Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • On Being a Writer
      • Media Kit
  • Speaking
    • Book Ann as a Guest on Your Show
  • Podcast
  • Courses
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Work With Me

July 9, 2013 11 Comments

RV Trip West: Heading into the Unknown

longrvA few months ago, I dreamed that I was driving our family’s 32-foot Class A RV off-road, down a rugged mountain, bumping and thumping until I steered it across the road that curved along the edge of the mountain. I held onto the big black steering wheel as the RV shot straight out past the sheer drop-off and hung in the air a second, Wile E. Coyote style.

Before we plummeted, I woke up.

I told my family about it at breakfast.

“Gee, Mom. Nervous about the trip?” they replied. It doesn’t take a clinical psychiatrist, I guess. We were planning a two-and-a-half week RV trip out west in June, and my mind was conjuring up scary scenarios, even in my sleep.

This trip would involve a lot of unknowns: I’ve never felt the steady push of the Great Plains’ high winds nor traversed the long, barren stretches of uninhabited deserts; and I’ve never journeyed over the heights of the Rocky Mountains. And I’ve certainly never done any of that in an RV. My husband would be the driver, but he’s never been any of these places, either. Plus, our RV has some age on it. Would it make it across the country and back?

We made lists and packed and quizzed people familiar with some of the areas we would be visiting. Should we stay longer at the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce, or Arches? Should we bother with the Petrified Forest? We weren’t even planning on Lake Powell, but a friend urged us to consider. We had to give up Mesa Verde and Rocky Mountain National Park due to time constraints. Would we regret it? People offered opinions—and each opinion was different.

I guess you just have to head out and decide for yourself.

The Sunday before we left, my husband and I were walking through the parking lot with friends from church. They had traveled quite a bit, so I asked, “I’ve never been in an arid environment, nor has my body experienced altitude. Any last-minute advice?”

“Drink lots of water,” the husband said.

“And put on lots of lotion,” the wife said.

“Okay,” I said. “That’s some tangible advice. Water and lotion.”

“Lots,” she repeated.

I thanked them, then asked, “Anything else?”

They thought for a moment. “No, I don’t think so. Just drink lots of water,” he said. “And have fun.”

We said goodbye and headed to our cars, then I heard her call out, “And wear a hat!” The husband nodded and shouted, “But don’t forget the water. Drink lots of water!”

We loaded our RV with jugs of drinking water, bought hats at Wal-mart, and grabbed some travel containers of lotion in addition to large bottles of sunscreen I’d already picked up. We invested in hiking boots and socks, and thought through different layers that people recommended (one fleece, a rain jacket, a pair of jeans, hiking shorts). I planned simple meals for the family and prepared some gluten- and dairy-free food I could eat on the way.

Then Friday afternoon, June 14, I’d cleaned out the fridge and wiped down the kitchen counters one last time. When my husband finished work, we climbed into the RV to drive off. Our own trip out west was about to begin, for better or for worse.

After merging into traffic on I-70 and settling into the long haul ahead, my husband asked, “Are you nervous about anything?”

I remembered my dream and felt a small gasp in my gut. I swallowed. “Just the mountains. I guess I’m worried about the RV in the mountains.”

“It’ll make it,” he said. “I read up on how to use the engine’s gears instead of relying on the brakes. I know what to do. We got the RV checked over, and it’s ready to go. We’re gonna be fine.”

I nodded. But every once in a while, as we headed west toward the slowly setting sun, I would remember that feeling from my dream, of being suspended, mid-air.

image

______________________

Posts about our trip:

A Trip Across the USA

RV Trip West: Heading into the Unknown

RV Trip West: Convergences

RV Trip West: Route 66

RV Trip West: Petrified Forest

RV Trip West: Winslow, Arizona

RV Trip West: Grand Canyon

Photos by Ann Kroeker.

For about a year, I’ve followed this blogger with interest. His stories and photos inspired some of our planning.

Filed Under: travel Tagged With: Class A RV, RV travel, RV trip, RV trip west

Comments

  1. Hazek Moon says

    July 9, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    I do hope your trip was uneventful. Usually a dream is a warning to pray that what ever evil or trouble will STOP before you get there, and that God and his angels will protect you. Then proceed with faith and joy and (drink lots of water)

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 9, 2013 at 8:36 pm

      Hazel, this is wonderful! You made me laugh while giving me profound spiritual advice!

      Reply
  2. Megan Willome says

    July 9, 2013 at 8:36 pm

    Knowing what I know, I would never have advised you to skip RMNP. But since I go almost every year and have still never seen it all, I’d have to give you points for saving it until you have more time. Like, six months. 🙂

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 9, 2013 at 8:41 pm

      Megan, several friends sighed when they heard that I did not go to RMNP, especially when they heard that I did not see much wildlife on this trip. Like you said, though, we can go back someday.

      Reply
  3. Linda says

    July 9, 2013 at 8:40 pm

    I really enjoyed this Ann. I hope it was just part I. That’s an area I hope to visit some day.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 9, 2013 at 8:42 pm

      Thank you so much for stopping by, Linda! Yes, I have more stories to tell. I just haven’t figured out the best way to tell them; only to break them down into sections, somehow.

      Reply
  4. laural says

    July 9, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    I sorta feel like I’m left hanging in mid-air too :). But that’s just a sign of good storytelling. Can’t wait to hear more.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 9, 2013 at 10:03 pm

      Left you hanging, didn’t I? Well, I will try to get something else up soon!

      Reply
  5. Susan cox says

    July 9, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    Laural said exactly what I wanted to say…more. I want more.

    Reply
    • annkroeker says

      July 9, 2013 at 10:03 pm

      Susan, I’ll try to deliver!

      Reply
  6. Janis@Open My Ears Lord says

    July 16, 2013 at 1:58 pm

    Hi Ann,
    I’m enjoying the ride along with you. I think navigating the mountains in an RV would have been my concern as well . That and planning all the food. Cooking ahead, freezing the food, and then reheating or cooking on the road always add a bit of tension to an otherwise beautiful trip out into God’s glorious creation. Glad you had a wonderful trip.
    Janis

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

Providing you with resources and inspiration to be more curious, creative, and productive.

Ad - SiteGround Web Hosting - Crafted for easy site management. Amazing Speed; Powerful Tools; Top-rated support. Learn more.
Make Your Sentences Sing: 7 Sentence Openers to Add Music to Your Prose (Mini Course from Ann Kroeker.Teachable.com)
TWL-100-best-websites-2016-2-300x300

Archives

Categories

Ann Kroeker is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Not every link leads to compensation, but assume that each does.
© 2006-2022 Ann Kroeker All Rights Reserved

instagram twitter facebook pinterest

Landing page graphic and other design elements by Sophie Kroeker.

Privacy Policy · Copyright © 2023

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkNoRead more
Revoke Cookies