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About 20 years ago, my best friend Mike and I loaded up my trusty 1985 Honda CRX (a tiny 2-seater, but you could cram an adult male bison in the rear hatch) and headed west on the first great cross-country road trip of our lives.
We departed in early August. Our route took us from the Deep South (starting in Sweet Home Alabama, stopping by Graceland in Memphis) to Iowa (a ridiculous yet memorable detour to visit the mythical birthplace of Captain Kirk) then on to South Dakota (Mount Rushmore) and finally to the promised land of Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park.
Along the way, we saw clusters of motorcycles on the road. All headed in one direction.
The closer we got to South Dakota, the more motorcycles we saw. Pretty soon we were surrounded by leather clad bikers, packs of growling cycles flanking my 80s econobox.
“What the heck are all these bikers doing out here?” we wondered. “And are we the only ones in this state not wearing black leather?’
Then we realized. STURGIS was in full swing.
VLOG: Teton Talkin’
Here’s a brief update from the road — specifically, from gorgeous Grand Teton National Park. I’m in LOVE with our current campsite. This is the finest camping locale we’ve enjoyed all year. We are surrounded by wilderness. We have a tremendous view of some of the most beautiful mountains in North America while LYING IN [...]
VIDEO: Movin’ on U.P.
Here ya go folks. Fresh new post from the hardest workin’ man in the bloggin’ business! Sure, I don’t post as often as some. But hey, who else gives ya a FRICKIN’ TV SHOW in their blog? (Oh, I guess Diablo Cody does — in RED BAND TRAILER. Anyway…) You must agree that this is [...]
VIDEO: Slice of Chicago
This video clocks in a little longer than our usual fare. I can’t determine what the ideal length might be for an Internet video. For some people, the shorter the better. (For you short attention span people, our shortest video on YouTube is about 9 seconds long.) Other people tell me they want longer videos. [...]
VIDEO: The Greasy Spoon
As we meander around North America, we always set aside a little time to stop in local eateries. It’s often rough on the waistline, but many fond travel memories are made at the dinner table. We’ve found all sorts of fun places along the way. Some new, some old. Some pricey, and some cheap. Some [...]
VIDEO: No Man is an Island (Mackinac Island)
Our visit to Amish country sent us back a few hundred years. While not quite the Wacky Wayback Machine of Amish land, Mackinac Island rolled the clock back at least a century or so. Mackinac Island is a charming tourist destination that’s distinguished by what it DOESN’T have: motorized vehicles. It’s also a quaint little [...]
VIDEO: The Most Civilized Thing in the World
Several years ago, my brother and his family lived in Detroit. I thus visited the Motor City many times. While we spent much of our time just hangin’ out in the suburbs, we also explored vast expanses of urban sprawl for which Detroit is famous (and/or infamous). Thereafter, whenever someone mentioned “Michigan,” my brain conjured [...]
VIDEO: Amish Time
Okay, this is a weird one. The Amish pose a compelling conundrum for a travel blog. We travel types are motivated to explore. Not unlike Captain Kirk, we seek out new life and new civilizations. Most of us embrace modern technology along the way (yes, you can have my iPhone 4… when you pry it [...]
VIDEO: Our Friend Jim
As we haul our Airstream throughout North America, we often spotlight camping destinations along the way. But how about the PEOPLE we meet? Cities and parks are nice and all, but people are unforgettable. RV campers are generally a warm and friendly lot. We were stopped in a West Virginia Walmart parking lot when a [...]
VIDEO: The Royal Treatment
As I’ve written before, on LongLongHoneymoon.com we’re committed to documenting the RV lifestyle — the good, the bad, and the ugly. So here’s a facet of RV travel we’ve never previously addressed. I suppose we could classify this job as “the ugly,” although it really isn’t particularly dirty. In truth, it’s the THOUGHT of black [...]
