I thought there would be more to see on Route 66 in Amarillo, and the surrounding area, so I booked us for a week at the RV Park — I was wrong!

Our first few days, we were pretty much stuck inside. First, high winds, then rain, then snow, then snow with high winds. It was three days before we could resume our Route 66 adventures. Three days of cold, wet, and high winds.

The winds eventually died down then the warmer weather came hitting 80 a few days later. It was hard to tell who was moodier at this point - Mother Nature or Me

On our first day on the Route, we did lunch at the Midpoint Cafe. It was…Nostalgic. The food wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. Of course, like any other Route 66 traveler, we had to take our photo at the Mid Point Sign.

My favorite sites along Route 66 are old gas stations. Some of my best childhood memories were the summers I spent with my grandpa. He owned a Chevron in Sterling, Colorado, where I spent many a summer with him at the gas station. My main job, (probably to keep me out of trouble) was to keep the gas pumps clean. I had my rag and a bottle of Windex, and I took my job seriously. When customers would pull in, grandpa would greet them, fill their tanks, wash their windows, and send them on their merry way with a smile. Sometimes, I was allowed to help. I would clean the side view mirrors. I had access to all of the bubble gum I wanted and my little chair, where I often sat and just watched my grandpa work on cars. I treasure those times with him, and Route 66 is flooding me with memories of a time when life was so simple.

After lunch, we resumed our Route 66 drive and did the old and new of Route 66 through Amarillo. Sorry, but I was a bit disappointed. What remnants that remain are more than run-down the luster long forgotten. So many other states and towns are renovating their route 66, embracing their history, welcoming visitors, and inviting them to times past and times present, but Amarillo seems tired and forgotten. You can locate parts where they are trying.  But, the draw, the magic — it just wasn’t there. At least not for me.

Oasis RV Resort was a nice RV park with big sites and clean. Over the week, I watched as RVers came in for the night, leaving early the next day for their next location. Amarillo was just a stopover, a place to rest the heads of weary travelers traversing the long miles across Texas. Another sign that Amarillo didn’t seem to have much to offer travelers.

We ventured off the Route and drove to Palo Duro Canyon for an afternoon. The Canyon is the second-largest canyon in the United States. The canyon is about 120 miles long and 20 miles wide and is up to 800 feet deep. We ventured down the canyon, stopped at the Trading Post for lunch, then met a fellow Airstreamer (Two Peas and the Pod) in one of the campgrounds. It was the most beautiful part of our week and worth the drive.

We waited until the snow melted before stopping at Cadillac Ranch. You hear about these places and you think, “I must go there, too,” this was one of those places. I expected more to it. I guess I expected them to make more of a big deal of this iconic place. But it’s just ten old Cadillacs buried in the ground. No monument, no fanfare, no parking lot. You park on the shoulder and walk in through a gate. There was a truck selling spray cans, a must for anyone planning on the full experience. Children were having a blast. What more could they want - mud to splash in, spraying cans of paint, and the freedom to deface property with full zeal.

We spent a week in Amarillo, a long week.  Maybe it was the weather? Maybe it was my mood? Maybe it was the dreariness? Whatever the reason... Route 66 in Amarillo was just not as magical.

Now, time to move to New Mexico. May Route 66 in New Mexico be filled with Enchantment.

We started our RV life with good intentions and a budget in mind. Then newbie excitement took hold and a late start in making plans and put a bit of a dent in our budget, but it was so worth it. Quite frankly, we didn't do too bad, considering.

Upgrades to Jack (the Ford F-250) and Betty Jo (the Airstream)
1. New tires for both.
Our truck is a 2018, when we bought it in December of 2020, it had less than 30,000 miles on it. Trucks were starting to get hard to find, especially trucks with tow packages, so when we found Jack we snatched him up. Someone put new (but really cheap) tires on it before selling it. We suspect the previous owner or the dealer traded the took the really good tires that was on it. The cheap tires did not handle the rain in Washington at all, this made them a danger when it came time to tow, so we replaced them right away.  Cost $1600.00

