We are twenty months into RVing. After a couple of practice runs, we glamped our way from the Pacific Northwest to the Southern tip of Florida. Our nightly rates ranged from $10.00 to a whopping $125 for Fort Wilderness Campground at Disney World, we averaged around $50.00 a night.

After moochdocking for the summer in Anacortes, WA, we are working our way to Arizona for winter via Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. This route, we decided to Boondock more, at least five nights a month, and to really take advantage of our Harvest Host Membership, this should help our nightly budget.

For us, this will be a bit of a challenge; 1. We are more of the glamping-style RVers, but that can be a bit costly. 2. Boondocking will involve a new skill set and learning how to locate and plan locations for our size rig of 50’ total with the truck, and then there is our comfort level. 3. More Nature-like. I am a city girl so “camping” in nature is not something I am familiar with and I am not always comfortable in that setting, so pushing the limits is a new mantra for me.

Our first Harvest Host stop was a coffee stand, connected to a farm, in the small town of Boardman, Oregon. Just a smidgeon off Highway 84, we pulled into a large gravel parking lot with fields on two sides. It is late in the farming season so we missed most of the fun. After checking in, we parked by the edge of a driveway, leveled the Airstream, and wandered over for an iced coffee and fruit smoothie, a delicious treat on a warm travel day.

As the day came to a close and evening started to settle in, we were treated to a brilliant sunset glowing on the remaining sunflowers hanging on to the last minute.

Harvest Host #2 was a delight - A goat farm in Idaho, just outside of Caldwell. As a city girl, I didn’t get much exposure to farming or farm animals and one of the things I love the most about Harvest Host is the exposure to great farms and their farmers and learning more about them.

Our host was fantastic and so cordial. You could tell how much she loves her little farm. They have a variety of well-loved goats, a couple of happy pigs, a llama whose sole job is to protect the goats, horses that just hang out, and a small herd of cows (many of which had been bottle-fed and raised by our host.)

After an informative tour of the farm and an interesting story of how it came to be and how it operates now, we walked back to the Airstream for a late supper and to settle in for the night.

Harvest Host #3 was odd. There wasn’t much to choose from in Evanston, Wyoming, it was either the parking lot of Walmart or the parking lot of a local bowling alley with a restaurant that served pizza. We decided pizza sounded better than the noisy parking lot of a Walmart. The host was accommodating but not much interaction. We ordered a small pizza and called it a night. The place closed at 10:00 p.m. on a Sunday, so the few patrons who had been inside drinking piled into their cars and left us with some final peace and quiet.

It’s strange to me (still) how in some places we park for the night, I sleep soundly and confidently, while in others (like the bowling alley) my sleep was restless and uncomfortable. It wasn’t because I felt“unsafe” at the bowling alley, I felt safe, it could just be the way we were parked. Who knows?

Our first Boondocking spot was to be at Jug Hollow Dispersed Camping at Flaming Gorge in Utah. I had read the reviews and input the GPS coordinates and felt as ready as I could be. Our first Boondocking on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) was at the Salt Flats in Utah, it took me a night to “feel” it, so we stayed an extra night and I became more comfortable with the idea and the location. This time I felt more prepared and I was kind of looking forward to it - until we got there.

We pulled into the road then got out and walked around, we were judging how comfortable we felt going down a bumpy road like this. The reviews said it was a bit washboard and about 5 miles in but take it real slow. Just as we were contemplating it, a local pulled up and said it was a really bumpy road and maybe we shouldn’t try it, maybe he didn’t think our fancy schmancy Airstream could handle it. He suggested we try Antelope Flats Campground just up the road about a half mile. We were already a little leary and uncertain so we accepted his advice and did just that, only to find out Antelope Flats Campground was closed for the season. I wasn’t feeling good by this point so we gave up Boondocking and called it a bust, then went in search of an RV park - back to glamping.

We have another Harvest Host in mind as we continue our journey from Wyoming to Denver - a buffalo farm in Nebraska. Then it’s back to glamping with full hookups at Chatfield Dam Reservoir just outside of Denver before we continue on south.

We may not be Boondockers, but we're giving it a shot. Who knows, we may discover we are.

We have been taking advantage of our stationary summer and doing some minor repairs and upgrades to Betty Jo (the Airstream.)  Including, a CURTAIN MAKEOVER.

1. We replaced the SureFlo connection for city water with its built-in pressure regulator. We discovered an intermittent leak and had weak water pressure. Now all is well.
2. Touched up the surface rust spots on the ProPride hitch with a good cleaning and paint job.
3. Greased/Lubed moving parts making them flexible and smooth.
4. Tightened all screws, nuts and bolts.
5. Cleaned and sanitized the fresh water tank.
6. Took everything out of the back of the truck to give it a good cleaning.
7. She will get a good cleaning before we hit the road in mid-September.

