Our family is taking an RV across the country and we’ll post stories and photos here. Our adventure has already begun with packing and prepping! That’s half the fun! We pull away in this 30 foot RV on Friday, December 18! Come along! We’re glad to have you!

12.15.20

We’re getting ready and excited! Here’s our prep and packing list!

On The Road, First Day Learnings

We drove out of the parking lot holding our breath, but within the next few miles we were fist bumping! Let’s go! We were rolling like a big rig on the freeway. It was a short drive of a day, so we took to the scenic route and left devices off. City life and a semester of school during a global pandemic were in our rear view and I watched the kids, especially, settle into something different. Something new. 

Remember this is all new to us. We’ve never done anything like this before. And anything in the realm of camping has been with friends who are experts and we did what they told us and didn’t take many mental notes along the way. So, welcome you non-camper types. If we can do this, you can too!

Our reservations were taped to the door of the office as we arrived to the first RV park. Directions were simple on how to pull into our site. The hook up station at the site was clear and simple. Ben did a walk through with the kids so they could help. Water hose was removed from the under storage of the RV and hooked up to the city connection. The electric cord was plugged into the shoreline. We now could turn on the water and the microwave, lights and plugs were running on their electricity, not through the propane or generator of the RV. The goal is to use the least amount of the propane and generator as possible as it is costly. 

We took Hershey on a walk and investigated the showers and they were spotless and smelled of cleaning solution. As we walked around and got a few waves and head nods, we were discovering this RV life is a whole culture! And we were the newbies.

“Hi! Where you guys from?” Two guys were hanging out at their truck.

With all of us masked up, Ben said, “San Francisco.”

“Oh wow. What are you doing here?” He asked.

We weren’t wondering that until he put the thought in our heads! 

“We’re on an adventure and are making our way across the country by Christmas,” we shared.

He told us that he is visiting family in the area. 

A conversation I’ve never had with folks who are staying in the same hotel as me. 

Simple. 

Quiet. 

Some spend lots of money on this life by the size and models of the RVs we saw. We were all on a peaceful piece of land spending the night together. 

Time to make dinner. We had pre-made Italian meatballs and those just needed heating in the microwave. We boiled penne pasta and tossed in the sauce. Kitchen counter small. Used table to serve then we ate at the table and sofa. 

Time for showers. We packed a shower caddy with washcloths, shampoo, conditioner, and soap for the boys and girls. I got us microfiber towels and thought we’d be settling for comfort, but the fact they dry you so fast and dry fast themselves is worth it. 

Time to make beds. The bed over the cab is a queen. The bed in the back is a short queen. Felt long to us. The sofa works like a futon. The table leg stores. The table itself lowers to be the base for the cushions that fold out. We outfitted the beds with flannel sheets. Kids all snuggled up and watched Home Alone 2. I plugged the Christmas tree lights in. Ben spread out on the bed with his Barack Obama book having done all the driving. 

Time to sleep. RV parks tend to be near the freeway which is super convenient, but can be loud as those big rigs pass by at all hours. This park also had the amenity of an active nearby railroad. We should have turned the heater on sooner and made it warmer because as frequent as I took Hershey out for a walk, I ended up not taking off my coat and beanie and gloves to sleep! 

Time to talk about Hershey. He’s 7 months old and is confused, nervous and scared. He knows he’s got us and has some familiar scents with his blanket, bowls, food, treats, and toys. But he finds the RV crowded and not like home at all. He’s got his days and nights mixed up. Can’t believe we’ve got 4 teenagers who want to sleep in when we want to get going and a little guy who took us on scenic walks around the RV! He doesn’t have his outdoor marking territory. He’s eating though, and he’s gotten lots of lap time and love. 

Time to wake. That came easy for the one who was walking the dog three times last night. We wanted to get on the road at 7 am as we had planned an 8 hour drive day. With us all technically sleeping in the same room, the grunts of the Kuerig sounded the alarm. Ben and I took Hershey out for a walk with our coffees in hands that were inside gloves. Kids made hot cocoa with the Kuerig and I warmed banana bread and sausage cheese muffins (made ahead of time.) 

Time to leave. It took us a while to put the table back together because we took it apart wrong last night. Kavita took the trash out to the mapped location. Asher kept Hershey on his leash outside. Elijah and Sam helped Ben turn off the water and put the hose back in the RV. They unplugged the electrical and plugged it back into the RV. Now it was time for the sewage! They opened the hatch, pulled out the hose, and connected the hose to a pipe under the RV. Then they put the other end of the hose into the underground specified spot at the site. Next to the pipes are two handles. They pulled the black handle and this got the black water flowing through the pipe into the underground. This water is sewage (toilet water). Then the pushed the black handle back in and pulled the gray handle to release the gray water that comes from shower, kitchen sink, bathroom sink water. The reason for this order is for the gray water to wash out the nasty black water. They pushed the gray handle back in so that no more water was flowing. Then it was time to take the hose out of the RV with some gray water spillage. After that they did the same with the other end in the underground. They pushed it back in like a slinky and that was that. Really, when you get the hang of it, it all makes sense...says the gal who was inside sweeping the floor, gathering sheets, tidying up the kitchen, opening up the curtains and wiping off the condensation. We had a pull thru site so we did just that and we’re on our way with our hot drinks in our Tervis cups and favorite baked goods on Christmas plates. 

