Two Years On The Road Recap - September 5, 2014 to September 4, 2015

September 5th, 2014, we found ourselves at the St. Clair Thousand Trails Resort in St. Clair, Michigan, we had been on the road for exactly 1 year as full time RVers. And thus began our second year.

While in Michigan, we spent the day biking on Mackinac Island, and exploring cemetaries. I am into genealogy and have distant relatives buried there. We even found some!

Then we attended our second RV Dreams rally at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds. Howard & Linda Payne, www.rv-dreams.com, put on a great rally as usual. Had a great time and met lots of new friends. After the rally, we had some repairs done to our Bighorn fifth wheel at MasterTech RV Service in Elkhart. We were there 10 days and not only got our rig fixed, we met another group of RV friends.

Donna's brother, Gene, called and said Cyndi (our sister-in-law) was in hospice and was soon to pass. We started our flight toward Fort Mohave, AZ. Five days later, we were with them. We spent the next month and a half with them.

Our Grandson, Chase, was graduating from Boot Camp in San Diego, CA and we had made arrangements to be there. So we headed for southern California. We stopped at 3 Thousand Trail parks on the way. The Palm Springs area was really cool. We will be back there for sure. The day of his graduation, Cyndi passed. We enjoyed our visit with Chase and our daughter, Candy, but hurried back to Fort Mohave, AZ after San Diego.

We spent Christmas with Gene, adopted Tinker Belle, then headed south. We spent New Years Eve boondocking just outside of Quartzsite at Dome Rock. It was very cold. It got down to 28 degrees and there was snow all around the hill tops. We decided to go a bit further south.

So we visited my sister Karen in Tacna, AZ, just west of Yuma. After a week there, it was time for the annual Christian Fellowship rally in Quartzsite on Plamosa Road. We spent 11 days with good friends there. And somehow, I became the Western Vice President. Had a ball with them.

Then back to Fort Mohave to check on Gene and get Tinker Belle fixed.

We then boondocked another month in Q. Then it was off to Organ Pipe National Monument to meet up with our Christian Fellowship group. That was a great place. Then to Phoenix for the National Good Sam Rally. We even met up with my brother, Jim, there,

We then celebrated Donna's 60th birthday with our Christian Fellowship group at Kartchner Caverns. Another wonderful place.

After that, we did the Escapade in Tucson. It was there, that we traded in our Bighorn fifth wheel and truck and bought our Fleetwood Southwind motorhome. Yes, we love it.

We then headed back to visit Gene in Fort Mohave. And to have a couple of yard sales. We realized we were carrying way too much 'stuff'.

Then it was time to head north. We made a stop in Las Vegas. It was a little difficult traveling without a toad, but doable. Over Donner Pass we went and represented our Christian Fellowship group at the Escapees WARE rally in Yuba City, CA.

We stopped and visited Donna's brothers, Larry & Garry, on our way north. Then in Bend, Oregon, we decided, we have to get a toad soon. We are missing so many opportunities to explore our surroundings.

Finally entered Washington. We traveled all over the state, visiting our kids and grandkids...and great grandkid. Even attending two Washington State Good Sam Rallies in Lynden and Moses Lake. While in Washington, we completed our bucket list item of staying in all the Thousand Trails (in WA). We now have Washington, Oregon, and Nevada done.
Candy & I.

Donna, Ryker, & Roman.

Kim & Donna.

Erik, Oli, & Donna.

Roman & Tim.

Last month, we hit Idaho and even a Music festival in Newport, WA. Now we are in Crescent Bar TT Park, waiting for some repairs. Then we will start our trek southward.

Year Two Stats
Miles traveled  -  8830
States visited  -  14    New States  - 5
Number of times camped  -  71
Average days camped per stop  -  5.14
Campground fees for the year  -  $2173.74    $5.96 per night
Highest average camping fees Month  -  $12.24 per night for September
Lowest average camping fees Month  -  $0.97 per night for August

Highlights  -  RV Dreams Rally, Michigan & Mackinac Island, Changed to motorhome,   National Good Sam Rally, Escapade, Hiking at Organ Pipe MN, Boondocking                

Lowlights  -  Death of Sister-In-Law Cyndi



We are ready to go!
What a year!
Starting year three now!