Glamping the USA

Mini-trip with Al camping at the beach with the wild ponies on Assateague Island.

Ok.. I’m done. Heading home now. I’ve been gone 5 weeks, 16 states, and about 4,000 miles.

This is my 6th long trip (4-6 weeks) since we bought the van in 9/21 and the same pattern emerges. I reach a point and I know I just want to be home.

I’m so grateful for the ability to hit the road on a whim and stay gone until I’ve scratched the itch.

For that I’m eternally grateful to my patient husband who gives me all the room I need to experience life from the security of Ruby Mae. It makes me love him even more.

And look at all the states yet to come!! Next up is a 6-day cycling trip in Italy, then Croatia.

They call it the forgotten coast.

It’s 22 miles of unspoiled, natural beach. I spent 9 days watching the dolphins, the pelicans, the gulls, the fishermen and hours walking the shore looking at shells…

And that’s about it. It was fabulously relaxing.

This is Eddie and DeeAnna. She spent the last 5 years bedridden after a fall in her wheelchair with MS.

Now the two of them have spent the last 3 months wandering around in their RV with their jeep, 2 kayaks and bikes enjoying life to the fullest.

They are wonderful, friendly, lovely people. I’m glad to have made their acquaintance. And the Blue Parrot Cafe was phenomenal!

If you are thinking of hitting the road, here are 3 of my fav apps.

My 80+ year old mother shared iExit with me. It gives a great overview of what can be found at upcoming exits. A must-have.

CampScanner is a subscription service but it really makes a difference getting into popular parks.

Harvest Hosts is also a subscription but connects you with different kinds of camping experiences like wineries and farms for almost free.

Some people I’ve met along the way.

Didn’t take pics of everyone, like the woman from CO that travels for 6 weeks every spring with her husband, and the couple from Atlanta that moved here during Covid.

Oh yeah, and there was the crazy lady that camped next to me who was just beginning her camper voyage from TX.

Panama City has been a nice respite. The beach is great, but the Grand Lagoon is what makes this place unique. So relaxing to stay right next to the water.

This pretty boy was posin’

I loved the calm and beauty of Grayton Beach. Spent about 5 days there.

The lesson I keep learning in life is that you can’t take pictures of the ocean, but the waters here are carribean clear and majestic in the depth of color changes.

I watched large pods of dolphins, giant sea turtles and there’s a pic in there of maybe a shark that was about 3 feet.

The white sandy beaches are so clear there aren’t even shells here.

Tonight I’m camped on the edge of the bay outside Panama City enjoying the marina and 85 degrees at 5:00. Peaceful.