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6 Months Living in a Truck Camper

The truck camper adventure is 6-months old as of January 15th, 2018. We’ve traveled thousands of miles through dozens of states Here are the top highlights and lowlights.
Highlights


  • Moving day! July 14th we left Phoenix, Arizona and 108 degrees in the rearview mirror!
  • Basecamp Knob Noster, Missouri. Nearly 2 months of quality time with Elizabeth, Rob and our grandsons! Spending time with our daughter’s family is one of our top goals during this one year adventure.
  • Basecamp K, where we spent nearly 2 months with Marcia’s parents. That’s more quality time than in the prior several years combined!
  • AMA motocross race in downtown Sturgis, South Dakota!
  • Best hamburger ever at Jambonz Grill and Pub, Sturgis, South Dakota!
  • Serendipitous discovery at Badlands National Park, South Dakota. What I assumed would be another desert moonscape turned out to be breathtaking natural beauty. The sunset from our campground was inspiring!
  • Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, South Dakota. One of our favorite state parks!
  • The Presley Family Country Jubilee from Branson, Missouri. Their musical talent and production quality moved me. 
  • Reuniting with long-time friends in North Carolina and Ohio.
  • Sunrise, Huntington Beach State Park, South Carolina. Our favorite beach so far.
  • Savannah, Georgia. It was a walk through history in a city established in 1733. Old, quaint, historic and we boondocked at the downtown visitor’s center for $8!
  • Daytona International Speedway track tour. I got to walk along pit road and victory lane, where my favorite NASCAR drivers walked.
  • Marcia’s fresh baked chocolate chip cookies! She figured out how to carry on her baking skills in a truck camper kitchen equipped with a Panasonic toaster oven.
  • Our first Gator sighting at Hillsborough River State Park, Florida
  • Inspirational decor from friends and family!

Lowlights
  • Weather pain. We endured many days of cold, rain and wind. 16 degrees in Knob Noster Missouri was the lowest recorded temperature on our trip so far. Thankful for our all-season ready truck camper!
  • Mount Rushmore totally obscured by fog. No dead presidents to see on this visit.
  • Driving through Chicago, one of the most stressful days on the road.
  • Christmas Eve. Traveling during big holidays can be lonely and a logistical nightmare.
  • The frenetic pace of Florida drivers and massive road construction created a bunch of stress.
  • Sparse campsite vacancy in Florida. The state is not very boondock friendly. We had to hunt for overnight stays at Walmart and Cracker Barrel. We cut short our visit to the beaches and missed the Florida RV Supershow because we caught a cold and there was extremely limited vacancy with high rates.
  • We look forward to the next six months on the road. We are stronger as a couple and individuals. We’ve seen some amazing places, met some friendly people and rekindled a strong spirit of adventure. 

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