Yesterday a couple cruised through the campground and stopped to talk. They’d seen the bus while out walking around the park and had to come have a look. We invited them to have a peek inside and they both climbed in. The conversation was hilarious.
Him: “Wow. See honey, we could do this. This is great. Look, there’s a stove with three burners. Heck, you only use two at the most. There’s a bathroom, right? Yep, see, there’s a bathroom. And a couch. See honey, this is all you really need.”
Her: With the most horribly distorted half-smile I’ve ever seen on anybody’s face in my entire life, “Mmm-hmm.”
That was it. He kept on for a minute or two, but realized pretty quickly the hard sell wasn’t working—he was going to have to switch tactics.
To each their own.
We’re loving this lifestyle. It’s only been a week, but I’m in heaven. So is Ali—we hooked up the water system just today, finally, and she was over the moon with joy. Running water! Will wonders never cease? Seriously though, we are really happy right now, and I think most of that happiness can be attributed to one simple thing—the kids spending so much time outside.
One of the greatest things about this lifestyle is the time spent outdoors. All day long, outside. The second we stop the bus after a drive Lowe starts in with, “Blue bike. Blue bike. Blue bike.” All he wants is to get on that bike and go. Same goes for Ouest. Between bikes, and playgrounds, and hikes in the woods, and baseball, and dump trucks, we’re all worn out at the end of the day. Quite happily. The kids are sleeping great in their new room together, and Lowe has even had a few mornings in bed until after seven. That’s a solid two hour difference from what he had been doing. Oh, the difference that makes.
And I’ve said it before, but I really love driving. I could just tool along at thirty miles an hour for the rest of my life and you’d never hear me complain. I wish the whole world was connected by one extremely long two-lane road. And driving while sitting up as high as a trucker? Awesomeness.
You know what else I like about this lifestyle versus sailing? The complete lack of stress. Total. Sailing never stressed me out, but everything that goes along with sailing did. Keeping the boat in shape, knowing how much relied on the engine, the weather, the planning—my god, the planning. Sailing is a never ending planning session: from routes, to weather, to food, to what things on the to-do list are must-dos. I just couldn’t feel free. That’s all gone with the bus. Every last bit of it.
The sense of adventure isn’t as strong, especially in the States, but I’ve had that and will certainly have it again—right now though, I’m totally content with this.
You really can’t start a morning off better than this.
As we were pulling out of the parking lot a guy pulled in front of us in his pickup and jumped out. He was smiling ear to ear, hopped right on over to the bus, and opened the door.
“Where’d y’all get this? This is great!”
Can’t tell you how happy we are that we got the fabric done before we left. It makes the bus. Not to mention it’s super comfy.
Camped right on the Mississippi, watching and listening to the tug traffic day and night. But better than that was the free laundry machines. We would do a load a day if we could. Instead the kids and I just wear our clothes until they stand up on their own.
This place will be underwater in the next couple of weeks when things start to thaw a bit up north.
Dinner and dishes in our mini kitchen.
This morning we met a Bum friend who let us follow him into downtown Memphis, where we were able to park for free and jump on the trolley. We all had breakfast together at Elvis’ old hangout, the Arcade Restaurant, and learned lots of Memphis history. Nice time. After that we walked around town for a while before jumping on another trolley and just riding it around in loops until we felt like calling it a day. We had meant to see a museum or two, but really, just wandering is more our style.
If our kids were to get lost in a campground I don’t think anybody would have a problem figuring out which bus they belonged to. (Lowe would tell them, “Papa’s Blue Bus!”)
We’re camped across the street from Graceland tonight, but I can’t sleep because I can’t stop thinking about how they want thirty bucks a head to walk through this actor guys’ house.
55 Comments on “Graceland”
Looks like a great day to me … Enjoy the rest of your stay in Memphis. It looks like lows will be in the 60s until the weekend.
Be sure and have some Memphis bar-b-que while your there, a good sandwich topped with coleslaw…YUMMMY…spent a lot of time in Memphis as a kid…
30 mph forever without worry sounds pretty sweet to me. And the kids are going to have such amazing experiences all over the place! That photo of Ouest holding the streetcar strap, just precious! She’s looking so big kid these days. So… turning left soon for Annapolis right? 😉
Great photos. They always are, but these are just really cool.
