In 2006 I retired and moved from Alaska on my first 6000 mile road-trip. In the Yukon Territory I like to believe it whispered a final goodbye to me by putting on a spectacular display of the Northern Lights. It brought tears to my eyes!
However, I think it’s very important you don’t over-organize your trip! I try to find a balance between having a broad outline and spontaneity. I want to be able to be surprised and just drop all my plans and go in a completely different direction if that seems good. I try to remember I have the rest of my life and one of these days I will probably be this way again. And if not, then I’m still open to what is best for right now, even if it isn’t what I originally planned. A good example of that is by the time we got back from Alaska we were both worn out and so we just dropped all the rest of our plans for the return trip and for the summer. Maybe I’ll include them in my planned trip to the Pacific Northwest next summer.
In my last post we looked at the first two lessons we learned on the trip now we’ll look at more lessons, you may want to go back and read them again. As a reminder, here is the table summarizing the Alaska trip:
Here are the basic facts and figures from our Alaska trip. I’ll use these to draw lessons we learned on the trip.
Lesson Number Three: Be Realistic With Your Time:
Our single biggest mistake was moving too fast and relaxing too little. I’m still not sure why or how it happened but for whatever reason it did happen and Judy became very stressed out by the pace of the trip. The trip was 65 days and in that time we had 34 different camps. But if you take away the 13 days we spent in Zion and Grand Tetons National Parks we had 32 campsites in 52 days. That’s a very fast pace! What’s worse, we only had 5 days on the whole trip when we just stayed in camp and did nothing and never more than two days in a row. I think the fast pace depleted her energy stores and we never stopped long enough to rebuild them.
A last bit of Alaska’s beauty to take my breath away.
The lesson learned for us is to set realistic goals and then no matter what the pressure is to hurry, don’t do it; stay within your comfort zone. Be very realistic with your own needs and make sure you satisfy them. The hurried pace wasn’t a problem for me but I should have seen how very difficult it was for Judy. I failed to take good care of her; I should have worked harder to slow us down. Instead, when things got hard, I was just anxious to get it over with and probably hurried us even more. Looking back in hindsight it’s obvious to me now, but it wasn’t at the time. Fortunately, we survived the hard times and we are still together. Right now we are camped in the Coconino NF outside of Flagstaff, AZ and are happy together. But we probably aren’t going to take any more long trips together, one was enough!
The lesson I want to get across is to be sensitive to your needs and to the needs of your partner. If your trip isn’t as fun as it should be, stop and take the time to figure out why and take steps to fix it. I think taking time-off to relax and do nothing for as long as it takes might save your trip. Rush-rush-rush is not conducive to the ideal road trip!
On this trip it was too light for the Northern Lights, but I still like to believe Alaska whispered one last “I love you” to me by putting on a spectacular sunset in the Yukon Territory with an accompanying rainbow as we left Alaska. Writing this bring tears to my eyes.
Lesson Number Four: Figure a budget and stick to it.
Judy and I are a study in contrasts on this trip. Because I received a cash settlement from a Workman’s Compensation case, I had the extra money to spend to do the things I wanted to do. I don’t plan to do this this trip again so I did the two expensive things I wanted to do but I did skip some things that I kind-of wanted to do but weren’t worth the money. Judy, on the other hand, is on a very tight budget of $600 a month from Social Security so she had to weigh and consider every purchase. I’m not a detail person so I have never been able to write or follow a budget or keep track of my spending. Judy, on the other hand, is very, very good at it so she kept track of all her spending. As you can see from the table above, she did an outstanding of controlling her spending!
The big thing is that her van got an outstanding average of 17 mpg! She has a 2007 Chevy Express with the 5.3 liter V8 and I am now a huge fan of that engine! It has an abundance of power and easily pulled all the big hills we had to climb and its best single tank of gas was an amazing 21 mpg! She has averaged up to 19 mpg under better conditions but you have to realize that the 17 mpg average for the trip was over lots of hills, city driving and dirt and winding roads. Because of the great fuel mileage, she only spent $2,375 on gas over 9,000 miles (part of the trip she and I split the cost of gas in half).
Because she was on such a tight budget, she spent very little on the trip. She spent a total of $1100 on food (both stocking up before the trip and during the trip) and miscellaneous items on the entire trip. That’s all of her spending except gas, every penny, before and during the trip! Amazingly, she spent less than $550 a month staying below her budget. As you can see it’s entirely possible to travel long distances on very little money.
Chances are good you are like one of us 1) just broadly aware of your budget, 2) or extremely aware of your budget. Either way, do whatever it takes to keep yourself on track. One possibility is to use the envelope system. Before you leave figure out what you want to spend in each category (food, gas, eating out, entertainment, tourist stuff) then put that amount of cash into an envelope for each category and then carefully watch the envelope. As it dwindles weigh each purchase against what you have left. Really well-organized people keep all their spending in a spreadsheet, but most of us aren’t that disciplined! Judy just saves all her receipts and keeps a record of all her spending in a notebook. It’s not fancy but it is simple and easy and works for her. Hopefully one of these ideas will work for you.
