Sharing the Journey ~ Meandering Across the USA

The Article *below was posted on the 'Tiny House Blog' on 1/21/2012 about me and my Adventure Van Dwelling. After reading it please pop over to the Tiny House Blog & check it out as well. (*Article begins below photo following.)

In late 2009 the downturn in the economy dramatically changed the overall substance of 30+ year business professional, Brenda Curtiss’s life. In her words: “Even though I had always dreamed about and somewhat planned for the day I could be ‘free’ to full-time in a small RV or camper van, the need to do so financially, suddenly be thrust upon me when the once thriving Tax Planning Firm I managed for years, had to close due to the economic downturn.

I had bought a 2000 Astro High-Top Conversion Van with my meager savings and started my full-time vandwelling  journey in it at a membership vacation community in the scenic North GA Mountains where I had bought memberships in better times.

When I started out I was on shore power (electric hook-up) the majority of the time and not very well equipped without it. It was a beautifully scenic area, but after I had explored it extensively, and entertained family and friends who came to visit throughout the year (staying in the cabins there) the excitement began to wane and the nomadic side of me that had always longed to explore God’s amazing artistry began to rise up in me once again.

By the end of 2010 I was ready to hit the road to travel across the USA in my little campervan! Some good friends helped me get a good battery system set up and further ready my van to live more self-sustainably.

So here it is just over a year later, beginning 2012… Wow, what a journey it has been thus far! I have enjoyed so many wonderful discoveries as I have meandered along exploring all kinds of eclectically picturesque places and people treasures on this awesome journey.

Even with it’s challenges, I love this lifestyle! Photo journaling and sharing my travels and experiences are amazing silver linings! And there are so many wonderfully diverse things, places and people yet to discover!

Unfortunately, due to a mechanical failure I had a horrendous accident in Montana on September 25, 2011 that totaled my beloved van home and most everything I owned within it. My puppy Gabriel and I miraculously survived; so even though starting over has been more than a bit challenging, I am thankful beyond measure.

I purchased a 91 Chevy G20 High-Top Conversion Van on October 15th, moved in two days later, and have been in the process of setting it up since.

Some people were surprised I chose to jump back into the vandwelling lifestyle so rapidly. But I truly enjoy the freedom this lifestyle gives me of meandering at will without the confines and costs of hotels, rent or mortgages.

It’s not for everyone, but I much enjoy my life in my little van home. Hope to see ya’ down the road!”

Brenda invites you to share her journeys via her blog & photo journal comprised of 1500+ (& growing) photos she captures along the way! Check out her Blog & eBooks @ www.LordandCurtiss.ws

Tags: adventure · travel · van · dwelling · vandwelling

ಌڰۣ In less than 2 weeks we will be ushering in a brand new year! This past year has been the most challenging difficult year of my life in many ways, & yet it has possessed incredible silver linings throughout as well.  Reflecting on the highs and lows of the tumultuous pendulum of 2011 prompted me into this effort to put my 2011 into ‘words’.

I began this year wintering in my modified high-top ‘camper’ van mostly in the Charleston SC area, but also explored the islands and beautiful nostalgic areas (like Savannah GA) from North of Charleston to down into FL near St. Augustine (meandering to lots of beautiful Islands like Hilton Head & Jekyll Island along the way). I then circled back up the East coast into North Carolina before I heading west across the mountains to celebrate mine & my sister Patty’s birthdays with family in Upstate SC  before heading North eventually to the Canadian border, & then finally I began my trek West across MT before my horrendous accident. The ‘meandering across the USA’ coupled with photo-journaling my discoveries along the way has been a huge awesome silver lining that has been threaded throughout my year. I have loved it so much! I had always dreamed of exploring the USA,  but in years past the responsibilities of being a single parent + jobs usually in hands-on management within  companies that required me to be very immersed in them, did not allow such freedom to wander.  In times past I had taken my son all over the Southeast on weekend camping and day-trips. But beyond those time frames, it just wasn’t doable. So 2011was an incredible year as far as expanding my borders to discover, explore and experience scenic beauty, amazing architecture, eclectic & cool towns & cities + all sorts of wonderful & interesting people along the way. I have loved every single minute of it and cherish the many photos I have to remember it with!  My journey is not over and I am excited about my soon-coming 2012 meanderings and discoveries yet to come!

