Itinerary for Summer/Fall/Winter 2018

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
We leave PCB on June 1 and will make our way to Texas, arriving in Austin on July 1.

While in Austin we're spending a week at a dude ranch in Banderas with my grandson. Can't wait for that!

We leave Austin August 1 by car (leaving the motorhome in storage), making our way to PA where we'll house sit for Monello's sister for 10 days, then head to Solomons for a month.

From Solomons we'll head west to see the folks in Nebraska, then south back to Austin and back in the motorhome.

Our plan is to then tour Texas via motorhome - including South Padre Island - and head to Arizona, New Mexico, Vegas, and a few other places before going back to Austin. We'll visit the Grand Canyon and Sedona, among other attractions.
 

Monello

Smarter than the average bear
PREMO Member
It's still early in the planning stage but it's looking like this so far:

Lake Travis, TX
Corpus Christie, TX
South Padre Island/Brownsville, TX
Laredo, TX
San Antonio, TX
Big Bend National Park in TX
El Paso, TX
Las Cruces, NM
Tombstone/Bisbee/Tucson, AZ
Sedona, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Grand Canyon NP
Lake Havasu City, AZ
Henderson/Las Vegas, NV

Then we have to figure out a route back, most likely to the Austin, TX area. But who knows?

If anyone has traveled to any of these towns, let us know the must do, must see things. TIA
 

lucky_bee

RBF expert
We leave PCB on June 1 and will make our way to Texas, arriving in Austin on July 1.

While in Austin we're spending a week at a dude ranch in Banderas with my grandson. Can't wait for that!

We leave Austin August 1 by car (leaving the motorhome in storage), making our way to PA where we'll house sit for Monello's sister for 10 days, then head to Solomons for a month.

From Solomons we'll head west to see the folks in Nebraska, then south back to Austin and back in the motorhome.

Our plan is to then tour Texas via motorhome - including South Padre Island - and head to Arizona, New Mexico, Vegas, and a few other places before going back to Austin. We'll visit the Grand Canyon and Sedona, among other attractions.

I just realized you wrote you're going to a ranch in Bandera...that's where my grandparents live, what a small world :lol: Cowboy Capital of the World. and they were stationed in SoMD many, many years ago. I have no suggestions as last time I was there, there was only one restaurant in town and it was good, because that was our only choice :lmao: we usually head to San Antone for the sights and good food. My dad always insists on stopping for a sandwich at Shlotchsky's.

My brothers did have a Chicken Fried steak eating competition somewhere in Hondo TX :lol: the younger one won, but that really meant he lost :lmao:
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
we usually head to San Antone for the sights and good food.

Just north of San Antonio there is a #### shack of a Mexican place that serves enchiladas only, and beer so cold you have to have a huggie on it to pick it up. I hope it's still there.
 

nutz

Well-Known Member
How much money does it take to support a vagabond lifestyle like this? Actually, that's not quite it. What has been the average per night camping rate with full hook-up? 50-60 per night? I am not unaccustomed to primitive camping, but that's getting tougher to find (at least on the east coast) and even that has certain expenses. One of these days, I will hook the truck and trailer together and not look back but I haven't quite broken all of the ties that bind me.
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
How much money does it take to support a vagabond lifestyle like this? Actually, that's not quite it. What has been the average per night camping rate with full hook-up? 50-60 per night? I am not unaccustomed to primitive camping, but that's getting tougher to find (at least on the east coast) and even that has certain expenses. One of these days, I will hook the truck and trailer together and not look back but I haven't quite broken all of the ties that bind me.

Depends on where you go. The monthly rate is your best deal - many places it's like getting two weeks free when compared to the daily rate. We stay in nice places with amenities, heated pool, great bath houses, etc, just so we're on the same page. More rustic accommodations or less desirable locations will be much cheaper.

Marathon and all the Keys are the most expensive campgrounds I've found so far ($2400/mo). Naples comes in a close second ($2300/mo). Our Austin camping resort is $660/mo for a premium pull-through; similar digs here in Panama City Beach run around $1500/mo.

You could easily full-time it for under $1000/mo if you choose your locations with that budget in mind. If you are military, most bases have great campgrounds in the $500/mo range.

New England has a small window of tourism/camping opportunity, so they charge accordingly - they only have a few months a year to make their money. But you can find deals if you don't need to be right on top of the action.

It pays to be a Good Sam member, and a KOA member. Sun RV Resorts offers a ton of incentives and discounts.

In short, it can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be.
 

Monello

Smarter than the average bear
PREMO Member
How much money does it take to support a vagabond lifestyle like this? Actually, that's not quite it. What has been the average per night camping rate with full hook-up? 50-60 per night? I am not unaccustomed to primitive camping, but that's getting tougher to find (at least on the east coast) and even that has certain expenses. One of these days, I will hook the truck and trailer together and not look back but I haven't quite broken all of the ties that bind me.

Wow, where to start? First off, and I truly believe that Vrai will back me 100% on this, it's an amazing lifestyle. There is a freedom that comes with it that is hard to put into words. Each new destination has it's own excitement. Heck even planning our trips months in advance gives me a euphoric feeling. But let me get back to cost.

First off the RV is paid for. That is a huge benefit. Last year I put the rig in the shop to take care of a few little issues that needed to get done. I do this about every other year or as needed. There are also mobile RV repair people that will come out and service you onsite. Most of those issues are with the living area and not engine related. I get the RV oil changed this Friday. So in the last 2 years, let's say no more than $30 per month for maintenance. Now if an AC goes out then the price will certainly be a lot higher. But owning a home also has similar carrying costs.

