I'm On The Road!

[CoachOnTheRoad]

Hello All!

I wasn't sure where to post so here it goes.

I'm 29 days out in my 2005 Chevy Uplander Mini-Van. It's a simple conversion, with a bed and some shelves and a plywood floor, the rest is bins and other organization.

The first four days out I was DOWN. I wasn't sure I could do it. I ended up going back to my daughters place, my "home base," to regroup and dump some stuff.

Now, I'm up in the Adirondacks, NY, and I'm starting to hit my groove! I'm an experienced camper, but living out of a van turned out to be a totally different thing. Thankfully I have some skills like putting up tarps, holding a hammer etc 

It was way harder and way different than I thought, especially dealing with an autoimmune disability, but I'M DOING IT!!!!

Just thought I'd check in, I have very little internet service where I am, I go into town about once a week and catch up.

Thanks for being here!!!

Mary Ellen

 

[GEAUX- PRIUS Cowboy]

When you feel like quitting go rent a nice hotel that has hot tub and live it up suck up all the AC and cable TV you can if you can handle a drink or 2 get a nice bottle of bubbly and do it CA style. When you get back in your van you will be ready to live it up that way again. All you need is 2 days in a hotel and you want the road again. Best to snag a room on SUN night and MON that way you get the BEST RATES !

 

[closeanuf]

Changing lifestyles or routines always looks more glamorous than it really is.  I notice you said you went back to dump some stuff.  Sound like you're not giving up and that's great.  We all live differently and have to get our groove.  Good to hear from you and keep letting us know how you are doing.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Woot woot!! Congratulations on making the leap... It'll definitely just get better from here... Not necessarily easier, but definitely better!

 

[CoachOnTheRoad]

When you feel like quitting go rent a nice hotel that has hot tub and live it up suck up all the AC and cable TV you can if you can handle a drink or 2 get a nice bottle of bubbly and do it CA style. When you get back in your van you will  be ready to live it up that way again. All you need is 2 days in a hotel and you want the road again. Best to snag a room on SUN night and MON that way you get the BEST RATES !

LOL I was ready to do that one night, I'm up in the Adirondacks and one night we had severe damaging thunderstorms predicted...and there was absolutely no vacancies anywhere! I checked in at a NY state campsite, and the thunderstorms never showed up! Good idea for the Sun and Mon nights!

 

[CoachOnTheRoad]

Woot woot!! Congratulations on making the leap... It'll definitely just get better from here... Not necessarily easier, but definitely better!

I remember hearing Bob say something like he'd rather be uncomfortable and free, something like that. Now I get what he was saying! It's an adjustment, but I think I'm on my way! I'm in the Adirondacks for the summer, but now that I know I can do it, I'm thinking of heading out West/Arizona for the winter. It's been part of my dream!

 

[tx2sturgis]

Best to snag a room on SUN night and MON that way you get the BEST RATES !

Good advice, and also, COTR, when you walk up to the desk, and ask for the rate, when they tell you, tell them you want something less than the 'rack rate'....most hotels and motels will immediately knock off at least 10% right off the bat, unless they are nearly full or almost booked up for the night.

If you have any sort of corporate connections, ties, or business dealings, you can also ask for the 'corporate rate'...but they will usually ask for some kind of ID for that rate. It can be almost anything, like a retail membership card, a gym membership card, a wholesale membership card, Triple AAA card, just about anything that ties you with a large company.

Often the clerk will give you the discount just for asking.

If you feel the rate is still too high, ask them to recommend a lower priced but nice motel or hotel close by, this will sometimes work, and if not, you will usually have an idea where to go next. Dont be afraid to ask, most motels work with each other during busy times.

Of course, a trendy location with a lot of tourists or business travelers in town pretty much eliminates the bargain rooms...but its always worth a try.

 

[rtb111]

HI Mary Ellen!

Welcome to the Adirondacks! Lake Placid has been my home base for awhile as I've been up here helping my mom out with some things... But back on the road this week>

Good job on weathering through the last week or so, it sure has been wet! I'll be in the area here and then down around Glens Falls until Thursday night or so... PM me if you'd like to meet up for coffee or something!

Cheers~!

Todd.