Homeward Bound

 

It's hard to believe that this snowbird adventure is coming to an end. In total...

• We spent eleven weeks on the road 
• Traveled approximately 3,400 miles
• Visited a dozen different states
• Stayed at fifteen separate RV Parks ... from family farms to upscale resorts and everything in-between
• Experienced some mechanical mishaps
• Made a few problematic wrong turns
• Settled into a daily rhythm
• Discovered we LOVE the RV but are not fond of the dolly. We plan to trade in my car ASAP for one that can be flat-towed.

We have lots to discuss regarding future plans, but for now, we are focused on returning home.

Lessons Learned

The trip to Florida taught us the value - and necessity - of spending two nights at an RV campground between each travel day. While we "can" power through and travel several days in a row, we don't want to. We prefer to rest upon arrival ... leisurely wake up the next morning ... take time to double-check the rig to ensure all is running well ... enjoy a hot meal ... and then wake up well-rested the second morning.

We also learned that we need to plan rest breaks every two hours. This is as much for Geoff as it is for Hero 😊 Some highways offer more rest stops than others, so it is a good idea to preview the map before setting off. 

On travel days, we like campgrounds that are near the highway for easy on-and-off access. At the end of a long day on the road, we just want to set up camp. Often this is the most stressful part of the day because we don't know what the site looks like - how we will fit - if we need to unhook the car - etc. If we can avoid city traffic and/or unpaved country roads, that helps ease the check-in process  

And we decided to adhere to the 200-miles-a-day rule (for the most part). While we would like to get further down the road in less time, we realize that traveling in a 33,000 lb coach is not the same as the family car. It requires more focus, which in turn, causes mental strain. Why push it if we don't have to? We dictate the timetable. And we decided to give ourselves time to rest.

The last leg of this snowbird itinerary reflects this new mindset.

Keystone Heights, FL to Olathe, KS

Day 1: Keystone Heights, FL to Forsyth, GA (300 miles)

I know... I just said we were going to adhere to the 200-mile rule. BUT... this is our first travel day after a two-week rest. Tomorrow we drive through Atlanta. We'd prefer to tackle that traffic nightmare earlier in the trip rather than later. So we will power through this one time.

Fortunately, I found a KOA that promises warm chocolate chip cookies upon arrival. At least there's a treat at the end of the road. And we will be staying two nights.

Day 3: Forsyth, GA to Lincoln, AL (165 miles)

I wanted to find something relatively close to Atlanta so we could stop and celebrate our travel achievement. This campsite is 1/4 mile from the Talladega racetrack! Now, we aren't racecar fans but... how can we resist such a great opportunity! The price was right -- and they offer a large off-leash dog area. Sounds like the perfect antidote to the Atlanta mayhem. We are staying two nights.

Day 5: Lincoln, AL to Tupelo, MS (180 miles)

Originally I wanted to stay in or around Memphis. However, the distance was a bit too far and the campground I selected had no availability. This family-run campground is nestled in a parklike setting and promises a bit of pampering. While Tupelo is the birthplace of Elvis (and takes great pride in that fact) ... it is also the birthplace of my great-grandmother. I'm not sure I will do much genealogy research, but it will be nice to connect the place with the person. We are staying two nights here.

Day 7: Tupelo, MS to Jonesboro, AR (180 miles)

We are going to experiment a bit with this stop. Boondockers Welcome (now a part of Harvest Hosts) is another membership club that we recently joined. For about $40/year, we have access to over 2,500 individual "homes" that people allow RV travelers to stay for free! While most will be a boondocking experience (no electric, water, or sewer) ... many of these homes offer electricity for a nominal fee. We are staying at a home that appears to be in an affluent neighborhood (if the size of the homes is any indication). We will have access to electricity - an open grass area for Hero to exercise - and lots of peace and quiet. I'm just hoping we don't miss the turn 🤞(rectifying that kind of error is a bit tricky with a motorhome). We will be staying here for two nights.

Day 9: Jonesboro, AR to Mansfield, MO (170 miles)

I've wanted to visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum for decades. Since we were traveling this close - and there's an RV park directly across the street - we decided to treat Molly to a fun excursion. Yes, it is several miles off the highway and the country roads may not be the best, but we are going to give it a go. We will only stay here one night as we are close to home and (I assume) will be excited to get there.

Day 10: Mansfield, MO to Olathe, KS (225 miles)

While slightly over the 200-mile rule, we are traveling familiar roads. In fact, I think Geoff could drive home with his eyes closed, but I'll make sure he doesn't 😉 While we do enjoy living in our mobile "tiny house" ... I am rather excited to see home again. However, we are already planning the next great escape. Stay tuned for more details.