Travel Update: October 2020
After six months of life on the road we're still going strong! Here's a recap of experiences and lessons.
It’s officially been 99 days since we closed on our house and started the journey to travel the world. It just doesn’t seem real in so many ways! There are still many stories to be written, but why not share a travel update as of October 2020?
Here’s a short recap of places we’ve been, where we’re heading next, and a few thoughts about traveling full-time.
Where have we been?
Donetta and I have spent our time west of our home state of Oklahoma. We drove to Colorado and got high to kick off our new adventure. We spent time in Estes Park and then hiked in Rocky Mountain National Park, which was freaking awesome! I never did come face-to-face with a bear, which was disappointing. 🐻
From there, we visited South Dakota and Mount Rushmore, banged out a few beers with friends and family in Minnesota, drove through North Dakota, which was nice but not very exciting. Then I almost soiled my pants at Glacier National Park. Despite the nightmare of Going to the Sunset Road, Montana is a beautiful state we will return to.
At our next stop, Yellowstone National Park, I had a deeply spiritual experience. God showed up in a “big” way, and the timing couldn’t have been better. Then we frolicked in the hills of Grand Teton and took many pictures of “The Big Tit” before seeing our friends, Jared and Rachelle, in Wyoming. And if you ever get the opportunity to ride shotgun with Jared, be sure to buckle up and take anxiety medication since 95mph is his cruising speed. 😱
Happy BIG 5-0 to James!!!
After we survived all the mountain driving, we decided to kick it down a notch to celebrate my 50th birthday. Our generous and close friends, Brent and Michelle, welcomed us into their Las Vegas home for a couple of weeks. We drank many great beers, had priceless conversations, and I even became a Cleveland Indians fan. Yeah, the guy who hates baseball.
Our two awesome kids, Kayla and Tyler, joined us for several days of fun and laughter. There may have been some gambling in the process with only Tyler winning any money. We partied with Brent and Michelle’s family at their oasis, and I got to give all my love to their dog, Minnie. It was special because I still really miss Bandit.
We then spent a week in Cathedral City before suffering on the beaches of San Diego.
Where are we going next?
It’s not going to be easy leaving San Diego. After all, we get to spend most of our days in 70-degree sunshine by the Pacific Ocean, soaking up the SoCal vibe. But we’re about to get back on the road and head East.
Next week we’ll FINALLY get to visit the Grand Canyon, which has eluded us for years. After that, we will head back to Oklahoma to see family, then return to Colorado for a short stay (weather permitting), and then travel to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and Branson, Missouri. We decided it would be best to stay closer to home between the holidays.
That will get us to the end of 2020, and then we’ll decide from there what the next adventure will be. Of course, all things are subject to change, but this gives us a plan for the next 60 days.
Do we still love traveling?
As part of our October 2020 travel update, I thought I’d share a few thoughts on whether we’re still enjoying this lifestyle and the lessons we’ve learned.
Without a shadow of a doubt, we love traveling full-time and have no regrets.
Of course, we miss family, but the trade-off is living our dream. Technology lets us stay in touch with the people we love, and that makes life easier. We certainly don’t miss the Oklahoma weather or home maintenance. Even being in small spaces with Donetta hasn’t killed our joy of being on the road.
I have felt more peace and happiness personally since we started this adventure. Even friends and clients say my voice sounds happier on the phone. HAHA! My severe depression is gone and the minimalistic lifestyle is so freeing. Overall, things could not be better for us. We are truly blessed and thankful.
That being said, we have no plans to stop traveling anytime soon.
Maybe at some point we will have a home base or stop for a short while to build a new business opportunity in Oklahoma, but I don’t think the digital nomad passion will ever entirely leave us. Traveling the world is in our blood.
What advice can we give?
For those of you who dream of selling everything and traveling someday, we can share what we’ve learned so far. I know as time goes on, we will have more insights to share with you as well.
There is never a perfect time to travel. You have to go for it and do it. If you wait for that perfect time or situation, it will probably never happen. Stop worrying about what could be. Don’t let fear control your decisions. There is no guarantee of tomorrow, so don’t live with regrets.
Some hotels will negotiate on pricing. Most of the places we’ve stayed at have been generous and offered us much better rates than advertised online. I call them directly to discuss the possibility of getting a better deal given our budget, and I usually get 25%-50% off. It’s a lot of work but worth it.
Make a budget, but be flexible. Setting a limit on what you can spend is a great idea, but sometimes you have to throw it out the door. Pricing for hotels, gas, food, and good times will fluctuate depending on where you are. Some days you will come out great and others not so much. Just remember it’s all about the experience.
Take your time and enjoy the ride. If you decide to travel full-time, don’t be in a rush to get to all the places you want to see. There is ALWAYS more you can do, but when you focus on that, you can miss the magical moments right in front of you. It’s better to slow down and take your time to experience all the road and life have to offer.
Treat other people with respect. When you visit new places or live in hotels, you can see the worst in people. Hotel staff put up with a lot of BS, so be kind to them. Keep your next-door neighbors in mind, too. Having sexcapades anytime is acceptable, but slamming doors at 2 am is not. And don’t be a rude jackass to people of other cultures or beliefs. That’s just not cool.
Plan tourist activities. If your plans involve ANY tourist destination, you’ll want to research the details like parking, hours of operation, and traffic. COVID-19 has caused some places to close or adjust regular operating hours. Traveling at certain times of day can make your ride much more enjoyable and less likely to get stuck in traffic.
Stay in hotels with a kitchen. It’s great to visit and support local restaurants and breweries, but doing so can destroy your budget and waistline. Being able to cook your own meals will save you lots of money, plus it’s easier for people who follow a keto diet or have other dietary restrictions. It’s harder to find places with kitchens, but it's worth it.
That’s a wrap!
There are so many more stories about people we’ve met and places we’ve visited to journal about on this blog. But at the same time, we’re also trying to enjoy the moment. It’s a delicate balance between work and play. Some days I get to write more and some days I’m falling behind. Binge-watching Cobra Kai or Schitt’s Creek certainly doesn’t help.
Anyway, we hope that writing about our experiences will inspire and help others to travel in 2020 and beyond. There is so much to see and do in the world, and it can literally change your entire perspective on life.
If you would like help pursuing your travel dreams or have advice for us, please share your thoughts here. We’d love to hear from you!