They say don't judge a tire by miles on the RV, judge by age and a few other things. Betty Jo (the Airstream) had the standard Goodyear tires and 15" wheels. The Airstream is a 2018 Flying Cloud FBQ and the previous owners didn't really use her much, but over time the tires still looked a bit worn. We decided to upgrade to Michelin tires and while at it, upgrade to 16" wheels, give her a bit of a lift.  A great decision, even better decision since we took her to Vinnie's Northbay Airstream Repair in California.  Cost #2400.00

2 Upgraded the batteries.
The Airstream came with lead-acid batteries and they no longer held a charge well. We upgraded to Lifeline AGM batteries with a Victron Energy Smart Battery Monitor. We have 180 watts of solar on the roof and needed batteries that would hold a charge and last longer. Lithium batteries were a bit over our budget.  Cost $1000.00

I read somewhere when you first start this RV life to budget close to $5,000 for all of the accessories and whatnots you will need (and want.) That need/want doesn't stop. They were pretty darn close in their estimates. It seems like everything you need (or want) comes with a price tag of $150 to $300 range. You can find a list of most of what we purchased on our website.

 There are three major expenses when hitting the road...
1. Gas
2. RV Parks/Campgrounds
3. FOOD

Gas (more specifically Diesel) - On average, gas prices fluctuated between $3.00 to $3.50 per gallon, California being the exception, they were on average between $4.00 to $5.00.   For our first year, we spent $5,814, this includes when not towing, an average of $484.50 per month.  Our highest month in gas cost was August, our first month on the road across country and we covered close to 1200 miles.

RV Parks/Campgrounds. There are a variety of ways to save money in this category. I learned pretty early on that the longer you stay at an RV park the more you might save. I would pick a location and plan for at least a week stay, sometimes 10 days. This offered two advantages  - 1. nightly reductions. 2. A chance to kick back.

There are multitude of excuses/reasons why this category was a bit up for us in our first year.
1. Planning late. Sometimes I just had to go with what park I could find, and often it seemed to be the higher priced RV parks.
2. Locations - Popular locations usually cost more during their peak season. Summer is higher in Oregon, the Fall Colors in the Smoky Mountains, and wintering in Florida. In our article - We racked up the miles - I point out that we visited 21 states and stayed in 46 RV parks/campgrounds and 1 Hipcamp.  Nightly fees were anywhere from $10 per night to close to $130 per night. State parks were recommended when we first started but I found them to be almost as costly as an RV park and offered a lot less, they also often had smaller sites or tight turns.  Our least expensive night was $10 per night at the COE (Corp of Engineers) campground  - Clark's Ferry in Iowa. Our most expensive was Fort Wilderness at Disney World, Florida. 
3. HEAT (weather). Our first year on the road, most of the country was experiencing a heatwave, even our beloved PNW. We were in 90 degree weather pretty much from June to October, this meant running our air conditioners (often times both of them) so we opted to stay where we could get power. It was not our time to try boondocking more often, not yet.
4. Water and Waste Management. This is a skill we still need to get better at before boondocking more.
5. Demand. With over a million RVers on the road and needing a place to park, the demand increase allowed RV parks to raise their rates, some of them substantially. The assumption being, if you want to park here it will cost you, and they are right.

Total spent for the year - $15,294.00, an average of $41.90 per night, which was actually close to where I budgeted.

Food
This is where our budget blew up. The cost of food has risen, though I found some places, like the St Louis area, where food prices were reasonable and less than others. But it wasn't just groceries, it was eating out - A LOT!!! How can you not visit some of these amazing places and not explore the food? You can't. But eating out has become an expensive endeavor. We would try to minimize but it just was not always possible. One month, (I hate to admit this) but we spent close to $200.00 at Starbucks or other coffee locations. I don't drink coffee, someone who shall remain a husband, does. But it wasn't just coffee, we would often get snacks with his coffee, or I would get some sort of cold drink. After that month I cut us off, and luckily the further east we got, the less Starbucks and coffee shops with specialty coffees.

Other expenses
1. Monthly 
cell phones $60.00
Mobile hotspot - $60.00
Streaming (TV) - $45.00
Laundry - $60.00

2. Insurance
Trailer - $1350 per year
Truck - $1350 per year

3. Entertainment
We did pretty good here, most of our entertainment is free, we just take our cameras and go for a walk.
Airboat Ride - $300
River Rafter down the Truckee River - $120
Mackinac Island (one day), includes boat ride, food - $250
Museums and Tours - $200

Overall our budget was a bit higher than planned, but it was our first year and we had so much to do. :-) Our second year, should be a little better.

