Sunday, December 25, 2005



In October, I attended a publisher's conference in Denver, Colorado, and was once again reminded how many variations there are in people's idea of the perfect dream trip.

I met Lars Clausen at the conference. He is a Lutheran minister in Chelan, Washington and his book is One Wheel - Many Spokes. Yes, he traveled the states on a unicycle! His adventure included:

9,136 miles through all 50 states
2 Guinness World Records
6-month family adventure

The book is a lively read -- and quite a twist on what most of us envision for our road trip dream. You can read more at his website www.onewheel.org.

Monday, December 19, 2005

New Year's Resolution: Take a long vacation


Impossibly busy? Taking time off is not just good for you, but can reduce stress and even change your life!

“Every year, we go through the same old tired set of ideas –weight, diet, the relatives, our boss, our golf game, our spouse, even our kids – everyone gets a piece of our best intentions. But at some point don’t you just want to scream, ‘But what about making ME happier?’” laughs Carol White, co-author, along with her husband Phil, of Live Your Road Trip Dream (RLI Press www.roadtripdream.com). Well, how about a vacation?

Phil goes on to say, “Most resolutions are ‘defect’ driven. Think about it – fix your weight, spend more time with the kids, start a workout program – all things that are ‘wrong’ with you. You are depressed before you start”. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Phil and Carol White have the perfect idea. Grab your partner, and the kids (if they’re still at home), and go see the United States. For a long time. Not just your annual vacation, they mean a real trip – a journey and a life-altering experience. Seem impossible? It’s not. In fact technology makes these trips even more possible than ever.

The Whites know more than just a little bit about how to do this and how life-changing it can be. They ventured into all 48 of the contiguous states, saw all the National Parks and along the way had the experience of a lifetime. They now spend their days encouraging others to make their own dream happen. “Some people say ‘Wow, I could never take a year off!’”, says co-author Carol White, “but that’s not really what this is about. Whether it is a road trip, a sailboat trip, or a trek for an extended period, the planning is the same and the rewards are often a changed outlook, less stress and some amazing memories that will last a lifetime.”

Now you are thinking, “Easy for them to say, they are retired, but I’m still slogging away making a living.” That’s even more reason to consider the possibilities. Along their way in their nineteen foot camping van, they saw many families and young couples and talked to them about mid-life journeys. The ways of actually hitting the road were as varied as the people themselves, but the bottom line was, they all wanted a new experience in their lives and were willing to be creative in making the changes necessary to allow it to happen.

The Whites have many tips and hints for would-be road trippers, but here are five to help you get your New Year’s resolutions off on a more positive note this year.

· Decide how you might pay for such an adventure and start implementing your plan. You can do it for the same cost as staying at home, but you just have to get rid of those expenses at home.
· Set a date when you will leave. Up until that time it is all just talk. You’ll be amazed at how quickly things will start falling in place to make your dream a reality.
· Enlist the help of family and friends to make the trip more meaningful. Give them “assignments”. Most of us have obligations that we have to figure out how to manage while we are gone. Grown children, business and social friends, church and community groups are all sources of help and excitement in planning your adventure.
· Pick a theme or set of ideas to guide your trip. Make sure that everyone who is going has an idea of what they want to see during the journey. If you have school-age children, you will be home-schooling them for the duration of your trip, so plan “lessons” that will cover their needs – reading, history, spelling, math, science and more can all be woven into your everyday activities – and it will be a time of learning that they will never forget.
· Don’t over plan your trip. When you go on a two-week vacation, you tend to plan your every move to maximize your time. When you go on a long trip – say a month or more, you can’t possibly plan your every move, nor would you want to. The joy of exploration and the unfolding of adventures is the most important part of the experience.

So instead of those same tired old resolutions, why not plan to change your lives – even for a short while in the scope of life, and see if some of those other “defects” don’t just take care of themselves.

Now that’s a resolution worth working on.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Fifty-one weeks a year,
these tough hombres are
businessmen, dads, jocks, and husbands;
but, on that fifty-second week of the year --
WATCH OUT!
They become the Montana Mountain Men.


