The Tumbleweeds’ Travel Log

tumbleweeds in the wind

From June to November 2018 and July to September 2019, my husband, Reid, and I traveled the country with our collie, Lincoln, in a 1999 Winnebago Brave (Class A) RV. The below table is a travel log listing where we adventured and what we explored!

This is just a quick list to give an idea for what we did, but my intent is to write up posts for each location and link to more stories and pictures from each place, so check back for that soon.

We have a short-lived Instagram account for some of our travel photos called @tumbleweedsinthewind, if you’d like to check it out. We picked that name because it’s one of my favorite lines of Jack’s from Titanic, which I was re-watching for about the 60th time in spring 2018, and thought, “Hey, that’s actually kinda how Reid and I live our lives.”

We’re both extremely go-with-the-flow and fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants type of planners, all sorts of travel included. I mean, the way the whole RV idea came to fruition was basically just us allowing ourselves to get fully caught up in our own wind of inspiration and taking immediate action to make it happen, and it all happened so fast. And for the duration of living full-time in the RV, our travel style was pretty much the same, as in, we’d be in a city and say to each other, “We should probably figure out where we’re heading tomorrow…”

DateWhereWhat
2018
Friday, June 1Redondo Beach, CAD’s last day of work, cleaning house for the new roommate replacing us, driving truckloads of our mattress and other stuff over to where the RV was parked in front of our friends’ house. Slept on the couch to wake up early and hold a yard sale.
Sat – Thu, June 2 -7Lomita, CAHeld a yard sale! Saturday was the first night we slept in the RV parked in our friends’ neighborhood that allowed street parking. Spent the days doing more downsizing to fit in RV, donating what we were getting rid of and what was left of the yard sale remains to Goodwill, and cleaning. Had people over to the RV for Little Caesar’s Wednesday night, then more travel prep Thursday including taking boxes of stuff we were keeping (sentimental wall hangings and wedding gifts) to Greyhound for shipping back to Texas.
Fri – Sun, June 8 – 10On Western in LAA cop told us we had to relocate where we were parking the RV, so moved to a street in unincorporated LA County. Saturday attended a bday party for our friends’ daughter turning one, then Sunday I got my nails done with a friend and hung out for the last time before we would drive off.
Monday, June 11Eastern CADumped the RV tanks for the first time, then stayed in a Casino parking lot
Tuesday, June 12Phoenix, AZStayed overnight in an Autozone parking lot because the check engine light was on and Reid was working with the employees there to troubleshoot it
Wed – Thu, June 13 – 14Tucson, AZMore RV repair work Wed, then dinner with Emalie & Charles. Thursday we took Lincoln to their dog park, and parked overnight there.
Fri – Sun, June 15Santa Fe, NMDinner and drinks Fri with friends from CA who met us there!
Saturday – Meow Wolf and breweries.
Sunday – Lavender Festival.
Mon – Thu, June 18 – 21Albuquerque, NMDrove Monday to stay in the Walmart parking lot.
Tue – had dinner and ice cream with Tyler.
Wed – hiked petroglyphs with Lincoln.
Thu – Indian Pueblo Cultural Museum then drove to RV park in Roswell.
Friday, June 22Roswell + Carlsbad CavernsUFO Museum in Roswell then drove to explore Carlsbad Caverns, then drove to just outside of Lubbock for an overnight free parking spot
Saturday, June 23Lubbock, TXPrairie Dog Town then Ranching Museum and Bahama Bucks before driving to McKinney for French Dip dinner with my parents!
Sun – Thu, June 24 – 28McKinney, TXSun – Pool day and pizza with friends.
Mon – Mom & I organized our RV pantry, then Reid & I made “New Mexico hot chicken” for dinner.
Tue – More organizing of the fridge and cabinets with Mom, queso and margs happy hour(s) with Caitlin.
Wed – RV Cleaning day, Whataburger lunch, dinner with Tretchen and saw their house in the country.
Thu – Did inventory of Greyhound shipped boxes then headed east.
