Our Third RVenturous Year on the Road

By the Numbers

Miles traveled: 5933 miles 

Miles per gallon: 7.02 MPG

Average price per gallon of diesel: $3.14

Number of Campgrounds/RV park "Homes" in 2018: 38

Gamble Rogers State Park, our last Florida State Park "home"
before we sold the Wildebeest on December 14, 2018.

Number of Habitat for Habitat Care-a-Vanner Builds: 4

Sebring, Florida January 28 - February 25 (two sessions)

North Fort Myers, Florida March 4 - 18

Davenport, Iowa September 16 - 30

                     

Number of boon-docking nights: 5

Walmarts are OK, but nothing beats watching the horses
play when boon-docking in the backyard of friends!

Number of "Leave the RV Behind and Have Some Fun" Days: 42

Visit to Bogota and Medellin, Colombia

Sailing in the British Virgin Islands
Airbnb/hotel stays in Milwaukee and Florida
Christmas visit with parents in Ocala, Florida 

My Mother-in-law was more than happy to turn
over her kitchen to me. We all enjoyed a Christmas Feast!

Number of States Visited for the First Time: 3 

Georgia

South Carolina
North Carolina

Number of States Revisited: 12

Florida
Tennessee
Kentucky
Indiana
Illinois
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Iowa
Missouri
Arkansas
Louisiana
Alabama

Coming or going ... Always fun to hang out in Florida!

Number of State Capitols: 1

Springfield, IL

Standing in the shadow of Abe Lincoln
as I visited one new State Capitol building
this year in Springfield, Illinois.

Number of days in the RV Repair "Spa": 3

Including a "tow" to a repair shop when the Wildebeest
sprung a leak from a hydraulic hose in Indiana.

Number of RV maintenance and improvement projects for Doug:

A lot ... but who's counting??!!
From fridge repair to plumbing projects to changing the generator oil filter,
my "handyman" rocks!

National Parks, Monuments, Parkways, and Seashores:

Everglades National Park

Blue Ridge National Parkway

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Hot Springs National Park

Gateway Arch National Park

Natchez Trace National Parkway

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, St Augustine, Florida

Canaveral National Seashore, Florida

Attractions:

Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Museo de Oro, Bogota, Colombia
Museo de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
The Southernmost Point of the Continental US, Key West, Florida
The Salvador Dali Museum, St Petersburg, Florida
Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
Charleston Walking Tour, Charleston, South Carolina
Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
Sierra Nevada and New Belgium Brewery Tours, Asheville, North Carolina

Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, Illinois
Charles Lindbergh Home and Museum, Little Falls, Minnesota
Field of Dreams Movie Site, Dyersville, Iowa
Ulysses S Grant Home, Galena, Illinois
National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, Tennessee
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida

Favorites

 Favorite Campground (once again): Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, Alabama

Biking, beach walks, camping buddies, and beautiful sunsets ...
What's not to love??!!

Favorite Craft brewery: Mad Beach Brewing, Madeira Beach, Florida

Great food and unique craft beer served up
on a tropical patio not far from the Gulf ...
all the ingredients of "Beer-aritaville"!

Miscellaneous trivia fact ... Doug has now collected a total of 213 craft microbrewery coasters!

Favorite Restaurant: La Granja (The Farm), Tenjo, Colombia

Our first dining experience when we arrived in Colombia gave us
a "taste" for all the fun in store for us. The open-air restaurant
introduced us to typical Colombian food, while the
surrounding art work showed off the talents of the local people.

Favorite Natural Areas and Parks:

Blue Springs State Park, Orange City, Florida

Observing mama and baby manatee
from the boardwalk at Blue Springs State Park, Florida.

British Virgin Islands

Sailing and snorkeling lessons in the British Virgin Islands.

Parque Arvi, Medellin, Colombia

We enjoyed a walk among the natural beauty
at Parque Arvi in Colombia.

Favorite Church:

Catedral de Sal, Zipaquira, Colombia

The underground salt mine houses a magnificent Cathedral.

Favorite Biking: Along the beach of Jekyll Island, Georgia

Taking advantage of low tide and the wind at our backs,
we enjoyed biking along the beach at Jekyll Island, Georgia

Honorable mention

Watching out for the "speed bumps" of the live alligator type
(on right side of the trail)
as we biked the James Van Fleet Trail in Florida.

Favorite Tourist Attraction:

McLeod Plantation operated by James Island County Parks

An exceptionally well done tour that focused not just on
the lavish lifestyles of antebellum plantations, but more importantly,
told the story of the high human cost of slave labor.

Honorable mention:

The Biltmore Estate

An admission ticket to tour the Biltmore and its gardens ... $70
Being able to wander at my own pace because Doug wanted to stay home
... Priceless!

As we end our third year on the road, we are thankful for the

Everyday Blessings

that surround us.

The blessing of friends in so many places,

and the blessing of smiles on sweet young faces.

The blessing of friends getting into gear,

and the blessing of sons sharing some cheer ...
along with a beer.

The blessing of special moments
wherever we roam.

and the blessing of family who welcome us home.

What's in store for 2019?

An idea was planted when we visited Colombia in January of this year and continued to grow throughout the year. That idea ... downsizing to a smaller RV in order to be more "nimble" in our travels ... is coming closer to fruition as we sold the Wildebeest and prepare for an extended visit to Medellin, Colombia.

While visions of "cafe delicioso" dance through our heads, so do some apprehensions. Change is hard, and in some ways this past year has been one of our most challenging so far. But as my ever-calm and ever-confident husband reassures me ... changes in 2019 will bring even more amazing RVentures!

Until next time ... Embrace the Changes in the New Year ... and enjoy the adventures in your life!

Happy New Year

and thanks for following along!

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