In  the unspoken deeply personal side of my life… I have experienced the most painful heart-breaking year of my life. I have had a year that I would have never in a million years would have possibly thought could ever take place, but it did. It has been (still is) something straight out of the stuff of mind numbing thrillers fashioned of the most unthinkable words and deeds to the point that at times I truly felt my heart and human spirit could not survive it.  Every core of my being and past had been questioned and scrutinized, misread & misunderstood. My spiritual understanding and value even to the core of who I am as a person, had been cast down. My no longer bringing in 'good. money from a job with a management title +limited mobility and health issues seemed to further deplete my 'value'. I was suddenly perceived as a non-entity, not even worth communicating with, literally eradicated from lives that mattered greatly to me. If such an odd, unthinkably strange situation was from those who did not really know me, although difficult,  could have been more easily dismissed, but in this case it was from a source that I deeply love. So it shook me to my core, first with shock, later, with deep sadness. Periodically  it has taken me to the pit of grief, hurt and despair, often deeper than I felt I could bare. Yet each and every time,  God would revive my Spirit in Him and fill me with His strength, love and presence, and further remind me once again of who I am in Him. 

Last night I had a dream that elated to my experiences of 2011and I realized that I have truly been so immersed in God and His Word and have so deeply thrust myself into the consistency of Who He is, this year, that there is no longer anything that can make me even question who I am. I know who I am, who I have been, where I am going in this life and what matters to me. I have learned it (unfortunately) in the manner I so often have had to learn and grow… through hardship, hurt and at times… back against the wall desperation. Each time I would reach out and try to bridge the gap, it would be met with intolerance & disregard at best, insidious attacks at worst. There have been times I no longer wanted to live on this earth. I prayed God would take me on to heaven, but even when the horrendous accident took place due to a mechanical failure, He chose to miraculously save me. I know He has a purpose for me and I now know what some of that purpose is.

The accident that snatched me from my journey West took much of my earthly belongings from me and thrust me into the ongoing struggle to rebuild my life within the most financially challenging year of my life.  It has been somewhat surreal at times. I have faced much lack in ways I could have never understood had I  not experienced it. God must have had a reason to allow these experiences, but even knowing that didn’t always make them any easier to walk through. People think they have it rough, but when you get to the point that after your fixed expenses are paid you truly do not have money for  food and/or to do laundry or go to even a discounted campsite to take a shower and wash your hair… until you experience those types of things, in my opinion, you do not truly know lack, and I pray you never do. The silver linings of that lack;  God has provided each and every time and in every situation.  Often not as quickly as I may have preferred, but always He has provided. I have been astounded at the miracles he has performed on my behalf. It boggles my mind even as I write this. And the accident… talk about miracles! My puppy Gabriel and I were both miraculously protected in an intensely destructive accident in which my 2000 Astro whipped around plowing  down a reflector pole and then proceeded to flip 4 times,  it’s contents blending and breaking as everything (including Gabriel & I) thrashed about until the van finally landed on a gravel hill on it’s side.  And yet today we are both doing well, very well all things considered. I still stop and marvel at how the hand of God (and His Angels) took care of both of us.  It is through that love of God that Gabriel showed up in my life in early March of 2011 as well. God knew my heart would need little Gabriel. And I again marvel at God’ love in sending me this  adorable little fluffy ball of love (& mischief :). But of all these things it is the heart-break that has often taken the ‘life’ out of me.  I have cried out to God feeling there was no value in my continuing on this earth. But He has not decided that, so I hear Him and I walk on. I know many don’t like to hear about satan or about his divisive ways and destructive spiritual forces of the evil he is & he instigates, but I have had to face those forces, armed with the Word of God, His Truth, His Presence & His Direction.  I have found God and His Word to be miraculously charged with power, strength, love and substance of beauty beyond my ability to describe.  I certainly have not arrived at some pinnacle high above the insidiousness that has tried to assassinate me in spirit & mind, nor the challenges I continue to navigate.  But I have learned to recognize it for what it is, and that there is a very real enemy who is the ultimate source of it.  “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” ~ Ephesians 6:12