VIDEO: Alumapalooza
Alumapalooza is a gathering of Airstream enthusiasts. It’s unique because it takes place on factory property in Jackson Center, Ohio. We camp right behind the building where our Airstream was built. Camping at Airstream has many upsides. While at the factory, we took advantage of the excellent Airstream Service center. Our Airstream “Liv” got new [...]
VIDEO: Under Pressure
Pressure washing — an addictive activity? It’s definitely dangerous, as you see in the video. But in addition to splitting human skin, will it split aluminum seams? Overall, my approach is moderation in all things, including moderation. We have owned our Airstream for several years, and this is the first time we’ve chosen to pressure [...]
VIDEO: See? I DO Know Jack
For those of you who think I don’t know jack about RV repair, I finally have a video to prove you wrong. In the past you’ve heard me bemoan the fragility of our power jack. The sacrificial part in question is a little nylon gear. This gear works fine for the most part, but if [...]
VIDEO: SEEMORE’s Got a New Pair of Shoes
When the time rolled around for new tires, I faced a minor dilemma. The OEM tires on SEEMORE, our Ford F250, were Continental Contitracs. Our experience with these tires was pretty good. We got just over 47,000 miles of service, and that’s after putting these slabs of steel-belted rubber through some of the most intense [...]
VIDEO: Our Yamaha EF3000iSEB
After we bought our RV, we quickly realized that electricity is quite useful. Unless you like ice-cold coffee, blank TV screens, and sweltering summer heat, you’ll want the ability to camp with substantial amounts of the stuff on hand. But since one can’t purchase extension cords in mile-long lengths, we need portable options. What about [...]
VIDEO: Liv’s Sad Trim
One of the great upsides of Airstream ownership, in my opinion, is the product’s longevity. Airstreams are not disposable. Over 70% of all Airstream travel trailers ever built (going back to the 1930s) are still in use today. So if you are a “buy and hold” type like myself, it’s a natural fit. In all [...]
VIDEO: Stuff Breaks
I like stuff. But stuff breaks. There’s a Bob Dylan song in which the old man croons, “Everything is broken.” Sometimes I feel this way about my stuff. What’s wrong with my stuff? Why does all of my stuff seem to break?
VIDEO: The Secret to Backing Up an RV
One of the most intimidating tasks awaiting any new towable RV owner is backing into a campsite. The process is counter-intuitive. When traveling in reverse, you’ll find that the trailer responds to steering inputs in a fashion that’s completely opposite to what you expect. Sometimes back-in campsites can be narrow, and require the type of [...]
VIDEO: Water Water Everywhere – Part 1, Part 1
Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink ; Water, water, every where, Nor any drop to drink. Samuel Taylor Coleridge Rime of the Ancient RVer Mariner Water — it does a body good. For the moment, our Long Long Honeymoon is veering into edumacational territory. It strikes me that the gigantic edumacational [...]
VIDEO: Sleeping Around … the USA, in an Airstream
A week or so ago, I asked my Twitter friends for topic suggestions. Someone (yes, I’m referring to you JJohnston1975) suggested integrating “creature comforts” and the spa experience with RVing. Personally, I’ve been wanting to do a blog about sleep for a long time. So these two topics dovetail in this LongLongHoneymoon.com entry. I’m a [...]
VIDEO: Battle of the Airstream Floorplans!
Confession: I find RV floor plans strangely fascinating. Okay, “fascinating” may be a stretch. I mean, I don’t sit around all day dreaming about floor plans. But it’s quite remarkable how many different combinations manufacturers create. I’ve likened RV floor plans to Mexican food entrees — the chef always starts with the SAME BASIC INGREDIENTS (meat, [...]
VIDEO: Meet Señor Propano!
One of the primary missions of our website is to document RV ownership. We like to help educate newcomers to RV camping. It can all be a little perplexing at first. So why haven’t we talked about liquefied propane (LP)? Well folks, now you know what’s inside those mysterious aluminum canisters resting at the fore [...]
