Tag: #RV

Palm Springs and Such

by AmericanTinyLeave a Comment on Palm Springs and Such

Yes, Palm Springs did find us with another tire issue. This time the valve permanently gave out, and we needed another new tire. The team at the first place, as nice as they could be, referred us to another tire place after an hour and a half. They did not charge and refused a tip. Off to the next placement, and another nice group of guys who got us back on the road in a few hours.

Palm Springs surprised. This town made us think of luxury. The opulence here felt like going back in time to the 1950s. It’s well maintained mid-century architecture for the most part.

You know your in California when even the parking lot flowers look this good. My husband said, “The colors of the flowers look so good, I want to eat them, and I don’t even want to know if they’re poisonous first!” Should I be worried?

We loved our campground here, Horizon Mobile Home Village and RV Park. It consists of full time residents, winter residents, RV sites and lots of folk art. The prices were very reasonable, and the neighborhood was super cute and friendly. If we returned to Palm Springs in an RV, we would go right back.

Palm Springs seems to have many funky interesting little bistros, though very few parking lots that can accommodate an RV. We finally found a larger parking lot with choices for takeout offering fairly exotic fair (for those coming from pragmatic New England). I found mixed vegetables with Asian flavors and grilled tofu for a song. The prices were surprisingly reasonable. We went to sleep feeling well fed and dreaming of our next adventure in LA.

A Breath of Fresh Austin

by AmericanTinyLeave a Comment on A Breath of Fresh Austin

After a much longed-for shower we headed to Austin. We’ve traveled to all of the lower 48 states, and somehow always missed it. I’ve dreamed of seeing this vibrant, musical and arty city for years.

All new places offer surprises and push out the silly pre-conceived notions we harbor in our minds. I swear that I knew Austin is a city and yet still found myself surprised that it is huge (should’ve known, since it’s in Texas and all). It also caught me off guard being slammed with traffic… on a Sunday!

Navigating a city in an RV, is not generally fun. The oh so narrow streets, the traffic, the miniature parking lots, need I go on? This city, with well over 900,000 people is the 11th largest city in the US according to Wikipedia.

We spent most of our time in Austin driving around and enjoying the art. Taking a ride is among our favorite things to do. It’s all about the journey… the destination is only the ending. To truly get the most of this city, a car would be preferable, or alternatively a stay in town and renting the ever-present bicycles and scooters to get around. We did stop at “The Picnic”, a little gathering of food trucks and other trailers selling their wares represented a must-see. Their free parking lot accommodated our 27 foot baby and the picnic tables gave a place to sit and enjoy. After a brief stop the ride continued and then we tried to sneak right out of town, but that’s a tale for another day.

Just over half way through our journey to Seattle… and more than 3000 miles behind us!

Calamity and Mayhem

by AmericanTinyLeave a Comment on Calamity and Mayhem

Okay, so it’s only minor calamity and mayhem. When on the road, little life annoyances seem magnified. It’s partially due to the need to do a full on research project to find a mechanic, a tire place, a veterinarian, a whatever. You never know if you’ll find someone honest or someone who will take advantage of a stranded road weary traveler.

On the last full day in Florida Mr. Dog (not his real name) decided to fall ill. Waiting a couple days would be my response in an established location, but a journey loomed in the morning and we went to a vet right away. We got a family referral to vet and they set him up with many potions. After a few days his little tail started wagging again.

He felt so lousy he stole his friend’s tiny bed and did not want to leave

The next morning we boogied through the pan handle, whipped across Alabama and collapsed in a rest area in Mississippi. Crossing the border just before sleep, for the simple joy of saying we did.

The Moss Point Welcome Center has cool sculptures made from trees destroyed in a storm

We tried for Texas the next day, but alas, so very tired. We found A Plus Motel and RV Park in Sulphur Louisiana. It was more than our usual limit of free, but quiet with wonderfully hot water showers… pure bliss.

Louisiana has fun ads and food

And fun names for things… this was along an 18 mile bridge (The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge)!

