Unplanned is best. When a random catch up with a good friend leads you to scramble the clothes, food, and RV…you DO IT!
The beauty of the open road (with good mobile signals and a little bit of luck) is plenty of time to figure out the next 24-48 hours. Never underestimate the power of the last parking spot in no-where Wyoming, that allows you to drop your payment in after hours.
Cannot believe I never looked before, but the Tetons are only 8.5 hours from Casa-Jay, so, load up and go! Stop at a country-side grocery, grab the goods, roll into town, fire up the Traeger and have a celebratory engagement steak dinner. Congratulations Anthony (“Mic”) and Kim! Much love and happiness to you both!
Tetons – Yellowstone – Jackson Hole – Afton
AND…the obligatory non-politically correct souvenir shop. America, yes, you can still have a sense of humor.
One more thing…catch Mic’s travels and story. Available on Amazon.
The river slowed just enough to drop us in Silt, CO. See what we did, there?
Great little stop for a weekend! Just off I70, near Rifle, CO, there are some hidden spots that wouldn’t normally come to mind.
With a campsite just off the Colorado River, first class golf cart limo service to incredible dining, fresh hatch green chili’s for winter, and warm state park SUP days. Low key, and perfect for Labor Day weekend.
Every trip does have it’s moment, though. 😳 Note to self: don’t lean up against the awning button when going down the Interstate…bad things happen. Bye-bye awning. Fly free.
Nothing like summertime and golf season in Colorado. Rekindling the well known love/hate relationship with the game, I think the love-side of the equation is winning. Working with Colorado’s newest member of Colorado’s Golf Hall of Fame, Ed Oldham, is turning out to be the best move I could have made. Too many fantastic things to say about Ed…so look him up, he’s easy to find, and if you can’t…just watch Jennifer Kupcho out on the LPGA tour, and you’ll see very quickly and example of the results of his contributions to the game.
But, why stop with the game? If you can’t (immediately) be good, then you gotta look good, right! 😜 And, have a little fun with it. We converted this 2015 old, green rental into a modern beast, complete with black camo wrap, under lighting, and beats to match. “Quiet please”…not in our four-some.
The pics speak for themselves. I’ll spare you the gory (and very gory they are) details of the golf game. Much headway yet left to make.
Is it, really? What a year this has been, and in so many ways very thankful for it! Choosing to see all of the positives of such a tangential shift in society, this morning. It made me realize how many experiences we’ve had this year, the friendships that have been established, those that have grown, and how many more are yet to happen. Of course, when you give a mouse a cookie…I realized that I’ve fallen very far behind in our posts. 🙃 First step: remembering them all! I’ll try and catch up on some back posts with my extra hour from the time change.
Some fun times in Crested Butte, back in June, for certain. Hey, and what about finding my canoe that’s been there 15+ years, finding the key to unlock it, and having room to stash it in the trailer creatively around the HD!
Ahhhh…not much else needs to be said for a FANTASTIC Memorial Day weekend. The Slab. Being served. Mangled ice cream cones. Storms. Small fish. Wise @$$. “Toasted” cherry pie. Dogs that don’t share. #thegreatoutdoors #rvlife #travel #gobecauseyoucan #us #memories
Recently a lifelong friend asked about how we maintain the best internet/WiFi, etc. possible when living the #rvlife. There are relatively several options/answers, but I’ve found what seems to work for us, so far. With the rapid pace of technology advancement, I’m certain this will all change very quickly, but start with asking yourself what matters most and build from there!
Someday, maybe our grandkids and their kids will look back at this post somewhat like we do to our own childhoods of rotary phones, turning the dial on the TV, rabbit ears (and foil)…
Most campgrounds (except state and national parks) offer free WiFi with your stay. There are drawbacks, however, namely the fact that EVERYONE in the campground is squeezing all of their data needs through a very skinny pipe. Most campgrounds have very low service bandwidths, and although you may be able to connect, you might only be limited to some basic messaging or email. But, definitely don’t plan on leveraging that streaming service you hold so dear, whether it be for music, movies, or TV.
If you do want to go this route, we tried the Winegard Connect 2.0 on our travel trailer. It had two benefits: first, if it could connect to the campground wireless network, it would then create your own local network (like you have at home) and all your devices could connect to that. The drawback: your bandwidth of performance was still limited to the throughput of the local campground WiFi network.
BUT (and there’s always a “but”), there’s an additional feature to the Winegard that will allow you to go to your wireless phone provider and insert a SIM card. If you go this route, you’ve now turned your Winegard 2.0 into your own personal hotspot. (That’s how your wireless provider like AT&T, Verizon, etc. will price it for you). Now, you’re relying on your true wireless provider to send your signal to your RV, but all of your devices that are connected to it are “pulling” from that data over the single device.
In our latest rig, we have a completely different setup. We ditched the thought of ever connecting to a campground WiFi network. With pretty good nationwide coverage (US and Canada) on our cell phones, we went the path of a mobile signal booster: Weboost DriveX RV. Our speed tests on wireless networks consistently over performs campground WiFi networks 10x. So…we have no additional monthly costs, just the one time cost of buying/installing the Weboost.