VIDEO: RVIA? We’ve Been There
Recently we hauled our Airstream to RVIA, the annual industry convention in Louisville, Kentucky. We found ourselves “camping” in freezing weather upon an enormous slab of asphalt. Oddly, this is much more fun than it sounds. I’m happy to report that Airstreams are quite comfortable in sub-freezing weather, provided one’s heat furnace is working properly. [...]
VIDEO: Old School, New Faucet
Overall, we’ve been happy with our Airstream Classic. Although the company makes hipper models with contemporary interiors, we also like the “old school” experience of Airstream camping. Sure, the decor is a bit long in the tooth, but it channels generations of Airstream campers who have preceded us. It’s more of a country cabin than [...]
VIDEO: Alien Encounter… in the Shrubbery
Okay, here are a few photos of wildlife — the tiny variety. Last week Kristy and I were lounging on some sun chairs in Florida. Yes, with apologies to our friends up north, it was sunny enough for sunbathing. (This obviously was before Hurricane Ida came to town.) Anyway, behind our sun chairs was a [...]
VIDEO: Did the Ancient Romans Tailgate?
According to Wikipedia, “in North America, a tailgate party is a social event held on and around the open tailgate of a vehicle.” Which begs the question, what is a tailgate party in South America? A form of sociopolitical rebellion? But I digress.
VIDEO: Wally’s World
“Do they still make those things?” Every Airstream owner, sooner or later, hears this question. This indicates the degree to which the Airstream travel trailer has achieved iconic status. But if I were running the company, I’d find the question deeply troubling. I mean, if your potential customers don’t even realize you are still manufacturing [...]
VIDEO: The Honeymoon Capital of the World?
Probably the highest compliment I can pay Niagara Falls is that it looks fake. To be more precise, at times the natural scenery is so spectacular, it seems to good to be true. We snapped a couple of photos with our SLR. Viewing the results, I just shook my head. But it is true. People [...]
VIDEO: Ontario, Eh?
Oh, Canada? Oh my… Where to begin? The transition from Quebec to Ontario is subtle, but the difference is dramatic. There’s no border check (not yet anyway) but when you see that first “Welcome to Ontario” sign you’re already back on more familiar turf. Whereas Quebec feels like another country, Ontario feels like another state [...]
VIDEO: Parlez-Vous RV?
When visiting different places, travel “experts” tell us to visit museums, tour historic buildings, and generally behave like obedient fourth graders on a field trip. Our approach, for better or for worse, has always been a little different…
VIDEO: Maine Event
For the past six months, Maine has been an ethereal, theoretical destination for our Long Long Honeymoon. If we had a dollar for every time we exclaimed, “This spring, we’re taking our Airstream up to Maine!” our fuel expenses would be covered. So now that we finally made it, has Maine lived up to our [...]
VIDEO: Regarding Henry
Is it possible to visit Boston without actually, um, visiting Boston? When we rolled into Beantown, we set up camp in a rural area some 30 miles outside the metropolis.
VIDEO: Camping in New York?
On our Long Long Honeymoon, we’ve enjoyed our share of rustic camping locations. Places like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and Glacier National Park come to mind. Getting back to nature is what camping’s all about, right? But what happens when we take our “condo on wheels” into an urban environment like NEW YORK CITY?
VIDEO: Icons
As a general rule, our “Long Long Honeymoon” is a lighthearted show. We focus more upon the fun stuff than the alternative. I figure there’s enough bad news in the world. Why add to it?
VIDEO: Life on the Road
‘Tis said that “the journey is the destination.” But what does that mean? For our Long Long Honeymoon, it illustrates a key upside to RV travel vis-a-vis the old fly-and-rent route.
QUESTION: Do You Buy Extended Warranties?
Extended warranties — to buy or not to buy? That is the question.
VIDEO: Spring Cleaning
One of our ongoing missions here at LongLongHoneymoon.com is to document the RV ownership experience. After all, many of our readers and video watchers are researching RV purchases when they discover (and immediately bookmark, right?) this site. This leads us to cover a few topics beyond the usual. Sure, it’s fun to capture photos of [...]