Day Two: We’re Still Learning

To shower or not to shower, that was the question. It was 20 degrees when we arrived to Holbrook. What was more alarming was the utter darkness that blanketed the sky. We put on everything we had: hoodies, winter coats, gloves, beanies, and headlamps and started to set up camp. We did this while hangry. Once given the thumps up from the Pilgreen hook up team, I was glad to start the taco soup on the gas stove. Though I had set it out to thaw in the sink as we drove today, it needed some heat. Boys got the SEC Championship going on the computer with WiFi and we set out the carrots and hummus, chips and queso to satisfy the hungry in our hangry. The angry we’d save for any boogie monsters outside our RV. Soup warmed our insides. We were grateful. 

Time to talk showers. We were a 3 minute walk to the shower facilities, but the temperature made you walk in slow motion and forced icicles on the eyelashes. Us parents made the hard walk to check them out and agreed the facilities were warm, empty and clean. But I thought simply looking at it would make me clean for the night. Coming back with a wet head or wet slippers were not on my list of fun or even essential. Ben and Elijah took to the showers and the rest of us took to ‘sponge baths.’ What I think those are are warm wash clothes and soap applied to the body and rinsed off with warm water without having to leave the comforts of a warm RV. 

Time to talk about using the toilet. There are so many rules to RVing that one can’t keep them all straight and can end up avoiding all of the amenities so not to break anything or double the cost of the trip! Exhibit A: the toilet. It really is just like yours at home, except there’s a foot petal to flush and you must use RV toilet paper or use our method: use soft and good toilet paper and have a lined wastebasket nearby for the trash. Once you’ve dumped sewage and gotten over the idea of what you’re doing, using the toilet becomes routine like driving the vehicle. 

Time to talk picnicking. Traveling in the winter months, we took advantage of lunch time, the warmest part of the day. We intended to find a rest stop, throw the football and frisbee, take Hershey on a walk, and picnic. It worked just fine. We kept the soft insulated cooler from packing and it worked well for picnicking out of the RV to the rest stop tables. Charcuterie. Sandwiches. Nuts. Fruit. Gallons of water to refill water bottles. A perfect lunch.

Time to talk about Hershey. We got him a sweater to wear and when we tried to get him used to it at the house, he wasn’t a fan. But when that Holbrook air hit his fur, instantly he was appreciative. We just know. While we ate our soup, he seemed a little more comfortable walking around the inside of the RV. We took him out a few more times. Remember, he also got a walk in at the rest stop and another at a gas stop. He slept through the night! And by Elijah. He was happy. 

Time to talk about frozen pipes. We knew it was cold when we woke and had ice on the inside on the windows. I made us coffee and took Hershey on a walk. Ben took out the trash and we returned to check on the pipes. They were frozen! It got down to 12 degrees last night. We did exactly what we did the night before, but now needed our problem solving skills. We heated water up with the Keurig and poured it on the nozzles to release the hose from the RV. And then we tried to pour hot water into both ends of the hoses and knew that would take too long. Rather, we stored our hose in the shower and let it thaw and drain there, instead of putting it back in the under storage. It worked for us. And while they was going on, me and Kavita transformed the RV from sleeping quarters to waking quarters. Everyone back on board for Keurig apple cider and bowls of cereal. 

Time to talk Petrifed Forest. We want each day to be an adventure and every RV park to be a destination. The day was solid blue and the sun was thawing the land. We planned to see the Petrified Forest National Park today and then do a short 3 hour drive to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Park was incredible. It’s so spread out and you drive through it and there’s plenty of space for RVs at each overlook and trailhead. With 12 sites on the map, we opted for: 

Day 3 Next Door Neighbor Miracle

We arrived at an RV park in a place we’ve never been before doing something we’ve never done before. The hose worked fine two nights ago. We’re glad we got here before dusk to see the problem. It was messy and I’ll leave it at that. The guys bought another hose at the campground store, but it wasn’t going to be our best solution. Our cousin who recently bought an RV gave us great advice. We went to bed thinking our miracle would be the replacement hose we’d get at a store up the road. Maybe. We went to bed at peace, though we did wonder if God could see us here. Yes, even people in ministry have crises of belief. 

Then came a knock on our door in the morning by someone who knows someone who told them we might be at the same RV park where they were staying in this particular city and state. He awoke to this text from his pastor and stepped outside to see we’d spent the night next door to one another. He saw our broken hose and knew! He had an extra of the exact part we needed! 

