Well folks, today is a very special day in our lives. One year ago today we picked up our 3400 from Simmons RV in Anchorage, Alaska and started our “Big Adventure”, as most of us call it.
I will say it has been a very good year. We have traveled through the Northwest, West, and Southwest and are now headed to the upper Midwest and will travel East to the Great Lakes, then after the Fall rally in Goshen will head for Nashville and then on to Texas and who knows where after that.
We have visited friends and family and met many folks along the way, learned to play a great game called pickle ball and learned how to geocache
. We have been on roads that we shouldn’t have been on (Moonshine Pass Road in Oregon
) and many beautiful roads
.
We have learned that we could Boon dock, thanks to many great folks at Quartzsite in February. Also learned how long we could go without emptying the black and gray tanks. Learned that most AC plugs in the 3400 are hooked to the kitchen breakers
. Learned that the Monty is more stable with JT stabilizers than without. Learned that an air ride hitch is invaluable. Learned that if an RV Park has the word Resort in it don’t believe it
. Learned you CAN have HDTV on the road. Learned that if your roof mount sat dish is blocked by trees you will not get a signal
Learned to carry a portable dish for this reason. Learned that Sat Radio and Navigation system is invaluable. Learned if you have both your propane tanks open at the same time, they will both empty at the same time
. Learned that if you have the trailer plugged into 30 amp power, you cannot run the furnace, a 1500 watt heater, microwave and espresso maker at the same time
. Learned how to back the big monster into a 90 degree parking spot (takes many tries still)
. Learned you don’t have to park perfectly square in a parking spot
. Learned that service on the road is best facilitated by making appointments well ahead of time
. Learned that Tire Pressure Monitors can save your bacon (4 times)
. Learned to read the MOC forum daily for invaluable information. Learned to perform routine maintenance and preventative maintenance on the Montana. We have learned that not all Camping Worlds or Wally worlds are the same. Learned to deal with financial management on the road and medications from three different sources. Learned we CANNOT collect souvenirs everywhere we visit
, (T-shirts excepted). We have even suffered through the loss of our Golden Retriever, Sam, whom we dearly miss. Cats can adapt to life on the road quite easily.
We have been to a Good Sam Rally, 2 Life on Wheels Conferences and 2 MOC Rally’s. We hope to do more rallies in the coming year. We are gradually learning what a beautiful country we live in and what great people RVers can be
.
To those of you thinking about fulltiming: This lifestyle is not for everyone, I would advise reading some of the fulltiming books available from folks who have been doing this for years and then evaluate your situation, THEN: GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!
Hope to meet many more of you on the road this coming year!!!!!
Phil & Cathy
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