VIDEO: Snowbirds
On our Long Long Honeymoon, we often like to talking about “seizing the day.” But what does that mean? To me, it means having the courage to live the life you want to live.
VIDEO: Eye of the Tigre
Although we only RV’d for a short while in Argentina, we learned quite a lot. In this article I’ll review some of what you can expect if you rent an RV in the country.
VIDEO: Argentina Part 2 — Ruta|Sur
If you want to RV camp in Argentina, the most obvious method is to fly into the country and rent an RV. So that’s what we did. Our rental company of choice was Ruta|Sur (the name’s Spanish for “Road South”).
VIDEO: Garmin Nuvi 660 GPS Review
My love for technology and gadgets is well documented. I’m usually an early adopter when it comes to this stuff. Confessional case-in-point: in 1995, I made the unfortunate decision to install Microsoft Bob on my PC. We can’t be absolutely certain, but I think I was the only person in North America to install Bob. [...]
VIDEO: Gone Hollywood
Kristy and I will be appearing on HGTV’s “RV 2009″ show on April 3. During the filming of “RV 2009,” a TV crew followed us as we toured “America’s Largest RV Show” in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The premise of the show had us shopping for a larger RV. Unfortunately, we had no Airstreams to tour at [...]
VIDEO: Useful RV Products
Over the past couple of years, we’ve managed to stock our RV with a variety of useful items. A few of these products have achieved “must have” status, in that we wouldn’t go camping without having them on board. Since we often receive questions about these products, we thought we’d create a page with a [...]
VIDEO: The RV Road Atlas
Maps. No great American road trip is complete without ‘em. Or is it? Sometimes it’s tempting to think we can leave the maps at home. After all, these days they’re packing GPS units in cereal boxes. And GPS units have maps, right?
VIDEO: Argentina Part 1
There comes a time in every creative venture when the show must travel overseas. The Brady Bunch went to Hawaii. The Facts of Life went to Paris. And Steve Urkel? I guess Urkel never went anywhere, although I really wish he had done so. (He could have stayed for a long time.) So it only seems reasonable [...]
VIDEO: RVs & Marriage
I have a friend in the RV business. He studies the industry and the people who buy RVs. He’s privy to a lot of “inside information” about RV travel, the results of some sophisticated market research. Well, this fellow insists that RV travel promotes healthy marriage. As evidence supporting his claim, he says that the [...]
VIDEO: Winter Camping
With overnight temperatures dropping into the teens, Kristy and I decided to hitch up our Airstream, tow it to a nearby state park, and do a little camping in the cold. The low temperature was a bone-chilling 21 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind chill dropping into single digits. By any measure, that’s a hard freeze. So [...]
VIDEO: The Best $24.95 We Spent All Year
When we first embarked on our Long, Long Honeymoon adventures, we quite frankly had no clue what we were doing. Since we were newcomers to RV travel, there was much to learn. And I’m talking about more than electric jacks and sewer hoses. We were also learning about campground options, and where we might like [...]
VIDEO: We’re Going Camping
Ancient philosophy and RV camping: the two go together like lobster and smores.
VIDEO: Tour of Our Airstream
We get several requests from folks who want to see more of our Airstream, which we sometimes call “Liv.” (What? You don’t name your inanimate objects?) So here’s a brief video of the gal…
VIDEO: Santa Fab
We experienced a few episodes of extreme wind and rainfall in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It’s always interesting to ride out a storm in an Airstream. Due to the trailer’s aluminum skin, you enjoy the “rain on a tin roof” effect that’s actually rather soothing (assuming, of course, your shelter doesn’t topple over in a [...]
VIDEO: The Long, Long Trailer
You watch The Long, Long Trailer for one reason. And that’s to see Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball together at the height of their 1950s popularity.
