Road Tripping In America

What are we doing? We weren’t really sure either, so today, we are going to make a list; a very long list of all possible options. And then we figure out what we’re actually going to do for the next six to nine to twelve months. Don’t worry, I promise the list is not going to be boring. There are jokes. This episode was written, recorded, and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

Come along in the Bobs on an extra-eventful week of our life on the road. Join us as we explore Western Colorado and end up not buying a house, even though last episode I was pretty sure I was going to be telling you this time that we had bought a house. Instead, we did plenty of mountain biking, crying into our cups of cider, dodging rainstorms, and crossing paths with all kinds of interesting people. 0:00 - Intro 2:42 - Friday, August 19th 8:15 - Saturday, August 20th 10:56 - Sunday, August 21st   17:08 - Monday, August 22nd   23:39 - Tuesday, August 23rd 29:42 - Wednesday, August 24th 35:09 - Thursday, August 25th This episode was written and produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

Our gear lives a tough life. After fourteen months on the road, how have things fared? Paul’s going to share all the dirty, rusty, dusty details. Plus, an update on our travels over the past two months.  This episode was written by Paul Olson and Lisa McNamara. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

What happens when you get pulled over in the middle of the night by what feels like the entire police force of Missoula, MT? It’s a Driver’s Ed segment featuring three dads from upstate New York who, for a few hours in 1993, found themselves in the kind of situation they never expected to be in when they had left home for a northern Rockies backpacking trip 40ish hours earlier. This story isn’t just about one of the scariest things that happened to these three. It’s also about friendships and inside jokes that last decades. And it’s about memory – how our minds highlight some events while glossing over others; how memory is often a collective, shared experience. 1:34 - My first real-life #adventure #inspiration   2:50 - The intros 3:39 - How the trio first met, their first #adirondacks adventures, and their favorite and least favorite adventure travel destinations 16:07 - The Montana #travelnightmare 34:40 - The trio's top travel tips This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. 

Special guest Wendy Allen joins us for a "Drivers’ Ed" segment about the 30 days she spent on her motorcycle, riding solo from Wisconsin to Vegas and back. From cramped hands to making connections with strangers when she needed them most to realizing what was most important in her life, Wendy takes us through the unfiltered story of her adventure. And, she tells us why she’d do it again in a heartbeat. 1:06 - Wendy's story 35:20 - Remembering the kindnesses we've experienced on the road 40:26 - Next time, what happens when three forty-something dads from upstate New York are pulled over by the police in the middle of the night somewhere outside Missoula, MT in a case of mistaken identity? It’s the stuff of true travel nightmares. This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

Ride along with the Bobs as we drive from City of Rocks to Albuquerque, chasing green chiles and New Mexico truths along the way. The fires in the state may be preventing us from camping and hiking, but they can't keep us from eating up everything else as we make our way north. Learn more about New Mexico cuisine, how a town famous for its name got its name, where to find sparkling wine in New Mexico, the tastiest green chile cheeseburgers, heroic hot shot crews, how we save money on splurge days, and more. 1:12 - Waking up in #cityofrocks State Park and the plan for the day 7:47 - #hatch and green chiles 11:43 - #truthorconsequences 17:05 - Lunch at Blake’s Lotaburger   19:40 - Sparkling wine stock-up at #gruetwinery 22:26 - Checking into the hotel 23:17 - The incredible Mormon Lake Hotshots 25:03 - Santa Fe Brewing Company at the Green Jeans Farmery 25:30 - Dinner in the hotel room 27:27 - New Mexico cuisine   29:18 - More #albuquerque flavor You can find some delicious New Mexico recipes here: https://www.newmexico.org/things-to-do/cuisine/recipes/  This episode was written, recorded, and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. 

Bisbee or Jerome – do you have an opinion on the best Arizona mining town? In today’s “What is it about this place?” we compare the two towns and declare our ultimate, all-time winner with a Drunk History-level, very scientific analysis. And, an RIP to an unlucky Arizona hiker. 1:02 - Background and basic info about Bisbee and Jerome 6:50 - Parking: Bisbee vs. Jerome 11:03 - Breweries, wineries, coffee shops: Bisbee vs. Jerome 17:30 - Old-timey bars: Bisbee vs. Jerome 26:04 - Views: Bisbee vs. Jerome 26:27 - Park proximity: Bisbee vs. Jerome 30:27 - Stairways: Bisbee vs. Jerome 33:53 - Houses and architecture: Bisbee vs. Jerome 36:35 - Hot dogs: Bisbee vs. Jerome 37:27 - Visitors and residents: Bisbee vs. Jerome 42:01 - The ultimate winner, no math needed 44:58 - Ghost experiences 47:10 - RIP Donald Hayes This episode was written, recorded, and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. 

