Not In the Plan

When plans change do you panic or go with the flow?

That wasn’t supposed to happen

It’s been a weird travel season. Or lack of travel I should say. I feel as if we haven’t done anything at all. We’ve stayed still the majority of the season and nothing happened. But looking back through photos we did have some adventures. Not what we planned, and that happens in every lifestyle.

In July, we stayed the month in Richfield Utah. We spent August at my son’s house. None of which was the plan. We traveled a little in September and landed early in our winter spot.

The issue with this season, it was too hot!

But here is the thing with RV life. It’s not always sunrise and sunsets on the beach. Crap happens. This season has been just that.

Do you give up? Or go with the flow and do something else?

I went with the flow. I’m not giving up on my way of life because the travel plan wasn’t panning out.

I redecorated.

I bought new pillows, rugs, and covers. I bought items that make me smile. I love bright colors. There is no “style” or theme. I don’t like trendy, or the word itself. I decided to surround my little cabin on wheels with items that make me smile. We didn’t have any camp fees to worry about so I blew the budget and went shopping and had a blast! I found trinkets that are camping related.

The fur kids got a new toy bucket with all new toys. They were so excited when we got back into the rig. It was like Christmas for them. 

New bedding, since the ant invasion prompted me to chuck it all out. And lots of throw pillows. I do like pillows I must confess. Comfy and cozy and nothing matches. I feel quite content. 😌

I found the motorhome Christmas ornament on Amazon and had to have it. The tin with the Mini Cooper (I used to own a red Mini and I loved it). But that holds phone cords and spare USB plugs. The old-style British phone box is a lamp. These I’ve had for years. I boxed them up when we started RV Life but recently pulled them out. They make me smile.

Arizona travels

As my nomadic personality was happy spending time with my son, and shopping boosted the endorphins I was getting antsy to be back in my home. The motorhome is home. It was time to hit the road. This girl must roam. 

Where was it cooler? Seligman AZ on Route 66. We’ve stayed here before several times. But when I saw temps in the 80s and low 90s that was where I wanted to be. I booked us into KOA for 5 days. We did nothing since we’d explored there before. We did have lunch at Roadkill Cafe.

We had nice weather in Seligman and okay there was a gorgeous sunset.

From Seligman, we headed east to Flagstaff. A lot cooler, the 70s were refreshing. I would have stayed longer than one night, but, the KOA in Flagstaff is really not level. Like jack your rig up high and it will still not be level. I knew this going in with all the whining complaints on Google reviews. They get snow in Flagstaff, like a lot of snow. And you know what? Snow does damage the grounds. It’s just how it is. But we met some nice folks and that is what RV life is all about. I also stopped for a quick visit to Flagstaff visitor center for a stamp in my passport. My gift was a tote bag. I have a ton of bags and this one is a denim-like bag. I had an extra pillow, so I made a pillow cover out of it.

I did accomplish one thing this season. I now have all of Arizona stamped in my Route 66 passport. 😉

Our next 66 stop for 5 days was Holbrook, AZ. The plan was to visit the Painted Desert National Park and the Petrified Forest National Park. Not planned, was my daughter called and told me the driver’s window had fallen into the door in the minivan. This happened the year before. After sitting for 6 months in the heat the plastic mechanism had rotted and broken so the window fell out.

The budget for renewing my National Parks pass ($80) now had to go to the window repair. So instead of the national parks, I found if you drive 14 miles north of the I40, you come to Little Painted Desert. It’s an unmanned area on a reservation but a gorgeous stop in the middle of nowhere that’s free.

Also in Holbrook, you will find the Wigwam Motel on Route 66. An actual motel you can stay in.

With nothing going as planned, and I just wanted to be in my cozy home I decided to snowbird earlier than the planned October date. Hotter than I like, temps still 105-plus. We spend a lot of time indoors. The fur kids get walks and park time early in the morning and lounge during the day. But for us it’s home. I know the area, it’s close to the home base if needed (and it was). We have good neighbors who look out for each other. It won’t be too long and the park will be full again with winter residents and friends we met last year.

Throughout this travel season, nothing went to plan. A couple of places were checked off the list. We did an adventure to a few places we had not visited before. I do have some winter places I want to visit while we are snowbirding in the low desert area, IF… the 100-degree temps ever decide to leave.

Happy travels and until next month, stay safe.

Teresa