Let’s Get Lost: February 2022 Travel Adventures

People often ask, “What are the best and worst parts of living in an RV full time?” We always have plenty to say about the best parts—there are so many—but the hardest part for us is being away from our daughters.

Neither Steve nor I are the sort to put down deep roots. After spending 16 years in a suburban neighborhood so our kids could be near family and friends, we always longed for the road. When our youngest left for college, we finally embraced a way of life that fits who we are. It suits us completely, and we love it.

Still, there are tradeoffs. Choosing a nomadic life means sometimes missing family events and simple everyday moments. We do spend a lot of time in Colorado, where our daughters live, and we make an effort to be where they are when we can. We also arrange trips for them to visit us when possible, which has been a wonderful way to bridge the distance.

Creating a life you love means accepting the consequences.

For us, that means saying no to some of the comforts of a single-family home — the space to spread out, the daily proximity to loved ones. Letting go is one of the most painful parts of parenting. We try not to feel guilty about our choices and allow ourselves to feel sad when the girls return to their own lives.

At the same time, our lifestyle gives us flexibility: we can park near places they want to visit, fly them out, or show up where they are living. This month they visited us in San Diego, and those days together were priceless.

San Diego Beaches

We spent part of January and all of February at the San Diego Metro KOA. It was one of our longest stays in a single place so far, and it felt both familiar and fresh. San Diego’s weather and coastline make it easy to linger; when the time came to move on, we were ready for the next adventure.

One of our favorite things about Southern California is the beaches. The KOA is about ten minutes from Coronado Island, and we made a point of walking the shoreline at sunset as often as possible. I took a ridiculous number of sunset photos and still wanted more.

We kayaked off La Jolla on an unusually warm day, ate sushi while watching surfers in Oceanside, and spent a relaxed afternoon in Laguna Beach.

A Few of Our San Diego Favorites

• La Jolla Kayak Tour
• The Butcher’s Cut Steakhouse
• City Tacos
• Balboa Park
• Gelato Paradiso
• Brigantine Seafood and Oyster Bar
• Flagship Cruises, San Diego
• Mariners Point, San Diego

Just for fun: We loved this artistically decorated RV and matching car parked next to us during our stay.

Riding Up and Down the California Coast

We took a long four-day weekend riding from San Diego to Oakland and back. It was our fourth time riding the motorcycle along the California coast, and the coastline never gets old.

Day 1: San Diego to Pismo Beach, with stops at Venice Beach and Malibu. Venice felt more eccentric than ever—perfect for people-watching and lingering.

Day 2: Pismo Beach to Oakland. We visited family and enjoyed a wonderful meal at Soi 4, then stayed in a beautiful 1912 home. Along the way we watched the elephant seals at San Simeon and had lunch with a spectacular view at Treebones Resort in Big Sur.

Day 3: Oakland to Santa Maria. The weather was cold and overcast. We were chilly by the end of the day, but the coastal views made it worthwhile.

Day 4: Santa Maria back to San Diego. We stopped for lunch with friends who helped inspire our transition to RV life. We’re grateful to them for opening our eyes to the possibilities of living on the road—and for a memorable smoked-pork lunch.

The Tools of Our Lives: Shake, Rattle and Roll

by Steve Blackwell

Before we sold our house and moved into an RV, I spent hundreds of hours researching RV living. One detail I overlooked was how to safely transport our motorcycle. We’ve ridden it across nearly every state and accumulated many miles, but loading and securing a 900 lb bike inside an RV requires planning and practice.

On our first trips, the bike fell over and suffered minor damage. I learned the hard way: tire chalk must be secured, tie-down straps need to be ready and tight, and it’s safer to use fewer but properly placed straps once you have the chalk fixed. Practice loading and unloading in calm conditions so you can manage it safely in weather that’s less forgiving.

Tips for loading and unloading a motorcycle into an RV

1. Keep the engine running when unloading. A little throttle and clutch control give more stability than relying on brakes alone.
2. Prepare your straps in advance. Space inside an RV is tight, so have your tie-downs placed and ready.
3. Secure the tire chalk. If the chalk isn’t anchored, it won’t prevent movement.
4. Take your time. Rushing increases the risk of damage or injury.
5. Check strap tension regularly. Straps can loosen while driving; tighten them during stops on long trips.

With care and practice you’ll arrive ready to ride. Stay safe and enjoy the road.

Playing Tourist: Disneyland and Universal Studios with Our Daughters

We aren’t typical theme-park people, but when our daughters visited, we went to Universal Studios and Disneyland—and had an absolute blast.

Universal Studios

We’re big Harry Potter fans, so much of our time at Universal was spent in the Wizarding World. Our daughter Annie, who knows the series inside and out, was over the moon. I bought fast pass tickets to skip lines, and it was worth the cost: we did more attractions and spent far less time waiting.

Disneyland and California Adventure Park

I purchased what I thought were skip-the-line tickets—Disney’s “Genie” service lets you schedule ride times through an app, but you can only hold one reservation at a time and often face long waits between scheduled slots. Disneyland was very busy, but we managed to pack a lot into a single day by splitting time between Disneyland and California Adventure.

Our favorite was Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars area; it’s immersive and impressively detailed. One day, however, is not nearly enough to do everything—if you plan a visit, give yourself more time or accept that you’ll need to pick favorites.

RV Parking at Disneyland

We were surprised to learn Disneyland offers a parking lot with RV spaces. Overnight parking isn’t allowed, but it’s a handy option for families who want to return to their vehicle during the day without staying at a Disneyland hotel.

From San Diego Beaches to Arizona Sunsets

At the time of writing we’re boondocking in Ironwood National Monument in Arizona. It’s a quiet, remote contrast to San Diego’s busy coastline, and that stillness is welcome. Last year we spent a week here for our first boondocking experience; it’s a peaceful place to recharge between busy stretches of travel.

Thanks for reading. We’ll see you next month. If you have questions or comments, please leave a note—we love hearing from readers.