Trip Summary
California Or Bust
I had planned to take a 4–6-week trip from Florida to California and back to Florida in 2020 however, a worldwide pandemic and year-long social distancing appeared and thereby squashed that plan.
Fast forward one year, after being fully vaccinated for COVID-19, I ventured on what turned out to be a 69-day cross-country RV trip of the lower states (USA).
I saw so much of the country (and wineries and breweries) and met many, many diverse and interesting people whom I would have not otherwise interacted with.
Headed Back East
This entire trip opened my eyes and my heart – and literally changed my life (for the better).
With that said, I had so many challenges (to be explained shortly). When anyone found out about the most current challenge – there were dozens – they said they would have come back home ASAP or even burned the busted up motorhome down.
Since I live in the RV full time and have a loan to pay off, burning the RV down was never really an option. Plus coming home is for the weak and I was having a blast.
Leaving Florida
Getting ready to head out on the road. I am excited, a little nervous, and anxious about the amount of money that is about to get spread across the US
Well, the name of my RV is Challenger and it soon lives up to that! Let's do this!
✔️ Dash A/C is fixed.
✔️ Brake sensor replaced.
✔️ Bike / Paddle Board loaded up.
Here We Go - Gainesville FL, Saturday, May 29
1st stop: Micanopy (Yes the one Tom Petty/ Jimmy Buffet mention). This a gas station with famous BBQ. Happy to have met up with a friend at my first stop.
This park is amazing. Paynes Prairie Watershed. It was hot and sticky though.
Oh hello Florida alligator (there were dozens).
Be sure to click the (+Show More) button on the bottom right of this pic ----> and other pages too.
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Alabama
Stopped in for a few hours to tour the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
USS Alabama is a MASSIVE ship. It was pretty eye opening.
I can see everywhere. A few of us tourists kept running into each other because we were lost inside and couldn't get out. LOL
This says it all. Haha - oh dear, Alabamians.
Next up - the submarine tour
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Mississippi
Bay St Louis MS. Freaking delicious oysters. Didn't have time to hit the beach but the bay breeze was amazing.
Considered “a place apart”, this quaint seaside town has been named one of the 'Coolest Small Towns in America".
Cool history here. Picked up a great book signed by the author and a high SPF feather-lite long sleeve shirt ...cuz Texas sun is up ahead.
Pretty! Must have taken forever to carve.
Louisiana
This brewery was huge and amazing - I have never heard of it before https://faubourgbrewery.com
The oldest operating brewery in New Orleans. Not what I expected. It is a huge brewery and even listed on attraction signs on the interstate. Impressive.
A story that starts in 1907!
I was there midweek so missed the big parties but there is a stage and everything - free (well I mean you buy beer and food). Several other RVers here with me - I was by far the youngest and the only one driving solo.
Swamp tour - it will awesome. No mosquitos because of the gum trees! Sleeping in parking lot of a swamp tour overnight was a lil scary. But then I saw humans and it turns out there was a nice housing development right down the road (which was blocked off due to a bridge that was out). Whew!
Oh yeah she did!
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Texas
Texas Wine surprised the heck out of me. So Good!
My first ever Bucees stop. Pretty cool.
Yassss to these wages.
Trinity bay area. Texas (Anahuac)
"Alligator Capital of Texas". I stayed here for a few nights and made friends with locals - ended up having dinner with the locals at a bar when someone showed up with enough shrimp to feed a small army.
Facebook video here https://fb.watch/9-3Mjn-24o/
RV resort, Galveston Texas - I took my RV on a ferry! Drove like a bat out of hell to get to the resort and had 6 minutes to spare for a live/virtual presentation. Thank goodness for decent wifi.
SUPing in the bay, Galveston Texas.
Only 85°here plus 1Million% humidity. 
The water has been rough everywhere but of course it's not too bad now in front of my rv where I could do a quick SUP paddle...after I just walked 4 miles. Only 85°here plus 1Million% humidity.
I walked 4 miles exploring. Cool place. Well hot as hell. Lots of history here.
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New Mexico
My solo road trip continues into NM and some issues develop.
Ok, all hell "brakes" loose.
D.H. Lescombes Winery & Tasting Room (a Harvest Host) in Deming NM. - I pull into the winery parking lot (the wrong one, which was very small). While attempting to get my 38 ft RV out of there, I hit a truck while backing up. So I pull forward to assess the damage and my ladder attached itself to the truck bed and rips off the back of my RV. YIKES!
I stay in the correct lot overnight because I was
I got my brakes fixed on a Saturday and back on the road. Only to determine that more brake lines are gone. Ugh.
Anyway beautiful Black swans at the RV resort I stayed at for a few days - while waiting for a mechanic shop to open.
