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Texas and updating our map

We went through Texas early November 2017.

We took a little picnic break once we were in Texas for lunch. Still, super windy but it was a nice clear day. We had a nice break including a quick geocache at this very busy rest stop along the highway.Nice wood carving at the entrance to our Thousand Trails campground. We stayed at the Lake Texoma Thousand Trails. It is a huge park, but you need to be careful about the electrical outlets. A lot of them were burned out. It took us quite some time to find a site to set up at. But I think we found a good one. We enjoyed our stay even added a few nights. We had lots of phone issues and Jim and I ended up need to just get new ones. So our pictures and videos do decrease a bit as we are learning the ropes of the new phones.  They do have wonderful cameras and video recorders now we just have to learn to use them.  So no Texas video will be coming.

We were not pleased to see the pool was closed. It wasn’t too warm but with a heated pool, swimming would have been nice. They have 2 but for some reason had closed the only one Eli would have been able to swim in. Not very nice to swim without her. So we wait to swim.

  Very roomy site, we had a picnic table but no fire ring or grill. The campground overall was very nice looking with roomy sites. We would like to return more in season as it seemed there would be so much to do.  They also have a cafe they run but mostly during the in season too.

I found these liquid chaulks on Amazon. They were lots of fun decorating the fridge. This door is unfortunately not magnetic. I am still trying to find a solution for that. The doors are a bear to take off, as that was our first thought to replace the panels but it is not so easy. The door is also textured. So these chaulks don’t come off very easy either. They do come off, but it takes a bit of elbow grease and some cleaner to get them off. However, most of it is still there today ( Jan 2018) as we just haven’t figured out what we want to draw instead.Finally took some time to update our map with the states we have stayed in on this trip. We had more filled in before this trip but thought it would be fun to just log this trip. Also got a little sticker inside too.We made a stop at Buc-ees very cute little store interesting concept. Very nice bathrooms. So many food and drink options. But we ended up deciding to eat somewhere else. The convenience price just wasn’t worth it for us. But we did get patches for our blankets.

By admin, ago

Oklahoma 2017

We were in Oklahoma at the end of October beginning of November 2017. It has taken me quite a while to find some time to do some catch-up. Plus getting this site to work has been a challenge.

Oklahoma was an expensive and rough ride. The tolls are crazy and you are not getting quality roads because of them.  We paid about $30 in tolls getting through that state. One toll booth operator offered us a map and you bet I took it! That is the most expensive map I have ever purchased!  To us, it was different and unique terrain to look at so that part was good I guess, except my eyeballs felt like they were vibrating out of socket!

We stayed at Buffalo Bob RV park in Lawton Oklahoma. You can find their information at http://www.buffalobobsrvpark.net/ It was nice and quiet. But it was quite cold most days so we weren’t outside a whole lot. We were able to get a geocache across the street from the park. That was nice. And free laundry was awesome! They had cable, you just have to give a deposit for the box and we didn’t feel like messing with it. We were there to visit with my Dad and his family and only there for a short time. But we will most likely stay again when we return.

With the cold and visiting with my Dad, we didn’t do a lot of sightseeing. But I have found there are some really nice nature areas we want to check out next time.

By admin, ago

I am still struggling with this page!

We have been on the road for over 2 months! We hit the road on 25 October 2017.  We have been all over the map in temperatures, but not in actual travel. Right now we’re still hanging out in Florida mostly with family and trying to get everything settled and good for the road. Unexpected axel replacement leading to unexpected tire replacement and we will be on the road soon. I am still really struggling to get this blog figured out. I don’t understand why I am having so much trouble with it. Anyway, life is busier than I expected and our youtube and facebook are quite a bit behind. Partially by design for our safety and partially because things take longer living in an RV.   I’ve bookmarked this particular editing page, so maybe I can get to it again soon. As the other one seems to fail constantly at saving or publishing. We are still working on making a routine for life, not just vacation style living and getting stuff done.  So much out there to see and do!

By admin, ago

Where almost there…

Only 12 days left and still trying to figure this blog out. It keeps giving me fits. Even if I manage to find the right page/button to make any changes I get “Saving of Draft failed” red warning. 🙁

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Meet Chippy

This is Chippy. Its Elis’ go everywhere be there stuffed toy. We have decided to take her on as our mascot. So we will be posting pictures of her in our adventures.
We have a Midwest Geobash coming up. We’re pretty excited, it is a camping/activity we have had planned and paid for since March. This will be our 4th geobash, it’s a fun-filled weekend of geocaching. This will most likely be our only camping until we hit the road and launch our Full-time RV lifestyle once we sell our home. So we had to pick up our RV, Chester at the storage lot to get it ready. Lots of changes as we will need to completely empty it and repack it with a different mindset. As well as we plan to make some modifications. Some things that didn’t seem too pressing or important are very important now as we will be calling Chester home.
This is our current camping map. We have been to other places but have not RVd there as a family so they didn’t make the map. Jim growing up Air Force and me Army, and then our own service time we have visited or lived in many more states and countries than we show here, but we want this to be our family story. We are pretty excited to start filling this map in.
By admin, ago

1st yard sale done…

Well, we have made it through our first-yard sale. We discovered Sundays aren’t really good days for a sale. We did unload a lot of stuff. But we have so much left to go.

