On the Road Again

After a great vacation, it is always a practice of mine to follow the advice that if you think it… ink it! And so, I will share my take on a terrific trip that spanned over 1,400 miles through our fabulous neighbors to the North, the great states of Wisconsin and Minnesota from our Chicago home base.

Lessons learned after this second “RV Adventure” in two years inspired me to make my own “Top 10 List” of things to share with anyone thinking about embarking on a similar journey. 

The first advice is… Do it!

Seeing this great country and the endless ribbon of highways that took us, (with just my wife Kathleen and I onboard) was as therapeutic as a yoga session or even a few days of meditation at a retreat. Watching millions of trees in all their glory waving at us as we passed and doing their best to rustle in the breeze of the North Land was nothing short of delicious. Cruising between small towns that hold the dreams of the families who have made a life in a less hectic environment than so many of us trying to exist in the big cities, is a refreshing re-setting of appreciation of nature and the tranquility that it can provide.

Now, after two successful trips of 10 or more days in an RV, I am starting to get the hang of the whole thing. Even the hookup for the gray and black water no longer makes me queasy. Electrical plug-in and water hookup takes about 5-minutes in total. And, should the site provide cable TV (I never said anything about giving up luxuries), a coaxial cable and a few turns and you are in business. To be safe, a stack of DVD’s may come in handy when there is no cable and the antenna is picking up absolutely nothing over the air. Of course, you could forget the TV, Laptop, iPad, iPhone, etc. altogether and just try unplugging from the grid completely.

One of the most endearing moments of all comes with the first step out of the rig in the morning. The campgrounds are as varied as they can possibly be. You may find yourself in a spot that has dozens of other road warriors with their various types of Recreational Vehicles, ranging from the Class A, the whale of the RV family, to a pup tent with a family of 4 and 2 dogs emerging from a canvas covering to greet the new day. We opted for a Class C vehicle of 26’ in length (pictured), with all the amenities that a person (such as myself), whose #1 priority in life is personal comfort really needed. 

Occasionally, there may be some chatter that some deer or a wolf, possibly a bear strolled nearby in the dark as you slept so peacefully in your “hotel suite on wheels.” If you luck out, there may be an ice cream social on the activities schedule for the day or a community bonfire after sunset. Do you still remember the words to Kumbaya?

When you take time long enough to wind down to a slower pace, you find that the scientific principles of relaxation clearly point out that it is healthier to breathe clean air and to eliminate stress wherever and whenever possible. Breathe in… breathe out.

This activity is highly recommended. Here’s my advice for Happy Camping

Wayne Messmer's Top Ten List for an RV Adventure

10.       Make a checklist first and double-check it before you leave.

9.         Break up your route with stops to see friends and family along the journey

8.         Don’t over-pack with stuff you won’t need

7.         Photos and descriptions on campsite websites can be misleading

6.         Not every historical marker is as interesting as another

5.         Always respect the environment. Leave a place better than you found it

4.         60-mph in the right lane is just fine on cruise control 

3.         Engage in conversation with your camping neighbors

2.         Listen hard enough to hear the many voices of nature 

1.         Choose the right travel companion (otherwise... forget the other 9)