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Journey Posts

Ardent Camper is Back

The blog is back after a 4-year hiatus, and things have changed. Here's what I've been up to and wha…

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Over Bridges & Mountains: Venturing to Vancouver

Vancouver is an emerald gem. I walked on bridges, hiked up mountains, drove along the coast, and mar…

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Year Two Retrospective: Where We’ve Been

Two years of full-timing! It's an exciting and humbling milestone to reach, and the places I've visi…

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A Change of Pace

Full-time RVing has led to burnout, so it's time to slow the pace and get off the road for a while. …

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Eating Our Hearts Out Along Oregon’s Coast

The food in the Tillamook area was off the charts good, and the scenery certainly didn't disappoint,…

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Beaches & Redwoods on Northern California’s Coast

Coastal Northern California offers lovely, rocky beaches, picturesque lighthouses, and towering redw…

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Relaxation and Reunions in California’s Central Valley

The California Central Valley can get some flack, but everything is better with friends, arboretums,…

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Five Things to Know Before Making a Death Valley Day Trip

Death Valley is an iconic, gorgeous national park, but it's not for the faint of heart. Here are my …

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Traveling California’s Route 395 Along the Eastern Sierras

Route 395 in California's Eastern Sierras is one of the most stunning drives in the country. Here ar…

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Avoiding Los Angeles

I was near LA, but I was citied out. So I found ways to avoid the traffic in outskirts and Palm Spri…

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How to Spend a Day at Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree is a beautiful national park, and even though it's not huge, there can be an overwhelmin…

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Five Things to Do in Quartzsite, Arizona Beyond the RV Show

Among RVers, Quartzite, AZ is a winter gathering spot due to its annual RV show. But there's a lot m…

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Much-Needed R&R in Southwestern Arizona

I met up with a bunch of RVing friends near Quartzsite, Arizona for some winter off-grid camping and…

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Chilling in Las Cruces, New Mexico

I spent some time exploring Las Cruces, New Mexico around the holidays, enjoying delicious food and …

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Home for the Holidays in Texas

I spent the holidays in Texas, with Thanksgiving in Amarillo and Christmas in Houston. I hiked in Pa…

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Hatchery Boondocking in Idaho

I spent a peaceful time boondocking at a scenic fish hatchery near the Sun Valley area of Idaho.

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Exploring Western Washington’s Rural Landscape

I loved hiking around rural Washington, mostly in the Snoqualmie region. I found the little towns c…

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Year One Retrospective: Where We’ve Been

These are my favorite places I visited during my first year of full-time RVing, from 2014-2015. I ho…

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Year One Retrospective: Five Lessons Learned

With a year of full-time RVing under my belt, here are the top lessons I've learned and what I'm pla…

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City Kids: Adventures in Seattle

I spent a gorgeous autumn in the Seattle area, going to museums, eating seafood, exploring Lake Unio…

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A Little Mishap and Some Everyday Heroes

On the drive back down to the Continental US from Alaska, the RV broke down. I was so grateful for t…

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Valdez, Alaska: Land of Waterfalls and Glaciers

The drive to Valdez, Alaska is dotted with stunning glaciers and waterfalls. The town, itself, is ch…

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Moose, Yaks and an Alaskan Conservation Lesson

I met an interesting yak farmer (and his interesting yaks!) at Circle F Ranch in a quiet stretch of …

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Experiencing the Alaska Frontier in McCarthy and Kennecott

McCarthy and Kennecott, Alaska might be the most fascinating places I've ever been. The best way to …

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Rafting and Mountain Views in Talkeetna, Alaska

I took a leisurely rafting trip down the Talkeetna River in Alaska, with stunning views of Denali in…

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Sightseeing on Alaska’s Sterling Highway

The western part of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula is accessible via the Sterling Highway, which travels a…

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Seward, Alaska and Kenai Fjords National Park

The Kenai Peninsula of Alaska is one of the most gorgeous places I've ever been. I walked the beach,…

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Attractions Along the Parks Highway in Alaska NEAR DENALI

Under the shadow of America's tallest mountain, Denali, the Parks Highway is a gorgeous route throug…

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Christmas in June at North Pole

I spent some time celebrating Christmas early at North Pole, Alaska. I enjoyed the lake and Santa's …

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Endless Days in Fairbanks, Alaska

The first Alaskan city I had a chance to explore was Fairbanks, home of the Midnight Sun baseball ga…

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North to Alaska: The Road Trip of a Lifetime

Driving through British Columbia and Yukon Territory was a singular experience. It's so gorgeous, an…

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Wild Dash from Utah to Washington

I was in Phoenix, Arizona when I decided to spend the summer in Alaska. Three thousand miles with a …

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Journeying from Sedona, Arizona to Salt Lake City, Utah

On the way from Sedona to Salt Lake City, I stopped in Page, St. George, and Leeds. This gorgeous ar…

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Petrified Sand Dunes and Lava Tubes at Snow Canyon State Park, Utah

"Blown away" is really the only way to describe my reaction to Snow Canyon near St. George, Utah. It…

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15 Tips for Driving Your RV to Alaska

Planning to drive your RV from Washington to Alaska? Learn from my experience! Here are my 15 top ti…

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Basking in the Beauty of Sedona, Arizona

Nestled under towering red and white striped rock formations, Sedona, Arizona is a haven for outdoor…

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Zion National Park: A Lush Oasis in Utah

Carved by the Virgin River, above its placid banks rises Zion Canyon. Explore the Emerald Pools Trai…

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Hot Springs Relaxation in the Arizona Desert

El Dorado Hot Springs in Southern Arizona was a lovely setting to relax in the desert.