It was the little touches that were a real treat this summer. Living in her for over a year now, there were some changes we wanted to make. As much as we love our Airstream, most of her surfaces are a bit on the hard side and it was time to add some soft touches and some color.

We replaced the drain piece in the bathroom sink. The previous one was getting scuzzy and cracking. The new one added a clean and shiny look to the sink.

The accordion-like fabric that came with our 2018 Flying Cloud allowed for privacy in the bedroom or separated the bath area from the living space, but it was harsh fabric, not to mention not an exciting color. We decided to add a little more color and softness to the space by replacing them with a curtain.

1. Found hooks that fit the existing track on Amazon. Luomorgo Plastic Curtain Track Carrier Slide Roller 11mm/0.43 inch Dia White 50 Pcs
2. We measured the area then searched for curtains that fit. We didn't want anything too wide (most curtains are) and didn't want anything too long where it would drag.  This limited the availability but finally found a set we were happy with. The next requirement was a set with grommets. JINCHAN Light Filtering Curtains Waffle Weave Textured Window Curtains -  Grommet - 72 Inch Length x 38" in width.
3. The final item was something that would would fit through the tiny loop on the hooks for the track and through the grommet. We found them at Lowes Hardware store.

When removing the old curtains be aware that they are also screwed to the wall. We unscrewed part of the track to remove the old and then added the new.  Since the velcro straps that kept the previous curtains in place were attached to the curtains, we had to come up with at least a temporary fix to hold the new curtains - we screwed some velcro to the wall (where the previous screws were located) and use that to hold the curtains in place.

 White.... White.... White.  
After years of living in white wall apartments I find I am not too tolerant of that color so I have to "add" color. 

I knew this project would be very time consuming and would need some skills I may be slightly lacking in so I waited until our return to Anacortes and recruited the help of a friend, who also happens to be a quilter.

I had found this video on how to makeover the Airstream curtains using the existing curtains. This made perfect sense to me - you already had the template with the existing curtains, they come with all of the hooks attached, and the blackout material is already incorporated into the design. Why reinvent,  if it is already working.

My friend and I picked a day we could shop for fabric. We found these lovely designs on the sale rack at the local fabric shop. Same designer, similar color scheme, a slight variation on the design.

We picked a couple of nice days and washed the curtains on the gentle cycle. I had read many warnings about drying the curtains in the dryer (because of the blackout material) some had good luck on low, but since I was using an older washer/dryer set that was not mine,  I opted to lay them out in the sun and let nature do the job.

We did one room at a time starting with the living area. Our flamingo beach towel and large pillows made for a temporary curtain solution to provide privacy at night. Once the living room curtains were done, we put them temporarily in the bedroom for privacy, while the bedroom curtains were being sewn,

Then it came time to iron the new fabric, measure, cut, and sew. We removed all of the velcro patches before starting - make sure when reassembling that they line up correctly. We also numbered the curtains in the order they came of the tracks.

After a few lessons, I took over preparation of the curtains for sewing - measuring, cutting, and pinning the new fabric to the curtains. Gale expertly sewed the edges, finished the corners, cleaned up around the snaps, and made the final product a work of art.

I could not be more pleased with the results. I only had a vague idea of what I wanted when we started this project, but nothing concrete. When I saw this fabric it just sang to me and next to the aluminum walls, the fabric and the walls shine.

It's the little touches that make a home a home.

A BIG THANK You to GALE. You have our deep appreciation and gratitude.

We are always asked - "what's your favorite?" Favorite place. Favorite thing you did. Favorite RV park. Favorite food. Favorite, Favorite, Favorite.  This list was  hard to do but it here it is.

From pre-newbie to newbie, to semi-advanced newbie, back to almost-newbie….Again.

We were pre-newbie in January of 2021 when we started looking for an Airstream and dreaming of RVing full-time. Then newbie reality hit once we found the Airstream in February of 2021 and had to tow her home. From then on it was a whirlwind of crash courses on RVing, and everything associated with this lifestyle and owning an Airstream.

After a couple of Maiden Voyages, we left our hometown of Anacortes and headed east. Each mile gave us just a pinch more experience and a tad more confidence. Pushing us toward becoming semi-advanced newbies.

We wintered in Florida for two months, then six weeks in South Carolina, being stationary for so long we found it hard to get back into the routine of being on the road when we finally left to head west. By the time we reached Washington state, we were semi-advanced newbies once again, even advancing toward ‘advanced’ newbies

For medical and dental reasons we returned to our hometown where we are moochdocking on a friend's property. When we finally hit the road again in mid-September. We will have been in one place for almost four months. I am starting to feel the anxious butterflies in my stomach as we get closer to leaving, and when I think about hitching up. Just like when we left South Carolina in mid-February, I suspect it will take a few trips to get us back into the routine of travel days - and I am newbie nervous.

It’s been months since I have had to plan a route and I am finding it takes a while to fire up the brain neurons (blame it on older age) that remember how I did it before. I finally picked an afternoon, knowing I needed enough time to focus on the task, I got as far as an outline of where we are heading.

