Bumps in the road.

Well we left Humboldt. We hit the road and within an hour lost the tread on one of the trailer wheels.

 

No problem, I had two spares. I pulled the bad tire, grabbed the spare off the roof and went to put it on. Uh.... problem. The spare wheel would not fit over the drum on the trailer. The bolt pattern was correct. The tire would work but I didn't try it on as my smart wife had suggested. We were now on the side of the highway with a bald tire that had no tread and two worthless spares (they were identical). The bad tire was still holding air so we limped to the next town and were able to buy two used tires and continue. I bought two because the other tire, which was as old as the "bad" one was about to throw its tread also.

About twenty miles from our destination there was an enormous BANG and the whole truck shook violently. One of the "new" used tires exploded.

 I stopped immediately and pulled into a parking lot. It was a parking lot of a tire shop but it was after five. Luckily we were close enough to my parents house that I called my dad and he came to the rescue. Around twelve hours after we left we got to our destination. Did I mention that the trip usually takes about six hours.

We were able to see my nephew before he was deployed to Korea and will work on finishing
the trailer while here.

Now we are at my parents house trying to get rid of a Van some truck parts and a few other anchors that we have so we can get to Texas and go to work and continue our travels.

Rich

So Long Moby...

(Written: June 28, 2011)

Here we sit, comfortably in the back of our Suburban, as the rain patters on the roof and Jimmy Buffett plays on the stereo. Ian is at a friends’ for the night. Yesterday we sold our home for the last four and a half years. Our home, a 36’ RV, lovingly dubbed "The Moby Duck" by Ian on our maiden voyage. Moby was a good ole faithful RV but with our plan to go South and do some traveling we decided that it was too old and tired for the trips and miles that we have planned.  So we sucked it up and sold it to a local "gardener".  It was a sad moment to watch it drive off.

A lot of memories are in that RV.  We spent the first night of our maiden voyage on the side of the road with a broken fan belt turning into human popsicles because I didn't realize that all I had to do was hook up the propane for the heater to work; we met our first true “Hippie“ friends, Smiles and Space (yes, those are their legal names); camped for free in one of the most beautiful State Parks in California for five months as Camp Hosts; were outlaw campers in the city of Arcata; rocked and rolled and rode out a 6.5 earthquake and were thankful to an anonymous gentleman, the CDF and CHP officer who arrived almost immediately averting a fire that could have been a tragic early end to "The Moby."

These are just a few adventures that we lived through since choosing to be fulltimers four and a half years ago.  Ian cried and Carolyn and I watched almost teary eyed as our home drove away.  Thus we have come to the realization that we are "houseless."

There are many walking hippies, aka “leather tramps” around, here in Arcata. There is one that I have seen many times that has a sign on his backpack. It says:  "I'm not Homeless, I'm Houseless." This, I think, is how we have seen ourselves for the last few years: for a time we chose an RV, as our home.  We still have a home.  Now it is real small. It is named the “Nautilus”. 

We have a place lined up for us in Texas, along with work. But for now we will camp in the Nautilus. We did it for three months vacationing last summer, now off we go again but without our RV to come back to. Pretty much everything we own we are taking with us with no definite long-term plan. It is going to be exciting! 

We have heard the sayings “Home is where you hang your hat” and “Home is where your heart is” … one of the dictionary definitions of "home" notes:  "the place in which one's domestic affections are centered." Our home, is where we park it, and we like it that way.  We believe that what is important in this life, to us, is just being together and enjoying each day.  We’ll let God take care of the details. 
- - Rich - -