Head West not so young Man

[caver]

Reason I asked about the rig is that I would like to fulltime for at least a year after I turn 55, which is in a few years. Current camper wouldn't cut it...about a 21' box and no slides. I've considered a class A or C and yours looks just the right size. instead of a Toad I would carry a dual sport motorycle on the back for exploring.

 

[daugen]

Reason I asked about the rig is that I would like to fulltime for at least a year after I turn 55, which is in a few years. Current camper wouldn't cut it...about a 21' box and no slides. I've considered a class A or C and yours looks just the right size. instead of a Toad I would carry a dual sport motorycle on the back for exploring.

the big question you have to ask yourself is if you can live full time aboard without a washer/dryer. Or a dishwasher. Both of those options start in rv's around 32 feet from what I've seen. and whether you need bunk beds for grandchildren, perhaps a second half bath, etc.

 

[daugen]

well finally got some battleground pics, boy there are one seriously large number of statues around this area. Lots and lots of NY regiments honored where we drove by.

It felt very real looking down over those fields from the higher observation points. Lot of ghosts here...lot of patriots on both sides shed their blood here. I bet the stream behind me ran red. They have preserved this area beautifully, and driving around we get a sense for the topography of the battle. I remember coming here in a high school civics class trip.

 

[caver]

the big question you have to ask yourself is if you can live full time aboard without a washer/dryer. Or a dishwasher. Both of those options start in rv's around 32 feet from what I've seen. and whether you need bunk beds for grandchildren, perhaps a second half bath, etc.

No kids so no Gkids. I do a 3 week trip every year so I'm used to doing laundry in CG's. I havn't owned a dishwasher in 20 years and get by just fine. I don't want to get too big as that limits where I can camp.

 

[daugen]

No kids so no Gkids. I do a 3 week trip every year so I'm used to doing laundry in CG's. I havn't owned a dishwasher in 20 years and get by just fine. I don't want to get too big as that limits where I can camp.

my combined length is 48 feet, which lets me into many 50 feet spaces.

ever consider a fifth wheel toy hauler with the 8-10 foot garage on back? Again, gets pretty long... and you can easily get a short bike carrier/trailer behind a 26 footer and come in under 40.

 

[3930dave]

Reason I asked about the rig is that I would like to fulltime for at least a year after I turn 55, which is in a few years. Current camper wouldn't cut it...about a 21' box and no slides. I've considered a class A or C and yours looks just the right size. instead of a Toad I would carry a dual sport motorycle on the back for exploring.

What you're describing is about my ideal type of Get Lost (in a fun way) in the Back Country combo :thumbsup: !

Thanks for posting the pics Daugen ! It's a great way for us that can't, to take a Virtual Vacation !

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

pleased to see that the rain is going to hold off to tonight,so I can deal with trying to park the rv on my brother's farm at least in the dry...he offered to open a field fence and let me turn around in the field and I sure don't think so. Uh, heavy wrecker service?

slept in a bit, unusual for me, but good, and now a nice breakfast, and off I go after 9. Heading down 15, west on 66 to Delaplane. Should be an easy drive.

and my BIL stopped by late yesterday and took me to dinner, where I got those pics above, and he took one of me.

 

[Pixguy]

Nice set up. Will your car not follow in your MH tracks? I know that my toad will not go outside my 32' rig tracks but I've never used a car trailer.

Good for you taking your time and seeing the sights, too many of us want to make good time and miss the journey.

Safe travels. I'll be watching closely as I want to see the left coast and everything in between and will be taking notes.

 

[txdon]

Good thread Drew, I feel like I'm on vacation - for a few minutes every day anyway. . .

 

[ronjhall]

pleased to see that the rain is going to hold off to tonight,so I can deal with trying to park the rv on my brother's farm at least in the dry...he offered to open a field fence and let me turn around in the field and I sure don't think so. Uh, heavy wrecker service?

slept in a bit, unusual for me, but good, and now a nice breakfast, and off I go after 9. Heading down 15, west on 66 to Delaplane. Should be an easy drive.

and my BIL stopped by late yesterday and took me to dinner, where I got those pics above, and he took one of me.

Sure is a small picture.
Weather out west is still great.
Easter weekend we will be just east of St. Louis. Will your travels get you that far?

 

[dave1949]

Sure is a small picture.
Weather out west is still great.
Easter weekend we will be just east of St. Louis. Will your travels get you that far?

It's funny how I create this mental image of what the TBN folks look like from reading their posts. Even from the small photo, I can tell that's not Drew. :laughing:

Anybody else have the same experience, or am I the only crazy person who does this?

