Last year, when we returned from our trip to California and back, I posted TEN THINGS WE LEARNED ON OUR JOURNEY …this will be my second installment of the things I’ve learned – this year was such a great adventure as we traveled and saw amazing places and amazing people – we feel SO blessed to have had the opportunity again!
So…here goes!
- DON’T BE ON A DIET!
This may sound silly, but I realized that it’s really hard to ALWAYS watch what you eat when you are driving across the country and back! We made most of our meals in the trailer and tried to eat well, but sometimes you come across a restaurant, or bakery, or CHOCOLATE SHOP…and you just have to try some delicious things!
2. BE FLEXIBLE!
When we left Pittsburgh to head west, we had a plan of each place we were going…which campground we were going to….what days we were going to each place…how many hours a day we would be driving…and who we would see along the way. WELL.. THINGS CHANGED!
Right before we left California, we found out that we were not going to be able to stop in Oklahoma for two days to visit with some dear friends…so we had to rearrange the trip home! We were sad not to be able to see them, but then realized that we wanted to change our route home and not go through Oklahoma and Texas – the weather was SO hot there and we were going that way to see friends, and since that was not going to happen, we decided to go a different way! SO…off we went with a new destination – NASHVILLE! Leonard went to Vanderbilt University (a million years ago as he says!) so he loves Nashville – We had such a great time and stopped in Little Rock, Arkansas on the way! ( we stayed “under a bridge” – more to come about that ) In Nashville, we were able to have dinner with other friends and it was a great time of food and fellowship!
It was a fun challenge for us to try to figure out a different route home, and it ended up being a great place to go! Here are some photos from Nashville!
3. STOP AND VISIT FRIENDS – EVEN IF IT’S NOT “ON THE WAY”
My dear friend, Janna, asked us to come to see her in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota – ON THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA! well, let me tell you….Minnesota is NOT on the way from Pittsburgh to California – but we made it on the way and had such a great time visiting with her and her family!!! Now we can say we have been to Minnesota! It was a great visit and I’m so glad it was “on the way”!!!
4. ALWAYS – AND I MEAN ALWAYS – HAVE A SCREWDRIVER IN THE TRAILER!
As you all saw in a previous post, when we were in Minnesota, we got locked IN our Airstream late one night! It took getting a screwdriver handed to us through a little “crack” in the window screen to get us out! AS SOON AS WE GOT OUT OF THE TRAILER THE NEXT MORNING, WE WENT TO WAL MART AND BOUGHT A SCREWDRIVER!! We learned that lesson without having to break our emergency screen to climb out! What an adventure!
5. EVERY RV PARK IS UNIQUE!
We stayed in so many RV parks and they were all so different!
…from the Swan Lake Resort in Minnesota, where the mosquitoes were as big as birds! haha
….to a beautiful spot on a lake in Nashville
…to a park at the edge of the Grand Tetons
…to a park “under a bridge” in Little Rock
…to a park called the “OASIS” – so appropriately named in hot Texas
…to our spot in California at the edge of Sequoia National Park!
6. IT’S FUN TO TALK TO PEOPLE AT YOUR CAMPGROUND!
All of you who know ME won’t be surprised that I love to talk to people when we meet them at the RV parks! But I have to give a shout out to Leonard, who has become quite the social one when we are camping!! There were many times where he would be outside talking to people while I was INSIDE the trailer! I loved it!
At the Oasis campground in Texas, we are especially glad that we said hi to two people near us, because we ended up spending part of the evening with them and had SUCH a great time – Bill and Sue, we are so thankful to have met you, and we hope to see you again on our travels – who knows, we may camp together one day! IT’S FUN TO MEET NEW PEOPLE!
7. ENJOY EVERY DAY – EVEN THE LONG ONES!
We really did try to enjoy every minute of our journey – even the days that were long – we had a couple of days where we drove 8 or 9 hours – that’s long when you’re old like us! But at the end of those days, we loved pulling into our RV park and wondering what it would be like – and then we would fix dinner in the trailer and relax – and be ready to go again! One of our longest days was from Amarillo, Texas to Little Rock, Arkansas, and when we got there, we were so surprised to find that our RV park was “under a bridge” – it was really cool and we had such a great night enjoying the view! That’s when we realized that we tried to enjoy EVERY day – EVEN THE LONG ONES!
8. THERE IS A GOOD SIDE TO ANDREW AND LEIGH LIVING IN CALIFORNIA!
Even though we were sad when the Navy “took” Andrew and Leigh to California, we now realize that it gives us the opportunity to travel across this great country of ours…see some amazing sights…meet up with friends…and also see our daughter Emily and her boyfriend, Kramer along the way! That was our first stop and a great way to start the trip – seeing EMILY on the way to seeing ANDREW! We might not have even done this YELLOW SUBMARINE ADVENTURE or seen all the beautiful things we have seen already – so we are looking at the positive part of Andrew and Leigh being so far away!