Thursday, June 28Lafayette, LAOvernight at Atchafalaya Welcome Center
Friday, June 29Ft. Walton, FLLeft RV in Hammond, LA then brought Lincoln to and spent night with Jenna
Sat – Sun, June 30 – July 8Orange Beach, ALGarcia Beach Trip, then with Maggi & Lee on Ono Island
Monday, July 9Ono to Ft. Walton to NOLALeft the beach, lunch with and got Lincoln from Jenna, drove back to get RV in Hammond, then drove to RV park in NOLA
Tue – Sat, July 10 – 14New Orleans, LATue – Picked up AM + UE from New Orleans airport, dinner at Chophouse
Wed – Sat: Gulf Games board gaming convention
Sun – Mon, July 15 – 16Hammond, LADropped AM & UE back at the airport, went to Franklin Ave Baptist Church, then drove to Camping World in Hammond, LA where they had the nicest free overnight spots for customers.
Mon – Made Disney’s Brown Derby Chopped Cobb Salad for lunch, and also had it for dinner while parked for free at Camping World
Tue – Fri, July 17 – 20Baton RougeTue – Pizza and beer with the Chesteens.
Wed – Used BR as home base to drive west in LA. Got Bayou Teche Brewery flight then Boudin from two places and saw live music at the Wurst Biergarten.
Thu – Day trip to Tabasco Avery Island Tour, made Grits & Grillades for dinner.
Fri – Laundry day, left RV in BR and drove car back to NOLA.
Fri – Sun, July 20 – 29NOLAFri – Dropped Lincoln off at Rover sitter, dinner with the Corbin fam then Bourbon Street with Jenna & Tyler.
Sat – Thu: Corbin Cruise out of NOLA!
Fri – Sun: Garcia cousin trip
Monday, July 30Baton RougeLocal Italian Restaurant lunch, then drove to Alexandria
Tuesday, July 31Alexandria, LAYoga with Mark & Anita, dinner at their house
Wednesday, August 1TexarkanaOvernight at church after mirror fell off on highway
Thursday, August 2Hot Springs, ARDrove into AR once it was clear insurance wasn’t getting back to us anytime soon, hiked in Gulpha Gorge Campgrounds
Friday, August 3Little Rock, ARCheese dip lunch then Clinton Presidential Library, then drove to Springdale (just outside of Fayetteville), stayed at Walmart and went out on Dickson street
Saturday, August 4Fayetteville, ARHiked Whitaker Point then drove to Mexico, MO
Sun – Wed, August 5 – 8Mexico, MOSun – Queso lunch and family visits with the Dickherbers.
Mon – Day trip to Columbia to see Mizzou and get pizza and ice cream concretes w/ the Dickherbers.
Tue – Day of nothing, where we actually accomplished cleaning the RV and brushing Lincoln.
Wed – Laundromat and attempt to fix AC.
Thu – Sun, August 9 – 12Kansas CityThu – Drove to KC then Jack Stack BBQ dinner.
Fri – WWI Museum, Big Rip Brewery flight.
Sat – Q39 BBQ then more WWI Museum.
Sun – Toys & Miniatures Museum, pizza and Boulevard 12-pack.
Mon – Fri, August 13 – 17St. Louis, MOMon – Drove to SL, hiked at Graham Cave and tried to use this mean man’s dump station along the way.
Tue – Coffee shop to get computer work done, then Gooey Butter Cake and coffee at Russell’s.
Wed – Reid worked on the AC most of the day, then took me on a date night to get St. Louis-style pizza and saw some live music at a whiskey bar for #WhiskeyWednesday.
Thu – Budweiser Brewery Tour
Fri – Holocaust Museum before driving
Saturday, August 18Rend Lake, ILExplored Shawnee National Forest by doing the Little Grand Canyon Hike
Sun – Mon, August 19 – 20Lincoln Lake State Park, INSun – Drove then took Lincoln on a walk around the lake and our drone out for a spin.
Mon – Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial in the morning before driving, and got Bojangles for dinner after parking at Walmart.
Tue – Thu, August 21 – 23Louisville, KYTue – Laundry day, dealing with re-routing our deliveries that got returned after General Delivery to USPS didn’t work thru Amazon.
Wed – Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs tour, KY Hot Brown for lunch, Bulleit Bourbon distillery tour to kick off our own Bourbon trail!
Thu – Finished KY Derby Museum exhibits I didn’t get to the previous day while Reid took our car to get the tire patched and oil changed, then Jim Beam distillery tour & tasting, and Outback for a dinner date with gift cards.