What have I learned from 2011:

• To love well, I must be willing to suffer much pain, but I also must be willing to forgive and continue to love well… no matter what.
• To refuse to hold onto any bitterness or unforgiveness.
•  God is absolutely amazing, ever-present, faithful and all powerful!
• God’s ways are beyond my full understanding and thus I must trust Him!
• God will make a way no matter how impossible things may appear to be.
• Manipulation & force even with ‘good intentions’ may appear to be a short-term fix , but will never accomplish long-term heart change, only heart damage.
• Well meaning people can be very confused about ‘truth’ and do much damage to others around them as a result. Only God’s Truth is authentic!
• Being rejected, not heard or seen + wrongly accused & accessed from those is not any form of love , including ‘tough love’.
• God will never leave me nor forsake me and will always willingly choose to provide me with His love, strength, provision & direction.
• There are many amazing people in this world, and far more good than not.
•  I am incredibly blessed with some absolutely awesome family and friends!
• Those who love well reflect the core of Who God is in His truest form.
• I must daily choose to release my heart-hurts and troubles to God & actively trust Him to handle those things I cannot and be faithful with things I can.
•  I can walk on & choose to live well no matter what, as long as God is with me!
•  I can make a choice each day to choose life, health and well being, and I must make that choice daily and proactively doing the work to follow it through.
• There is another year close upon me to accomplish those things I was unable to conquer in 2011and I will take hold of that incredible opportunity!
•  I don’t have to have a lot to be happy. Living my dreams and walking in the light of God’s love, care, inspiration and direction give me Much Joy!  ಌ ✞✞✞ <><

Tags: travel · new · year · grief · hope · God

Photo taken on 7/21/2010 at Kitchi-Gammi Park on Lake Superior in Duluth MN

I am often asked questions like: "What do you do during the day... where do you go? Where do you park at night, do you always go to Walmarts? How do you make it without electric hook-ups in campgrounds & daily hot showers? What is a typical day for you?"

So I am going to try and answer those questions for you! :) First of all, it is far different living/camping and traveling in a van full-time than utilizing campgrounds with electric hook-up all or most of the time. Being 'on the road' and only visiting a campground typically one day per week to shower + wash and style my hair and enjoy the amenities there, makes using the self-contained features of my van an important consideration. Having a porta-potty on board + enough power via a marine style battery system and proper gear for cooking and heating all become far more crucial necessities. 

First I have an app on my iTouch called 'Allstays Camp & RV' (it is currently available for both Apple iPhone/iTouch & Android devices) that I utilize often. I paid $4.99 for it a couple years ago and it is hard for me to function without it! Before I go to a new area I always check it out on this app as far as Walmarts and Travel Centers there, where I can legally park overnight. If there are at least 2 options I can easily stay there for a few days. If there are 4 or more options within a 20 mile radius, it makes it far easier to stay for several weeks if I choose to, as I can then rotate the areas without feeling I am in one place too often. I also check out the Sprint coverage map (my cell & wifi provider) to make sure I will have a good strong phone & personal wifi signal, to be able to  telecommute effectively from the area.