A Black Swan at Rusty's RV Ranch. A bunch of animals and lots of cats!
Their eyes are so cool
When your RV is smashed up and you have no brakes...you dip into the hot tub in the middle of the dessert.
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Arizona
Animal Sanctuary | Keepers of the Wild-where they took the nasty tiger kinds tigers (to love forever rather than make money from)
Animal Sanctuary | Keepers of the Wild.
I slept in the parking lot on RT 66. Middle of nowhere. Nothing around!
No one around - the sounds of the wild animals which was WILD. A few crazies driving by in the middle of the night (Yes, I carry but it was scary).
Saw this on several of my stops. Trains bringing back military trucks/ gear - I assume from Afganistan. The trains went on for hours.
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California
Welcome to California baby!
California or bust! Well, some things did get busted up on the way. LOL
Nationals Trails Highway
Amboy & Roys Famous Cafe, Where I parked my RV overnight. Alone. In the Dessert.
The Joshua Tree. It is not actually a tree. Enough said!
https://blog.tentree.com/10-facts-about-the-incredible-joshua-tree
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Nevada
Fallon Nevada - hot as hell but I am pretty sure this is where the mouse who has been hitchhiking with me - exited my RV. Finally! Back to the desert.
Harvey (grey alpaca) is the official mascot of Harvest Hosts so naturally, I had to meet him and his 41 family members.
It's hot as hell here. Should be 75 at midnight. Great breeze though.
Cow, baby cow and friends!
So pretty.
UTAH
Feeling the love in Utah (even with their odd liquor laws)
This place was a haven of normalcy in an odd city/ state:)
Snow Canyon Campground.
Utah. Red rocks. Stunning. Check out this video https://fb.watch/bCryFZSw7A/
Florida RV way up in the mountains. Hey there was a lot of duct tape involved but it worked!
A few pics from my last day in Utah. Kolab Canyons (near Zion) and the outdoor Tuacahn Ampitheatre for theatre shows. It's hot but beautiful.
Baby Cow and Friend
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Native American Tribal Nation, Indian Reservations
I had plans to visit quite a few Native American Reservations however due to COVID, all that were in my path were closed to outsiders. So now I am going to have to take a future trip (probably not by RV though).
Colorado
Technically I saw this sign before my trip to Jamaica
Love this state but climbing the mountains in my RV took FOREVER. Literally was going 10 miles an hour.
Who knew Colorado had vines! I stayed at Sauvage winery in Palisade CO. A freaking awesome little town. Peaches too.
Met some really cool locals to hang out with
I'm back on the saddle again. Literally staying at a ranch in Colorado with a saddle museum. Hacking up a storm from dust and pollens though.
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Kansas
Welcome to Kansas!
The longest dirt road EVER. I have no idea how anyone finds the winery I am headed to - but boy was it worth it!
This was such a beautiful winery. STUNNING.
Hanging out with St Pete FL people - whose driveway I might move into - (and yup, I did). Allergies or whatever subsiding when I'm outside ironically.
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Oklahoma
I decided to go around Tennessee to the coast. But 1st, I needed to get to a mechanic because I got word that my RV is NOT being totaled. YAY.
Got tires & an alignment. They tried to sell me a bill of goods but did not expect me to climb into the pit, ask questions and take pictures.
Well while I waiting, I got a text that my friends from the Jamaica trip have COVID. So my "allergies" are COVID. Party over! Headed back to FL.
Arkansas To Florida
I holed up at an Arkansas campground for a few days to rest.
Charged my batteries (RV that is), slept a lot, worked some, and attempted to recover from a tamer case of COVID (mainly a nasty dry cough).
It was a beautiful drive nonetheless. That cough made me not want to eat for days (except smoothies) so all the wine weight I gained ... vanished.
Booked an appointment with a truck mechanic for Monday in Arkansas who gave me the 2 thumbs up to drive home safely. Stayed at a Walmart in LA.
I was able to stop at a panhandle Florida beach on my back (social distancing of course).
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Day 69
I am almost "home". Bummed that I missed a few states. It is what it is.
1st stop: RV body repair shop for an estimate.
2nd stop: RV house mechanic shop for other "stuff" including a broken slider and new A/C estimate. Working while I wait.
3rd stop: Wildwood FL campground for 2 weeks. Can't wait to plug in (to electricity and internet) AND get my new AC unit.
7770.20 miles later
My RV went into the shop for 10 weeks (not 3 like quoted). The AWESOME news is my new landlord/ friend in St Pete loaned me their RV to live in. Then in 2023, I bought a new RV, this time a travel trailer and I have pretty much no desire to actually travel with it. TBD if that will change!
The beach is my happy place. Pretty much all my life decisions have been made in nature.
#StPete #PinellasCounty #Florida
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