This trip, I am planning (and I use that term loosely) is to try more Boondocking, another learning curve, and another newbie skill to acquire. Our route is Oregon to Yellowstone to the Tetons to Colorado to New Mexico to Texas, settling in Arizona for the winter. We will throw in a few Harvest Hosts and RV parks to mix it up a bit. For me, Boondocking tends to add to the anxiety, I prefer to know where we will be staying and when. And I found I am more of a mid-scale RV park type of RVer so this type of camping will be a change, to say the least.

This route will be more of a wing it route, how else will we acquire this skill and know if we like it or not unless we try? It is also part of this plan to help weed down our budget for nightly stays.

I feel a little more confident approaching Boondocking now with the skills we have acquired and the experience we have under our belts versus when we were brand new newbies. Boondocking will add to our experience of RVing - and to the thousands of photos we have collected since we started this journey.

We are allowing about two months for this route so by the time we get to Arizona we should be semi-advance newbies again (maybe even advanced newbies,) with new skills, new experiences, and new “I Learned That” attitudes.

There are drawbacks to Rving Full-time, but then there are drawbacks to many things in life. The rewards often overshadow the drawbacks, creating memories that last a lifetime, making this life just a little worthwhile.

1. Medical/Dental Emergencies - With today’s busy doctors and dentists, it is hard to get an appointment when needed, and it can often be hard to stay in an RV spot long enough to receive the care you might need. When I broke a tooth in Myrtle Beach, I obtained an appointment with a dentist quickly enough to have it looked at, but it was three weeks before they could get me in to fix it. Since, I was unable to find an RV spot without moving several times, I opted to wait until I returned to our home state. Thankfully, the tooth did not hurt.

2. Making Friends - One of the benefits of RV traveling is meeting new people. It is also a drawback. We have had the good fortune to meet the most amazing people on our journey, some we will stay connected with online, but many we will never meet again but will remember with fond memories. We are usually so busy in a location, zipping around doing tourist stuff, returning to camp late, so there is no time to interact with others. When we do meet someone in the park, it is often the night before we leave or they leave, giving us a few precious moments to enjoy their company. Then it is a quick goodbye before we are off to the next location, the next adventure, the next travelers to meet. Our connections with others may be short, but oh so meaningful.

3. Family and Friends - Thankfully, there is Facebook and other online platforms that help keep us connected to the loved ones we left behind. Phone calls help keep the connection strong and give us a sense of belonging, but there is nothing like a good hug, a face-to-face conversation, a meal with those who know you, or a solid shoulder to cry on.

4. Travel fatigue - The thrill of the adventure, the anticipation of the next location, and the beauty of the road attracts many to this lifestyle but the constant set-up and tear-down, the go-go-go, and the eternal moving can wear on a person. We discovered very early on that we needed to pace ourselves, to allow for days of downtime. We have been stationary for a few months now, creating a different kind of travel fatigue and we are anxious to hit the road.

5. Privacy - or lack thereof - Being on the road full-time, you are constantly engaged with your travel companions in a small space, day in, day out, allowing little time for privacy. Most of the time, this is not a problem, but once in a while we have to remind the other, “I just need a moment, please.

6. The constant route planning - I thought I would enjoy this since I love to plan, but the hours I can spend route planning and researching and worrying about where is our “next home”, can wear on me. I often wonder if I would love to “just wing it,” but still being a newbie and someone who needs to know “where to,” I think it would be rather stressful. I am getting better at it though.

7. Eating out - Food, Food, Food. Traveling provides the opportunity to taste the world in a new way. It is hard to resist the temptation of trying something new, tasting the cuisine of an area, or enjoying an old fashion diner, but this adds to the bottom line and blows up a well-planned budget. Yet, it is often worth every bite, every morsel of deliciousness, every delectable adventure.

8. - PARKING. Damn, we’re BIG.  - When hitched, we are about 50’ in length, too long to just pull in anywhere. This means we have to be cautious when it comes to gas stations, even worse, parking lots, or heaven forbid narrow roads. Even when not hitched, our truck is too big for some roadways and too big for tight parking lots. In some of the towns we have visited, our truck struggled through narrow lanes and tight downtown roads, and forget about finding parking that fits a large truck. I would often find myself missing the days when I had a small Subaru that could fit just about anywhere.

9. Weather - Weather is a constant concern. An Airstream owners greatest fear is - HAIL. We always try to travel on good weather days.

10. Break downs  and Maintenance - One of the hazards of RVing is breaking down or a blown out tire. The highways (and back roads) in this country are a challenge to say the least, some are downright dangerous and can destroy a rig with every bump. Most RVs are not meant to be lived in full-time, add the constant miles, the less-than-superior quality, the bouncing, and the RV will start to need maintenance sooner, rather than later. This is a costly expense of RVing.