1. THERE IS A LOT TO PREPARE FOR!
I have always been thankful to be married to an engineer because Leonard is thorough and is a planner…but there have been times in our marriage where it has been a HUGE benefit! – the sudden death of my uncle years ago, where we had to make a plan and leave quickly…getting our kids ready for college, applications, preparations, etc. (and the list could go on!)
Now added to that list is the preparation for having a trailer that we were going to drive across the COUNTRY and back! I watched Leonard research and plan for months before we even picked the Airstream up!
He had our whole trip planned – TO California and BACK! We had a reservation every step of the way and knew exactly the route we would be taking!
In addition to that there are gadgets, tools, Airstream groups to follow, and lots of other things that help you get organized for a trip like this!
2. WE HAD TO REALLY KNOW THE ROADS WE WOULD BE DRIVING ON!
With a 27-foot trailer “tagging along” behind the truck, we quickly realized that we couldn’t just go wherever we wanted! (LIKE STARBUCKS! Haha) – although I do have to brag that Leonard figured out HOW to go to a Starbucks once on our trip!
3. IT’S TIRING PULLING THE TRAILER, SO WE TRIED NOT TO DRIVE TOO MANY HOURS IN A GIVEN DAY!
Someone had told us once that with a trailer, you need to remember the numbers 3-3-3…
Don’t drive more than 300 miles in a day
Try to stop by 3:00 each day
Take a rest day every THREE days
We tried to do that, although we had to do a few long days to get to California – we wanted to get there as quickly as possible!
On the way home, we did a better job taking our time and having more short days!
4. EACH AIRSTREAM HAS ITS OWN “LOOK” AND FEEL!
We really enjoyed (me more than Leonard) decorating the trailer and making it our own!
5. THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRAILERS – OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES!
We so enjoyed meeting people at the different campgrounds – talking to them and hearing their stories of where they were going, where they had been, etc…and until we purchased the trailer, I never noticed just how MANY trailers and motorhomes there are out there!
6. THERE ARE LOTS OF AMAZING PLACES TO SEE !!
We left from Bristol, Virginia and, within a week, we were all the way out in California! The sights we saw in between were AMAZING!
7. THERE ARE ALSO SOME VERY HOT PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY!
First of all, let me say that we took this trip in the middle of the summer, so we certainly didn’t expect nice cool weather as we went across the country!
HOWEVER….we were NOT prepared for one of the places we stopped on the way to California! Our last stop before we got to Andrew and Leigh’s was in NEEDLES, California. As we arrived at the campground (around 5:00 pm), we saw that the temperature was 118 degrees!!!!!
I have never been in weather that hot, and I was shocked at what it felt like – when we stepped out of the truck, and the sun hit our skin, it actually burned like fire! It was crazy! Needless to say, there were no trees at the campsite – just lots of cactus plants!
When I googled Needles, California, here is the first thing I saw:
“Needles is a small, dusty town on the eastern edge of the Mohave Desert, where California meets Arizona and Nevada. On any given day in the summer, there’s a good chance that Needles is the hottest place in the entire Unites States!”
I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE!!
8. WE ARE NOW ‘TRAILER PEOPLE’!
When we began our trip in July, we were definitely NEWBIES! We didn’t know anything about it – what to expect when pulling a trailer, hooking up a trailer, cooking, sleeping and living in a trailer – but now that we have done this trip, we don’t feel like those newbies anymore!
WE WENT 6,894 MILES ON THIS TRIP!!!
WE ARE TRAILER PEOPLE!!! YAY!
9. WE LOVE OUR AIRSTREAM!
We are SO glad we purchased our trailer, and we LOVE it!
10. AND LAST, BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST…WE ARE BLESSED!
GOD IS SO GOOD!
HE ENABLED US TO PURCHASE THE TRAILER!
HE WAS WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!
HE PROVIDED PROTECTION ON EVERY ONE OF THE 6,894 MILES!
WE SAW HIS CREATION AND HIS MAJESTY AS WE DROVE!