1. THE WINDOWS - Out my window... I see a dream, a reality, incredible beauty, a moment of gratitude.

My favorite feature of Betty Jo (and any Airstream) are the windows - and there are a lot of them. Before I start my morning routine I open all the curtains to let the light burst in. I need LIGHT!! And, lots of it.

And, then there are the views from each window… a frame of nature’s beauty promising a day of greatness. As I open each curtain, I stop and take a moment to enjoy the view. I am filled with gratitude of what each day brings and the enjoyment I get from receiving.

As an RVer, one thing you can count on is CHANGE - in location, in landscape, in the weather, and your neighbors.  Often, when I open the curtains in the morning I will find a neighbor gone, or replaced with a new neighbor. The weather offers its own drama to the view or provides a stunning beauty that changes, oftentimes in minutes, leaving you breathless with awe and anticipation. Each location has its own rewards and contributes to the incredible view and journey we are on.

2. Her Name

In life, Betty was a feisty and adventurous woman. Born in 1924, she was far beyond her times, as a woman who enjoyed life and excelled in her career and adventures. A photographer, a sailor, a teacher, she lived her life to the fullest.

It is only right that Betty Jo, the Airstream, continues Betty’s adventurous spirit, taking us on travels we only dreamed about.

I am grateful to Betty for this opportunity and grateful that everyday I feel she is with us in spirit and still watching over us.

3.  Her shining beauty - inside and out.

Airstreams entice you with their beauty, their shining exterior, their quality, their aerodynamics. But it is not just her aluminum shell I admire – Betty Jo has a natural beauty, a shining quality of uniqueness, a sturdiness, and a protective nature providing us with a solid home, much like her namesake.

4. Towing - She’s a natural at it.

Betty Jo has a solid streak of independence but when being towed, she is a natural at following and obediently staying on course. Her aerodynamic figure makes her the perfect partner for our Ford F-250 (Jack) truck. Her low center of gravity keeps her weight balanced and easy to tow.

5. Her Quirks

I swear, Betty Jo (the Airstream) has the same personality as her namesake - she can be determined or stubborn, she loves attention, most importantly she can be PROTECTIVE and generous.

In this first year together, I have learned to recognize her various moans, groans, and creaks and what they mean. I can tell when she is satisfied and settled in her spot, and when she is not quite comfortable. She sparkles brilliantly when she has a bath. She enjoys (as much as I do) when we are able to open all the windows and let in fresh air. She revels in sunshine and is quiet in colder weather.

When we name something, it is no longer just a “thing”, we make a connection, and in Betty Jo’s case -  it makes her a home.

It has been almost a year since we bought Betty Jo. A year of learning, determination, crying,  laughter, stress, adventure… most importantly a year of living.

RVing - to travel, to explore, to connect with nature, and to create memories.

Today, RVing can also mean - working from the road, learning while on the road, meetings and more meetings (and too many Zoom meetings), and just spending a lot of time online. Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, they all make the life style glamorous and inviting - and it is a lifestyle. It invites the promise of so much more and so many are buying into it and hitting the road.

All we need is a good connection (WIFI) and we are happy campers…but the reality is…good connection may be easier than in years pass but is still elusive or at least sluggish in many locations. This explosion of people living in their RVs and wandering from location to location was not something this industry was fully prepared for.

Technology has taken an industry, traditionally comprised of retirees, and opened it up to all age groups and families. Their desires and needs includes WIFI at a decent speed. One of the most frequently asked questions in Facebook Groups and forum is, "How do I get Internet?" And, just as there are so many questions, there also seems to be a variety of answers. Not all are foolproof, not all of them are accurate. Many of these answers and ideas will not work for everyone or work everywhere. There is also a wide variety of cost & complexity, too.

With so many turning RVing into a life style, technology is more critical than ever before. We still need to earn a living, we still need to learn, and we still need some connection to family and friends, and children (and adults) still need to be entertained.

