I can’t believe it’s been five years already since we packed up our house in Tennessee, loaded up our dogs, and embarked on an epic one-year RV trip.
And, as epic trips do, this one changed our lives and proved to be a great teacher.
Early 2019—A Wild Hair and a Unique Opportunity
The idea of traveling freely and exploring the country at a leisurely pace has always been in the back of our minds, so when the opportunity came, we jumped on it. In 2019, my husband retired early and I quit a job that made me miserable. We bought an RV, renovated it, and decided to go full time on the road for a year.
Packing up house took me four months but the process proved to be cathartic—leave the past in the past, and only keep what is strictly necessary or of truly sentimental value. I’ve also learned that time is priceless and so is spending it with people who love and value you (and vice versa). Same goes for giving yourself a break, pursuing what you love, and starting over fresh, provided you have that luxury.
We tested out our skills first with a trip to the nearby Smokies and then ventured to Miramar beach in Florida for our wedding anniversary.
July 2019—Hitting the Road
Four months into packing, selling, and giving away stuff that we accumulated during our 15 years of living in our house, plus the stuff that we carried with us from college and previous lives, I was spent. During our last day in the house, I could barely lift my arms and feel my fingertips, but I finished cleaning with a last hurrah and moved into our RV. We hit the road much later than anticipated, so we had one week to get from Knoxville, TN to Banff, Canada, about 2,300 miles (3,700 km) on the opposite side of the continent.
Driving a 29-foot long RV and towing a car is vastly different than maneuvering a little sedan. I had to get used to being the slow poke on the road, and plan all moves in advance. Stopping quickly, or any kind of quick moves were not really an option. The best thing was to tuck behind tractor trailers and do as they did.
The first part of our trip took us from Tennessee, through Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, into Canada via Saskatchewan, and then to Alberta. After an impressive visit to the mountains of Banff, we crossed back into the U.S. through Glacier National Park. I remember watching the scenery in awe and thinking “Montana is truly God’s country.” We visited Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, got our first sighting of bison herds and my first taste of bison burger—yum!
We got a good taste of seafood and wine in the Pacific Northwest. In Oregon, we strolled on drift wood laden beaches, went crabbing in Netarts Bay, and indulged in amazing Tillamook ice cream. Washington state has a uniquely lush and peaceful yet imposing presence. There’s nothing quite like hiking through Olympic National Forest and Mount Rainier National Park! And there is the wine—Willamette Valley in Oregon and Columbia Valley in Washington.
Next, we visited the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, then experience the one and only most amazing fall season in New England.
After a quick stop through Tennessee for the holidays, the second half of our trip took us to the beaches of Florida, to Cajun dancing and food in Louisiana, to live music in Texas, to Truth or Consequences in New Mexico, Old Tucson and Sedona in Arizona, and finally all the way to the West Coast, in southern California.
It was when we arrived in Santa Barbara that COVID finally started shutting down all national and state parks, so we headed back to Tennessee. The trip back had a very different vibe, of course, but on our way the desert regaled us with spectacular spring blooms, while a farm in Tennessee offered pastoral solace.
I invite you to check out month-by-month trip highlights in the Year in Review 2019-2020 post:
The Next Chapter—A Move Across Country and More Travel
One thing lead to another, and we decided to move from Tennessee—a long-awaited move for me. We found a new and lovely life in Colorado in the summer of 2020. This summer, my husband is retiring yet again, and I am self-employed, so as you might have guessed, we’re off again, traveling, exploring, and living life to the fullest. Our first trip: Romania and France; check back to see what we’re up to next!