Once it all looks doable for me, I head down the road to the 'new area'. Once there, I also check out any waterside areas (ocean, lakes, rivers etc.). I LOVE to park at waterside areas if at all possible when I make my telecommute business development calls and work on my eBooks etcetera. If there are no good waterside areas to park at, I then look for parks. I prefer to park where I have a nice view of scenic beauty and there is a nice green area for my little Papastzu puppy Gabriel to be able to play in for a while. Having occassional visitors that come by to say hello to me and/or play with Gabriel is nice and enjoyable, but I don't want to be in an area where there is such a flow of people (and other dogs) that it will make it difficult for me to stay focused and consistent with my work. I have several apps for parks but I usually end up utilizing the Allstays app for that too, as if you pan out you can see the waterside areas and parks and often even where there are parking areas. 

I always travel distances from Friday afternoons (I work 1/2 day on Fridays) through Saturday and only on Sunday if absolutely necessary.  I like to have Sundays to explore the waterside areas and parks so I can find several nice options to choose from to go to during my weekday work hours. Another device that is hugely helpful to me is the Navigation/GPS on my phone. When I find a park areas etcetera I search it for the exact locations and distances.

As I work during the week, if there is time I explore a bit at night and during my lunch break (noon til 2:00) and keep an eye out for nice laundromats or areas that I will want to explore (and photo) on the weekends when I have more free time. This helps me to mentally file places I want to visit while in the area, while I am actively powering up my batteries as I explore and/or when I drive to or from my day time spot to my evening overnight parking spot. It may sound like a lot but it just becomes second nature. (Though my major exploring takes place on the week-ends, I always have my camera close at hand to catch those cool shots that pop up! :)

I often know of several places I want to get back to so I can explore and enjoy taking photos to share my journey so the weekends are a real treat for me! I often enjoy watching a news morning show on my phone on Saturday mornings and if it is cool or cold I enjoy making myself a nice hearty breakfast on my propane camp stove. On Sunday mornings I try to make sure I have plenty of power built up in my batteries so I can attend my online church service without having to 'repower' my batteries. Afterward, I set out to explore or if the weather is bad or I just choose to, I may go to  a waterside area to work on an eBook or resize my photos to post.. During the week nights I play with & love on my puppy Gabriel and often watch the news on my phone, interact on facebook, catch up on email, work on my blog or websites, check out future areas I am interested in, talk to friends, read, sing and pray, etcetera. :) On Friday nights I most often watch a movie or two on Netflix, or get caught up on 2 or 3 episodes of a favorite TV show via streaming.

As far as the basics, I have Passport America (if you choose to use them let me give you my member # so I will get a small referral fee. :) I pay $40 a year for membership. They have right at 1800 campground participants that are 1/2 price to members. (They have a printed book but I use their free iTouch/iPhone app to find close-by campgrounds.) So $25 or $30 per night becomes a much more affordable $12.50 or $15 per night. Unless I really love it there and have the money to spare, I usually go once a week for just one night to shower and enjoy the amenities. I power everything up with their electric and give my dog a bath as needed. I also enjoy being able to use my hair polisher iron (it's a girl thing :) while on electric as it uses too much power to use it otherwise. I used to have a nice little flat-screen TV with  cable cord for hook-up if it was available but it was all damaged in a bad accident I recently had (see my previous blog entry for further details on that).

In between showers I use a whole heck of a lot of baby wipes to stay clean + I use TRESemme' hair foam, dry shampoo and refreshing citrus mist as needed. (I use them sometimes on Gabriel too! LOL)Living in a small space requires keeping things organized and tidy. I prefer vanilla scented small garbage bags and keep all garbage bagged up and take it out to a publicly available garbage can either at a Walmart or Travel Center, gas station or park, each morning when I head to my 'day spot' and then again each afternoon when I travel to where I will overnight.

