So far our blogs about our trip have been written by Brad with editing/suggestions by me. However, I bet many of you are wondering how I really am adjusting to this mode of travel. Do I love it or do I LOVE IT as in one of our favorite SNL skits?
Here’s the reality. I am adaptable. I used to love camping and then on one camping trip each daughter threw up successively in our tent and I swore off camping. We traded up to rustic cabins at Graeagle and I was in heaven. I also loved our sailing trips with Jim and Jayne Taylor on Andiamo in the BVI. I still consider those the best vacations of our lives even though we lived in tiny quarters and barely showered and never wore makeup or used a blow dryer. I knew I could do this but some questioned whether I would “Love It.”
So far…and let’s remember we are really new at this…I am honestly loving it. I love the fact that we are seeing new places. I love the fact that we are self-contained during a pandemic and have our own bathroom and cook our own food. I love that on our road trip we don’t have to stop at fast food places but instead seek out serene parks where the dogs can play and we can eat at a picnic bench. I am enjoying being disconnected to the internet and Twitter and Nextdoor and the news. I love spending time with Brad without distractions.
We ate lunch today at Anita Lake State Park. It was beautiful.
Sophie likes our lunch stops too.
We are learning how to do the dance that we learned from Jim and Jayne Taylor on the Andiamo as we cook and move in a small space. We planned our simple menus in detail and we packed our small pantry and cabinets with precision. We are getting better every day as we figure out more efficient ways to do the dishes or make the bed and manage our water and power. We may not be making the gourmet meals that Jayne Taylor made but we make up for it with a really good bottle of wine!
When packing for this trip, it was clear that we needed to be organized and be minimalists. Something that Brad and I are not known for when we travel — especially me. I have a closet in the RV that is three square feet, so packing cubes (thank you Mary Frandsen), are saving me. I usually show up for a weekend trip with a large suitcase and an extra toiletries bag. So far, we are proud of ourselves with our organization and minimalism. We seem to have brought the right stuff and not too much. (True Confessions: I did ship a box of cute clothes, sundresses, and swimsuits to the lake)
Some of you have asked about the interior of our RV. Here are a few pictures of the couch and bed complete with Tommy Bahama bedding, cute pillows and an adorable dog. The cabinet to the left is my three square foot closet!
Our living area including kitchen, bathroom, living room and bedroom.
The sitting area converts to a king-sized bed at night.
We really like being part of the RV network “Harvest Hosts’. Harvest Host is a collection of wineries, breweries, golf courses, and farms where members can stay for a small annual fee. They allow a limited number of RV owners to park overnight on their properties. So far, we have been the only ones at each site and that is exactly what we are looking for on this trip.
Last night, we arrived at our destination — Thornridge Golf Course in Milford, Nebraska. Milford is a town of 2000 people outside of Lincoln, Nebraska. The Winona Rider looked out at a beautiful golf course and a community swimming pool. There was a gorgeous little park down the street that we let the dogs run around. It was all quite delightful actually.
Our home for the night in Nebraska overlooked a beautiful golf course.
The idyllic park right next door.
The park had nostalgic old-time playground equipment.
When we arrived and set up camp, I was struck by the sound of children laughing and playing at the community pool. There were dozens of kids swimming going down the water slide. Before I knew it, I realized I had tears in my eyes. I haven’t heard groups of children laughing in six months. We live by an elementary school and one of the happy sounds in our home is the sound of children laughing and playing at recess during the school days and families cheering during softball and soccer season. It was a feeling of normalcy that I have taken for granted every other year of my life and might have even been annoyed by. These kids’ sounds brought me to tears. I guess when you live in a very small town in the middle of Nebraska, Covid-19 is not something that kids and parents are as worried about as in the Bay Area.
The community pool across the street.
We are currently staying at the Living History Farm in Des Moines, Iowa. Early in the evening, we connected with our good friends Jenny and Steve Clark for a lovely socially-distanced glass of Walt Wine. They were great sports as we showed up looking a little like the Griswalds with our RV, two unruly dogs and our very casual appearance! Luckily, we were able to back out of their driveway more easily than at Vicki’s!
Jenny and Steve Clark
Brad was in heaven grilling out dinner at the farm. Of course, he bought a small Weber grill and modified it to operate off of the RV’s propane system. We ate Beyond Burgers, drank a nice Chianti, and were joined by some deer and a few geese. All socially distanced, of course.
Beyond burgers with Swiss cheese grilled on a mini-Weber grill.
Tomorrow evening our destination is Winona Lake. We hope to get there in time for a Winona Sunset and a boat ride. It’s been a six day journey instead of a six hour one like past years but this time it really is all about the journey and not just the destination!
Oh. And so far, I really do love it.
Lisa and Brad's Travels 