NFR Any of You Ever….

[Coach Potter]

Spend an extended period of time on the road? My wife and I are seriously contemplating it. We rented a converted sprinter van 2 years ago and spent a week in Glacier…we fell in love with that kind of travel. We are both explorers at heart and that trip really opened our eyes to what’s possible.

We’re at a time in our lives (early 50’s) where our kids are out of the house, 2 of the 3 are married but no grandkids yet. We both REALLY want to be available when that happens. Grandkids are likely to happen in the next 2 years. Once those suckers starting showing up this idea is shelved for a while.

I can manage my business remotely. My wife would have to quit her job but her job isn’t critical to our operation. We are currently renting a house that we would likely walk away from. When we sold our old house before our last move we got really small so we could easily put everything in storage until we’re ready to come back.

Anybody done something like this?

 

[M_D]

I am doing my first big road trip in 3 weeks. I was surprised to see highway 12 when I went tuna fishing out of Westport a few years ago - third trip in my van. I grew up on highway 12 in MN. I got it in my head that I would drive 12 from Westport to Litchfield, MN. As M_D suggests, my biggest concern is find a place to spend the 2nd night. The first will be along the Lochsa in Idaho and the last at Teddy R. NP - slight detour but I was born in Dickinson, ND so that place is a bit special for me. The first park I ever visited. I hope I enjoy it cause I really want to do more.

Oh man! That sounds like an AWESOME road trip! I'm all excited for you and might just bust out my MT gazetteer to help find some ideas for night 2.

 

[M_D]

Whoa.....you're gonna get a full picture of Montana .....from Lolo Pass....through the mountains....over the Rocky Mountain front.....along the Musselshell and Jeremiah Johnson country....and out on the flats/prairie....through Baker ( where my now deceased father in law was from)....nice Bring an extra gas can.

 

[wanderingrichard]

@Coach Potter
Like @Vagabond said, Do It. For all the reasons that's been listed.

 

[RCF]

Easier to do it, have wonderful experiences and fond memories that so many others wish they could, than kick yourself in the butt for the rest of your life by not doing a trip of your life time.

 

[509]

Couple of considerations.....

I retired at 56 and spend about four to five months each year on the road.

First....carefully chose your RV. I have owned two tent trailers, a 30 foot fifth wheel, and a fiberglass egg trailer.

The fifth wheel was a total mistake. I knew logging trucks could drive Forest Service roads, so I thought my 5th wheel could as well. It can, but NO 5th wheels are built well enough to survive on backcountry roads. Not even most RV's. The tent trailers and fiberglass egg trailer did the best.

Second.....having a home base is great. It WILL limit you in your travels. It might be worth it, and it might not be. Your decision.

Third........Make a bucket list. It is very easy to get into a rut and keep returning to the same places. Unfortunately, as a forester I knew a lot of cool places in the west and I keep going back to them. Last few years I made a point when I travel to never travel a road that I have been on EVER.

Fourth.....Stay connected. When I got StarLink I ended up having a cell connection EVERYWHERE, which made it safer since I travel alone. Having internet everywhere also made it easier to find places to stay and explore.

Fifth.......Find a purpose for your travels. I have so many hobbies that my travel got fragmented. The things I do are fly fish LAKES, upland bird hunting and astronomy. I should have focused on one year....upland bird hunting throughout the west. Next year shift to fly fishing lakes in the west, etc. You will find more interesting areas to visit in that manner.

Sixth.....Make a vow, to limit your driving on interstates. If it is not two lane....don't drive it. Nothing worth seeing on the interstates.

Good luck...do it.

 

[Robbor]

Spend an extended period of time on the road? My wife and I are seriously contemplating it. We rented a converted sprinter van 2 years ago and spent a week in Glacier…we fell in love with that kind of travel. We are both explorers at heart and that trip really opened our eyes to what’s possible.

We’re at a time in our lives (early 50’s) where our kids are out of the house, 2 of the 3 are married but no grandkids yet. We both REALLY want to be available when that happens. Grandkids are likely to happen in the next 2 years. Once those suckers starting showing up this idea is shelved for a while.

I can manage my business remotely. My wife would have to quit her job but her job isn’t critical to our operation. We are currently renting a house that we would likely walk away from. When we sold our old house before our last move we got really small so we could easily put everything in storage until we’re ready to come back.

Anybody done something like this?

Way too much time on the road. Your in a really special circumstance