Now if this isn't a group for the movie "City Slickers" I don't know what is. A by-invitation-only gathering brings these young men from all walks of life -- most of them didn't grow up on a ranch or farm, but they all felt the need to connect with their Wild West heritage on some level. Some had never shot a gun, some had never owned a pair of boots, but all of them swear by the enrichment and camaraderie provided by their once-a-year, let it all hang out, be a crazy, swaggering cowboy outing.

So why the MONTANA Mountain Men when they are all from OREGON? Their first outing was to Montana, and one of their very talented members wrote a song that has become their anthem.

Take a listen - it is really good.
(click on "Montana Mountain Men" MP3 - it takes a few seconds to load...)


Thanks to Christopher Edmonds, AKA War Paint (in the red shirt), for sharing this story and to Greg Herman, AKA Many Guns, for writing and recording this wonderful song. Part of their "initiation" ritual for newcomers is the assignment of their Montana Mountain Man name--something that they all look forward to with great expectation.

Oh, and no, they don't sleep in the wooden shack.
Just off camera is a huge motorhome -- and a few tents.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

The Price of Gas Really Doesn't Matter


“The good news is that there is no reason to cower in the corner of your RV trying to avoid the gasoline bogeyman,” asserts Carol White, author of Live Your Road Trip Dream – Travel for a year for the cost of staying home. “While none of us are thrilled about the new reality of gas prices, this is not a reason to cancel your travel plans, particularly if you are planning that dream trip of a lifetime.”

White, who along with her husband Phil, took off and traveled the country for a year in their Pleasure-Way class B motorhome, know more than a little about how much it costs to travel for an extended period. When they budgeted for their trip initially, they planned on an average of $1.75 a gallon for gas. When they returned, 37,500 miles and a year later, their actual average cost had been $1.56 a gallon. They paid as high as $2.35 a gallon in California, and as little as $1.22 in Georgia.

"Although some RV owners are concerned about fuel prices, the added cost is only a small part of the equation and not an overriding issue," observes David J. Humphreys, president of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). "For most RV owners, the advantages of RVing–such as greater flexibility, control and comfort–outweigh the higher costs of fuel," he concludes.

“Gas prices were fluctuating like crazy then also, and we weren’t sure what to really expect, but we did know that the price of gas wasn’t going to prevent us from getting out and seeing our great country,” Carol confirmed. “We knew that in the overall scope of trip expenses, this was not going to be a ‘deal breaker’ for us.”

“As it turned out, at $1.56 average over the year, it represented only five percent of our total budget and it was only our fifth largest expenditure,” Phil added.

Carol went on to update their information, “We recently recalculated our actual budget, using $2.25 as the average price over the same 37,500 miles, and it only moved the expense to eight percent of the total cost, and still the fifth largest expense.”

Phil and Carol go into great detail in their book not only about budgetary concerns, like gas, but also provide would-be travelers with tips about everything from what to do with your house and cars, to how to manage relationships while you are gone, to what to do about mail, bills and investments.

The Whites, who are definitely upbeat about encouraging others to get moving from the “dreaming to the doing,” laugh when describing the most often asked question: How to be with your travel companion on a 24/7 basis.

Phil provides a decidedly unabashed answer when he suggests, “You learn those two precious little words ‘yes, dear’ early on!” He continues on a more serious note adding, “You really learn to support each other on your off days, which you will both have. This is much easier than at home, because it is just the two of you with no outside influences to be considered. You really get to be two kids again, and it is great fun.”

Their final piece of advice? Don’t let the price of gas keep you from living your road trip dream. You will never forget or regret the times that you spend exploring your fondest travel ideas – whether it is a road trip like ours, a sailboat trip around the world, a trek through Asia or backpacking through Europe. The planning basics are the same regardless of the destination – and the White’s book is ready to help you plan your trip of a lifetime.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Can Hawaii be considered a road trip?


And why do they use those interstate highway signs -- what state do they think you are going to motor to?

We had not been to Oahu/Honolulu since the '60s - what a shock! I can say with certainty that Hawaii has left Oahu -- at least the Honolulu side of the island. This is Denver at the beach. You have to really look to find the grand old Royal Hawaiian or the venerable Moana. They are thankfully both still there, but hidden behind lots of "noise". Their grand entrances can hardly be found.

And Diamond Head. It is solid city right out to the end. And Waikiki Beach. Solid people everywhere -- but the people watching is still supurb. The "old" Hawaiians who taught a generation to surf in front of the Outrigger are gone -- apparently a rift with management. Now we have the fresh-faced, suntanned, corporate geeks instead.