There is a lot left to do while we get ready for a while on the road exploring the United States and making lots of family memories. We do already know quite a lot about the full-time RV lifestyle. But there is so much to learn and decisions to make.

I hope to have more great news soon as we continue this journey we are on

By admin, ago

The Great Escape!

Wow! It has been a while since I have posted here. And oh how things have changed. We suddenly have a very free schedule when Jim was let go with a restructure at work. A lot of fears rushed in at first, but then relief. We literally have a world of possibilities now.  Thank God we learned about Dave Ramsey and learned his lessons. We have no debt and own all of our things except a small mortgage left on our house. So we have decided to sell most all of our things and the house put a few the girls’ things in storage. Then we’re moving into our RV and embracing the full-time lifestyle while Jim takes advantage of the new way of finding jobs and maybe even working online.  Our goal is to end up near my family in Georgia or even Florida, but we don’t know where God will take us in the meantime or how long it will be.

We are big Youtube fans and follow lots of full-time RVers. We have dreamed and schemed and talked about how nice it would be to be able to see things and not have a short timeline. Or knowing we couldn’t take our RV that far and make it back within vacation time. So we do know a little bit of what it’s gonna take, but still so much to learn.

I am going to start pouring more into this blog and our own Youtube channel as well as setting up a facebook group.  I hope you will follow along and keep us in your prayers. I will post a link to our facebook group once it’s ready. You can check out the videos I have already uploaded to our channel by following this link. to my Mothers Day video  And I guess I should add, no we don’t think we’re gonna be rolling in money from Youtube, a blog, and Facebook. We do think this is an awesome way to share our adventure with friends and family and maybe make new friends.

By admin, ago

2016 Christmas Tree Do

We got our tree put up and decorated last weekend. I managed to pull together some pictures and video and make a video to put on our youtube channel. It is really more of a home video collection than anything, modern day home movies. Eli really wants a youtube channel and it’s a good way for us to keep our memories and be able to see them later and share them with friends and family across the miles. It is a bit harder than I thought it would be. I either forget to take videos. Or I think I have done a great job to later find extremely short video clips instead of videos. I am sure over time the videos will improve and be more video than compilations with mostly pictures. But we are making and documenting memories and that is what is important.

By admin, ago

Thursday September 22nd Fort Wilderness WDW trip Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom

Still playing catch up with my travel journal…

Thursday we started off in Animal Kingdom. We did walk around and saw quite a bit more this time than we have before.

We got our Wilderness Explorer books and worked toward the end badge, although we knew we wouldn’t get it all accomplished this time around. We all learned some new things.

We ventured out to Rafiki’s Planet watch for the first time. The train was a bit interesting the way you faced out to one side instead of having both sides visible. We got to see some characters we have not encountered. We also had a cold and sweet treat after we visited the petting zoo. We also learned some new things in the area.

We debated for months if we would ride Expedition Everest, we aren’t incredibly adventurous. We don’t do upside down, I don’t really care for hanging rides, and some that don’t go upside down are just too intimidating for our sense of adventure. Eli was adamant she would not be riding it, which is fine. Ali finally decided she would like to give it a try. So with short wait times we asked about the rider switch policy. So Jim and Ali went first while Eli and I did her Wilderness Explorer activity, got a cold drink and looked around the gift shop. Very quickly Ali and Jim were back and Jim and I went. It was a great ride! We loved it. And Eli was thrilled she didn’t have to try!

After Everest, we made our way through the dino area making our way back to the parking lot. Had to get back to the pups and have lunch. It was wonderful to have them with us. But I don’t think I would take them to Disney again. It is probably perfect for those who get up early morning all the time anyway and their dogs are used to being home alone all day locked up.  But we are not morning people, and our pups are used to having us there most all the time and having the freedom of a doggie door with a spacious back yard whether we are home or not.

The Electric Light Parade is being moved. So Thursday night was our last opportunity to see it on this trip and before its move. So after lunch, we headed back to Magic Kingdom. We didn’t realize there was to be the show projected onto the castle before the parade. We did know we would need to get seats early, so we made our way over to try and get a good spot. Because of the show we were a bit late for a “good spot”, we were heading for. We got caught in the crowd and couldn’t get any further, but that was just fine. We ended up on the curb just in front of the castle and front row for the show and parade. I tried to get a video of the show unfortunately, a good bit of the focal points are blocked by a lamp between me and the castle. I did get most of it recorded and it is in the video below. Ali got most of the Electric Light Parade, but I haven’t got a copy of it yet.

Another first for Ali! Short ride times and we hopped on Space Mountain, again with rider switch only this time Ali wanted to go again. She really loved it.

Check out our Youtube video here or on our youtube channel. Don’t forget to give us a thumbs up if you like the video and subscribe so you are the first to know when a new video is loaded.

By admin, ago