I really see your comparison with cruising. Boat don’t go? Trouble. Coach don’t go? Put on a movie and have some dinner. And the two lane road route is the best way to see the land. Cruiser attitude without the need for weather faxes or a depth sounder!
Oh, and if you hit Annapolis we’re just over the Bay Bridge and past Kent Island on the Wye River. Plenty of parking and good times outdoors! Plus, you really should drive the bus over the bridge at least once…!
@Pic#5: Wow . . . If that lure’s as large as it appears to be, how big are the fish there?
TJ
If you make it to the Birmingham area you’ve got a driveway to park in if needed or a great state park just a few miles away. Just let us know
America. What a trip!
I recommend the Fiesta Omelet for your next WH stop. If it’s too early for jalapenos, they will substitute mushrooms.
Is NOLA a destination down the river? If so this fan would like to buy ya’ll a beer.
Tom Sawyer campground and Poplar Bluff. You guys are hitting some familiar campgrounds. Glad you are enjoying it.
Love the pic of Ouest in the trolley. Great one.
Looks like you all are at Tom Sawyer in West Memphis. Love that campground. Are you heading east? I thought for sure you’d head west. Oh well, it’s all good.
I’ve lived on a boat and now in a motorhome and I totally know what you mean. This is much better to me.
All the best to Ali and the kids. I am loving your new adventure.
I’ve been following you all since I found you on a sailing blog right around the time you were fighting the seas in Australia on your cat(I’m not a boater, but have always been fascinated with the stories). Now, you’re packing it up and hitting the road in an RV with the family…that’s an amazing gift you have. I can’t wait to see what’s ahead in your adventure. I’m convinced that someday, I’ll be doing the same thing….safe travels! Hopefully we’ll see you in Florida!
What a great day. The Lorraine has to be a downer though.
I’m sure you will get your share of adventure soon enough. Years ago my friend borrowed one of those coaches from his dad, drove it from Marin County down to San Carlos, Baja to our annual windsurf camp. It hadn’t been used for years, the trip down was relatively uneventful but they made 17 stops for repairs on the way home. Fixed the radiator repeatedly with sailboard epoxy and visegrips, that kind of thing the whole way. You know you just can’t have good times like that with modern vehicles!
What a neat areitlc. I had no inkling.
have lived in 34 ft Dutch Star by newmar- for 3 years- for me – I need slide out to be comfortable- but really like your 1966 – very nice! J have followed you around the world in your boat– me – I took the airplane way- Have family in Shakopee minn- grew up in wisc- but Florida is my winter home- never tire of beach and palm trees walden creek rv steve
you should check out Box Canyon Blog if ever interested and checking out western U S A-
Aloha, guys!
Don’t know if I ever told you, but for a few years I had a cabover camper with a two burner stove and icebox, footpump water and I devised a way to make the vabover bed slide into a queen. It was sweet. AAA paid me to first do the top half of the country driving small roads as close to Canada without crossing over all the way from Blaine, WA to Northern Maine. It was awesome, and I soooo remember Minnesota Nice, with families taking in an unshaved 6’3″ guy into their home for the night without question. I was already a sailor, so it felt spacious. I wrote a series of articles. Then, they liked it so much I did the South half from what is now Border Field State Park, CA to Key West without crossing into Mexico. It was AWESOME!! I was on the second trip during February – Super Bowl on the only TV (with my Niners) within 300 miles in Big Bend, Texas, the bayous of Louisiana, Mardi Gras (with a press pass) at ground zero on Bourbon Street for a week with Harry Connick, Jr. and Richard Simmons (who is a Cajun), all my relatives in South Alabama, an alligator in my campsite in the Everglades and of course crazy Key West while Jimmy Buffett was recording an album there. I love, as always, your honesty about loving the campering lifestyle and the difference with Crusing. It is so spot on and I’ll bet during the couples’ visit you said to yourself for the 15,712th time ThankGod for Ali!! Camper on, Bums!! 🙂
Best burger and kid friendly in Memphis …Hueys!
I’m glad you guys are having fun and sailing does take lots of planning.
