Thursday, July 28, 2011

Thomas & Deborah - Departure Day

Wednesday July 27

Yesterday we wrote about planning a road trip, and we’re about to see how we’ve done. These excursions Deborah and I take for Paul Evert’s RV Country are logistically challenging because we must plan three trips before we leave home.

We begin with a nice long road trip in a luxurious roomy Monaco; this year it’s a 44’ Executive, one of the best. We’ll spend 4-5 days working our way across country listening to books on CD, sightseeing, and watching the landscape go by in opulent comfort. The leather, ceramic tile, Corian countertops, and fine woodwork are of a quality that exceeds our home (remember, I teach school for a living). It’s a relaxing, pampered life with many easy miles covered each day.

Once we get to the Monaco Pre-rally, however, all that comfort comes to an end. Within minutes of arriving, we move out completely. The pre-owned coach we drive will serve as the sales office at the rallies, and the sales staff is all too eager to move in. Most of our belongings go in a large box stowed in the show trailer. We go from royalty to minimalists and begin life on our Honda Valkyrie with very little luggage space. Deborah is very proud of the fact that she fits clothing for 12 days in a saddlebag half the size of a piece of carry-on luggage. The GPS, tourbooks, toiletries, tools, and rain gear all need to be carefully tucked away into very small spaces along with our clothes. We’ll cover far fewer miles in a day and avoid the interstate if at all possible.

At the end of the FMCA rally we’ll return to Madison, load the bike into the show trailer, and begin the third leg of our endeavor: another road trip back home. This year will be a marathon sprint because of the late date; I have to be back for the start of school.

We’ll keep you posted on how we manage… these blogs are about to get MUCH shorter.

1 comment:

  1. These three household appliances make up your kitchen area; they are, in fact, the whole kitchen countertops.

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