WE ARE SO THANKFUL TO HIM FOR EVERYTHING!
When we bought this trailer, I have to admit, I was so anxious for so many reasons – mainly because we would be taking it a long way!Leonard said if we didn’t like it, and it didn’t work out for us, we could sell it – well, that’s NOT happening – we feel like this is us now and we are ready to go again – SOON!!! (maybe not all the way to CALIFORNIA just yet!)
In fact, the day we got back, we put the trailer in the driveway and hooked it up – I told Leonard that if he woke up in the middle of the night that night, and I wasn’t in the bed, I’d be out sleeping in the trailer! WE LOVE IT!!
As I finish my last post of this amazing journey, I want to say a HUGE thank you to each of you who took the time to read about our adventure!! IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME – it was such a fun trip, and a fun way to document it all!
I hope to be able to write more posts when we take other trips in the future – and maybe it will provide a little more entertainment for each of you when I do!
THANK YOU!
Until next time…
Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip with us, it has been a joy to follow along with you through your excellent blog posts. May God bless you with many more safe and happy adventures in your yellow submarine!
Thank YOU for following along!
I have enjoyed reading about your journey. Glad you had a blast. Pictures are beautiful! Hope to see you soon
Thanks so much!!! Love and miss you!
It was so fun following your adventure in the yellow submarine. I often felt from your blogs that I was right there with you. May God bless all your future trips and your beautiful trailer.
Thank you Eileen, for taking the time to come along!
It really was fun “traveling along” with you. Love your 10 points, especially #10. So very glad it all worked out so very well!👏🏻👏🏻
PS- Really enjoyed my live -and -in -person tour!
I’m so glad you got a live tour! haha
This has been a fun “journey” for us too. This brought a completely different view of the trip we would not otherwise see or hear. Thanks for doing this!
Such a fun time on the yellow submarine! Glad you have a fantastic first adventure!
What a great adventure!🍾 to many more!
With you guys soon!
“🎵We all lived in a yellow submarine🎵”Vicariously, through you and Leonard, of course! Your trip was fun for all of us and we didn’t have to plan anything! 😆 Thanks for that and on to the next adventure!
What a great comment – now I’m singing the song!!!
I loved every stop and every story. I don’t usually vote for “car ride vacations” but honestly you may have convinced me to try. I just may need Leonard to plan it for me!!🤣🤣
Thank you for including us! Can’t wait to hug you!!
you are funny! I’ll go with you any time on a car vacation!
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog. I am so glad, and have personally benefited and were given an amazing miracle, through your well- researched husband! Who thankfully follows God’s leading and direction, even down to where he should stop each night. If you guys hadn’t followed His leading, I would still be wandering around Flagstaff, AZ!
Your blog has genuinely reflected YOU, and your delightful personality. You love people and you love God, and you have woven that into your experiences all summer, and reflected on that in your blog. You love your man, and you are so respectful and appreciative of him. I have looked forward to each post, and look forward to more of your trips!
So thankful for the way God worked out our “meeting” – and now i have a special place in my heart for Flagstaff!!!!
Boy I bet you could give us 10 more tips! This first adventure was a huge undertaking! So thankful that you had a great trip and are safely back home! Thanks for letting us come along for the ride…..
You’re so sweet – thank YOU for coming along!
I enjoyed coming along with you and Leonard this summer as you blogged your way to California and back. May God continue to lead and help you two plan your next one. Miss seeing you in person! Hope to see you soon!
I only have one thing to say. LOVED IT ALL! And my bags are packed!!!
Leonard and Susan,
Gwen and I enjoyed reading and seeing pictures of your travels. and oh, what a nice rig you have!
I did notice you have a backup camera on the rear of the yellow submarine, wow how nice, and I like the color of your truck. You did a very good job setting up this travel site. (PPP) planning, preparation, presentation, we hope there will be more entries to follow. Enjoyed seeing and hearing about your wonderful children and grandchild, they are exceptional. May God bless you and keep you safe in your travels. Love you and miss seeing you.