Saw these little snap things online last night, and instantly thought of you & the broken canopy.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/100134791689537929/
Not sure if something like this would have helped for that situation, but maybe in the future might prevent some mishaps with kids pulling at your attention. Water, power, big canopy, small canopy, etc.
When we tow the trailer, we always, always use the back roads as much as we possibly can. It’s just way more fun, there’s more to see and when somebody it hungry or needs to use the bathroom there’s always a space to pull over and hang out for an hour or so.
I never plan on covering more than 250km (150m) per day when we’re travelling with the kids. A trip from Lake Erie’s Long Point Provincial Park where we’ll be spending time in June, to Algonquin Park will take us a leisurely two to three days. If you hammer it on the highway, you can do it in five hours.
OK Elvis is not just some actor he was the KING of Rock and Roll.
He sings too?
I found your website about a week ago and have read through just about every post. My DH and I have been camping in tents, pop ups, travel trailers and now a fifth wheel since we were married. We plan to “retire” in 5 years when we’re 55. We thought that was young ha ha! We are a bit more conservative than the 2 of you, but plan to pretty much live in our fifth wheel then. I have loved following your adventures and look forward to see what’s next for you. We are from Minnesota too (lived in Woodbury when both of our daughters were born) and I agree with you – I would be happy to never see winter again.
Im sure you have heard of the Natchez Trace Parkway. You werent too far from in in Memphis. A sweet relaxing drive, & I think its campgrounds are free.
http://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm
And a little -stress- may be supplied by the mechanicals of the bus. Even though the Dodge chassis is an excellent truck, its still olde. How old are the belts and hoses on the V8, how old the fuel pump, have all the zerk fittings gotten a shot of lube, is the fuel filter clogging from rust in the fuel tank, etc. etc. I carried spares of such things when we travelled in our Winnie; plus kept a journal of repairs/maintenance.
No, the mechanicals provide me with no stress. Belts and hoses break, you stick your thumb out and get a ride to an auto parts store. Fuel pump craps out, you get towed in, hop on the internet and wait two days for a new one to arrive. All the zerks took their lube as they should. No, the fuel filter isn’t clogging. Basically, none of this stresses me out because it is all so readily repairable. At worst, while in the States, you will experience a bit of inconvenience for a day or two. Doesn’t bother me in the least.
And it’s not like your in the Malacca Straits….
What is this thaw that you speak of? We are being threatened with another 6-12 inches of snow again tonight & tomorrow.
I know this is off the wall…but, I’ve been wondering. Why don’t their bikes have pedals ? happy RVing
They are glide bikes (google it).
Hi guys, I love the pics of the signs in Memphis and of Quest on trolley. Thanks for sharing.
Welcome to Memphis! I usually follow this blog pretty closely, as I’ve been a big fan since reading “Bumfuzzle” and “Live on the Margin.” Anyway, I take a week off, and wouldn’t you know it? The Bumfuzzle clan visits my hometown! Well, I hope you have a great time. If you are in the mood for good bar-b-que, try Cozy Corner, Paynes BBQ, Central BBQ, or Interstate BBQ. Definitely enjoy a slow drive down Mud Island. Consider visiting the Metal Museum.
If you are continuing south, probably down Highway 61, consider checking out the Blues Museum and the Shack-Up Inn in Clarksdale (downtown Clarksdale is a photographer’s dream, as is the Shack-Up).
I’m looking forward to more of your adventures! If you are still in Memphis and need anything, just email.
I just love the image of all the Bum fans jumping into the road waving big signs that say “Turn Here! Free Beer, Free Food, Free Camping!”
Pick me, pick me!
hahahaha booster is always a douche!
Seriously Kevin, you’ve got to find something better to do with your time. There is more to life than waiting for Bobster to post a comment and then calling him a name.
Good point thank you. However, it is really just an avocation.
Just one of many similar avocations I imagine.
We lived in Memphis for a year. We thought $30 was too much to walk through Graceland too, so we just did a drive by. The only thing we did while living there was visit the Peabody Hotel to see the ducks. The kids loved that.