Heating and cooking are done with propane appliances. I prefer a Mr. Heater Buddy propane heater and use a propane stove and cooker.(Prior to my accident in my 2000 Astro I had a butane stove but I decided to go with propane this time around as I got tired of looking for the canisters for the butane and they were pricey as well.) It is far more cost effective to use a 20 # tank of propane rather than using individual canisters. (Individual canisters = approximately 2.50 per # whereas a 20 # tank is less than $1.00 per #!)

When I first started 'vandwelling' it took me a while to acclimate to living in this different way rather than the normal stick and brick home setting. But now that i know how to navigate life this way, the freedom from the high cost of rent or hotels as I explore the USA is downright intoxicating! My life is not always easy. I miss having a bathroom available to me 24/7 and I miss the ease of having a kitchen. But the silver linings of this lifestyle are far more enjoyable positives to me outweighing the inconveniences. I would rather get out and explore and experience life than  being stuck in an apartment somewhere in front of a TV set. But that's me... this lifestyle is certainly not for everyone. But for those of us with a nomadic spirit, it is a good, rewarding life! :)

Your comments are always encouraged and appreciated.

If you have any further questions or want further specifics & details of camping/living/setting up, a vehicle or van, please check out my eBook:

'How To Set Up & Comfortably Camp or Live in Your Vehicle or Van!'  

Tags: camp · van · vandwelling · brenda · curtiss · travel

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 It was September 2cnd (2011), only 4 days after my last blog entry. I was en route to Bismarck ND from Duluth MN. Picturesque waterside Duluth had been good to me. It's beautiful rocky coast only 135 miles from the Canadian border gave stunning views as I made my telecommuting calls each week-day. I also met a number of wonderful people and had a warm feeling and a big smile deep within as I left the area to pursue my way west. I was also very excited because I knew that in a month or so I would finally be in the NW Pacific; an area I had long wanted to explore!

As I made my way to Bismarck (my first leg of 4 segments I had laid out to get to seaside Port Angeles, WA bordering the Olympic National Park) I began to hear and feel hesitations in my van. I was convinced I had picked up some bad gas. Long story short, after making an overnight stop about 1/2 way to Bismarck, the van began to get significantly worse. The next morning was Saturday. After checking with some of my 'on the road' friends, I purchased some gas cleaner and got a full tank of gas & headed on out. The van seemed better initially, but I didn't get very far. I ended up getting stranded about 12 miles out in a town of 2000. I had it checked out after being stranded for 2 hours and then had a helpful visit from an officer that led me to a repair shop in a bit larger town 10 miles up the road. The fluids were checked etc and things quickly looked over and they determined that it looked like I was correct and that it was indeed a bad gas problem. From there I drove a couple hours or so into Fargo where my puppy's leash broke and he took off in oblivious puppy heaven chasing a plastic hypnotic bag flying through the air just above his reach. It looked like a scene from a movie. But it was a nightmare for me as it was a heavy traffic area and he was totally oblivious to my voice calling him or cars all around him as he happily chased the bag with he in full sprint, flying like the wind! I began to panic with all the traffic and felt powerless to keep him safe. I saw him racing toward a busy side street. By this time I was not only calling his name but praying and on the verge of crying. I got in my van and came around to the street he was heading toward. All the time he was out of sight my heart raced in a panic as I called on God to take care of my clueless little puppy Gabriel! I held my breath and continued to pray as I rounded the corner in front of a Windham hotel & an Alien Game room & restaurant with cars in motion everywhere! I saw Gabriel run out in the middle of the street and I stopped and got out and got him safely back in the van. After I got him in and knew he was safe I broke down crying my heart out. It scared the daylights out of me!!! Thankfully averting tragedy we headed on toward Bismarck. Little did I know it at that time, but all the difficulties I had had to that point were a drop in the bucket to what was coming...