More of Alaska’s love letter to me.
I don’t know Bob, from your math, unless I am missing something, it seems that Judy spent 4 months of her SS cheques for a trip that was a little over 2 months. Was there any compensation to her for the wear and tear of 9,000 miles on her home? It is unfortunate that she didn’t enjoy the trip. You definitely got the best of that deal.
I think Bob has a knack for that.
Lynn and JD to every story there is a flip side. Everything Bob wrote is true. Yet, for me there were also moments of joy, awe and amazement.
North of Ft Nelson driving in high country after a heavy snowfall a cat-like critter crossed the road in front of us & stopped. I slowed down. “It’s a lynx!!” we said in unison. A precious shared moment.
I’ve camped in high open places w/ a Mtn view, next to rushing forest streams, shared riverside camps w/ the famous AK mosquitoes, eased out onto the rocky dry braided riverbed to camp and for 2 nights I fell asleep listening to the waves come into the beach at Homer. Unforgettable places!
Miles into folds of the mountains near Hope, rain had kept us inside the van for 2 days. Determined to have coffee and wash my hair, the 3rd day found me outside heating water as I swatted away skeeters that wanted to eat my face off & blew my whistle to keep the bears at bay. It was the most delicious cup of inst. coffee and having silky clean hair is indescribable! Plus I felt that I’d done battle w/ the weather & wild beasts of AK and Won!
One day the view & gentle breeze on my face moved me to tears. I have so many, many special memories of our time in AK.
Yes, it was a rough trip but also sweet memories not the least of which was sharing that time with Bob. I laughed when he purchased a battery powered tennis racket-like thing to pack along on the trip. “It’s for killing mosquitoes.”
It turned out to be great entertainment to sizzle those skeeters unfortunate enough to find their way into our van.
As for compensation for wear & tear on my van, Bob will help pay for my next set of tires. To my mind, it’s a toss-up who got the better end of the bargain on this AK trip.
Thanks for sharing Judy, it seems that you did get your money’s worth out of it. I like that you kept a budget, shows me an idea of what I could afford doing similar. You had many great experiences and those will never have a price tag.
Bob, I love the northern lights, I always enjoy seeing your pictures of them since it is unlikely I will ever make it that far north.
Myddy, I also greatly appreciate Judy’s budget keeping skills, since I am so bad at it!! It its great information for the readers like you.
They are very, very good at predicting the Northern Lights. I know a guy once who was a pro photographer and when he got an alert on a very strong Aurora he flew into Anchorage, rented a car, and spent the night shooting them.
It’s expensive (probably $1000 total) but it can be done. I know most people can’t afford to do that.
Bob
Thanks for your side of the story Judy. Alaska is just amazing – beautiful scenery around every bend! I’m glad that you enjoyed yourself even if the trip was a little rough.
You are quite right JD, I’ve dedicated myself to ripping people off and taking everything I can from them while giving as little back as I can. I’m doing a very good job of it too! 😀
Unfortunately, a few very smart people on the blog and forum have figured it out and hate me and hold me in contempt. Of course I won’t let them say anything bad about me.
Bob
Lynn, we debated exactly how to go. Taking two vans was out because she couldn’t afford the gas. I suggested my van because it’s bigger, has more solar and already had a receiver hitch (I had to put one on Judy’s van). But there were many good reasons why her van was better, 1) mine is a much older cargo van and is unbearably loud and noisy, 2) it leaked dust like a sieve and it would have been unbearable on the dirt roads 3) it was full of dust and and Homer hair, both of which Judy hate!! 4) it would get 5 MPG less than hers, 5) it was nowhere near as reliable as hers and we had a good chance to break down. So for all those reasons we took her van. BUT, there is one last reason that meant we HAD to take her van.
Judy is a nervous passenger! She can’t stand riding as a passenger, it makes her a nervous wreck. Because of that, I never drove 1 mile of the trip. Which was just fine with me, I don’t need to be in charge and I got to take pictures from the passenger seat and enjoy the scenery. That was 100% her choice. It was either do that or she didn’t go and we both wanted her to go.
In one way Judy is totally different from every woman I’ve ever known: she won’t let me give her a penny! I have to convince her there is a good reason every time I want to buy something for her. She is very independent!! That just makes me want to buy more things for her!! In fact the few times we fight it is because I keep trying to buy things for her or give things to her! She did let me pay for 1) the new bed and mattress 2) the receiver hitch 3)an oil change in Anchorage and 4) pay for half of her next set of tires. TI argued that isn’t something she would do and I was saving so much in gas I should pay. She finally relented and agreed.