It gets crazier! This family from the Bay Area was staying their first night in the same RV park as us in Bakersfield two nights prior! And they were heading to Oklahoma City the same day as well! 

As we shared our story, we got messages from some of you who went to school with this guy or are friends with her. We also have discovered we’ve got mutual friends beyond their pastor. God is a Connecting God! He loves bringing people together. And we laugh to think what He was setting up at Site 61, the side of our RV with the broken hose. While we were a mess, He was navigating this family to this spot right beside us! He sets it up. He connects and He is with us! 

Friend, if this doesn’t have you running to put your trust in Him, I don’t know if I can write a better story. Just tell Jesus right now you believe in Him and you want Him to be the Center of your life. Give Him all of you and you’ll get all of Him. And please let me know you’ve done so! 

Watch as our Only God story unfolds!

Would we RV again?

That is the question and I’ve got an answer for you. Okay, it’s really two answers. Yes we will, but maybe a different way.

From our vantage point, an RV trip can only be an adventure! There are vacations. There are retreats. And then there are adventures! This trip was anything but restful. We packed books and movies and games as if our time on the road would allow such leisure. While we managed some card games and the kids some reading, the drives were loud and bumpy. Because our itinerary warranted lots of driving time, by the time we arrived at each RV park, it was time to set up, eat dinner, shower, get ready for bed.

If you know us and followed our journey, then you know none of this was easy, but it was all super fun! We drove from California through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Utah, and Nevada. This was far more enjoyable on an RV and then in a car. We loved the conveniences of picnicking, eating lunch in the RV at a truckstop, and being able to make our own dinners. It was nice for the kids to enjoy jammies on days we didn’t get out at parks or enjoy a long walk. Despite the fact there were six of us plus a dog living on an RV, we did feel like we had space to move around…for a reasonable amount of time.

We went in December. The winter days limited our time outside. We would imagine at each site what it would be like during the summer when most of the people would be enjoying their meals and activities outside. We also imagined what it would be like to RV post Covid.

Would we RV again? Absolutely. We would shorten our itinerary and keep to one portion of the country. But considering Covid-19, this was a great time away from home, a great way to see the country, and the kids were at the best age to do this.

If you are an adventurous spirit and are open to challenges along the way we highly recommend an RV trip across the country at some point in your life. While this was probably a one and done lifetime experience, I think you’ll see us in an RV again on the West Coast!

Concerning Cruise America, I made a few calls to the corporate office in hopes to speak to someone about our experience. I got a lovely lady on the phone who handles reservations and was kind to take my notes, but she and I agreed my notes would probably get no farther than her. My two recommendations for Cruise America are as follows:

1. The initial customer service received on site during the walk-through before you leave in the RV needs to be stepped up a bit. (I will also mention that we rented from the San Mateo office and in the two months leading up to our travel we never got anyone on the phone and made several trips to the office to make sure our reservations were intact.) The walk-through, looking back, was too general for novices like us. In addition, the thorough care was lacking. The smoke detector fell off within minutes of our departure. Not all lights were working. A drawer was stuck. The flooring had a tear. The medicine cabinet was not secure. But everything else was! And we’re grateful for that.

2. I made a recommendation to this lovely lady about having a replacement kit for purchase for the trip. In this box would be a replacement sewer hose, water hose, adapter, and any other parts that could be lost or broken during travel. You would only pay for what you used. This would bring peace of mind for the travelers if they find themselves at a place where they cannot purchase replacement parts.

I hope you find this information helpful as you plan your RV adventure. I’m not ruling Cruise America out for this city dwelling family. I suggest you do a more thorough walk-through than we did and consider purchasing replacement pieces that you can take with you and be able to return if not needed.

So next time we do an RV adventure (and we will), we will look into renting an RV from another company or individual, traveling during milder temperatures, and sticking closer to home!

RV Random Notes

• There’s so much storage! Everything fit inside cabinets and drawers and under the RV. 

• Take the tip: everything has a home to RV life. Nothing ought to be sitting out as it will shift in movement. 

• Mattress topper is a bonus treat.

• Bring the comforts of home so it feels like home away from home. Scents, toss pillow, favorite sheets, blankets. 

• Keep a basket of essentials between the driver and passenger seats for quick access. (Tissues, hand sanitizer, set sipes, flashlight, pocket knife, notepad.)

• Our RV only had 2 cup holders. We ended up using the sink to hold our water bottles. 

• Don’t assume their standard of cleanliness is your standard. Also, check lights and make sure all beds work properly. 

• RV life is a spontaneous life. Reservations made on the road. Plan your picnics around your gas stops or leg stretches. 

• Even the cows on the road get your passing attention.

• We get truck stops now. The DVDs for sale, the boiled eggs, the 64 ounce jugs. 

• RV travel is expensive. We got 6.84 miles on average to the gallon.

{page updated January 16, 2021}