Solitude

I'd love to take you there, to this enlightening, spiritual place.

Refreshing, rejuvenating, a sanctuary for personal reflection.

I'd love to take you with me, to this relaxing place.

Silent, still, where you can rediscover yourself.

I'd love to take you there, but you must go alone now.

If I accompany you, you'll never discover this place called solitude.

~Mark A. River~

St. Joseph Missouri

Starting a journey isn't as simple as jumping into your vehicle and going. As novices, we were green as gourds but that didn’t stop us from our goal, to become full-time Rvers.

Our first step was purchasing a Class C Gulfstream Conquest and a Saturn Vue. We also ordered a base plate, hitch, and braking system from the dealership that sold us the Gulfstream. Our first trip in our new Gulfstream was a trip to St. Joseph Missouri to have everything installed.

The largest vehicle I have ever driven is a small pick up truck and jumping into a 28 foot RV is a major adjustment. With my truck I look in the rear view mirror and see where I have been, in a RV you see a queen size bed. In a truck you rolled down the window, crank up the tunes, and enjoy the ride, with a RV you crack your window, turn off the radio in order to concentrate, watch both mirrors (avoid the rear view mirror because it will freak you out), and you tell yourself to breathe. I white knuckled it to St. Joseph taking back roads because I thought I would avoid traffic. That was a bad idea because of the roads being so narrow and having no shoulder.

We made it to RV Park and the owners were nice enough to back the RV in the lot and help me hook it up.

It took about 4 days to have everything installed. We spent those four days visiting family and becoming acquainted with the RV. The employee at the dealership showed me how to hook up the vehicle and I was off and running. As I crept onto the highway, I noticed that the RV was low on gas and decided to stop at the nearest gas station to fill up the tank. That is when I discovered there are some gas stations that are too small for a 28-foot RV towing a car. Fortunately, an attendant helped me unhook the car so I could get all vehicles out of the gas station. My mother drove the car home because I felt I needed more practice and I am sure motorists, and gas station owners were happy with that decision. The most important thing is that mom, my dog (Surely Not) and I made it home and started our journey.

Missouri St. Joseph