Bob
Thanks Judy, for keeping and sharing the budget numbers. I too, am impressed at your van’s performance.
ILDan, it is actually typical for the 5.3 Chevy Express. I have another friend who lives in a cargo van just like hers and it gets better MPG because it is almost empty.
Bob
Thanks Bob, now I know what kind of van to aim for next time. 🙂
I was a project manager for big companies and big projects and we always did a “lessons learned” session or several sessions with the entire team at least once at the end of the project. Now that I am retired and Hubby and I travel on our three wheeled motor trike (Spyder) we always do an informal “lessons learned.” Thanks for sharing Bob and Judy!!! One of our lessons learned was to have hard copy physical maps and not just electronic maps on Ipads or just rely on GPS. There is this spacial effect of seeing the big picture and zooming down that we can’t seem to get with electronic media. Thanks again.
And it seems we need maps the most when there’s no cell service.
Msbluebells, thanks for the your kind comment. I’m a huge believer in rigorously honest self-examination: what am I doing right; what did I do wrong; how could I do better? I attribute nearly all progress in my well-being to that single good habit. However, it’s much easier said than done!
I carry lots of maps and use a GPS and Google Maps/Earth; but my single best tool is the fold-out map to the Western United States, folded out just right. I need a big picture but it also gives many smaller roads.
Bob
Bob, thanks for a very thoughtful and perceptive review of your trip together. And these fabulous photos!
Thanks Karen!
Bob
Thanks for the reminder about knowing your limitations. I don’t plan to travel with a partner, but I deliberately leave the possibility open. Besides, I can drive myself crazy with no help if I ignore my own needs.
Calvin, one of my favorite sayings is the reason god gave us two hands is to take care of others with one hand and take care of ourselves with the other. balance is critical and taking care of ourselves is essential.
Bob
I spent my previous life dealing with strict schedules and deadlines. I have to keep reminding myself now that there is no schedule. Stay, go, it doesn’t matter much. Right now the only external thing influencing my travel is the need to be heading in a general sort of way toward eventual winter habitat. Of course, I don’t have an impending Alaskan or Canadian winter to flee.
As far as budgeting goes, I’m lucky enough to not have that be a big issue. I don’t spend much, but I’m not religious about it. When it comes time to look back at my life, I doubt I’ll regret having spent a few unnecessary or even extravagant dollars here and there. The experiences I will have had would be worth it.
Al, I don’t know anyone, anywhere who has a better life than you do!
Bob
Yeah, right.
When my younger son and I moved out to California from Minnesota, the older (married) son offered to come along to help with driving. I thought it would be a great chance for a final family vacation, just the three of us. We could meander along, seeing the sights and sleeping in my Grand Caravan. Instead, Older Son insisted on pushing as fast as possible to get to our destination. Younger Son and I only got two hours of actual relaxing (bike riding along a lovely stream in the Rockies) during the whole trip. When it was all over, Older Son apologized but it was too late. I wish I had told him, on the road, to slow down and enjoy the ride.
LaVonne, to some people pushing hard like that is the most enjoyable way. The problem is when there are several people and you all have different ideas of what is fun.
Bob
Yep, that’s why it’s important to talk about these things, if not beforehand, then when it starts getting on your nerves. Holding it for the whole trip like I did, and then resenting it for years afterwards? Bad idea.
I am impressed with Judy’s budgeting. I do the envelope system now (I’m a Dave Ramsey fan)and it works great, however, I never would have thought one could van dwell on $600 a month. I am trying to hang in there with employment for three more years, but your post about her great budgeting makes me want to reconsider!!
Shawna, I have several friends who dream about having $600 a month! I bet i know 100 people who get less than $1000 a month and live well on it in their vans or RVs.
Bob
BTW-Have you caught Jessica Bruder on NPR speaking about her Harper’s article? She gives a shout-out to you, Bob.
Here’s the link: http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/07/30/older-americans-workamping
I haven’t read the Harper’s article. I didn’t want to pay and it seemed as though she missed some of the point of the lifestyle. Fear of giving up your stuff and going your own way is palpable.
Still, a referral via NPR is pretty cool.
I have been trying to find a way to read that Harpers article for about a month. Ya gotta pay out for a subscription to see the whole thing. I even went to the local library and got an online library account, with no luck so far in finding the full article. They picked out some drama to start and then went on a more positive vein as I understand it. But the beginning kind of set the mood. Just do what you are doing, plan well and help out others where you can.
At least the link to Bob’s site is free. As far as reading the article, I’ll check at my bricks-and-mortar library for a paper copy of that Harper’s. It’s recent–August 2014. The idea of paying $40 to read an article does nothing for me.
Calvin, my true colors are finally coming out and I am going to start charging a subscription rate for the website–$59 a month!!