Friday, August 24Lexington, KYToured Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve to complete our Bourbon Trail
Sat – Sun, August 25 – 26Newtown, OHSpent 2 nights at the FMCA campground, catching up on RV chores and relaxing (resting) by streaming/gaming on wifi
Monday, August 27Cincinnati, OHNational Underground Railroad Freedom Center & Skyline Chili
Tue – Wed, August 28 – 29Dayton, OHNational Museum of the United States Air Force, Carillon Historical Park
Thu – Sat, August 30 – Sept 1Massillon & Canton, OHParked in Michael’s driveway, games & art
Sun – Tue, September 2 – 4Cleveland, OHParked in Berg’s driveway
Sun – West Side Market
Mon – Labor Day game gathering
Tue – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Wednesday, September 5Pittsburgh, PAMattress Factory art museum, Czech food
Thursday, September 6Middle of PADay trip in car to Flight 93 National Memorial – so emotional
Fri – Mon, September 7 – 10N. PennsylvaniaStayed a night in Red Bridge Campground in Allegheny National Forest, then to the prettiest Walmart parking lot we’d seen, cut into the side of a forested mountain. Walked to buy beer in the rain, and watched the season 1 finale of 13 Reasons Why, sharing headphones, from the same side of a Taco Bell booth
Tue, September 11Buffalo, NYAnchor Bar – the original Buffalo wings. Teddy Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site. Cut my own hair on a whim.
Wed – Sat, September 12 – 15Niagara Falls, NYMaid of the Mist. Niagara Power Plant museum. Ellicott Creek Island Dog Park.
Sun – Tue, September 16 – 18Toronto, ONCrossed into Canada! Kensington Market, Etienne Brule Park, Distillery District.
Wed – Fri, September 19 – 21Algonquin Provincial ParkSaw a moose! Actually camped with a firepit and s’mores at an RV site just east of the park.
Sat – Sun, September 22 – 23Gatineau & OttawaCanadian Museum of History, Byward Market, Jacques-Cartier Park for Mosaiculture, Parliament Hill
Monday, September 24MontrealOrange Juleps, fresh sesame & poppyseed bagels, Schwartz’s sandwich, Notre Dame, poutine fries
Tuesday, September 25Quebec CityDay trip via car, saw Parc de l’Esplanade & Saint-Roch
Wed – Fri, September 26 – 28Cambridge, VTCrossed back into the states! Went to Ben & Jerry’s in Waterbury, hiked Sterling Pond, made In-N-Out burgers in the RV
Saturday, September 29Shelburne, VTShelburne Farms dairy farm, bought cheese and bread
Sunday, September 30Berlin, VTParked at Walmart, then day-tripped to hike at Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury and visit + buy Cabot cheese on the way back
Monday, October 1Waterbury, VTCold Hollow Cider Mill tour, plus Boyden Valley Winery tasting right next door
Tue – Wed, Oct 2 – 10Epping, NHReid drove me to Boston airport to fly to DFW for the Taylor Swift Reputation tour concert that weekend! He stayed in NH, worked on the RV, I returned the 10th
Thu – Sun, Oct 11 – 14Portland, MEExplored with the Garcias! Lobstah rolls, happy hour bar-hopping food tour, dancing
Monday, October 15Nobleboro, MEDrove to then stayed at an RV campground
Tuesday, October 16Acadia National ParkDay-tripped and had unintentional perfect timing to see the sunset from the most amazing viewpoint
Wednesday, October 17Boston then Portsmouth, NHPicked up friends at the Boston airport, saw Lexington Battle Green, Minute Man National Historical Park, Concord River, & Walden Pond, then made homemade Taco Bell cheesy gordita crunches and crunchwrap supremes for dinner in the Walmart parking lot in Portsmouth 🙂
Thu – Fri, Oct 18 – 19Thornton, NHStayed just south of White Mountain National Forest, hiked in the forest
Sat – Wed, Oct 20 – 24Boston, MAPrudential Center & Eataly, Boston Public Garden, Boston National Historical Park & USS Constitution Museum, JFK Presidential Library, Quincy Center
Thursday, October 25Rhode IslandBrown University in Providence and The Breakers in Newport then drove into CT and stayed at RV park near Woodstock
Friday, October 26Hartford, CTThe Mark Twain House & Museum
Saturday, October 27New Haven, CTSaw Brittany & watched her debate team at Yale
Sunday, October 28“Upstate” NY 🙂Newburgh and West Point US Military Academy
Monday, October 29NYCLiberty State Park, Ellis Island, Chinatown soup dumplings, The High Line train track art walk
Tue – Wed, Oct 30-31New JerseyBAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Hindu temple), Seaside Heights of Jersey Shore (ghost town), Atlantic City
Thu – Fri, Nov 1 – 2Philadelphia, PAThe Original Tony Luke’s Philly cheesesteaks “wiz wit”, Washington Square, National Mint, Independence Hall, and Liberty Bell
Sat – Tue, Nov 3 – 6Baltimore, MDWith Callen – Fort McKenry National Monument, Locust Point Steamers, Oregon Ridge Park
Wednesday, November 7DelawareBombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Royal Farms world-famous fried chicken
Thursday, November 8Assateague IslandSaw wild horses! Then Reid drove us down through Virginia Beach late night
Friday, November 9Outer Banks of NCFort Raleigh National Historic Site, Wright Brothers National Memorial & Kitty Hawk
Sat – Wed, Nov 10 – 14Cary, NCWith AM & UE – SideBar, Bojangles, Guasaca, Death & Taxes, Soca, Boxcar Bar + Arcade, The Pit BBQ, Chuy’s, Cinebistro.
