One thing that I've picked up over the years of traveling is being flexibile. Unfortunately, not muscular flexibility. I really could use a lot more of that. But more of not being so tightly bound to a schedule that your stress goes through the roof if anything unplanned for happens. Examples of "unplanned" from my own experiences are the Ural issues that I had during my 2015 road trip and the current clutch issue with the truck.
Over the years I've run into many people who are always stressed when travelling due to flight schedules, reservations, family commitments, etc. For those travelling with the stressed out person, it makes the trip kind of miserable.
Things happen especially when you rely on something made of so many mechanical bits and pieces. The truck has a lot of moving parts as does this used 5th wheel. Unlike the Ural where you can carry just about all of the tools needed to disassemble the whole thing in one evening, that's not really possible with the truck.
From my perspective, this trip is less vacation and more just moving our living quarters from place to place. A handy way to see more of the country. "Vacation" would mean visiting somewhere cool and exotic, staying at a nice hotel, and sampling the local cuisine. Some of the reasons for hauling this RV around is so that we can always return home every evening and not have to spend a lot of money for daily essentials. This campground, while not very exotic or fancy, still costs around $37 per day which is a whole lot cheaper than a hotel but still more than we need to spend.
A few years back, I sat down and tried to figure out how many miles per day one needs to travel with RV and Prius. With the RV we would stay at RV parks, prepare our own meals and getting around 12 mpg. With the Prius we would stay at modest hotels, eat out for lunch and dinner, and get around 40 mpg. The break even point was around 250 miles per day from Fairbanks to the PNW. Above that, traveling in a Prius could be cheaper. Below that, the RV. There are a lot of variables but you get the general idea. If you want to travel slowly, the RV is cheaper. I've tried this with motorcycle trips but too many variables. E.g. I'd like to camp but the weather is too hot or too wet. The same thing for meals. Sometimes you are just too tired to break out the stove and make something.
Over the years I've run into many people who are always stressed when travelling due to flight schedules, reservations, family commitments, etc. For those travelling with the stressed out person, it makes the trip kind of miserable.
Things happen especially when you rely on something made of so many mechanical bits and pieces. The truck has a lot of moving parts as does this used 5th wheel. Unlike the Ural where you can carry just about all of the tools needed to disassemble the whole thing in one evening, that's not really possible with the truck.
From my perspective, this trip is less vacation and more just moving our living quarters from place to place. A handy way to see more of the country. "Vacation" would mean visiting somewhere cool and exotic, staying at a nice hotel, and sampling the local cuisine. Some of the reasons for hauling this RV around is so that we can always return home every evening and not have to spend a lot of money for daily essentials. This campground, while not very exotic or fancy, still costs around $37 per day which is a whole lot cheaper than a hotel but still more than we need to spend.
A few years back, I sat down and tried to figure out how many miles per day one needs to travel with RV and Prius. With the RV we would stay at RV parks, prepare our own meals and getting around 12 mpg. With the Prius we would stay at modest hotels, eat out for lunch and dinner, and get around 40 mpg. The break even point was around 250 miles per day from Fairbanks to the PNW. Above that, traveling in a Prius could be cheaper. Below that, the RV. There are a lot of variables but you get the general idea. If you want to travel slowly, the RV is cheaper. I've tried this with motorcycle trips but too many variables. E.g. I'd like to camp but the weather is too hot or too wet. The same thing for meals. Sometimes you are just too tired to break out the stove and make something.
This picture doesn't have anything to do with the topic. It's just where we went for the sunset.
Couldn't agree more. That's why, when we travel, we'll book the first (arrival) night and last (departure) night near the airport. After that we book as we go. That flexibility is worth the added expense of not always being able to find cheap accommodations booked well in advance.
ReplyDeletePlus, you then have the option of picking up bargains due to cancellations.
DeleteFlexibility, keeping it loose and enjoying the moment....all key points to traveling.
ReplyDeleteEspecially with a Ural...
DeleteAlthough being German, I do not like planning vacation. RV-ing for me is the perfect way of traveling without being bound by schedule, weather or vacant accommodation.
ReplyDeleteAnd here the stereotype said that you would have everything planned to the minute. ;-)
DeleteWe regularly have family reunions on my mom's and dad's side of the family. One is super organized and the other pretty laid back. It's an interesting comparison.
Richard I am acutely aware of my lack of flexibility. It used to be more or less theoretical. Lately aches and pains are sprouting where before there were none. Oh well, it sure beats the alternative.
ReplyDeleteAs for RV'ing, if I were married to a different lass, who knows what I'd be up to. As things are, family travel is definitely via hotal/motel/AirBnB!!
Given a choice between the RV and the hotel I'm inclined towards the RV. Take a look at the $2.5m Prevost coaches. Some have room for multiple Vespas in their storage compartments.
DeleteI asked Richard if he thought I was stressed after his comment of traveling with a stressed person. He said he didn't know. Then he gave examples of friends he has traveled with who were stressed. He can tell I am disappointed that I can't get down to LA to see my boys. Yes, I am sad about that, but not stressed and angry. I am ready to move on, not because this is a bad place, I just want to see something else. I guess I was looking at this as more of a vacation as Richard called a vacation as a way to see new places and eat different cuisine. I'm not into the different foods as much as I am into seeing something else.
ReplyDeleteIs saying that there is too much chocolate in the refrigerator/freezer a sign of stress? ;-)
DeleteA beautiful place to watch the sunset.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you aren't stressed. No sense stressing about that which you cannot change. But I can see you wanting a change in scenery.
It was a nice place. We didn't walk there as it was too hot. Not really stressed at all. Occasionally annoyed at the dealer but that's not the same thing.
DeleteGlad you're not stressed and I hope things got moving for you...still working through my million unread blog posts, lol!
ReplyDelete