Terri and Peter's RV Adventures

Only an hour later than planned, we launched the first step or many steps as in 370 or so miles today (starting mileage 6,490), leaving our beautiful Pleasant Hill home in the hands of a shaman (more on that later) and the watchful eyes of our neighbors. Peter, Cali (our almost 15 year old shepherd mix) and Lily (our almost 2 year old black American Field lab) and I jumped in our F-150 truck, Blu (as in “Blu-Ford”–Peter’s last name is Bluford) and pulled away with our 25′ Airstream trailer named Fiona 2.0. Fiona 1.0 was our 19′ Airstream Interstate that proved too small for the four of us and Fiona 2.0 is our luxe model that I’m sure you’ll hear about over the course of the next 3-1/2 months of travel.

The first day of travel, especially an ambitious one like this trip, can be more grueling than normal. Getting back in the groove of where things are, and did I say, where things are? And there’s cleaning out the house for our guests and making sure we have the mayo and tuna and dog food and everything in between. Like there aren’t any grocery stores once we hit the road? Anyway, it was an organizational challenge but we’re on our way.

Our first test was ascending I80 through the Sierras and Blu took the challenge and easily sailed over the top. Mountains christened with newly fallen snow, the Truckee River freely flowing for miles rippling over rocks, resting in pools, surging again down the canyon, soon flowing into the flatlands of Reno. Reno and Sparks gave way to desert as far as the eye could see, ringed at the far end by more snowy mountains. Otherwise, nothing. Our vows to not drive faster than 65 soon melted away and 65 was the new 55 and then 75 and oops, 80 or was it 85? Time flies when you’ve got a wide open highway and no one around.

It was great until a 2’x4′ block of wood straddling the highway came up out of nowhere and I had no where to go but over it. It was a solid thump but nothing unusual after that. That is, until we arrived in Winnemucca, pulled in for the night around 5 pm (7 hours of overall travel time) and after a delicious dinner of leftover chicken shwarma, rice and broccoli, and lots of chuck it throws to try to take some of the edge off Lily, we noticed a little leak under the trailer. Current theory is the log hit the undercarriage and we may have a leak in the fresh water tank. Time for being flexible and instead of a short drive to Wendover tomorrow, we will shoot for Salt Lake City and see if Airstream can take us in to assess.

Yes, the adventure begins. The dogs were great travelers and the cob webs have shaken loose. Feeling grateful to be on the road, ready for new sights and experiences and getting close to nature (well, not too close). Thank you for following along.