The van seemed to be doing great again and I sailed along without a care for another 3 hours to Bismark ND. When I pulled just off the interstate into a Walmart to park overnight, it started choking up and hesitating again. I realized with the sun squarely in my eyes that I had let the gas get too low again and thought it was my fault I was having "bad fuel" issues. As the story is frightfully long and sooooo much happened from this point, here is the abbreviated version: I began to have problems getting the internet due to roaming issues in their system and spent a crazy amount of time on the phone with Sprint every day trying to get it resolved. My 2000 Astro was doing horrible and it was all I could do to get from one Walmart to another one about 5 miles down the road to alternate parking. I went on back roads trying to get the fuel cleaners to work their magic and get the bad fuel out. I had to often stop & restart the van to get it to even get to 20 or 30 mph. Then I would have a good stretch where I could hit 50... But it was rough, really rough... On Thursday night of that week heading back to the original Walmart the van stopped right at the intersection to pull into their parking lot! It would run but not move into any gear. I was terribly upset when I finally called a tow truck to get me into the parking lot a few hundred feet away. A young man named Jason stopped to help me and said "I can get you there, cancel the tow truck!" I did & he did. In the following 3 days I found out thanks to a mechanic friend of Jason's that sadly my transmission was gone. Not having the money to replace the transmission I was devastated. I told my facebook friends what happened and asked for help and offered my eBooks as small tokens of my thanks. They were so very kind to me and with every penny I had added to the funds that came in I had enough to get a rebuilt or used transmission put in. I didn’t like the idea of the used not knowing what I could end up with. I was referred to a man that rebuilds transmissions and had worked a lot with Astro vans. I couldn't check him out because by this time I had no internet at all. Fast forward 2+ WEEKS LATER! I was still stranded with my puppy in my van waiting on the transmission. The guy told me all kinds of crazy stuff and then it wouldn't show up as promised and at that point I thought I may have been scammed. I was stressed and about to go stir crazy. Early on Jason's parents offered to pull me to their town home and ran a cord out to me so I could have power. So I felt incredibly blessed to at least have power and able to make my calls. Though I had still had no internet and had to get a couple rides to the library to send my work docs. Altogether, it had been a long September to that point! On Friday September 23rd the 24 month guaranteed transmission finally arrived from Ohio. It was installed and I was thrilled to be back on the road midday of the following day! The nice family saw me off and away I went about 120 miles east to get my internet issues worked out. Then I had to head back west! Other than the 240 mile detour, all seemed to be going perfectly. The van was humming along beautifully and I was happy as could be en route to Spokane WA 1000 miles away. I made it into MT Saturday and continued my journey through MT on Sunday. It was beautiful! It was a stunning day and I got some scenic photos along the way. My last stop for gas had me just over 200 miles to Spokane WA & I was one happy woman!

At 6:00 p.m. MDT a horrible loud mechanical crunching type sound happened and without warning the van locked up immediately and began to violently spin around and plowed a metal reflector pole to the ground. I remember heading rapidly that way and having no control of the van at all and knowing that this was it... I knew I was about to die... The accident was horrendous... the van went airborne and flipped 4 times off the side of the road and was finally stopped by a gravel hill, landing on it's side. They had to dig little Gabriel & I out and it is a miracle we are both alive. Although I was conscious through the whole thing it all seemed surreal… first in my seat-belt and then flying through the air in a van blender with everything else flying around me so violently that my shoes even came off  both feet! People climbing up on the van to talk me through… truckers stopping to call 911 and put the small fire out that had started… the emergency folks and ambulance workers digging us out and then the whole hospital nightmare all by myself over 1500 miles away from family with my back and neck in searing pain… it was all so surreal. If you would like to see pics and get more details of what happened here is a public album you can view and read:http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2558092474503.2147776.1319733829&type=1&l=beee5679d2