On the 14th, Reid drove the car to SC for the Garcia guys’ trip, then I drove the RV for the first time by myself the next day!
Thu – Tue, Nov 15 – 20Charlotte, NCWith Grammie & Norb and Grandpa & Pat
Wed – Sun, Nov 21 – 25Nashville & Memphis, TNCar trip to Nashville Garcias for Thanksgiving – Hattie B’s Hot chicken, Broadway.
Day trip to Memphis Fri – Central BBQ, National Civil Rights Museum
Sunday, November 25Lynchburg & Chattanooga, TNJack Daniels distillery, stayed overnight in Chattanooga
Mon – Thu, Nov 26 – 29Asheville & Charlotte, NCMon – Toured the Biltmore House with Grammie & Norb, then got German food at Berliner Kindl on the way back to Charlotte
Tue – Thu: with grandparents
Fri – Sun, Nov 30 – Dec 2Murrells Inlet, SCCar trip to see Nikki – bar hopped on the Marshwalk, Huntington Beach State Park
Mon – Wed, Dec 3 – 5Charlotte, NCBack with grandparents, then winterized & left the RV in Grandpa’s driveway to travel home for the holidays by car
Thursday, December 6Lake Sidney Lanier, GASlept on the lake in a houseboat with Scott & Kendall
Fri – Thu, Dec 7 – 13Fort Walton Beach, FLWith Jenna & Tyler
Friday, December 14NOLA & Alexandria, LAThe National WWII Museum then spent the night with Mark & Anita
Sat – Mon, Dec 15 – 17Lewisville, TXSpent the weekend with Kenny & Casey before heading back to McKinney!
Dec 2018 – June 2019McKinney, TXLived with Reid’s parents, worked together on his online course
2019
Wed – Sat, July 10 – 13Charlotte, NCDrove back to the RV after the Garcia beach trip 2019. De-winterized the RV at Grandpa’s then Reid worked on other maintenance and repair projects with Norb to get us up and running again to head Northwest!
Sunday, July 14Fayetteville, Lansing, & Charleston, WVCanyon Rim Visitor Center, New River Bridge, Sheetz pepperoni rolls
Monday, July 15Indianapolis, INIndianapolis Motor Speedway & Museum
Tue – Wed, July 16 – 17Milwaukee, WIWisconsin Cheese Shop, Miller, Lakefront Brewery tour & cheese curds, Culver’s
Thu – Sun, July 18 – 21Minneapolis / St. PaulStayed just east of the border in River Falls, WI technically, since there was a cheap RV site at a city/county park with a baseball field and disc golf course, then drove into the city to brewery/bar hop with a friend. Juicy Lucy at Matt’s Bar, Mall of America.
Monday, July 22Des Moines, IAPappajohn Sculpture Park
Tuesday, July 23Omaha, NERunza lunch then Jerico’s for dinner
Wednesday, July 24Ashland, NECornfield photoshoot, Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum
Thu – Tue, July 25 – 30Denver, COThu – Got RV set up at a site in Standley Lake Park, then Stanton’s apartment.
