Just some thoughts from our morning in Richfield, Utah
On March 11th, we closed the door on our Indiana home, put the “For Sale” sign in the yard, and pointed the rig toward open horizons. We have been on the road ever since, learning the rhythm of full-time travel and savoring every mile side by side.
Our route has already taken us through an incredible cross-section of North America: across the open plains of Nebraska, down into the red rocks of Arizona, all the way up through Canada to Alaska, and now through the rugged canyon country of Utah as we work our way back south to Arizona for the winter.
It hasn’t been without its share of hurdles. We’ve faced our fair share of challenges along the way—a few mechanical hiccups on the rig and some unexpected health curves—but we worked through them, and all is well on this side of the ledger.
Settling into nomadic daily life has been an adjustment, especially when it comes to routine. I am still getting used to not heading over to the shop or making a store run every single morning. Lori can settle into a comfortable chair with a good book and let the afternoon melt away effortlessly, while my biggest daily puzzle is finding ways to stay occupied and channel that restless energy. Ruby keeps us grounded on our daily walks, and between hiking, maintaining the setup, and scouting routes, the days fill up fast.
One of the greatest unexpected blessings of full-time travel has been the community. Brian is naturally the social one of the two of us, always striking up conversations across the campsite or swapping build notes with fellow Outdoors RV owners. We have met so many incredible people and forged genuine friendships around trailheads and evening campfires.
Beyond the major national parks, our absolute favorite travel rhythm centers around the small, out-of-the-way communities. Whenever we roll into a new area, our first mission is tracking down an independent local roastery or café to sit down and chat with the residents. Recent stops like Shelby, Montana, and Utah gems like Hanksville and Torrey prove that a town doesn’t need a traffic light to offer rich character, warm hospitality, and unforgettable scenery.
Living untethered has also shaped how we camp. Public Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land has become our most valuable resource. We love boondocking off-grid for 7 to 10 days at a stretch, running on solar and quiet desert air, before pulling into an established campground with full hookups to do laundry, top off fresh water, dump tanks, and reset for the next stretch.
Looking back across the last eight months, the American West has an astonishing depth. Despite thousands of miles on the odometer, it feels like we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s out there