New Texas Plan: Make the 4-5 hour drive to Waco TX and stop by Magnolia Market at the Silos (shout out to America’s Sweethearts, Chip & Jo). Our plans were quickly dumped when we discovered a low tire.

Mavis Discount Tire, a gem, found right around the corner from our campsite. The outside tire looked low, but it turned out the inside tire was the culprit. Our new friends at Mavis attempted to fill that pesky inside tire. There I sat, minding my own business, inside the RV, when I heard a gunshot! That cacophany actually turned out to be our own exploding tire! Thankfully our new friend scrambled out from under that rig just before the explosion and no one was hurt in making of that particular movie (phew!)

We lounged in the camper, while the guys worked in the 100+ heat index without a lift, (the camper was too tall for their bays). Four hours later, we were good as new and on our way. An hour into the drive to Texas and we realized, we would never make it before closing. On we pressed with a new plan to boondock and check out Chip and Jo’s place in the morning.

Another hour in and it hits me: tomorrow is Sunday… in Texas… there’s no way those shops will be open tomorrow. A peak at the wide world of web confirmed this little bit of sadness. Plan C: Reverse course and headed for Austin. Food trucks for dinner, woot woot.

But It’s a Wet Heat

by AmericanTinyLeave a Comment on But It’s a Wet Heat

Still in steamy Florida. It’s 92 today, but feels like 98! Friday we stopped to meet with dear ones and received blessings at their door. After a very special meal we were gifted papaya right from the garden.

Once we got to the next stop we presented the papayas, which were promptly turned into salsa and dessert enjoyed by a large crowd. Food is such a great way to bring family and friends together. It’s the best gift for people living a minimalist lifestyle. It shows love, is enjoyed right away and best of all it does not leave behind any burden of stuff. Feeling the love.

Florida Oh Florida

by AmericanTinyLeave a Comment on Florida Oh Florida
Progress To Date

There’s no where else I’ve seen, in the lower 48, with sights like these

One thousand miles behind us, and five thousand more to go (to paraphrase JT– for those who know). It’s so great being able to do this amazing journey. It never could happen without going tiny. Planning to relax in central FLA, with family, for a couple more days… then on to MS, LA and TX… and beyond. We may decide to stay here a bit longer, to wait out (potential) Hurricane Barry (I blame you for this Bazzer Hall 😀 ). Anyway, life happens and the Universe laughs at our plans at times. This is how we learn patience and maybe become blessed with unexpected experiences.

Navigate around the road blocks, detours, and negativity, no one gets through life unscathed

This is life calling, and it’s, “Time to Fish or Cut Bait.”

My Minimalist Fail

by AmericanTinyLeave a Comment on My Minimalist Fail

On the very first day, I basically failed at getting down to a minimalist life on board the RV. I guess it really is smaller than our house. As the hours wound down and we were basically forced out of our home for an open house (being the people who want the sale and all), we stopped sorting and began randomly shoving things into boxes and throwing everything everywhere. No more organization, no more minimizing, nothing but flat out pandemonium. Plan B is now in effect… continue to sort and minimize on the road (cringing).

It looked like this… really (Don’t look at me like that, I know it’s hideious!)

In CT, when Honey began battening down the hatches with the remnants of our smashed AC, I began sorting in earnest. By the end of the morning the tools were mostly organized and there was a good pile of gifts, donations, and trash. More to go at our next stop, onward!

Still with the duplicates and triplicates (How?!)

Freedom Rings O’er the Lake

by AmericanTinyLeave a Comment on Freedom Rings O’er the Lake

Lucky people that we are, we received an invitation to a lake house as we rolled into The city of Danbury. They fed us well, then treated us to the town’s early fireworks show over Candlewood Lake in Connecticut. It started off with an atmosphere of anticipation and low murmuring voices. As the sun set slowly, dozens of little boats lit up and dotted the lake.

This part of the lake is situated near hills that echoed the sound, and we imagined being surrounded by battle in 1776. We witnessed a burst of light, quickly followed by a pop, and then a thunderous boom echoing behind the hills a second or two later. Crank up the sound and check out the video… with your ears.