Today is November 1^st. The last month has been a whirlwind of sorts. The van was totaled and most everything I had was suddenly gone. I was starting over with very little money and only had the van insured with the basic legal insurance. My son flew out and again with the help of friends and every penny once again that I had, I was able in a wheelchair, with his help, fly southeast to family. I stayed for almost 2 weeks with one sister's family. My brother-in-law had  set up a large tent like a resort cottage in their back yard next to a nature preserve. (Which was my preference to stay in the tent instead of inside.) Then I stay a week with another gracious sister with a one bed room apartment. Though very grateful, I desperately needed my own space again and began looking for another van on my very meager monies. A kind family with a van advertised on craigslist, agreed to work with me and on October the 16^th and with me still owing them $500 they turned over the title to me of their 1991 G20 High-Top Conversion Van. I was thrilled beyond words! Here is an album of the van and the beginning stages of getting it set-up to live and travel in:  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2607636353069.2149278.1319733829&type=1&l=bc09f3357a

I recently experienced some stress in the aftermath of the accident in driving on some mountain roads to get to NW GA and currently am still dealing with pain in the process of healing in my knees, back and neck, but am doing remarkably well otherwise. No internal injuries and no broken bones! God truly had his had on little Gabriel (who was in his kennel at the time which was highly unusual - that saved his life) and I that day! I thought it would be months before I could gear up even  with the basics but yesterday a couple blessed me with a list of needs that are being shipped to me including a Mr Heater Buddy propane heater (like I had prior to the accident), an awesome propane stove & cooker and much more! I was and am stunned at their generosity and at God’s love and kindness to once again make a way for me even when there seemed to be no way! Their generosity will improve my quality of life 1000%! I drove to NW GA last week to friends who are helping me put in a basic battery system and did an amazing repair on a badly messed up back door. I am blessed, I am so very very blessed… I am expecting on going back to the Upstate SC area this week-end and staying there to save to get the van paid off and enjoy the holidays with family. After Christmas I will head out toward the FL Panhandle to winter. I have a few ideas about where I am going after that, but am not totally sure as of yet. I value this lifestyle as much if not more than I ever have, and am looking forward to continuing my journey and finding great peace in knowing that no matter what happens: God is on the scene with me!

Blessings for Your Journeys… See you down the road! ~Brenda & her alive, well & happy pup Gabriel.  As always comments are enjoyed & much appreciated!

p.s. – The photo above was taken in MT the day of the accident on 9/25/2011.

You are invited to check out my 1500+ (& growing) photos of my travels on my facebook: www.facebook.com/brenda.curtiss 

Also, if it interests you, please take a look at my eBooks and let me know what you think! :) http://LordandCurtiss.ws/eBooks_eReports

Tags: vandwelling · brenda · curtiss · accident · travel · God

The wildest thing happened! It was the third week of July and I had just completed my morning business calls (I telecommute part-time on week-days) when this beautiful auburn dog came over & started playing with Gabriel. His owner Kris came over and we began talking. I told her about traveling the USA in my campervan etc.. She was a fun full of life type person & we had a great conversation. She told me about the South Shore area, which I was not aware of and some cool places to visit there. Then she said, "I have a column due tonight! I write a column for the Weekly Reader. I want to interview you for this week's column!" Turns out the paper is distributed all over the Northland which encompasses a large area of a number of cities & towns in northern WI & northeast MN. It was published in their July 28th Issue. It was pretty cool! I hope you enjoy it! Please note the article below the photos. FYI: My next blog will be a brief tour of my journey so far with 2 or 3 of my favorite photos from the most memorable areas thus far. Come on back soon! You are always welcome to join little Gabriel & I on our journey! Later this week I will be back on the road en route to Bismarck ND, then to Billings MT & of course the Grand Canyon! All brand new discoveries for me! You too?

 

TEXT OF THE ARTICLE: The first 5 paragraphs are about a couple the author (Kristine Osbakken) also met, that originally were from the Duluth MN area & now live in NV. They came back for a summer visit & chose to stay at a Dorm in UMD for a good price instead of with family. The balance of the article is written word for word here:

Another Summer Option:

Just today at Brighton Beach, my Mem nosed out Gabriel, a PapaStzu pup, and his owner Brenda, who was working online in her van. Brenda is on a quest: to see as much of North America as she can. An adventurer from GA, she began her excursion on the east coast and plans to cross the West to Seattle and Vancouver, eventually returning east through Colorado.