Another five weeks in Utah! Today, a What is it About This Place? with my top ten most memorable moments from those five weeks. From spider eyeballs to the time that Paul moved my foot and almost killed me – it was unforgettable. And in the latest Stocks and Vagabonds installment, Paul compares our costs from this round to our time in Utah last fall – did we achieve that $2,800/month ideal spend again? 1:18 - Memorable moments ten through six 9:07 - How much it costs to #vanlife in southern Utah 14:43 - Memorable moments five through one This episode was written, recorded, and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

We’re coming up on a year of no-job roadlife. Today, it’s an unsolicited advice smorgasbord – what kind of advice are people giving us? And what advice do your two favorite unshowered dirtbags feel qualified to give you? Money, life, relationships...it’s all on the buffet table. 1:08 - The advice people feel we need 3:35 - Money and budget update 6:07 - How much it costs to build out an adventure vehicle 8:27 - Relationship advice for living the #vanlife 12:03 - Our advice to you: do it! Whatever it is! Suggested reading: The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement, by Mr. Money Mustache.  This episode was written, recorded, and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. It was produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

What's it like to actually live the #vanlife? Ride along with us in the Bobs as we explore Utah's San Rafael Swell and try to find a sheltered campsite on a very windy day – a typical day in our road-based life. 1:01 - Back in Utah at a dispersed camping site with a view beyond belief 4:15 - Where we spent the previous few months 8:48 - Exploring the San Rafael Swell and hunting for a campsite This episode was written and produced by Lisa McNamara. It was recorded and edited by Lisa McNamara and Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

Series four will be starting soon! In series four, we will continue to share updates from the road including “days in the life,” where we’ll take you along on a typical day on the road. We also hope to bring in other voices, including stories about why other people are on the road, their travel nightmares, and their inspirations. If you have a story you’d like to share to get us started, email us at info(at)roadtrippinginamerica.com. We’d love to hear from you. Series four is taking a bit longer than expected to get started because I have been working on a print version of The White Heart of Mojave story – and it’s out today!! It’s available in Kindle ebook format and paperback format – both on Amazon. We can’t wait to bring you along as we see what’s out there next.

Is there anything more bittersweet than the end of a good adventure? Find out what Edna and Charlotte took away from their desert experiences and what they did next as we close out the final chapter of The White Heart of Mojave. This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

Mojave is not going to let Edna and Charlotte go unscathed. She throws snowstorms and sandstorms at them as they begin "the going home."  This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

Edna and Charlotte embark on their long-anticipated adventure of climbing Telescope Peak, where they stand on top of the icy, shiny world for a few all-too-brief moments. This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

Edna and Charlotte find glorious water, an abandoned gold mining town, lost burros, and a route up Telescope Peak.  This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

Edna and Charlotte become more and more obsessed with water as they continue their hot and dry journey across Death Valley. This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

Edna and Charlotte struggle across the blazing floor of Death Valley and in the process, Edna learns the true appeal of the desert.  This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

Edna and Charlotte arrive at Furnace Creek Ranch and learn how difficult it is to simply exist on the hot floor of Death Valley. This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

Edna and Charlotte get their first look at the place they've been trying to see for over a year. Standing high above the valley floor, overlooking Death Valley for the first time – do you think they were happy they were there or nah? This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.  Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

Why we stuck around Florida for a month: featuring delicious raw bars, freezing iguanas, the new worst smell I've ever experienced, miles of serene beaches, and all kinds of sea specimens. 1:02 - Why you need to plan ahead if you want to camp in Florida 4:37 - Why it's still, always worth camping in Florida 13:35 - The worst smell I've ever experienced This episode was written, recorded, and produced by Lisa McNamara. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

Edna and Charlotte decide that they can't drive into Death Valley – a more traditional, formal expedition will need to be mounted if they are going to reach their goal. So they go back home, back east, and wait for the hot desert summer to pass. In January, they return to Silver Lake and to their guide, the sheriff. The trio travel by railroad to Beatty, NV, where they rent a cart, a burro, and a horse, stock up on a month’s worth of supplies, and head west towards the valley. This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

Edna and Charlotte bum around Silver Lake, chasing mirages back and forth across the dry lake bed, then take a treacherous drive to Saratoga Springs with the town’s sheriff. They get tantalizingly close to their goal in Death Valley, walking when they can drive no further and learning firsthand how the heat, light, and distance of Death Valley gave the place its name. This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.  Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

Edna and Charlotte try to get their Death Valley trip underway but face plenty of obstacles. They visit the Imperial Valley and the Salton Sea and gain some healthy respect for the desert. Armed with new determination, they finally arrive on the doorstep of Death Valley in Silver Lake, CA. Will they finally find what they are looking for, or will they give up and head back home? This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. More at roadtrippinginamerica.com. Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