ROUGH CUT: Moon of Honey in the Trailer
Thanksgiving offers the opportunity to reflect on life, liberty, and the pursuit of full hookup campgrounds. As we take a fond gaze in the proverbial rearview mirror, we see another action-packed year of whimsical RV antics, mind-expanding personal growth, and charming Wal-Mart parking lots.
VIDEO: Disney’s Fort Wilderness – at Halloween!
Recently, someone asked us to name a few favorite camping locales we’ve discovered on The Long, Long Honeymoon. I’m partial to remote, rural, dry camping sites out West, in obscure places far removed from civilization. But my wife has different tastes. Her favorite is probably that little full hookup spot we found down in Florida. [...]
VIDEO: Wifi in Motion
As a devout online blogger, an Internet connection is as important to me as fresh water and diesel. More than once we’ve made overnight camping decisions based upon the answer to one crucial question: “Do they have wifi?” Thankfully, we no longer have to ask that question. Now we have our own wifi. We’ve installed [...]
VIDEO: When Pigs Fly
One of the best upsides to RV ownership, as we’ve discussed, is the ability to haul around your own hotel room. It’s even better when you park it right next door to a major community event. That’s just what we did in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when we attended the fantastic International Balloon Fiesta. Owning an [...]
VIDEO: The $1,128,000,000 Campground
How valuable was this camping experience? We’ve been told that a half acre of land on the Las Vegas Strip recently sold for $47 million. And yet, here’s a massive swath of such land dedicated to a full hookup RV campground. So I guess our little campsite is worth at least $5,000,000, and the campground [...]
VIDEO: RV vs. Hotel (A Slightly Biased View)
Being travel enthusiasts, my wife and I have stayed everywhere from flea-infested hostels, to skanky motels, to cozy bed & breakfasts, to five-star resorts. I’d like to think we’ve learned something about hotels, and how they compare vis-a-vis RVs. So let’s ponder the timeless question: “What’s better, staying in an RV or in a hotel?” [...]
VIDEO: Axle Woes
In a recent blog post, we discussed our mysterious tire wear. One of our tires has been rapidly wearing on the inside, in a pattern suspiciously reminiscent of crop circles. What was causing this strange phenomenon?
VIDEO: Telluride and Mesa Verde
Traveling to historic places is obviously good for the mind. Nothing enhances one’s understanding of history like viewing what’s left of it. But it’s also good for the soul. There’s something both sobering and magical about being amongst sites that were occupied by humans long ago. It provides perspective. It’s not just a matter of [...]
VIDEO: Locked Out… And Lovin’ It!
Okay, so it finally happened to us. We managed to lock ourselves out of our Airstream. “How did this happen,” you ask? (And yes, I can hear you snickering.) It was easy! On an Airstream there are two door locks. One of these is a deadbolt-style lock. We use it on a daily basis. The [...]
VIDEO: New Mexication
Do you believe in miracles? Sometimes in our RV travels, we come across things that cannot be easily explained. That was the case a few weeks ago in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where we explored the Loretto Chapel and its “miraculous staircase.” As you’ll see in the video, this hand built wooden staircase is a [...]
VIDEO: Camping on Route 66
America is replete with privately owned RV parks. Some of these parks have been in operation for decades. The best deliver not only a pleasant camping environment, but also a sense of history. It’s more than a good night’s rest. It’s a cultural experience. It’s always a good sign when your campground hosts also own [...]
VIDEO: Confessions of a Wal-Mart Camper
Q: How many times have you camped in a Wal-Mart parking lot? A: I’m not sure exactly. Maybe a dozen.
VIDEO: Pit Stop
Remember when you were a child? You’d receive new toys with no concept that they might someday actually break. You’d tear open that shiny new package, rip out the contents, and start putting your new acquisition through hell. Ah, those were the days.
VIDEO: Happy Packers?
One mission of this website is to document the details of RV life. Want to know what RV travel is REALLY like? We’ll lift the curtain for you.