JUST KIDDING!! 🙂
The tens of thousands of hours of work represented on this website is now free and always will be.
Bob
ILDan, yeah, I saw that on NPR. Jess sent me a .pdf of the article but I don’t think I’m allowed to let it out and I feel strongly about copyright laws. It’s a very good article! She does tug at your heartstrings but it is very balanced and fair overall. Jess spent quite a bit of time camped with us. She was just a very nice, normal gal. She stayed in a tent the whole time. You’d never guess she was a professor at Columbia!!
Bob
She sent me a copy of the article since she briefly quoted me in it. It’s entitled “The End of Retirement: When You Can’t Afford to Stop Working.” So it’s less about van and RV dwelling and more about the way retirement aged people are coping. A good chunk of the article is about Amazon’s work-camp program and how rough it is.
Here’s another shout-out and a different news program from Linda:
http://www.wnyc.org/story/retirement/
I don’t remember, but I’m sure you had reason to be back in 65 days. But on the surface, averaging 137 miles day for over 2 months doesn’t sound like a relaxing trip.
Fred, we did have reasons to come back. Alaska is LONG ways away. Not many people spend 2 months to get there, see it and return. Most do it in much less.
Bob
Did you have cell phone service and GPS available for the whole trip? I’ve read somewhere that they are not available on the AlCan. Thanks,
Julie
http://www.PuddinInVannaWhite.wordpress.com
Julie, I covered that in the posts of the trip, but no we didn’t. We both have Verizon and they are a US company and wouldn’t work in Canada and if they did would be incredibly expensive. We did find wifi along the way. Oddly, Verizon worked very poorly in Alaska as well. It is an ATT state.
Bob
When you have people living on the road for $600.00 a month that in my mind shows real initiative. Save your money when you can and spend when you have to. In my study of full timer blogs I see many travellers moving at the most maybe 300 miles and getting settled by dark. Also staying the max allowed in their location. That is why it is practical to be able to have supplies of all kinds for roughly 14 days before replenishment is necessary because that is the general move along time in the dispersed camping areas. Am I correct?
Many good comments here, I really enjoy the whole thing!
jonthebru, I think of what you describe as the way I LIVE the mobile life. What Judy and I did was a Road Trip which I think of as something totally different. Road trips are once a year or once every few years, but daily life is daily life.
Bob
that sounds like the pace of my Rockies trip a couple of years ago. Too much driving leading to unhappiness and exhaustion, until we stayed put in Jasper for a week. That was better.
Last year, I did a big trip to the Cariboo/ Chilcotin and took my time, resting when we were tired. We didn’t get as far as I had planned, but enjoyed every bit of the way. It’s a much better way to go, but that pace does limit how far you can go within the time limit of your vacation if you’re not living on the road.
Ming like nearly everything in life, it is all a matter of balance and moderation. And like nearly everything in life, that is much easier said than done!
Bob
Sadly, I discovered too late that ‘fighting’ about important issues is essential to any healthy relationship. As opposed to the illusion of harmony you get when the other side has their way even to your own detriment. I reference the book The Intimate Enemy by George Bach & Peter Wyden which came out in the late ’60s.
“How to Make Peace With Your Partner” by Connie Peck is available used from Amazon for a penny plus $3.99 shipping. It explains how to negotiate for a win-win situation so one person is not giving in to the other. Good info for everyone, not just couples.
Man on the run, honesty about your needs is very important in any relationship but easier said than done.
Bob
Thanks Bob and Judy, great information and tips for making a long trip like that. I can relate to not feeling good while on the road, it does take a lot of energy out of you. Can’t wait for the day when I’m no longer just on vacation and can slow down and enjoy things along the way.
Judy many thanks for your details on the cost of the trip, gives me some good idea of saving money and budget.
Tinabeane
You are very welcome Tina!
Bob
I seen you were saying that your van sucks dust in real bad how does your trailer do growing up on gravel roads i know what you are talking about it can get in and take your breath going down the road, when i was a kid 50 years ago my grandmother sister live out there where you are and i can remember her talking about the dust storms she said that dust would get in your house and car did’t matter how tight there were,what is the up date on randy vining that had the nice looking trailer on your website i would like to know if he is still out there in his trailer
Hi Jim. there is no keeping the dust totally out of your vehicle in the desert, it just gets in. The van is reaal bad on dirt roads because it sucks in dirt around the back door. I’ve tried to fix the weather seals and I’ll just have to wait to see how it does this winter. The problem with the trailer is the doors and windows are open all day so any blowing dust can get in, and it does. I could close them all but I want to be part of nature and that’s worth some dust to me.
Randy sold the stealth trailer and bought a regular travel trailer. He still is living in it and traveling the country. I generally see him at least for awhile every winter.
You can follow him on his blog here:
http://mobilecodgers.blogspot.com/
Bob