The plan is to drive from the San Francisco Bay Area to Nova Scotia and then take our little camper on a 8 hour ferry to Newfoundland. Apparently it's 2,000 more miles to our end point than if we drove to the farthest point in Alaska. Our drive is estimated on Google maps as over 10,000 miles non stop direct, but then we are going to wander so it will be more considerably more miles in the end. The round trip is planned for about seven months. Except during the first few days when we are trying to get past familiar areas and out of Dodge, we plan to drive a maximum of 2 to 3 hours each day so we will have plenty of time to stop and see what ever captures our interest. I will try to use restraint and not come home will 100,000 photos!
Hopefully the snow will not an issue, but we will be prepared with our snow chains since this year has been a record year for ice on the Great Lakes where we are headed first ( we could hit snow on the way home in the fall as well). We want to see the north eastern states and Canada on way east and then we will be heading north as the weather warms to avoid the heat. I hear that the Maritime Providences are beautiful in July and August. When it cools a bit on the east coast in the States we will come down to Boston, DC, Gettysburg, Nashville, Memphis and then head on home in the fall when the temperatures are cooler but trying to avoid the snow and ice.
We are following the advise a seasoned Roaktrek owner, Campskunk, who has a motto of "it's not 70 degrees, it's operator error". We figured out the estimated temperature range for each location and plotted our proposed trip to stay in the 70's. Now we know there will be challenges to that plan with the recent erratic temperature fluctuations and we will might find ourselves viewing the weather satellites on the "Dark Sky" phone app while trying to our maneuver around big storms if they are in our path. That's the plan and we must remain flexible.
We have reservations for holidays and popular places such as Quebec and Prince Edward Island so we are assured of some choice spots along the way, but considerably more than 50% of the time we are completely winging it and will go as inspired.
Yes, the dogs are coming with us. They are one of the reasons we have this mode of travel. We have a few new dog beds and a cushy mat for them as well as creating new places for them to sit so they can see out the front window better. Having them along means we are all assured of daily long walks.
We've also been fixing up the inside of the RT with new rugs, upholstery, curtains and art we enjoy. I made the pillows with zippers so they are stuffed with our big puffy jackets or seasonal clothes. We've given a lot of thought into what we are bringing and where it resides.
This is our little home on wheels...
Hopefully the snow will not an issue, but we will be prepared with our snow chains since this year has been a record year for ice on the Great Lakes where we are headed first ( we could hit snow on the way home in the fall as well). We want to see the north eastern states and Canada on way east and then we will be heading north as the weather warms to avoid the heat. I hear that the Maritime Providences are beautiful in July and August. When it cools a bit on the east coast in the States we will come down to Boston, DC, Gettysburg, Nashville, Memphis and then head on home in the fall when the temperatures are cooler but trying to avoid the snow and ice.
We are following the advise a seasoned Roaktrek owner, Campskunk, who has a motto of "it's not 70 degrees, it's operator error". We figured out the estimated temperature range for each location and plotted our proposed trip to stay in the 70's. Now we know there will be challenges to that plan with the recent erratic temperature fluctuations and we will might find ourselves viewing the weather satellites on the "Dark Sky" phone app while trying to our maneuver around big storms if they are in our path. That's the plan and we must remain flexible.
We have reservations for holidays and popular places such as Quebec and Prince Edward Island so we are assured of some choice spots along the way, but considerably more than 50% of the time we are completely winging it and will go as inspired.
Yes, the dogs are coming with us. They are one of the reasons we have this mode of travel. We have a few new dog beds and a cushy mat for them as well as creating new places for them to sit so they can see out the front window better. Having them along means we are all assured of daily long walks.
We've also been fixing up the inside of the RT with new rugs, upholstery, curtains and art we enjoy. I made the pillows with zippers so they are stuffed with our big puffy jackets or seasonal clothes. We've given a lot of thought into what we are bringing and where it resides.
This is our little home on wheels...
To be honest we are both a bit nervous as well as excited to be on the road for seven months. We will be missing three births, two weddings, two baby showers and many birthdays including our son's and who know what else. We don't see a logical way to shorten the trip since we want to see so much once we are there. We like the idea of a long slow drive with plenty of time for walking and exploring backroads. There will no doubt be moments when we wish were home, but those moments will pass and the adventure will continue.
The first stop is somewhere east of California heading out on Highway 80 towards Salt Lake City, then we pass through Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and on to Chicago. After a few days in Chicago, weather permitting we intend to head up to the U.P. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) and then wind our way through Michigan and see some old art studio friends, Mike and Mieko, whom we've known for decades.
You can see a few maps that show our general route at the menu bar above titled Big Trip Route
Let the trip unfold and the adventure begin!
The first stop is somewhere east of California heading out on Highway 80 towards Salt Lake City, then we pass through Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and on to Chicago. After a few days in Chicago, weather permitting we intend to head up to the U.P. (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) and then wind our way through Michigan and see some old art studio friends, Mike and Mieko, whom we've known for decades.
You can see a few maps that show our general route at the menu bar above titled Big Trip Route
Let the trip unfold and the adventure begin!