Pat, I’ve recently found your blog and have enjoyed what I have read so far. I have wanted to begin investing (aside from retirement account through work) and will soon be ordering your book. I’m not sure if you cover it, but what are your thoughts on binary options? Would you suggest it for the novice investor?
We don’t cover binary options in the book. Frankly, if you are a novice trading binary options you will soon be broke. The big boys will take every last bit of it from you. Please don’t get involved.
When you get to Texas/Louisiana make sure you check out Caddo Lake. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/caddo-lake
Judging by the comments, I think you’re new venture is a hit! What a hoot!
Darn autocorrect: your!
You are in the area of COE (Army Corps of Engineers) campgrounds…..mighty reasonable. Then as you go west you will hit BLM (BureaU OF LAND MANAGEMENT) AND CAN CAME FOR FREE! Right now, we are in Anza Borrego State Park in California….at Clark Dry Lake…BLM. Love it! Come join us.
I haven’t read all the other comments, sorry if this is a repeat of some of their ideas.
First – PAPER PLATES AND BOWLS. I know it’s nice to use real plates and bowls, but time and water are precious to RVers, as you’ll find out if you decide to boondock.
Second, SOLAR PANELS. You really like your freedom, and solar will give you that. Expensive at first, but since January 1, 2013 I’ve spent $28 in campground fees. My solar and Wave 3 propane heater are all I need to park anywhere for free on BLM land. New Mexico has State Park annual passes for $225 – and dry camping is free in any of their parks. $4/night for elect with the pass. Long Term Visitor Permits that are $180 are good to camp free for 6 months at a time in AZ/CA along their border by Yuma and El Centro. Free water fill-ups and dumping. Sunshine!!! Head West, young man!
Third – you’ve got to have a LIST for leaving a site to make sure everything is done and stowed and you’re ready to go. Check off each thing on the list when it’s DONE. Once I started to drive away with my electric cord still plugged in, thank God I stopped in time. Same thing with setting up – you’ll be interrupted by people walking by, the kids, etc., whether arriving or leaving, and it’s a good idea to have a comprehensive To-Do List. There are a lot of them on-line you can use.
You guys are going to have so much fun – RVing just gets better and better! 🙂
You must be Barbara from Me and My Dog . . . and My RV. If so, you’ve done a great job with your blog. Say Hi to Katie . . . 😉
Hi Barbara. It is more likely that I’ll be hit by a comet at 11:43:15 PM tonight than it is that I will ever go online to find a RVers to-do list. 🙂 I’m just sayin’.
Hi Barbara,
Yes, you should have read the blog: the solar panels are in the cardboard boxes under the roof rack (https://www.bumfuzzle.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Apr03-6.jpg) but Pat could not install them before heading south because it was too cold back in MN.
This is so strange, to see y’all staying at Tom Sawyer, and now Graceland, RV parks… same spots we “camped” in while in Memphis. Yes, it is a rip-off, but you just have to go to Graceland. Just do it.
My family and I travel between Canada and the US about monthly. We’re from Maine but living in Canada. Anyhow it’s a ten hour drive that we do in one day. We have kids the same age as yours. My question is, does Ali have to entertain them the whole drive? What kinds of things are they doing while strapped in?! We have a DVD player but don’t really want hours of junky tv watching…
I am glad to hear the stress level is down in the RV. We spent a year down in Mexico sailing the same waters, even spent the summer in San Carlos…. In that time I never really was able to relax as I was always worried about something on the boat, the anchor dragging, whatever needed fixing, etc. It was never that bad, but it was always there. We moved back to land to have our kids, second one is due in 4 weeks, and are currently actively searching for an RV hoping that it will be a little lower stress and allow us to visit more family than the boat.
On the RV front we are focussing on a class C so we can have to beds and not have to tear ours down every day. But cruising around in a classic like yours is really appealing. Classic class C’s are not very good looking in my opinion, so who knows what we will end up with. Nice to hear you are able to make 150 miles a day, sounds like a good number.
Just wanted you to know I smiled when I saw your praises being sung by Brad over on “Drive Nacho Drive.” I would concur with him and raise my glass to you for the consistently well written blog you have created and continue to create on a regular basis. Would have to say your blog as well as Brad and Sheena’s are my top two favorites! Thanks for sharing and inspiring!