VIDEO: Tire Issues
In a little over a year of ownership, we’ve had three flat tires on our Airstream. The first occurred in Myers Flat, California. After rolling into one of the prettiest private campgrounds in California’s redwood forests, our tire died. We woke up the next morning, and it was just…gone. It didn’t even leave a note. [...]
VIDEO: Randy Pausch, His Message, and RVs
A few years ago, a friend of mine — who also happened to be one of the most talented comedians I’ve known — suffered a heart attack. As a comic, this guy was absolutely hilarious. He was always bursting with rambunctious energy and zany, off-the-wall humor. So his heart condition came as something of a [...]
VIDEO: Happy Campers!
For someone who has consumed more than his fair share of wine (just ask my liver), my palate is remarkably imprecise. I know what I like. I know the difference between a good wine and a bad wine. Thanks to the words “corporate expense account,” I’ve had a fair amount of experience with high dollar [...]
VIDEO: Is Lake Louise an Elaborate Hoax?
A few years ago, a couple of employees at Yellowstone National Park played a joke on the tourists. They placed a large hand crank apparatus on top of a wooden box. Next they set the whole contraption in the vicinity of the world famous Old Faithful geyser, which always naturally erupts once per hour. Just [...]
VIDEO: The Simple Life?
When in college, I worked a couple of summers in Yellowstone National Park. My job was usually in the kitchen, where my friends and I could be found chopping vegetables, flipping burgers, or (if we were lucky) scooping ice cream for tourists. As you might imagine, the work paid peanuts. We invested many long, hot, [...]
VIDEO: Sean Gets Injured – Again!
If you lead an active lifestyle, eventually you’re going to suffer an injury. Your odds of injury may actually increase when you travel.
VIDEO: Blowing All Your Money in Canada
Last time I wrote about beating gas prices by camping close to home. So it seems fitting that in today’s post we consider what happens when you throw caution to the wind, and camp FAR AWAY from home. For my wife Kristy and I, the time we spent in Canada’s stunning Banff National Park qualifies. [...]
VIDEO: How to Beat High Gas Prices!
Have high gas prices got you down? Have you been pondering whether to even take an RV trip this summer? Are you considering driving your daily commute in an electric golf cart? Fear not, my friends. You can have your RV, and camp in it too. Of course, the secret is simple. If you want [...]
VIDEO: Camping on the Beach
One of the most delightful aspects of RV ownership has been discovering the variety of environments in which we can camp. We’ve camped in friends’ driveways and in Wal-Mart parking lots. We’ve camped in national, state, and city parks. We’ve camped in public and private campgrounds. We’ve camped in the mountains, we’ve camped alongside majestic [...]
VIDEO: The Best Secret Hot Springs
Our most frightening towing experience happened in remote British Columbia. We were following a tip offered by a park ranger in Alberta. “If you want nice hot springs,” the ranger said, “check out Lussier Springs. It’s in British Columbia, down near Canal Flats.” We gamely turned on the highway to Lussier Springs, and were shocked [...]
VIDEO: Towin’ and Backin’
To tow or not to tow: that is the question. Whether it is nobler in the mind to haul a travel trailer, pop-up camper, or fifth wheel… or to just say “fuhgettaboutit” and drive a motor home? Here are a few scattered thoughts on the towing experience as it relates to RVs.
VIDEO: Kicking Tires
Even though we’re pretty much died-in-the-wool (whatever that means) Airstream enthusiasts, we enjoy browsing RVs of all types. No matter what kind of RV you own, it’s always interesting to view other options. What frequently impresses me about the RV industry is the sheer overwhelming variety of options. These choices are either wonderful or baffling, [...]
VIDEO: Camping & Cooking
The subject of cooking aboard an RV is not as simple and straightforward as one might think. Every RV is equipped with different cooking capabilities that range from “hunter/gatherer caveman” to “Julia Child’s kitchen on wheels.” Our Airstream falls somewhere in the middle on this scale. We do have a full kitchen on our rig, [...]
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