Head West Not So Young Man 2

[daugen]

If at first you don't succeed...
After spending two years growing vegetables for the local food pantry, I need a break from serious hobby farming and
looking for adventure. Long time boater, but that hobby is very expensive for anything I'd like so rv'ing hits all the right buttons for me.
Admit I'm a rv campground guy, don't go dry camping, but only requiring 30 amps means I can go most anywhere.

First thing I do during planning is go back and read all of this.
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/297977-head-west-not-so-young.html?highlight=west

Like Janis Joplin who busted down in Baton Rouge, I busted down in a brand
new Winnebago in Jackson Mississippi, and wound up having to go home. This old thread which I haven't read in a while tells all the gory details.
While reading this old thread, I'm going to be taking notes on a big tablet and will try to put push pins in recommended places.
Since I'm not leaving until next April, I have a lot of time to get this figured out. Have a lot of TBN members to come say hi to.

This route is just a beginning product, done by Google Maps routing, Good Sams routing, rv campground locations, etc. Couple of spots where relatives
are being called on. The last time I was headed further North, to see my aging Uncle, a retired blood doctor in Minneapolis. But he finally passed at age 98 I think, so no need to go real far North until I factor in other things. Have to come back through the St Louis Arch but otherwise I'm pretty flexible between Colorado and St Louis. Software only holds 25 waypoints so route stopped in VA on way back. So lots of uncharted territory.

Am figuring about five weeks, with spending about four or five days with my younger sister in Muir Beach, CA. I know I have to go further North in California and want to drive along the coast and annoy the fast movers behind me but how far to go up the coast? And where to turn around and go back?

I had a promise last time from a TBN member of the decidedly female persuasion to take me to a Dallas dance hall where I could watch the whole room line dancing or whatever. I'm not dancing...but a nice dinner out and fun to watch. So since I think that promise is still on, I'm heading through that way.
Lot of Texas TBN members along the way.

While I'll be staying at an rv campground every night, or in a few cases, plugged into private homes, I intend to venture out at times from a multi-night location. But in this case not driving my Toad like last time, a diesel Golf, which could park anywhere, I'm driving the whole rig. So I need to really pay attention to electric wires; it's the overhead stuff that can wreck one's day.

Bought new Dynamax Isata rv yesterday, so this adventure is officially started. Expect to bring it home in two weeks.
Unit had everything I wanted, including a super low show price. I was the early bird who got the worm.
Basic info on rv:
25 feet long, 11.5 tall
2 year bumper to bumper warranty, rest is stock MB
2018 chassis under a 2020 body, new chassis with glass dash and full tech adds
almost twenty percent to cost. I was happy with last of the old style, proven in a zillion Sprinter applications,
and this has the Bilstein shock absorbers and Helwig stabilizers stock from the factory.
MobilEye accident avoidance radar.
Garmin gps nav in dash
dash cam
3.2kw LP gen
four corner hydraulic autoleveling
Cameras (number unknown but room for four)
TPMS
twin recliners
twin 100 watt solar panels charge coach batteries
full wall slide
3 Fantastic vent fans
Otherwise most of these rv's are pretty much the same.
My big compromising was taking unit with darker interior wood. Hurts resale value, doesn't bother me.
I will brighten interior with art work, area rugs and a new comforter on the bed with some color in it, plus the full slide
makes the insides a lot larger

I've now owned a Class A gas and a travel trailer. Love the rv campground life, always trying to avoid local road noise. Once had a music festival crank up next door. That made for a long night...Puerto Rican music, some community event.

Looking for all ideas on what to see so I can put them on the ever changing map.
I'll zoom in on sections of the route and post that so you can see a little better which roads I'm taking.
This is just the big preliminary picture. Before this trip I will have gotten the bugs out, gone to Florida for a week with it, make sure
all systems go.
Will be hunting tractors from coast to coast.
thanks
Drew

when the rv comes home in two weeks I'll take better pictures.

 

[Jstpssng]

Good luck, I'll bet that you have a lot of fun. I have a cousin who's been travelling all over the country ever since retiring, his goal is to hit every national park in the country.
I vaguely remember your saga from the last time but that's behind you now so you should see smooth sailing. :thumbsup:

 

[herm0016]

looks like a nice rig. you may hit Black canyon of the gunnison, a great and often overlooked national park in Colorado. Moab is not far out of your way. Great sand dunes is pretty neat near salida. Capital reef is one of my favorite parks and they have a great campground with hookups. we have traveled a lot across utah, wyoming and colorado in my pickup camper.

and plenty of room here if you need a night in Longmont, CO.

 

[coobie]

Nice looking Rig.Safe travels..

 

[Quebecguy]

Like Janis Joplin who busted down in Baton Rouge,

Janis was busted flat in Baton Rouge, not busted down.

 

[B7510HSD]

Drew whats another week come on up the Oregon and Washington coast as well you are not that far away!!!!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I remember your first trip like it was yesterday. Nicecamper, that's the brand i was looking at on youtube. Ill be very interested in how it does. .

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Janis was busted flat in Baton Rouge, not busted down.

And was waitin for a train

 

[Molalla1]

Drew whats another week come on up the Oregon and Washington coast as well you are not that far away!!!!

:thumbsup: . . . yep Drew you can come our way very easily take 101 up the coast . . . it's a beautiful drive/adventure for someone that has not seen the pacific coast line . . .

 

[ericm979]

Nice camper!

From Muir beach you can continue up highway 1 until it goes inland at Legget. Then you can go up 101 through redwood country. I suggest taking the Avenue of the Giants. There's tons of state and national parks to stop in. I never camped at RV campgrounds so I can't say what's available though there is a KOA in Eureka.

Ferndale is a nice town to stop in. Farther up the coast past Eureka there's more campgrounds and parks. Redwood national park is also a good place to check out.

Once you're done with the north coast and want to go east, I suggest taking 299 east to Redding and then further east to either Shasta or Lassen (or both). They are both spectacular. Now that school has started they will be less crowded. Now through September is the best time of year to hit the parks in CA. Starting at the end of September there's a chance of snow closing the high passes though they are often open through October.

Unless you like hot desert or really want to go to Bakersfield, I'd go north on 395 and then over the sierras on Tioga pass through Yosemite. The east side of the sierras is incredibly beautiful. One way to get from Vegas to 395 is through Death Valley. It'll be hot in the valley but not so bad on the passes.