Birthday Girl
Monday was Kelly’s birthday and the gift she most wanted is to be carefree and happy.
Tonight she is off to a good start and I could not be happier for her.
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Me, my wife, and a dog … living and traveling full-time in our 188 sq ft Airstream trailer. Living mobile since April 2015. Celebrating early retirement since March 2018.
My Instagram Photos
. The elevation here in south-central Kentucky is just over 1,300ft. While this altitude is nothing to outright dismiss, it is hardly on par with abundance of 5,000+ heights common to the western portions of the US I am more accustomed to. . In the absence of elevation to ascend, a lot of hiking seems to instead descend into valleys and gorges. And so, we venture into the belly of the beast. . . . #bigsouthfork #kentucky #rvlife #lifeontheroad #homeiswhereyouparkit #optoutside. The thick, lush tree canopy high above ensures the area is wet, green, and beautiful. The air is cool, but not cold. Countless varieties of wild mushrooms grow uninhibited. There is a surreal, almost magical feeling out here. . The trails are slick and technical; the descents sketchy. . Damn, it is good to be out of the city and in the woods rolling on two wheels. . . . #bigsouthfork #mtbiking #pivotcycles #rvlife. People often assume Kelly and I must find it lonely living on the road, but the reality is that we regularly socialize with a diverse group of people. . The past six weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. We re-entered the States in Montana over Labor Day weekend and now sit in south-central Kentucky. . During this stretch Kelly and I visited with 74 people, four dogs, and two puppies (yes, we made a list and counted). . It was great connecting with family and friends, all of whom graciously found time in their busy schedules for us - many on multiple occasions. . Of course my favorite visits were with my immediate family ... the rag-tag group pictured above. By not living in Minneapolis, Kelly and I are the ones keeping this group two down more often than not, but it was nice to have the band back together for a few weeks. . With the whirlwind tour completed, Kelly and I are now decompressing deep in the woods of southern Kentucky and eastern Tennessee before resurfacing three weeks from now in Asheville for more socializing. . . . Photo credit @lauracarrollphoto. Function Over Fashion. As long as I can remember, I’ve held these words true. . Consequently, I’ve never had the nicest clothes, fanciest cars, or grandest house. But, my life is nearly always practical and efficient. . This week my simple rule has resulted in perhaps our worst camping spot ever. We’re paying $30 per night to be sandwiched between a constant flow of semi trucks depositing convention center goods on one side, and on the other - freight & commuter trains shake the ground as they rumble along their way. . All of this mind you, beneath a never-ending roar of commercial aircraft descending upon Midway Airport. . However, what this shitty spot does offer is super convenient access to downtown Chicago. . This time next week I’ll again be deep in the woods, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. By then, surely I’ll be anxious for my rendezvous with peace and tranquility. . But first, I’m very much looking forward to catching-up with the city That was home for half of my life. . . . #homeiswhereyouparkit #rvlife #airstreamlife #worstcampsiteever #functionoverfashion. Date night on a Saturday night in Madison during college football season. . Heading into the 4th quarter the Badgers were rolling and #camprandall stadium was shaking.. The RAGING GRANNIES headline this morning’s Madison farmers market, and they had plenty to say.. Only a mother would tolerate her son and his wife completely blocking vehicle access to the garage for a few weeks. My mom is cool like that. . It’s been a great extended visit to Minneapolis, but now it’s time to be moving on.. A lot of sweat, elbow grease, and a few beers later, things are once again looking presentable at the tongue end of the trailer. . 45,000 miles of road scars are no more ... and I’m looking forward to accumulating the next round of travel bruises. . . . #projectsinmymomsdriveway #airstreammaintenance #rvlife #airstreamlife. Back in my hometown for a few days where there are no mountain trails, so I ride to neighboring smaller towns amongst the cornfields.. As a full-time RVer I’ve seen my share of state park campground showers. Sadly, most are old, dirty, and in desperate need of repair. . South Dakota’s #bigsiouxrecreationarea is a nice exception to the trend. While it won’t displace Utah’s Kodachrome State Park from its solid hold atop my #bestcampgroundshower ranking, it’s nice to see Big Sioux campground bring its A-game. . . . #southdakotaparks #rvlife #sdgamefishandparks. Not all rides are “epic”. . Some rides, like today’s are low-key, loads of fun, and also have the benefit of a trailhead minutes from your in-laws house. . . . #mhill #pivotcycles #mtbikingIt’s been all cowbells and cow pies since this gang moved into the neighborhood.. Two full days of mostly smoke-free riding at Grand Targhee has been a blast. Yesterday was XC heaven while today I cheated and rode chairs to the top for numerous DH runs. . Really impressed with this small town resort - highly recommend. . . . #grandtargheeresort #pivotbikes #mtnbiking #altawyoming. It was smooth sailing through the border crossing Sunday morning. . With quick stops in Kalispell and Missoula (Montana) ahead of today’s arrival to our current (west) Grand Tetons location, I doubt we will have any problems re-acclimating to quiet, spacious, and free camping. . But we won’t know for sure until we give it a try. . In the meantime, I’ll continue efforts unwinding my mind off the metric system. . . . #homeiswhereyouparkit #rvlife #altawyoming #airstreamlife #f250. Somehow, two months have passed since we first crossed into Canada. . Now, on the tail-end of our visit to this foreign land, we’re at a provincial campground in Fernie, BC. . Technically, Fernie was our initial stop in Canada, but we arrived late in the day and were anxious to push forward, so we only stayed one night. . A few days into our current stay, I’m totally smitten for Canada’s 692nd largest city (population 5,249). . Situated in a glacial valley, this townsite is fully encircled by the Rocky Mountains in all directions and plays host to the Elk River and its three lazy tributaries. Collectively, Mother Nature has done magic in melding the mountains with the rivers. . Small as it is, this place has a great vibe and is dominated by actual residents - not tourist (like me). It feels real. It has a outdoor soul. I love it here. . And, the biking is sic. Trails are numerous and riders roam everywhere. Whether you ride a $10k dream bike or a $10 dollar Schwinn two decades past its prime, you’ll easily roll around town with others - everyone leaving the car at home. . Sunday morning we cross back into the US. But not before I squeeze in a few more hours of riding. . A return visit cannot come soon enough. . . . #ferniebc #rvlife #fernietrailsallianceArchives
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What a great way to spend a birthday! Happy Birthday, Kelly!
Looks like a corporate executive——RETIRED! Enjoy “boomer”.