First, we talk about how this podcast is going to work. Then, Edna takes over and reveals why she and Charlotte decided to go to Death Valley for a lighthearted break from raising children and fighting for women's rights in the 1920s. Why are two wealthy women from Cleveland so obsessed with going to Death Valley? Let's find out! This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. More at roadtrippinginamerica.com. Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

A hundred years ago, it was considered by most to be foolish, absurd, unthinkable for two women to travel on their own, especially to an undeveloped place like Death Valley. A hundred years later, anyone who thinks that idea is foolish – well, they are the ones considered absurd now. A hundred years ago, in the early 1920s, Edna Brush Perkins and Charlotte Hannahs Jordan, both in their early 40s, went to find the heart of the desert in Death Valley. A hundred years later, in the early 2020s, I, on the verge of 40, found the book Edna wrote about the experience, The White Heart of Mojave. As I devoured it, I wondered why it didn’t have a more prominent spot on the shelf of adventure classics. This is my attempt to make that book and these two women more widely known and to modernize this classic adventure narrative on the centennial of its publication. This is Backtracks, a special series from Road Tripping in America.  Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT

After five months on the road, we share a budget update, answer some unanswered questions from previous episodes, and find out what each other’s “ests” were (the bests, worsts, scariests). 1:13 - Budget and spending for five months of #vanlife 9:57 - Questions answered from past episodes 23:04 - The bests, worsts, scariests, and more This episode was written, recorded, sound edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional recording and editing by Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

In canyon country, we force our bodies through cracks in the ground in places like Buckskin Gulch and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, send the Bobs down tough roads, and struggle with some big questions about land use. After 35 days of this, after enjoying endless canyons, gorgeous dispersed camping spots, carefully timed resupply runs, and achieving furnace temperature perfection, we finally feel like we have hit our stride with road life – just in time to pause for a few weeks. 1:14 - Dayssss of exploration and figuring out how to stay warm 11:38 - Buckskin Gulch slot canyon 17:42 - Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument dispersed camping, hiking, and slot canyons This episode was written, recorded, sound edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional recording and editing by Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. 

After previous attempts were thwarted by Maruchan lunches, underpowered rental cars, unusual rainstorms, distracting flowers, flying tents, and snow, we finally managed to climb a big mountain. And why we'll never stop returning to Death Valley, no matter what it throws at us. 1:08 - Finally climbing Telescope Peak 5:13 - The October 2015 rainstorms 11:32 - The Spring 2016 #superbloom 19:09 - Telescope in 2021 This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional editing by Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. 

We can't live like every day is a vacation – we'd probably die (and we’d definitely blow through our savings). So most of our days on the road are like real life, with a vacation thrown in here and there. Back in more optimistic times, we had planned to spend my 40th birthday in Vegas. But then things went weird again. What was it like in Vegas in September, 2021? We'll tell you what we saw. 1:26 - Why Vegas?   4:16 - Checking in like Raoul Duke 7:57 - How things felt both the same and different 17:36 - All the ways Nevada is an underrated state 20:18 - Camping around Vegas Link to the wave speech from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1074-strange-memories-on-this-nervous-night-in-las-vegas-five This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional recording and editing by Paul Olson.

Three Wind River, WY stories told by way of the things we saved to Google when back in cell range: from terrifying cows to windstorms to running out of water on a hike, we bumbled through a few misadventures, then double checked to see how we could do it better next time. And the eight things we think about on a daily basis that are second nature when you live in a building. 1:16 - Smashing my phone into tiny little pieces and realizing how dependent we are on internet search 4:08 - First search: how do you scare away cows?   7:15 - Second search: how do you close the camper top in a windstorm? 14:10 - Third search: how long do you boil water before it's safe to drink? 18:15 - The eight things we think about on a daily basis while living the #vanlife This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional editing by Paul Olson.

A deep dive into our budget vs. actual spending for our first two months of road life and a tour of Dinosaur National Monument – the fossils, the canyons, the river, the...poems? 1:12 - How much we spend on #vanlife   9:28 - Highs and lows of road life 13:24 - A tour of Dinosaur National Monument 27:00 - The Cataract of Lodore, the poem 31:37 - Wrap-up This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional recording and editing by Paul Olson. The Cataract of Lodore, by Robert Southey: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57951/the-cataract-of-lodore The Lost Canyon Under Lake Powell, by Elizabeth Kolbert: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/16/the-lost-canyon-under-lake-powell

A special edition all about mountain biking in and around Colorado. We rank, we review, we get bruised (often). Find out how Hartman Rocks in Gunnison, the Thunder Trails in Norwood, and Turkey Springs in Pagosa Springs stack up with a few other trail systems in Colorado. 2:22 - Paul's trail-ranking criteria 3:17 - Our third favorite Colorado mountain biking spot 7:15 - Our second favorite Colorado mountain biking spot 13:31 - Our most favorite Colorado mountain biking spot 20:10 - Honorable mentions and places still on our list to bike This episode was written by Paul Olson and Lisa McNamara (but mostly Paul). It was recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara. Do you have any suggestions for mountain bike trails we should check out – in Colorado or anywhere else? Let us know at info@roadtrippinginamerica.com.