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Grand Canyon National Park: A Spectacular Lesson in Geology

1.8 billion mind-boggling years ago, the Earth was beginning to shape itself in ways that would lead…

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A Great Home Base: Flagstaff, Arizona

I'd heard of Flagstaff before we visited, but I knew absolutely nothing about it. That's the best wa…

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Highrise Apartments: Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well, Arizona

600 years ago, the Sinagua people built homes at sites that were as beautiful as they were defensibl…

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Trees Turned to Stone: Petrified Forest National Park

How does wood petrify? What does it look like? Is it really as beautiful as they say? During my time…

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Exploring Hopi Heritage at Homolovi State Park, Arizona

Homolovi is the largest of Arizona's state park archaeological sites, featuring a kiva and 1,200 roo…

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Two Guns, Arizona: A Route 66 Ghost Town

Two Guns, Arizona is an expansive, easily-accessible ghost town with a fascinating history and ever-…

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Week 2 in Albuquerque: Southwestern Art, Tent Rocks and Vintage Style

From Albuquerque, I explored Santa Fe one day, and went hiking at the gorgeous Kasha Katuwe Tent Roc…

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Week 1 in Albuquerque: History and Friends

I loved Albuquerque's Southwestern charm, tasty eats, vintage style, and easy access to beautiful pe…

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Going Underground in Carlsbad, New Mexico

After passing by the frosty Guadalupe Mountains National Park, I descended underground to explore Ca…

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Scenic Drive through Big Bend National Park

Driving through Big Bend National Park is sure to stun and amaze. I hit some of the main attractions…

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Miles of Mountains at Marfa

Marfa, Texas is known for being remote and artsy. And it was. But it was also full of so much natura…

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Adventures on the Border: Del Rio, Texas

Del Rio, Texas is home to the lovely Amistad Reservoir and pictographs at Seminole Canyon State Park…

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RV Plumbing Repairs and an Unfortunate Surprise

A trip to Texas Hill Country turned into a repair shop-o-rama. But we made the most of it while we h…

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January in the Texas Hill Country

Texas Hill Country has so much to offer, like swimming holes, rivers, barbecue, architecture, and fu…

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Goodbye, Houston! We are now Full-Time RVers

Houston is in the rear view mirror, and we're off on our grand RV adventure!

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Happy Holidays in the Texas Panhandle

We spent some very cold evenings in the Texas Panhandle but made a quick, brief escape to Las Vegas,…

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Our First Journey: Livingston, Texas

Nothing like a maiden voyage for your RV! We took ours in Livingston, Texas at Escapees Rainbow's En…

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Camping and Hiking in Pace Bend Park in Texas

I hiked and primitive carside camped at Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis in Texas. Here's what I did to…

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New Truck & First RV (Mis)Adventures

I have a new RV and a new truck to tow it! But it's not always sunshine and roses. A tire blowout ca…

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RV Transition Update

Turns out you can't go from a homeowner to a full-time RV owner with no house overnight! Life has be…

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5 Bucket List Hikes

Let's just say I like to dream big. I love to hike, and I'm very satisfied with a scenic jaunt about…

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Taking the Plunge: Selling Our House

Full-time RVing is more than a dream for me. I'm really going for it! The house has just gone on the…

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Take a Home-on-Wheels Tour and Learn Why We Bought a Fifth Wheel

Want to see my new home? Check out the interior of my 5th wheel and learn why I bought this type of …

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Welcome, Garage Sale Shoppers!

Did you buy something from me at my garage sale? Thanks for helping fund my full-time RVing dream!

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Let the RV Shopping Commence

I'm just beginning the search for an RV to live in full-time and have no idea what I'm doing. Here a…

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Have Your Breath Taken Away on the Mount Evans Scenic Byway

Looking for a lovely day trip in Colorado, where you get all the views without having to slog up a m…

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Love to be Outdoors? Visit Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is an outdoorsy, techy, vibrant town. Your whole family will love exploring the area, wh…

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Return to Longhorn Cavern: A Place for Stories

During my second trip to Longhorn Cavern in Texas, I went on a walking tour and discovered history a…

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Planning for a Nomadic Future

Thanks to the increasing availability of online work, I've decided to plan for a nomadic future that…

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Liebster Award Nomination

I got nominated for a Liebster Award for bloggers, so here's the interview questions I got and respo…

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A Photographic Journey through Big Bend National Park

I recently traveled to Big Bend National Park, which is stunning in its physical beauty. What follow…

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The Most Popular Trail in America’s Second Biggest Canyon

Did you know America's second largest canyon is two states away from the Grand Canyon in Texas? I hi…

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Glamping on a Lake Conroe Boat House in Texas

Not all campsites are for tents and RVs. I got a chance to glamp on a houseboat. Check out the inter…

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Story Behind the Stuff: My First Tent

I recently sold my first tent (because I now have a newer, fancier one), and it sent me on a jaunt d…

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Images from a February Hike: Lone Star Hiking Trail, Winters Bayou Section

Is there anything more peaceful than a quiet, wintery hike through the woods? Here are some images f…

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Longhorn Cavern State Park, Texas

I had my very first spelunking adventure at Longhorn Cavern in Texas! Look how muddy I got! It was a…

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New Year’s Resolutions for Campers

New Year's Resolutions can carry a lot of weight and "shoulds," but I do find I like to set intentio…

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Vintage Camping Finds on Historic Route 66

Route 66 is full of unique vintage and antique finds, including some that are great for camping! Her…

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Jack Sisemore RV Museum in Amarillo TX
RV Museum Is a Step Back in Time

This unassuming RV museum is full of vintage campers, Americana, and even a little slice of Hollywoo…

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