We ourselves are in a “semi-retired” stage, which means we still need to earn some kind of living. For us, Internet is a way to earn income on the road, to continue our RV education, and it is also a way to connect with family and friends.

We have watched countless YouTube videos on this subject and read countless answers. Various groups, some with broad coverage of RV Life tricks and tips, others more manufacture specific, like the various Airstream Groups we follow, are a wealth of information. The old adage “taken with a grain of salt” always applies. Many of which helped, some of which didn’t or were suspect, but sounded good and needed more research.

Many RV Parks offer Wi-Fi, but the main problem with RV park Wi-Fi, besides speed and connection mainly due to too many RV’s trying to connect - is security. Using our phones as a hotspots helps with the issue of security but sometimes may be slower than the RV free Wi-Fi. It’s still  a lot of hit and miss.

The solution we have been trying out recently (we are a little over a month into it) is the new, Inseego 5G MiFi M2000. The sales person told us it was 100gb per month at 5G, go over the the 100gb (or in certain areas) it will downspeed to 4G.  The cost - $50 per month. The Device is $336.00.

I am not a techie (I leave that to my husband), but what I can tell you is when we first got it, it was AMAZING!!!! Faster than the 100Gb fiber we had in our home. It was screaming fast. Working on-line, listening to Pandora & Spotify and streaming YouTube, Netflix & HBO Movies was an RV’ers dream.

The real test came when we went on our Maiden Voyage along the WA & OR coast, cell phone coverage was spotty and usually only 1 bar. And still it managed to work, even though it did at slower speeds. When it was slow, we had a harder time streaming and being online dragged but was doable – most of the time.

Then upon our return from the coast of WA/OR, about three weeks in, it just stopped working. The device showed it was getting 5G at full signal strength, our (7 Apple) devices would easily connect with it’s full strength Wi-Fi signal, but for some reason there was no internet available.

We returned it under warranty and had another one ordered for us another one (at a cost of $21 for S&H), but still the same issue. When we left for Oregon and stopped for the night at a Harvest Host, it suddenly worked fine and worked as advertised, but then it retreated back to not connecting.

We are not sure what the issue is? As soon as we are near another T-Mobile store again we will have them look at it.

We have encountered other RV’ers who swear by the WeBoost for boosting cell coverage signals. As we are currently in a very weak cellphone signal area, that will be our next exploration, as we will continue to look for that Internet Magic Answer - till then, we travel and connect just one byte at a time.

We moved into Betty Jo (the Airstream) in February, yet, it wasn’t until the 9th of April that we actually hit the road. Our Maiden Voyage, our first trip outside of our little comfort zone, our shake down cruise. The start of an adventure or at least the start of OMG what are we doing?

Reservations were made, our courses were plotted, and mentally we were as ready as we could get.

Our first destination was Grayland Beach State Park in the SW coastal area of Washington State. Our reservations were from a Saturday through Wednesday. Quesstimating it to be around a seven-hour drive from Anacortes, we made the decision to break up the drive and leave the day before — a Friday. Unfortunately, due to scheduling it was late in the day when we finally left town. This meant driving through Friday afternoon rush hour traffic. If you know the Seattle area you know that rush hour traffic is a continuous onslaught of stop-and-go from Everett to Olympia — adding extra time to our already long commute. Our goal was to make it to somewhere past Olympia and stop for the night. We had discussed the route of the Peninsula but didn’t feel comfortable, or ready enough, to brave a Washington State Ferry, so the I-5 corridor it was.

We were somewhat dreading this drive. Over the years, we had driven this route on I-5 many, many, many times, but never towing an over 6,500 lb trailer. But once we hit the Seattle traffic we sort of found our groove and our flow and just breezed down the highway like any other commuter. I had feared the “closeness” of other vehicles next to us, especially semi-trucks, but soon realized that was an unneeded fear. Betty Jo obediently followed behind and stayed snug in her lane.

I found an RV park just outside of Olympia for our night stay. The RV park was Elma RV Park in Elma, WA. We arrived at 6:30 p.m. tired and hungry. They were helpful and accommodating when I called and asked if they had a pull-through just for the night. I explained we were newbies on our Maiden Voyage. The office was closed but someone met us upon our arrival and made sure we made it in to our spot safely. Technically it was “not” a pull-through but two back-end spots they converted to a pull-through to accommodate us. The next morning, they greeted us with homemade cookies, friendly faces, wonderful advice on getting out of the site, and a good luck for our journey.