What are ruins, really? A trip to Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northwestern New Mexico digs up memories of Lisa's favorite childhood playground. And, Hartman Rocks is an amazing place to mountain bike in Gunnison, Colorado but...be prepared with rodent repellent if you're there in pack rat nesting season! It was a battle of Paul vs. the pack rats - and the pack rats won. 1:11 - Digging up my childhood playground in New York 4:00 - The road to Chaco Culture 10:36 - Bringing the two together 13:27 - Making a podcast in the wild 20:06 - What we've added - and removed - from the Bobs This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional editing by Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. Share your thoughts with us at info@roadtrippinginamerica.com. 

When traveling, do you like to plan every detail or relax and go with the flow? Lisa used to be a thorough planner, but found that all that planning did was make her miserable and stressed. She has learned that she can’t plan or predict when interesting or memorable things are going to happen, so she just has to put herself in the way for them to happen. How that approach to travel relates to our life on the road, highs and lows from the first month of road life, and the Road Tripping in America road trip playlist.  0:48 - Over-planning my first international trip to Paris, France 6:08 - Exploring Palisade and Grand Junction with friends 9:36 - The reality on the ground in Ouray, Telluride, and Silverton 11:17 - Finding a better pace in Grand Mesa and Norwood This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional recording and editing by Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. Articles referenced in this episode: Grape disappointment: Colorado vineyards say an October freeze will chill their 2021 vintage (https://coloradosun.com/2020/12/21/hard-freeze-wine-colorado/) and Colorado mountain towns say they can’t handle any more tourists amid labor, housing crises (https://coloradosun.com/2021/07/13/colorado-tourism-marketing-resort-communities-housing-labor/).

Listen in on our first week on the road, as we leave Fort Collins, overland Colorado’s bumpy backcountry discovery route, explore Buena Vista, Salida, and Leadville, and search for the right pace for long-term travel. Pace is important. We don’t want to fly through things too quickly. We don’t want to leave things undone because it’s not always feasible to go back. But there’s so much to see and do that even with unlimited time, it’s still impossible to do everything. Because you’re always limited by something – if not time, then weather, dirt road fatigue, the need for fresh vegetables, life maintenance duties. So we’ll be working on finding the right balance for us as we continue this journey. 0:00 - Intro and leaving Fort Collins 2:02 - First morning coffee stroll, a stock up in Fairplay, and turning off the pavement and onto the adventure road   6:08 - Getting our driving legs on the Colorado backcountry discovery route 9:26 - Taking it easy in Buena Vista, Salida, and Leadville This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional editing by Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

The true story of our worst travel experience...so far.  Good trip stories are boring. There’s only so much you can say about that great meal you had in San Francisco, that amazing wine you tasted in Bordeaux, those three glorious days you sat on the beach in Cancun. Most of our travel stories are boring. We usually get lucky. But two years ago, we did not get lucky on our last day in Mexico City. Instead, we spent six hours in the police station on our last day of vacation. Listen to find out why... This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional editing by Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

We answer our most frequently asked #vanlife questions: what we’re doing with all our stuff and where we’re going once we start for real. 1:56 - What we're doing with all of our stuff 7:54 - Where we're going first This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional editing and recording by Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

What we decided to name the camper, a tour of what it does and doesn’t have, and a dry run to find out what else we’re missing. Hey, just in case you didn’t get the hint, we’re going to talk about bodily functions in this episode. So, you’ve been warned. In case you need a refresher on leave no trace principles: https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/dispose-of-waste-properly/ 0:00 - Intro and what we decided to name the camper 2:19 - Tour of the camper 12:41 - What we DON'T have 15:59 - The three minute campground shower 18:44 - Two dry runs...and what we forgot This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional editing and recording by Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.

Why we decided to live in a vehicle and what we picked: featuring palm readers, lots of research, box wine, and In-N-Out burgers. 0:45 - Working towards early retirement and full time roadlife 6:55 - Deciding what type of vehicle to get 14:44 - Getting the All Terrain Bobcat installed in Reno This episode was written, recorded, edited, and produced by Lisa McNamara, with additional editing and recording by Paul Olson. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more.