I’m headed to a birthday party and I’m going like a turtle surrounded by house. I just realized I haven’t shared any travel tips since 2019. I guess, given the circumstances, that isn’t surprising. But it seems like it may be time for one since I’m about to travel to see my grandkids.
Two of my grandchildren live 24 hours away by car. Most people might advise me to fly. The last time I flew, it took more than 24 hours to get back home. It was miserable. I could have rented a car and driven the last leg a third of the time it took by plane. The time before, I had eaten a romaine salad one day, then got up and flew with the beginnings of what I believe was an E.coli infection. Also miserable – that day and for two weeks afterward.
While it wasn’t specifically because of those awful flying experiences, I’m sure they were a factor in me deciding on a whim to purchase an RV. Last year, I happened upon one that countered any objection I might have otherwise had.
This one wasn’t too big for me to step into with one step. It didn’t use too much gas. It had both an indoor and outdoor shower. The visibility out the back window was incredible. It had two beds. a large closet, large enough refrigerator, two burner propane cooktop, and a microwave (plus 2 TVs and DirectTV). I could park it in a regular parking space and it handled like a van. So, 48 hours after I first looked at it, a 2004 Winnebago Rialta was mine.
If you’re not an RVer (I am not.), traveling in an RV may sound crazy. It kinda did to me. And thinking about it logically, it still does. And yet, I love my little home, or baby house, as one of the grandkids calls it.
For someone like me who must carry food no matter the mode of transportation, traveling like a turtle is a dream! I have plenty of room for a variety of pre-frozen homecooked meals, shelf-stable and fresh ingredients, plus snacks, snacks, and more snacks. There’s a way to keep food cool and multiple ways to cook it. An RV solves a lot of problems or at least makes traveling less cumbersome and worrisome for me.
I can have fresh coffee in the morning before I get dressed just like I do at home. I love to ease into the day with a game of Wordle and some browsing. I bought a study pillow and lapboard so I can sit on the bed, drink coffee, and surf the web or watch the news without having to turn the bed back into a dining area.
I have a flip-up countertop for extra prep space or to sit on the edge of the bed and dine. But I can also eat outside. Many RV parks have picnic tables. Some have fire pits or grills. And many offer a convenience store for any item I may have forgotten.
My closet is large enough to hang some clothes and also store some in a 3-drawer unit I purchased. My first trip was 2 ½ months. I did laundry once a week and always had clean clothes available.
I worked on the road using the two passenger seats as an office – one for paperwork organization and one as a seat to write or attend Zoom meetings. Under one of the seats was room for a still camera, video camera, and tripod along with a first aid kit and folding camp chair.
While I don’t have to drive slowly, I plan shorter driving days in the RV than I would in my car or truck. Once I arrive at a destination, I have to get out the water filters and surge protector and hook everything up. I prefer to do that before dark when possible.
One thing I’ve learned making long drives is that no matter how many hours I plan to drive per day, at least one day of the trip will end up longer than anticipated. And I learned the hard way it’s a good idea to carry a car phone charger or an emergency charger if you’ll be relying on your phone for directions (or any information, really).
I can also deliberately slow down a journey to take side trips or get out and hike. When you fly, you can’t jump out of the plane if you happen to see something interesting. But traveling like a turtle, you can divert and enjoy anything that strikes your fancy. You can change your route or take one route to and a different one from.
If you get tired, you can pull over and have a comfortable nap. If you need a pit stop, you have your own facilities on board.
And if you happen to slowly meander into Los Angeles, I can’t say enough good things about the owner and long-term RVers at Hollywood RV Park. What a great community! It’s one of the best neighborhoods I’ve ever lived in.
I grew up spending weekends at the lake. We had a cabover camper with no bathroom. I suppose RVing feels a bit the same, but more upscale given the toilet and shower. I tend to call the RV a camper if that tells you anything.
Traveling like a turtle can also mean a chance to see someone who lives between you and your destination. I’ll add an hour or so to my trip to spend a couple of days with my sister. It’s 6 hours round trip from my house to hers, so adding an hour seems like a no-brainer.
Some RVers spend most of their time on the road, but others spend months or years in one location. When you travel like a turtle, it’s really up to you.
There’s no question that you’ll have something unexpected happen here or there. It comes with the territory. But the benefits of traveling like a turtle often outweigh the difficulties, especially for those of us who can only tolerate a minimum number of commercially produced foods.
If you don’t want to jump in without giving it a try, rent a rig first. While you’re pondering this option, I’ll keep pretending I’m a turtle.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”