May 20th--1st Leg of the Journey

We're taking our first BIG trip in our T@B...San Diego to Yellowstone, Mt Rushmore and then heading home through Colorado and Arizona.  We've been planning and modding all over the place getting ready, and finally the time has arrived!  BUT, not before a HUGE storm blows through Yellowstone blocking ALL the road to Fishing Bridge Campground...arg!

Thankfully, it's a fast moving storm and by the following day the Southern route has been opened up...whew!  Glad we weren't there the day it hit! Reminded me of the big snow storm in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer....brrrrr! ⛄

The first section of our trip was from San Diego to Virgin River Campground in AZ; just this side of the Utah border.  We've whizzed passed this one dozens of times on countless trips from Denver to San Diego; this time we decided to stay.  It was our first time EVER going to a campground without reservations and our back-up was a Walmart parking lot 😛 I held my breath, David had peace, and thankfully we got there in time to snag a spot! It was peaceful and serene and a must needed breather after battling the freeways and a couple of near misses driving through Riverside...gheeze people, figure out if you want off at the next exit before it shows up! 

The spot itself wasn't anything to write home about but our canyon view was a.m.a.z.i.n.g!!!

The View!

On a Hike Around Camp

We both slept well, even with me still hacking my head off...grr...and woke afresh to tackle the day.  







We have been using Young Living Essential Oils for around 4 years now and have never been to one of the farms.  Since the Mona Lavender Farm was on the way, we decided it was a necessary stop on the trip.  We learned A LOT which confirmed our love of this products and got to see the reason behind their Seed to Seal Guarantee.  

             

The Distillation Process

A Little Fun!

The last stop on this portion is in a little RV Park in Provo, Utah-Lakeside RV Park.  So cute, everything we need (even our forgotten mustard for our burgers!), and a very friendly staff.  A great place for us to hunker down for the night and prepare for the longest section of our trip...From Provo to Yellowstone! 

David just checked the website and the Southern entrance is still open and other bloggers I follow are showing dry roads with piled up snow.  So thankful I brought my long-johns!!  

Till we meet again!

                 

                             

First Shakedown Trips

Our first shakedown trip was a weekend staying at 2 local Harvest Hosts sites.  Harvest Host is a network of wineries, farms, breweries and museums who allow you to stay on their property overnight for a low-cost yearly fee.  We have always loved the idea of waking up in a vineyard, so that's what we did!  We choose 2 wineries close to home and stayed in one on Friday night and the other on Saturday. 

Our first night-Bernardo Winery

Our first night was in our own neighborhood at the Bernardo Winery! We've been here many times for dinner, wine tasting, Farmer's Market and our homeschool group even had a family dance here years ago! A beautiful place!

Night 2 was spent in Temecula at Faulkner Winery; another, beautiful spot!  

Faulkner Winery, Harvest Host

We woke up to hot air balloons flying overhead!

In early March we took a 3 day trip to San Clemente State beach

 

        Full set up with the awning plus the bunting our daughter made us for  Christmas

One last shakedown trip was to the mountains in Idyllwild, CA. The new TV (that's tow vehicle to those of you who are not familiar--took me forever to figure out why people on the T@B forum were kept talking about their television!)  to make sure all our systems were working properly before a big trip beginning May 19th

Morning Coffee <3

                                                                                                       

         

Quick Set Up


                                     All systems are a go for a big trip! Here we go..............................

How It All Began

Dave and I began our traveling journey right after our oldest daughter was married and our younger one set of to Bible College. Our first experiences were in a tent; we encountered raccoons entering the tent at night (I thought it was our cat!), one pecking at David's head through the tent in the middle of the night and camping neighbors who snored...LOUDLY!  We quickly discovered we wanted something with hard sides...and I preferred something that locked! Long story short, we soon were the proud owners of a 2013 Little Guy 5 Wide Tear Drop trailer! 

  

The Little Guy 5 Wide with all the comforts of home!

 Over time we acquired all the necessary items to make any journey just like home!  We traveled with our own shower, hot water, convection/toaster oven and refrigerator; we were loving all the comforts but not the set up and tear down!  It took forever!   

Ferry Ride from Port Townsend, WA to Coupeville, WA

We took our Little Guy everywhere:  Big Bear (where we discovered that since we were considered a "trailer" the bathrooms were very far away--not great for 3 am visits!), Mesa Verde, driveway camping in Castle Rock, Colorado, North Rim of the Grand Canyon, up the Oregon & Washington coasts (over many beautiful bridges!) and we even took a ferry ride!

  

 After 3 amazing years with our Little Guy we traded her (aren't all "vessels" called, "her"??) in on a 2017 T@B S equipped with an indoor kitchen, shower and toilet!

Our T@B!

                So, here we are, an empty-nester, almost-retired couple all ready to experience new adventures exploring the US in our T@B Trailer!