One RV Park down, now on to the next.

The sun shined on our drive from Elma to Grayland. The drive on Hwy 12 to Aberdeen is always so beautiful. We stopped in Westport for lunch and a peek at the ocean. It had been years since we had last visited the coast and I inhaled deeply the salty smell of the waves as they crashed ashore.

We arrived at Grayland close to 2:30 pm, checked in and found our spot… our first back end. Luckily, all of our neighboring RVers were out enjoying the sunny day instead of sitting in their camp chairs watching us figure out how to get Betty Jo into her home for the next few days. Finally, after several attempts, quite a bit of frustration, and back and forth, she was in, hooked up and ready to chill. And, so were we.

I made the reservation early in February. I read reviews, I studied the map, I went back and forth on sites looking for one that looked easy enough to get in and out. The choices were limited, many were already booked or closed for the season. Our spot, however, for this time of year, was too shady. I had wished I had known that. As for the park — it was a lovely location. Peaceful, quiet, refreshing. The ocean, the only reason for me being there, was quite the distance and there was marshland between the park and the beach, I found that a little disappointing, I wanted to hear its roar at night as I slept, instead it was a faded distance hum.

Our next major stop and reservation was Fort Stevens State Park outside of Astoria, Oregon. But we had five nights between the two state parks to figure out. I wrestled with this for weeks on where to stay. I tried Cape Disappointment State Park but they were full. Another state park highly recommended.

I had settled on the Raymond RV and Marine Park for a couple of nights after we left Grayland. It was right on the Willapa River, had decent reviews, and the pricing was reasonable. I called and asked if they had anything available and would the site be easy for a newbie to get into.

The photos for a lot of these places online, do not do some of the places justice, and do not always tell a complete story, especially for a newbie. Sometimes the reviews are helpful. For example Elma — the reviews said nice park, nice people, but tight spaces. Once we got there and looked around, it was a park with really tight places. As a newbie we would not have stayed there if we had to back into a spot, we aren’t talented (or experienced) enough to even try that.

For Raymond RV, the reviews were fairly good but the photos were kind of iffy on whether or not we could park there. We pulled into the park, there was only one spot left and it was extremely tight. The park actually sits next to a marine business and it was a decent enough park, but for a newbie that spot was frightful. I called the office and she assured me we could get in it and they would help, but she was tied up for thirty minutes so she told us to hang out and wait. We ate a quick lunch and just stared at the space. The more we stared, the more we came to the conclusion — NO WAY! We called her back and said sorry but the space was too tight for our comfort level.

I then found an RV Park on the south side of Astoria who had pull-throughs, full hook-up, and could accommodate us for five nights. It was the Lewis and Clark RV Park and Gulf Course. It is managed by a mother and daughter and they went out of their way to help and accommodate us. The park is clean and very well maintained, quiet and peaceful, clean laundry room which you have to yourself when you do laundry, and great customer service. There is propane on site. The spaces are spacious, most with full hook up. No picnic tables though. Relying on Google Map, we missed our turn and got a little lost and side-tracked so we had to call for directions and they talked us right to the front door. I would gladly go back and stay for a while.

The day before we were scheduled to start our stay at Fort Stevens State Park, we took a drive over to the park and nosed around a bit. We found the spot where we would be staying, planned our route in, and then checked out a few of the touristy parts of the park. Normally, you don’t have this option to check out a park before you get there, but I am glad we did. As newbies, pulling into an unknown park for the first time can be quite suspenseful and not always in a good way. We had a pull-through site but it was one where you angled in because it had a curve. There was an Airstream in our site as we drove by, so this gave us a clue of how it would look and how we would fit. Again, like Grayland, there are a lot of trees so a lot of shade, which would be great in the summer on a hot day, but not in mid-April when it’s still chilly out. And the mosquitoes were out and quite large.