 

[sodamo]

It's funny how I create this mental image of what the TBN folks look like from reading their posts. Even from the small photo, I can tell that's not Drew. :laughing: Anybody else have the same experience, or am I the only crazy person who does this?

Nope, exactly my thoughts as well. Now add in the bearded posts on Good morning LOL

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet

 

[daugen]

he sent me the picture by email and I saved it, surprised it came out so small.
nice drive down to my brother's home in Delaplane VA until I goofed up at Leesburg and wound up heading West on 7. I knew that wasn't right, so I followed the gps, which I wasn't using, I knew the way, right?
So the gps tells me to turn left on this tiny road, and ok, off I go, and one hundred feet in is a big sign saying no thru traffic. Hmmmm....couldn't back up, and 1/4 mile ahead is a 5, yes only 5mph rated curve, a full 180 switchback that there was no way I could make it in one turn. So I stopped, thought about what to do, and in two turns made it. I went on every tiny back road in VA this morning, ,through beautiful horse country and finally made it to my destination.

And then got the motorhome stuck on a tight turn in his driveway. So, unhook the motorhome, go turn it around by itself, get out my brother's tractor and pulled the vw about ten feet to get it around a phone pole it was trying to climb, and we made it. I couldn't believe my brother had a pickup and no ball hitch. Not a hitch on any vehicle, so off we went to the local hardware store, which turned out to be a Tractor Supply, excellent...., and now his p/u has a ball hitch and on Sunday when I leave we can turn the vw around with that. Not doing this again....hopefully.

Went out to the Red Fox Inn in Middleburg and had a nice dinner and now I'm headed for dreamland.
Almost nothing planned for tomorrow, I'm ready to chill out.

a few more pics to follow tomorrow.

 

[texasjohn]

Enjoying your travel log a lot...will continue to monitor with interest...happy trails!!

 

[daugen]

Virginia horse farm pictures albeit with empty horse barn. My brother downsized to this place and then put it on the market to retire just about a week before the market tanked in 2008. So he is having it painted and mulched while I am here, and it sure is a pretty place.
He is surrounded by one farm owned by the largest farmer in this part of Virginia, and there is some concern over houses getting built that will spoil the vista. Everyone wants the million dollar view, and when you have paid 7 figures for a home, you have a right to be concerned. there is a huge new winery going up on the far hill, almost two miles away. I passed signs on the way down directing me to the Winery Region of Northern VA. Apparently there are 30 wineries within a small area here, so it has become a destination for that I assume.

some of the trees here are huge and old. And several of the outbuildings are really ancient, I love the hand hewn beams with the triangular tops. I'm sure that is a historic building style that someone much smarter than me can tell us about.

I took pics of the turn we never made it through. I couldn't swing far out enough because the road was built up with pretty loose gravel and dropped off. And I for sure did not want to "drop off"....oh no.

I hear my brother going by with the loader full of mulch. I keep offering to help but they want me to chill. I did take my wash in to do, yelling Mom I'm home as I came through the door to chuckling by my SIL. She has a grown son who is visiting while I am that did the same thing coming home from school.

not sure how many pics I can post. They take up server space and that costs money. But until someone emails me and says lighten up, I'll keep posting.

funny, friends have told me for years I should write a book, something funny, maybe like Hiassen. So if I'm too wordy here, sorry, I'm practicing....should take tips from Larro.

btw, the dog is a sixteen year old lab named Maisey. She's hanging in there, but...what a lovely dog, even if she did wake me up at 5:11am...
not exactly a great pic of me but so be it...

 

[texasjohn]

Wow...and you are going to leave such a grand place with welcoming people?? Just chill for as long as you can!! Love the lab photo...I had a lab just like her...great dog..

 

[Pixguy]

Virginia is such beautiful part of our country and that's why we take the inside route when we return to NH later this month.

Great pix Drew but you may be sorry you leave the time stamp on your camera if you decide to blow some up and have to P'shop that time/date off. You may already know but that info is stored with the image if you needed to refer back to it.

Enjoy and keep the photos coming!

 

[daugen]

You may already know but that info is stored with the image if you needed to refer back to it.



Pixguy, great idea, I'll turn it off now, didn't know it was saved internally. Yeah, it just gets in the way.

 

[sodamo]

Great pix of a beautiful place, thanks Drew

David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet

 

[3930dave]

Wow...and you are going to leave such a grand place with welcoming people?? Just chill for as long as you can!! Love the lab photo...I had a lab just like her...great dog..

I'd be in no rush..... I got nicely chilled out just looking at those pictures ! :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.