If you have access to the Solomons rec center, you can get a campsite for the month for $480 off-season for water and electric. Works out to around $16 per day. Utilities are included. And you have laundry, boat ramp, fishing pier, dog park, fitness center, driving range, nature trails, game room, tennis, basketball, jungle gym playground, softball & volleyball fields, kayak rentals. Most are free to use.

Camping in Florida in the winter time can be pricey. We splurged when visiting the Keys. The most we spent so far. Over $2000 for the month. The other campsites sort of balance that out over time.

Food costs should be the same as you would spend in a home or apartment. Just remember the refrigerator is a lot smaller. Eating out is part of our entertainment. We don't eat out every day. We almost never eat at fast food or national chains. Those are just personal choices.

Here in Florida I have a state park pass that was free for military with a 10% or greater VA disability rating. Saves us $8 each time we go to the park to ride bikes locally. Weeki Wachee & Homosassa state park entry fee was $13. Both of us get in for free with my pass. So far we have done a few splurge activities like zip line, horseback ride and helicopter ride. These are things that people normally do when on vacation. Since we are on permanent vacation, we have to be a bit more judicious when we splurge. We are at the point in life where we are going to spend a few extra dollars to do what we want. Of course all within reasonable spending.

Prior to hooking up with Vrai, I did some volunteer camp hosting. I got a free campsite in exchange for a few hours of work. I also spent 5 months as a paid camp host. I got a free, full hook up site and got paid for 20 hour a week. I babysat 16 campsites and most weeks had very few campers between Monday and Thursday.

I took a seasonal job in Yellowstone National Park in 2011. All seasonal employees have to live in the park since it's too far to commute. All employees are housed in dorms or put up in full hookup campsites. I didn't really want the job but I did want to stay for free in the park for 3 months. We talk about doing that again but don't have a set time for when we would do that.

I feel it's less expensive to live on the road than it is to stay in a home or apartment. If price was your only concern, there are parts of the country where you can stay in a campground for less than $400 a month. I'm not sure what you get for that and I doubt we would even entertain a place that didn't at least have a few amenities like a pool.

So that is my take on this. You should do more research if this is something you are considering. There are plenty of blogs and vlogs on full time RVing. Like anything else you have to watch your costs. Since we don't have a permanent address, we just exchange a rent/mortgage payment for campground fees. We meet a lot of people that do 5-6 months on the road and return to their home. That is a lot of upkeep and things to worry about. We each have a storage locker in Maryland for the stuff we didn't want to part with.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I have some old posts in the Travel and Vacations forum that highlight some of my adventure.
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
I just two minutes ago booked us into South Padre Island KOA for the month of Jan 2019. The daily rate for a premium site is $65; the monthly rate is $999, just to give you an idea of how much you can save by staying monthly. This is also in the middle of their peak season, when prices are highest; cost is much lower in off- or shoulder-season.

Also, be aware that you can work camp and get your site FREE, plus earn a little money as well. <---This is how I intend to spend my retirement.
 

Monello

Smarter than the average bear
PREMO Member
Where about in PA .... their is the Horseshoe Curve Altoona, PAif you are into trains ...

The Scranton area. Moscow is the nearest town. It's pretty much in the middle of the woods. Luckily the interstate isn't too far away.
 

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
The Scranton area. Moscow is the nearest town. It's pretty much in the middle of the woods. Luckily the interstate isn't too far away.

:yay:

Woods are great ...
I cannot think of anything else to recommend ...
my cousin's always wanted to go to Kennywood ...
there are great historical things to see in Philly, but then you are in Philly :twitch:
 

nutz

Well-Known Member
I just two minutes ago booked us into South Padre Island KOA for the month of Jan 2019.
Wow, where to start? First off, and I truly believe that Vrai will back me 100% on this, it's an amazing lifestyle.

Kinda weird addressing two people that are probably sitting across from each other or :gossip:. Thanks for sharing so much on the topic. Related expenses and splurges are why I scratched the original thoughts of how much. Eating in/out, what /where, cocktails/beer, escorts, blow all add or subtract according to our wants and desires. Somewhere along the way there will probably be replacement costs to add in also. Paying rent by the month will be one hurdle, figuring out the last stop will be another. The in-between, nothing but more adventure and (hopefully) fun stuff.
 

Monello

Smarter than the average bear
PREMO Member
Our 2019 trip is shaping up nicely. Looks like Big Bend National Park is off the table and Yuma added to it. Post GC, we'll probably head east on 40 to see Albuquerque/Santa Fe then Amarillo.

We have our January locked in at South Padre Island. Trying to get 2 months in the Grand Canyon area for August/Sept or Sept/Oct. Then just have to piece the other stops in place. I'm trying to avoid doing much driving in the mountains and if I have to, just stay on the interstates for the most part.

Planning the trips are a lot of fun. So many choices of where to go and what to see. And we have an expectation for where we'll stay. Some places you have lots of choices and others, not so much. The prices out that way are a pleasant surprise as they are very reasonable. That will be a welcomed relief after New England and South Florida prices.

I know we are going to enjoy the scenery out west. Once we hit New Mexico well be in that rugged terrain with more mountains than trees. It is amazing that we are now planning our trips out over a year in advance. But if you want choices and options, booking early is the best course of action.
 

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
South Padre and Grand Canyon are booked way in advance because of demand and limited suitable choices. If you want to tent camp or boondock at Grand Canyon, you have a zillion choices; if you want a nice resort with amenities, you better nab it ASAP.

The rest of our trip will be booked much closer to actual arrival time, unless I find something I HAVE to have. Then I'll go ahead and book it right away.
 
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