But Brenda said she prefers to 'meander'. Starting in Georgia last November, her nose took her to Savannah, Hilton Head. other islands and down to Jacksonville and St. Augustine. She headed up to the New River Gorge in West Virginia, traveled across North Carolina, and exiting near Asheville, crossed the Smokies into TN. At Paducah KY, this past spring's flooding began to catch up with her. As she drove west to Cape Girardeau and into MO, the levees were being breached, so she decided to head north to WI to higher ground.

Have you seen the ads in AAA magazine to visit Sheboygan? Brenda loved the area, then advanced to Green Bay and Marinette, till on the map she saw Lake Superior with Duluth at it's tip. When she got here, she says she felt like she hit paydirt.

Last weekend, she tooled up the North Shore to Thunder Bay, and plans to explore Wisconsin's South Shore coming up. After seeing her son married last year, this intrepid 53-year-old decided to take a little road trip. You're invited to look Brenda up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/brenda.curtiss to view photos of her journey. 

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~~~>To see over 1000 (& growing) travel photos of my journey thus far + my van set-up, check out my facebook @ www.facebook.com/brenda.curtiss <~~~ 

"I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment!" ~Brenda

Tags: travel · USA · vandweller · road · trip · brenda · curtiss

People have often asked me  why I am traveling the USA in my campervan. I have wanted to explore the USA all my life but as a single parent most often worked in management,  typically 60 to 70 hours a week to take care of us (my now adult, married and on his own for a long time, son) on one income. And don't get me wrong I was very thankful for the opportunities God gave me and saw me through. But it left little time for trips and being a single parent left little money for hotels, so we often went camping in neighboring scenic areas as my son was growing up.  Being an only child it was a great time for him to play with other kids, earn ranger badges, go tubing or just sit around the campfire roasting marshmallows.  I found that exploring the National Forest & Parks or cool little towns was a passion for me as well. 

Fast forward to years later to about 2 years ago: The downturn in the economy plus some other major life shifts literally changed the overall substance of my life in many areas from finances to health.  Although monies were and are much more limited at this point in my life, otherwise it is a perfect time to indulge that nomadic side of me that has always given me a desire to explore and experience God's amazing artistry! My son recently got married and I figured now while I am not yet a grandmother and I am telecommuting, that it was far better to travel the USA in my little campervan and live life, than sit in a room somewhere watching  it on TV. I have also always loved the NW Pacific area + have a love for Orca Whales so decided one area I definitely will visit & spend a bit of time in is the NW Pacific area, Vancouver, Port Townsend et cetera  & one of the highlights of that area will be an Orca Whale Watching Tour as well.  I also plan to do a scenic train ride in CO & am visiting National Parks + traveling Scenic Byways & Great American Roads along the way. There are so many wonderful discoveries to make and I meander along taking my time exploring all kinds of wonderful places and people treasures along this awesome journey. There are some challenges, mostly due to the limited income, and or health issues but I am happy, thankful & blessed and the silver linings are amazing! :) ♥

I love to photo journal and take photos along the way and love to share my travels and experiences! So c’mon and share this journey with me and let’s make this journey a good one day by day as we meander across the USA!  So many wonderful things, places and people to discover! I love it! You in for the ride? (You can take a look at where I have been so far via my travel albums.) OK then! I would love to hear from you. Blessings for the Journey, Brenda (& her oh so adorable PapaStzu pup Gabriel)


~~~>To see over 1000 (& growing) travel photos of my journey thus far + my van set-up please check out my facebook @ www.facebook.com/brenda.curtiss <~~~

Tags: travel · baby · boomers · usa · van · brenda · curtiss