9. WE STILL LOVE OUR AIRSTREAM!
We both decided that we love the trailer we were blessed to be able to get, and this whole “trailering” thing is for us!!!! We think we’ll keep it!
10. AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST….OUR ADVENTURES HAVE JUST BEGUN!
We realized how much we love traveling in our Airstream, and especially seeing all the different places we have already been!!! We know that there are SO many more places to see, people to meet, and places to eat (haha), so our adventures are just beginning!!! We are having a blast and can’t wait to go again – as my website says….YELLOW SUBMARINE ADVENTURES – ONE STOP AT A TIME!
And I want to thank each of you for coming along on these journeys with us! I hope you have had a little fun along the way too!
UNTIL NEXT TIME…..
How wonderful! You really have taken us along for the ride. And it’s been great! Thankful for your safe adventures. Welcome home!
Thank you so so much!
Very fun post!
THANKS!
What a blessing to be able to do all that. I know that mom and dad are with you guys every step of the way and as they loved to travel we all love to travel. It’s easy flying but as me and Teresa have found out many times…You don’t get to see all you see while driving.
And I like to try biscuits and grits wherever they’re available. Lol.
We think about mom and dad a lot too – they did love to go didn’t they!!! I am laughing about the biscuits and grits comment! Grits coming your way!
Love all your adventures! They were spectacular!
thanks! my favorite word!
Thanks for sharing all your adventures.
Can’t wait to see where the yellow submarine takes you (and us!) next!!!💕
haha – I wonder where it will be also!
I enjoyed reading all of your posts and seeing your pictures of places, people and food. Thanks for taking me along your journey.
Thank you so much, yi!
Thank you again for taking us along with you guys on this marvelous adventure!! It definitely seems less hectic than airports and flight delays! You get to slow down a bit and smell the roses along the way! Meeting new people and visiting with old friends is just the best!
You are right about the airports and how much calmer this all is! And of course I don’t have to get in a plane…..
You and Leonard are such a great team. I enjoyed every stop and every story- I can’t wait till you’re home and we can hug you but until then….congratulations on another summer adventure! So cool!
Thanks so much Rachel!
Love reading about sincere and present joy! Thanks for sharing.❤️
Thanks Alicia! I loved all your pictures from Italy! WOW!
I really enjoyed this trip with you guys! This last post especially made me laugh and cry! I’m glad you decided to keep the yellow submarine and keep on adventuring ❤️
Thanks so much Mary Kay!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your blog and I look forward to each post! I can’t wait to join you and Leonard one of these times. Safe travels and until we meet again~
Love you!
Thanks!
Thanks, Leonard & Susan, for sharing your journey! You told your story in a way that honors the Lord, & involves ALL the senses! Enjoy the rest of your summer-& thanks again, for sharing! This is a very cool way to journal your Yellow Submarine adventures! I bet your grandkids will get a kick reading this when they are older! BIG HUGS & much love!
Thank YOU Deedee!!
I LOVED this adventure! Thank you so much for taking us along! Especially loved your point about enjoying everyday, even the long ones. Also the good side of Andrew, Leigh and the boys being in California. So very true! God had a great plan for you with their move, and He’s fulfilling it now!
Thanks so so much!
Thanks for sharing all those wonderful lessons! Hooray for screwdrivers where we need them ; ). Love your positive attitude – such a great example to me!!! May we all learn as we go and enjoy all that each day brings!
The biggest take away this year was definitely the screwdriver! haha
WOW! great lessons. You are an amazing writer, do you know that?
you’re very sweet!I always write and then think “does this sound dorky?”
What a joy it has been to follow along with your travels! I’m so happy that you and Leonard were able to see so many places, friends and most importantly, family. We are looking forward to our RV trip together in September!
It’s been so fun!!!
What an adventure you guys had!!
We enjoyed getting to go along on that adventure thru your posts and pictures!
We feel so blessed to have met you guys!
Hope to meet up again on another adventure 👍😊
What an adventure you guys had!!
We enjoyed getting to go along on that adventure thru your posts and pictures!
We feel so blessed to have met you guys!
Hope to meet up again on another adventure 👍😊
It has really been cool to explore the country through your Airstream journey. Thanks for sharing so many beautiful, funny, interesting and, most importantly, Godly observations. It’s been a fun trip! 😀
Thanks for the encouragement!
Thank you so much for sharing! I really enjoyed “traveling” with you and Leonard. Beautiful pictures and wonderful family time! ❤️