Checking in

[Jinx & Wayne]

We are members of 2019 despite actually going full time in 2018.  We planned on 2019 but moved it up.  We have been on the road for a year now and it seems a progress report is in order.

Jinx and I left Maine last September.  We'd been living in the 5er since May 2018, but still locally.  We had to wind up the business before we left.  We left on a Friday planning to stop a Cabelas and leave early the next day to avoid Boston traffic.  When we stopped the brake actuator for the electic over hydraulic disc brakes on the trailer did not.  First lesson.  Get Escapees roadside assistance rather than Good Sam.  GS told us we would have to wait until Monday before they could do anything.  Escapees would have towed us to a campground and then to a repair facility on Monday.  Five days later we were back on the road.

We worked out way south to Florida and stayed at a few different places.  We volunteer at golf tournaments so we moved around a bit.  Didn't see a snowflake all winter except on TV.  We established domicile in Bushnell, FL at the Escapees park.  Escapees mail service is fantastic.

Spring found us working our way up through the midwest to Wisconsin and Michigan.  Our pace of travel has slowed.  We go no more than 250-300 miles per travel day and generally stay at least a week after a day of travel.  It took six weeks to get to Wisconsin.

The ferry across Lake Michigan was great.  The weather was fabulous and the golf was fun, if trying at times.  We worked the Thornberry LPGA Classic in Oneida WI.

At that point we decided to stay on the road for the foreseeable future.  Since we have an older rig (2006 Carriage) we decided to upgrade.  We didn't like any of the new 5ers so decided to have a major overhaul - suspension, appliances, flooring, entertainment center, lights, furniture and a bit more.  We went to Elkhart for the work and dropped our rig off 7/15 with a planned completion date of 8/16.  Second lesson.  Get completion dates in writing and try to get some sort of penalty clause for late work.  They didn't finish until 9/6! For the planned time we spent a month in a cabin on a lake in Michigan.  For the unplanned time we lived in a motel with the soul of a new urinal.

We had an Amish refrigerator upgrade as a separate (and prompt) shop in Shipshewana, IN.  Now it keeps ice cream firm!!

This fall found us in upstate NY, PA and currently MD.  Heading to NC tomorrow and then a few weeks in SC.  Florida again this winter.  Then eastern Rockies and western Midwest in 2020 followed by a winter in AZ or TX and exploring the far west in 2021.

Safe travels.

Wayne & Jinx Foote
194 Rainbow Dr., #9445
Livingston, TX 77399-1094
wfoote@me.com
207-944-9336

 

[Kirk W]

Thank you for the update. You are off to a great start.  

[Bill w/bus]

Congratulations on a great first year. We are also from Maine. Our first real full time year was 2016 when we went to Alaska from our winter home in the Rio Grande Valley and returned. Back in Maine for short summer. Came back to Maine to clean up some details for a month . 

On your west coast trip don't  miss Quartzite. Visit both Escapees park in CA. Death Valley, Joshua Tree NP,  and start at the Grand Canyon work the Canyons north up to the Arches NP. 

That should get you started on the right path.

 

Enjoy

Bill