked in Ashland, Virginia where she awaits our return to take her on another tour of the eastern seaboard.
We arrived in Lone Pine, California for our third night on the road, and found ourselves in a rustic campground with a gorgeous, front row view of the Eastern Sierra. Gazing up at Mount Whitney, California’s highest point, brought back August memories of our month long journey hiking the John Muir Trail.
The following three days provided a stark contrast as we entered Death Valley National Park, home of the lowest point in North America. The park also claims the hottest recorded temperature on earth (134 degrees F…57 degrees C) on July 10, 1913. Fortunately, our weather was far more enjoyable.
The valley’s 600 foot deep hole known as the Ubehebe Crater is the result of a 2,000 year old steam and gas explosion caused by rising magma coming into contact with groundwater. A gravel path led us on a 1.5 mile walk up and around the perimeter. A different path plunged down to the bottom where we saw a handful of hikers facing a steep climb back to the top.
Not content to simply gaze over a scenic canyon from the Zabriskie Viewpoint, we headed down the trail with the intention of doing a loop hike. The rock formations were spectacular, showing off in varying shades of browns and reds. If you squint, you can see Reg standing on the two-sided drop-off trail in the bottom right photo. We crossed that segment very carefully! As the afternoon wore on, the trail failed to loop us back to our starting point. Tired and hot, we called it a day and retraced our steps back to the car.
After two nights in Death Valley, it was time to packed up and hit the road.
Next stop: Sedona, Arizona
Winter decided to make a comeback (with overnight lows in the mid twenties…well below freezing) just days before our planned takeoff, causing us worry about the recently de-winterized water system in our trailer. In an effort to outsmart Mother Nature, we loaded up and headed south before the potentially freezing temps put an end to our trip before we could start.
We’ve made several unsuccessful attempts at planning a Maine trip, however this year is looking extremely promising. Reservations have been made, friends have been contacted and we are on the road. We are excited to reach the place that has adopted the moose as its state animal, but our June arrival date leaves plenty of time to pick and choose our route. After a scheduled two-week stop in Sedona, Arizona, the open road awaits. Where will it lead us?
There really is no place like home…that’s true for me at least. Friends of ours know those “happy to be home” feelings don’t last long with Reg. He’d just as soon sell the house and live the nomadic life. That is not a lifestyle he can have with me. I insist on a home base.
That being said, we managed to make a comfortable home within Minnie’s walls for the last 2 month. I thought it would be fun to share all our campsites with any of you who might be planning an extended camping trip of your own. A little inspiration perhaps. We cheated just twice with hotel rooms, once for convenience and once to avoid the Nevada heat.
With all the recent talk of increased RV and travel trailer sales, we were worried that finding space might prove difficult. Traveling in early spring with no firm plan seemed to help. We chose to drive a more northerly route first and found most campgrounds with plenty of open spaces. Not wanting to get stuck in a Walmart parking lot or roadside rest stop, we reserved 2-4 days in advance. There’s a limit to how much we’ll rough it.
Thanks to all who followed along with us. We plan to be back with more adventures soon.
Our westward bound journey began with a two-night stop at Carter Caves State Resort Park in Kentucky. What a great family park…2,000 acres of forest and fun!
We reserved a campsite over a week ago and were not disappointed with our choice.
The park has over 30 miles of hiking trails, half of which are multi-use trails for hikers, bikers or horseback riders. In addition, fishing, boating, canoeing, swimming, golfing and rock climbing offer something for just about everyone. If camping isn’t your thing, there are several overnight accommodations available.
There are plenty of caves to explore in this park. Some are self-guided (with a permit) while others require a guide. We opted to stay above ground this trip…maybe next time!
This is our last day at the Lebanon, Ohio KOA (Kampgrounds of America), a spot we chose because of its proximity to the Little Miami Scenic Trail listed in our Rail-Trail Hall of Fame book…and because we needed the laundry.
The weather has turned pretty hot and humid, not ideal riding conditions for us. Yesterday we had pretty much crossed biking off our list…that is until a wrong turn had us driving alongside the path we had chosen to ignore.
The southern end of the trail begins in the outskirts of Cincinnati, Ohio and follows the Little Miami River much of the 78 miles north to Springfield, Ohio. While that might be a day’s ride for more experienced (or competitive) bikers, Reg and I were happy with a much shorter ride.
Paved, shaded and mostly flat, the section we chose was a joy to ride. I think we both would have loved to keep going, but after 13 miles we decided to turn back. The 13 miles back to our truck made it 26-mile ride…an average day’s ride for Reg, but a marathon for me!
It’s been just over four weeks since we hitched up Minnie and towed her east. With no set plan, other than to eventually reach West Virginia for a visit with (son) Chris and Gail, we weren’t sure what route we’d choose.
For some folks, traveling without a set itinerary is the stuff nightmares are made of. Understandable…we’ve had our challenges, for sure. For us, the rewards and discoveries far outweigh the negatives. Yesterday we pulled into this roadside RV park in Wisconsin for two nights, primarily to take advantage of their full hookups and laundry room.
As we turned off the highway, I noticed a sign across the road for Copper Falls State Park. With a day to fill, we packed a lunch, took a chance and discovered (what must be) one of Wisconsin’s most beautiful parks. Created in 1929, many Civilian Conservation Corp buildings remain, adding charm and a sense of history.
Before we left on this trip, we purchased a membership in the Harvest Hosts program. This allows us access to a variety of “hosts” throughout the country who will let us camp, free of charge, overnight on their property. No hookups available, simply a place to spend the night and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Wineries, farms, ranches, breweries and museums are but a few of the options available. Reservations 24 hours in advance are required, and as a courtesy, guest are advised to purchase a bit of what is offered.
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