When the road says...NO.
|
Hello, Reader! After eight years of full-time RV life, you’d think we would have boondocking completely figured out. We don’t. What we do have is a process shaped by thousands of miles and countless campsites. There have been more than a few moments where we’ve looked at each other and said, ” Well…this isn’t going to work.” One of those moments happened recently. Don’t miss the photos below that give you a hint of the (mis) adventure and click the link to watch our video to really get the story. The Road Less Traveled...at least with a big rigOne of the biggest challenges in boondocking is finding a good spot. There is a lot to consider when determining what is "good". Also, size is an important factor. How's the road? How many "spots" are available? Dark skies? Interesting photography subjects? Last week, we thought we had found a great spot with a great view. The view was great...the spot, not so much. I think our number one rule as an RVer is to stay flexible. It helps us navigate many challenges and find solutions when plan A just isn't going to work. It's a lesson we have both learned over the years. Our boondocking process is pretty dialed in, yet we still ended up in a pickle. Google Maps sent us to the wrong entrance, and finding the right one didn’t make things better. The road got worse the farther we went, and before long, we were staring at washouts that were not going to be navigated with a 40’ fifth wheel. Check out our latest video for more on the trials and tribulations of camping in New Mexico!
Three Quick Takeaways for Your Next Boondocking Trip
One of the benefits of being flexible is stopping at fun roadside attractions. It was great practice for the upcoming Rt. 66 trip! I will be using my Roadside America app to find as many quirky stops as possible. Recently, our travel day route took us through Alamogordo, NM, home of the World's Largest Pistachio! Of course, we had to stop for a photo op! They grow real pistachios here, too. A lot of these quirky attractions are nothing more than man-made statues, but they are still fun to check out and great ways to learn about the area's history. Boondocking at a National MonumentBoondocking spot number 2 turned out to be a winner! Great trails to walk on and the views were outstanding! We were surprised that with campers packed into the small lot, the nights were dark and quiet, our favorite kind! 
I am happy to report that I have spent some quality time out in nature with my OM-1 Mark II. I love the landscapes of the Southwest and will be sharing more of those in the coming weeks. I just have to squeeze in editing time along with video production (luckily, Jody is taking on most of that editing because he is MUCH better!). Photography is my passion, so expect more behind-the-scenes and "how I got the shot" content! Hit reply and tell me: what are you loving about this newsletter? I'm also open to suggestions on what I'm NOT sharing that you'd like to hear more about, so drop me a note and tell me what you want, what you really, really want! Until next week!
|