How it works: install the external antennae on your roof, ladder, or best option a flagpole that you can raise once you’re camping. We just installed on our roof and so-far-so-good. The wiring can be direct to your battery and therefore it works while you’re driving, too. The external antennae connects to an internal antennae inside the RV. This is key: to get the performance from the signal boost, your device(s) need to be close to the internal antennae.
If we are in an area where the signal is weak for your device either inside or outside of your RV, just get close to the internal antennae and you’ll see the difference. To take it one step further, however, I discovered that by placing my iPad near the internal antennae, then connecting my iPhone to the iPad through it’s personal hotspot. And just like that, BOOM, now I don’t have to be close to the internal antennae with my phone…just within connectivity distance of the personal hotspot of the iPad. Same with my computer or anything!
For TV, we subscribe to AT&T Now (formerly DirecTV now). No satellite. No cable. AT&T Now allows you to stream your TV for FREE if you’re streaming through your AT&T device. Therefore, once again, no additional fees on top of my monthly AT&T mobile plans. We have TV (including local channels) anywhere we are. Just plug the TV into your tablet or phone with an HDMI cable and it works like a champ!
Hope the tips help. Always interested in hearing new solutions. I’m a geek at heart. #cheers and #happycamping #stayconnected #workwhereever
Update Nov 1 2020: Add-on of Nomad Internet. Netgear M1 router + Apple airport for WiFi. Now we have fully functioning, indoor/outdoor proximity WiFi all working via cellular. Set the M1 next to the indoor antennae from the Weboost and it’ll pull from the boosted signal.
It’s the start of Memorial Day weekend! Updates to come…but for now, kicking it off in Estes Park, CO with a warm fire and great wine from Knights Bridge (straight from our virtual wine tasting). #norestrictions #cantstopwontstop #memorialday #rvlife #freedom
“Shooters Grill is located on the South side of East 3rd Street in downtown Rifle. Gun-themed and old-timey American restaurant serving traditional breakfast, burgers & steaks. Stop by our restaurant and enjoy great food and a VERY safe place to eat it. Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner, our food and service will make you happy. That is our place: Happy, safe and fun. We’re armed and ready to feed you.” – www.shootersgrill.com
Hearing the stories of so many local businesses affected by this COVID-19 economic shutdown (not the pandemic, itself, but by the actions taken by governing bodies), one story stood out. Not because of the hardships of this business owner being worse than on any other small business owner across the country, but because of the strength and commitment of the citizens of the United States to remind us all that this is a nation of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Owner Lauren Boebert is taking ownership not just for her business, but also for the citizens of her district. Running for Congress (R-CO3), to ensure protection of our freedoms, our liberty, and a commitment to the intentions so many stood, fought, and died for in the establishment of this nation.
It was a pleasure to stop by, meet, talk, and support. Best of luck in your campaign, in your community, in your fight for liberty, and in living the American dream.
Working remotely can be fun, too. Making a conscious decision to share happy hours every other week between co-workers is creating great teamwork. We may not share an office, but great relationships matter. Thankful for this team. #veryremote #teamwork #relationships
What’s in a name? I don’t think I ever paid enough attention to the name on the package. I was too consumed by the deep fried goodness of the beloved tater-tot we all know so well. (Admit it…bad for you…tastes great). Passing through the Oregon/Idaho border, it call became clear…right there for all to see “Ore” “Ida”. So, if you’re like me…now you know. (Being safety conscious, and all, I didn’t get the “gram” as I drove by.
Covid-19 strikes again. Thank you, U of Oregon, for the trigger to get out and about! No problem, here to help 🙂 1,250 miles and a moving “van” ready to roll. Fun times, tripping with the BMOC. Congratulations on a great year in the dorm. Risky business, ahead. 😉
Smooth sailing not always so smooth: air brake knob pulls off somewhere in Idaho…full of gas, and nowhere to go! Macgyver it. At least one windshield wiper works while in Oregon 💦. Care to guess which one? An extended awning is great in the rain. Until the rain stops and…the motor decides it’s in quarantine and decides not to go to work. Motorcycle to go get parts? Nah…dead battery. 🙃🤬🙃 Take two and call me in the morning.
Bend, Oregon. Fantastic lazy Saturday morning amongst the pines. Good medicine after an great week: two down and cage free. We are surrounded by such beauty in this country! What a fantastic week as a dorm room moving service and constant online meetings and video calls. It’s a new norm. Don’t mind it a bit.
(Mental note: I make the basic post. She makes em right.)
Labor Day doesn’t have to be the end of summer! Well, maybe to some of the warmer air, but certainly not the adventures. If you haven’t been to Ouray, Colorado at ANY time of year, add it to your lists. A beautiful mountain town, nearby to Telluride, Durango, Silverton, and our Million Dollar Highway. Take your river gear, climbing gear, ice axe, motorcycle…it all works. Oh, and stay at the Ouray RV Park and Cabins…they have a nice steak dinner ready and waiting at the Ouray Cafe, onsite!
Let the good times roll! We started this marvelous adventure (officially) on August 14, 2016. As the miles and visits have passed, so too have some memories. Forget, no more! Cannot wait to try to log what we can and have fun sharing our future adventures! #gobecauseyoucan Make sure you scroll to some back-posts, because fun doesn’t begin when the blog does!
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
