Posts Tagged With: Traveling in our Winnebago

We’re Thrown A Curve Before Big Bend

We had just one day to explore Big Bend National Park. Our original plan of a 2-day stay was foiled by leaking water lines and not one, but two visits from a mobile RV repairman. Them’s the breaks…but we arrived to our rescheduled campsite just outside the park and pulled in between a couple whose father/father-in-law lives just down the road from our old Mariposa, California home, and a young couple who are living and traveling (since 2020) in their giant 5th wheel…along with their 5 children.

With just one day, we were advised to walk the Lost Mine Trail for a taste of what the park had to offer.
This was how early we had to get up to start our day, and to be assured of getting a parking space.

This has been our favorite hike of the trip…so far. Just under 5 miles with enough elevation gain to test us. Watching the massive rock formations catch the morning sun as it rose was spectacular. I’m afraid the photos don’t do it justice.

With the afternoon ahead of us, we drove the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive stopping along the way at points of interest. Our goal was to reach the Rio Grande River, signaling the end of the road and the border between the United States and Mexico.

And now it’s time to leave Texas behind. We’ll be hitching up Minnie and heading west tomorrow. See you in a few days.

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Civilian Conservation Corps Does It Again – Bastrop State Park

One of the benefits of traveling this time of year has been the ability to reserve and enjoy a variety of state parks in multiple states…without the crowds of high season.
We pulled into Bastrop State Park, southeast of Austin, Texas for a three-night stay, and were pleased to see that the forest was making a recovery after a devastating fire in 2011.

As with so many state parks, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) provided the manpower in the 1930s, constructing much of what remains today. Because of their craftsmanship and landscape work, the park was awarded National Historical Landmark status in 1997.

The park pool wasn’t yet open for the season. Just for a moment we considered hopping the fence
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Yes, We Were Party Poopers

By the time we packed up to head west, the Florida rain was coming down.

The Gulf Coast of Florida offered us much more than we expected. Interesting trails, mostly perfect weather and a great beachside seafood restaurant right across the street from our campsite. As the morning rain began, Reg hitched up the trailer while I battened down the inside…it was time to move on.

Our reservation at Fountainbleu State Park on the banks of Lake Ponchartrain in Louisiana was made without thought to the season. Mardi Gras and the events of the Carnival were in full swing just across the lake in New Orleans. “What fun,” I said. “What crowds,” Reg replied.

In the end we decided to forgo all the hoopla across the lake and simple enjoy the evening festivities Mother Nature offered. Yes, we were party poopers.

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Miles and Miles of Sandy Beach

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.

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Somewhere in North Carolina

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.

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Maine or Bust 2022: Around The Country Roundup

The state of Nevada stretches out ahead of us on our marathon drive home.

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).

March 9 – First day on the road.


● 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.

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Maine or Bust 2022: The End or the Beginning?

Tomorrow we pack up our memories and say goodbye to Maine, a state we’ve dreamed of visiting for years. How lucky we were to visit beautiful Acadia National Park before the real crowds of summer arrive.

Acadia National Park – Ocean Path

Friends Jeannie and Jeff came up to spend our last day with us at our cozy cabin. After a short walk, we lunched, laughed and enjoyed the view from the porch as a rain shower passed over. All too soon it was time to say goodbye…or should I say, until we meet again.

While this feels like the end of our trip, we still have over 3,000 miles to drive before reaching home. I think we’re both ready!

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Maine or Bust 2022: Cadillac Mountain Redo

The sun was out and Cadillac Mountain was waiting for us. It was a great day for a hike and since we lost our reservation to drive up, we chose to walk to the top. The Cadillac South Ridge Trail was described as a moderately challenging 6.7 mile out and back trail. We felt we had a pretty good chance of summiting the 1,548 foot peak with enough energy left over to get back down again.

A sticky, muddy, puddle-strewn trail climbed steadily up, finally opening onto a mostly smooth, rock path. There were views in every direction and plenty of rock cairns and blue blazes marking the way. With the exception of several semi-intimidating rock scrambles (which required some booty-scooting on the trip down), we reached the summit right about noon. Perfect timing!

We made it to the top for a windy picnic lunch and a beautiful view.
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Maine or Bust 2022: Rainy Days And Mondays

We had a Monday reservation at 9 a.m. to drive to the top of Acadia National Park’s Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard. We awoke to pouring rain and a forecast of much more to come. Needless to say, we nixed the mountain drive.

Armed with Google maps, we opted for a drive farther north along the coast, curious about what we might find. The quintessential rugged Maine Coast, gorgeous even in the rain, coaxed us out of the truck several times in an effort to capture photo memories.

As the noon hour rolled around I expanded my google search for a promising lunch spot. After passing several closed signs, and dismissing the chance for a slice of gas station pizza, I guided Reg to tiny Corea Harbor, an out-of-the-way spot marked by a Google Map knife and fork icon. Lunch On The Wharf it was called. Perfect…just what we were looking for. We took a chance.

We arrived to a nearly full parking lot adjacent to a somewhat ramshackle wharf. The place must have quite the reputation. Even on a rainy Monday it was hopping with friendly sightseers, bike riders braving the rain and a handful of locals. Reg ordered a lobster roll with coleslaw and I had a grilled cheese and lobster sandwich with potato salad. Although Reg didn’t believe me, I think they used Velveeta cheese…no matter, it was good, the coffee was hot and our day was a success!

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Maine or Bust 2022: The Northernmost Point

This little finger of land in Lamoine, Maine is where we’ll spend the next week before heading home.

We’ve reached the northernmost point of our trip and are comfortably settled in a spectacular log cabin overlooking the Mt. Desert Narrows body of water. We have plans to visit Maine’s Acadia National Park and hope to get together once more with friends Jeannie and Jeff…but other than that, we may just sit and enjoy the view from the deck.

Our host assured us there would be space for Minnie, and Reg backed her in like a pro. While he tended to all the details of parking her for the week, our host gave me a tour of our temporary waterside home. What a special place this is. Gorgeous inside and out…we may never leave!

After breakfast we took a short morning walk around the point, returning to enjoy a quiet Sunday watching the tide roll out…and then back in.

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