Fort Steven State Park is a beautiful park, filled with history and historical sites. It was a joy to meander around and feel the history. There were trails weaving in and out of the park, perfect for walking or biking. A small herd of elk would be seen munching around the park and an occasional eagle would fly overhead. Our second night there we drove out to see the Peter Iredale shipwreck on the beach and to just enjoy the song of the ocean waves. We also spotted whale mist from their spouts off the coast, whether it was humpbacks or gray whales, I am unsure, but to see that was a highlight for me.

One of the the many things you learn as a newbie RVer is accepting that plans change, sometimes constantly. You also need to learn “how” to plan, this is just something you learn over time and through experience. I had planned the end of our Maiden Voyage jaunt too tightly, only allowing one day to return back to the Bellingham, WA area, making for too long of a drive home. In a car, no problem, but like many said, driving an RV or towing fatigues you quicker and so keep your driving time short. Based on that advice and after experiencing fatigue from the drive down, we left our spot at Fort Stevens a day early, allowing us two days to return, instead of cramming it into one.

It was also good practice for us to travel without a plan since we won’t always have one. I opened my Harvest Host App on my iPhone and found an Harvest Host about mid-way. If you are not familiar with Harvest Host (click on the affiliate “link” for 15% off,) check out their website and with other fellow RVers who use them. They are hosts of farmers, wineries, breweries, museums, and more. I signed up, not just because it was a place to stop for the night on the way to somewhere, but for the experience. What fun it will be to meet people, experience small businesses across the country, and to create fond memories.

Our host for this night was Sandstone Distillery in Tenino, WA.

As part of being a guest, the hope is you will support the business. After we settled in, we went into the little shop they set up, peddling their many bottles of distilled alcohol and was pleasantly surprised. What an amazing treat. The hosts were gracious and had amazing stories about their business and how it got started. My husband tried a sampler of some of their whiskeys and enjoyed it, but for me it was the variety of vinegars with the most amazing offerings of flavors. The business is owned by a husband and wife and their son. When I asked about the vinegars the son turned to his mom to explain. You could tell immediately how passionate she was about them and when I asked about ways to use them my mouth watered listening to her talk about some of her favorite ways to cook or even how to just use them for health benefits. I immediately bought two bottles.

Our Maiden Voyage was a mixed bag of emotions, trial and error, tension, delight. There is, obviously, still much to learn. Many of us do this for the freedom and the memories. Our Maiden Voyage was also about decompressing, for finding the time to allow our stressful emotions from the last few months, the last few years, especially the last year — the time to explode or let go. It also allowed us the time to do what we love — photography and food.

It wasn’t just a “shake down cruise” for Betty Jo, but a shake down cruise for us.

Fond Food Memories
Dylan’s Cottage Bakery — Wonderful tasting breads and the best mouth-melting long john I had ever eaten.
Brady’s Oyster — We stopped here to pick up some halibut for the BBQ and also found a mouth-watering Cajun Tuna dip to accompany.
Frite and Scoop — I confess, I cannot pass up a good ice cream shop and it was good. I also had to stop here to find out what a ‘frite’ is.
The Naked Lemon — It was hard to connect with this bakery, the hours never seemed to match mine, but once we finally did, OMG YUM!!!!!
T. Paul’s Urban Cafe — Don’t let the outside fool you. This delightful hole-in-the-wall was a special find. Great food, fun decor, and the friendliest service.
The Coffee Girl — Just like I cannot pass up an ice cream shop, Tony cannot pass up a good coffee shop and they were good. Located in the old Cannery building for Bumble Bee Tuna, this place had the original counter where they served coffee to the workers. Nice to know that sometimes history in some form continues.

Fun Experiences
The International Mermaid Museum and Garden — Okay, I’ll admit it, it was the name that drew me in. Mermaids was a good start, but International? It was a delightful museum — filled with fun facts and stories of mermaid folklore from all of the world. After enjoying the museum take the time to walk and enjoy the expansive garden and then stop in the wine shop.

We found our next family addition here — meet Pink.
She is a delightful Flamingo who makes a nice addition.

The United States Coast Guard was doing a training exercise right off the path at the Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment. Loud and fun to watch. Luckily it was just an exercise and not a rescue.

Ecola State Park — For years we had driven right past this park in our hurry to get to Cannon Beach, this time we made an effort to stop, not only once, but twice. So grateful we did.