Fri – Mon: Reid flew to San Diego for an in-person conference for online businesses, and I explored Denver with Stanton & friends
Tue: Reid did some maintenance on RV, replaced air filter
Wednesday, July 31Grand Junction, COOvernight stop at Walmart, heading to Utah
Thu – Sat, Aug 1 – 3Moab, UTThu: Arrived, set up, and cleaned the RV at ACT Campground.
Fri: Arches National Park
Sat: Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, then back to Arches for The Windows hike and Delicate Arch
Sun – Mon, August 4 – 5Southeast UtahNatural Bridges National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Tuesday, August 6Boulder, UTTue: Capitol Reef National Park, Dixie National Forest
Wed – Thu, August 7 – 8Escalante, UTWed: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, trail rode the slot canyons by mule-back, Escalante Visitor Center
Thu: Reid hiked slot canyons near Peek-a-boo Canyon all by himself
Friday, August 9Bryce Canyon, UTBryce Canyon National Park Visitor Center, Bryce Natural Bridge, Yovimpa Point, Agua Canyon, Inspiration Point, Sunrise Point
Fri – Mon, August 9 – 12Springdale, UTTent camping for Zion National Park adventure with the Dickherbers!
Fri: Left RV on BLM land, dropped Lincoln at Rover sitter in La Verkin, rented our gear to hike the Narrows, then arrived and set up camp at Zion Canyon Campground.
Sat: Woke up before 6 am to shuttle to the Narrows trailhead, and hiked with three small children, through water, for over 5 hours. Then we collapsed at camp.
Sun: Hiked Canyon Overlook Panorama
Mon: Packed up camp, got Lincoln and RV, then drove to SLC
Mon – Tue, Aug 12 – 13Salt Lake City, UTMon: Got Arctic Circle for dinner, with delish fry sauce
Tue: Temple Square, Assembly Hall, Church History Museum, then Litzas Pizza for dinner
Wed – Thu, August 14 – 15Moose, WYWed: Shadow Mountain Area Camping in Bridger-Teton National Forest
Thu: Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center, Grand Teton National Park, Jenny Lake Trail, Hidden Falls Trail, Cascade Canyon Trail, Moose Ponds Trail, Jackson Lake Dam
Friday, August 16Alta, WYDrove RV up through Yellowstone National Park! Grant Visitor Center, Old Faithful, Sapphire Pool.
Saturday, August 17BLM Land by Henry’s LakeHung out at the RV on free camp land we’d parked on Friday night
Sunday, August 18Yellowstone National ParkDay-tripped to everywhere we missed Friday. Mammoth Hot Springs. Hiked with Lincoln. Inspiration Point. Yellowstone Lake. Saw wildlife.
Mon – Tue, Aug 19 – 20Ennis, MTMon: Set up site at Ennis RV Village, then tasting at Willie’s Distillery
Tue: Yesterday’s Soda Fountain & Ennis Pharmacy, Deemo’s Meats for jerky, drove to Bozeman
Wednesday, August 21Bozeman, MTReid went to the Museum of the Rockies (Danielle was museum-ed out by then).
Thursday, August 22Denver, COPizza Hut buffet lunch in Buffalo, WY on the drive, because cheap =D
Parked RV in the same Standley Lake area, then headed to Stanton’s apartment!
Fri – Sun, Aug 23 – 25Dillon, COGarcia Cousin Trip 2019!
Fri: Lunch at Woody’s Wood Fired Pizza in Golden on way to Dillon. Arrived to and shopped for our Airbnb.
Sat: Played on a playground, hiked in Arapaho National Forest
Sun: Arapahoe Cafe for brunch
Aug 26 – Sep 9Longmont, COCamped at Boulder County Fairgrounds RV park for their max limit of two weeks, because cheap!
Tue – Wed, Sep 10 – 11Drove thru KS and OKWalmart parking lot overnights
Thursday, Sep 12Fort Worth, TXParked the RV on the Tretchen’s land to continue road-tripping in the car
Friday,
Sep 13
Lewisville, TXCelebrating Kenny’s birthday, left at 7pm then stopped to rest overnight in MS
Sat – Sat, Sep 14 – 21Navarre, FLCorbin Family Trip @ Jenna & Tyler’s, with a private chef, beach days, and games!
Sep – Nov 2019GA, NC, TN, AL, & MSRoad-tripped in the car some more to family visits for our last hurrah as nomads until we moved into our McKinney apartment in November. 🙂

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