Search Results for (382)

Dreaming with the kids in Roswell

Ashley Longnecker / May 09, 2017

When we left Texas we came across some giant legs! 

Brake Issues, A Winery and Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Ashley Longnecker / May 04, 2017

After leaving Caprock Canyon State Park, we started having a brake issue with our trailer. We kept getting a TRAILER FAULT warning on our dash (our F350 came with a factory brake controller). Jonathan could tell that the when he would push on the brake while towing, if that warning came up on the dash, our brakes were not engaging on the trailer. NOT GOOD!

We called around but being a Friday afternoon we couldn’t find a place that was able to look at it until Monday morning. Okay, so we needed to stay near Amarillo for the weekend in order to be close by the shop when they opened. 

We overnighted at a Walmart parking lot. We saw a storm brewing in the distance and didn’t want to drive any further than we had to with our faulty brakes. 

With nothing else to do, I decided to head out and get our laundry done for the week. When finishing up, I glanced outside and noticed a familiar glow. When I walked outside and looked up, I couldn’t believe what I saw. 

I have NEVER seen clouds like that but the color of the sky mimicked that of a sky I remembered in Indiana right before tornados swept through my hometown. I remember watching one in the distance from our front porch. The sky was a odd golden color and the tree tops seemed to have a different tone to them. I remember the smell in the air and all those memories came flooding back when I walked out the door of the laundromat. 

Harvest Hosts

Ashley Longnecker / May 03, 2017

If you travel in an RV for any amount of time, Harvest Hosts is a membership you should really look into. Often, we find ourselves needing a place to stay for just one or two nights in between drive days so Harvest Hosts is a great place to look for a quick stop.

What is Harvest Hosts? It's a membership that allows you access to host's wineries, farms and attractions. For just $44 per year, you can access Harvest Host's all over the country. Though remember, call or email them to make sure they have a spot available and it is polite to purchase something from the host.

NO PAY MAY!

Ashley Longnecker / April 29, 2017

Guys! It's almost May and we have been thinking about some crazy stuff. 

Before the Airstream, we were setting aside a ridiculous amount of money for campgrounds each month. That beast of a 5th wheel meant we needed full hookups and plenty of room to maneuver everywhere we went. With the Airstream's off the grid capabilities (solar, composting toilet, truck tires, lift, etc...) we nearly halved that amount, but we decided to take it a step further. 

What if we went all of May without paying for any campgrounds? 

We could save that money for something else that we would like to do or get. (a drone, Hawaii trip, iPads, Apple Watch, hiking shoes, MexiCoke stash?? Oh, the possibilities!)

With 500 watts of solar, 400 amp hours of batteries and our Nature's Head Composting toilet, we are fully set up for long term boondocking. Why are we paying for overly crowded parks? Our favorite sites have been those away from the city and in our own little bit of paradise so...let's try this!

The whole month of May we will not pay for camping! We already know what we will do with the extra money we will save, but we can tell you about that later. (it's something for the kids)

We are all super excited about this challenge. It will push us to step out of our comfort zones. It will force us to be a bit more conservative with our water. It will teach us how to create less trash. It will force us to spend more time outside and less time on devices. It will encourage more adventure. It will cause more family time outside and we will have to get creative with our resources. 

We've got nothing to loose! If you choose to do this challenge with us, tag your Instagram boondocking photos with the hashtag #nopaymay so we can see your slice of heaven!

Good luck friends!

Caprock Canyon State Park

Ashley Longnecker / April 29, 2017

After meeting with William and his family in Forth Worth, we were so excited to head towards open land and red rocks. We had heard good things about Caprock Canyon State Park so we pointed Leatherhead (our trusty F350 that is of course named after a TMNT character) northwest and took off. 

Let me try to do this place justice. Standing next to our site, I was able to hear prairie dogs making their adorable noises anytime someone walked by their home, which happened to be just behind our site. Then a rabbit hopped by as I walked to the trailer trying to avoid fresh bison patties ON OUR SITE! 

Each site had a covered picnic area that we didn't use often because the flies were kind of bad which is to be expected when there are fresh bison patties everywhere.