Thankfully, the north end of the island still looks like Hawaii should. Laid back, a little rumpled, friendly, and just the way it should be. Only an occasional resort is creeping up on it. The nine hole golf course at Kuhuku is still there. Can't find it unless you know where to look, and the locals told us not to tell anyone where it is. Walking only, but, oh the views! Maintained like many "muni's" on the mainland, but none have views like this.


Since we were there on Veteran's Day, we had to venture up to Punchbowl for the festivities at the National Cemetery. What a setting for such a somber place. The speech was inspiring, the fly-over chilling and taps...

Yes, we road tripped as much as you can on these small spaces, but somehow it didn't really feel like a road trip at all.

Aloha

Saturday, October 29, 2005

We created our own dream trip of a lifetime

Oprah hasn’t called? Didn’t get chosen for “I want to be a Hilton?”
“Just because Oprah hasn’t called to fulfill your wildest dreams or you didn’t get tapped for ‘I want to be a Hilton’, doesn’t mean that you can’t put together your own dream life,” asserts Carol White, author of Live Your Road Trip Dream – Travel for a year for the cost of staying home (RLI Press, 2004, www.roadtripdream.com). “While getting selected by Oprah! or chosen for a ‘Hilton-style makeover’ may be your fondest wish, there are many things you can do to make your own dreams come true.”

White, who along with her husband Phil, took off and traveled the country for a year as part of making their own dreams come true, knows a lot about how to make travel dreams happen.

"The first thing you must do is set a date. It doesn’t matter how far in the future that date is, setting the date makes it real,” says Carol. “Once you have committed to the time you will leave on your dream trip, then everything begins to fall into place – a self-fulfilling prophecy” adds Phil.

“We’re not trying to make is sound too simplistic, because there are lots of details to be arranged to make long-term travel happen, but if all you do is dream and wish, the chances of it ever happening are remote. Once you have made the commitment to yourself, your friends and family will begin to realize you are serious, and begin to help you make it a reality,” says Carol.

She goes on to encourage others, “People we met all along the way had some version of a road trip dream in their heads, but couldn’t figure out how to extricate themselves from their daily lives to go live their dream. Whether it is a road trip, a trek through Asia, a backpacking trip through Europe or a sailboat trip around the world, it seems that everyone has an extended-travel dream. When we returned, I did some research and found that their was no guide to help people through all the issues and details, so we decided to write one to encourage all the retiring baby boomers to go have this fabulous experience for themselves.”

According to a Del Webb study, baby boomers rate travel as their #1 expenditure in retirement and are out exploring our country by the thousands. But it isn’t just retirees setting out on these long trips. Gen x-ers, Richard and Amanda Ligato decided that their lives had become “too narrow,” so they saved money, quit their jobs and traveled Latin and South America, as well as Africa, in a VW Camper for nearly three years, covering almost 60,000 miles. They have chronicled their journeys in a new book, Wide-Eyed Wanderers (Pop-Top Publishing, 2005, www.vwvagabonds.com).

The Whites go into great detail in their book not only about how to manage your life back home while you are gone, but also provide would-be travelers with tips about everything from what to do with your house and cars, to how to budget and pay for such a trip, to how to manage relationships while you are gone, to what to do about mail, bills and investments.

Their final piece of advice? Don’t over plan your trip. It is the serendipitous adventures that happen along the way that are the most precious and if you have planned out every detail, you will either miss the greatest moments of the trip, or find yourself undoing plans along the way.

“Too many things, both good and bad, will happen, and if you’ve planned your every moment like you would on a vacation, we guarantee that you will feel like you are on a forced march, instead of a travel journey of joy and exploration,” warns Carol. “Long-term travel is not like a vacation where you observe and enjoy your destination; it is a journey to be savored and incorporated into who you are” she concludes.

So, if you too have a dream that Oprah! hasn’t fulfilled, and Mrs. Hilton hasn’t knocked on your door, then open your own door – make your own dreams come true. The Whites can show you how.

For more information on planning your trip, to order your copy of the book, or to invite the Whites to speak to your organization about taking your trip of a lifetime, go to their website at www.roadtripdream.com. The book is also available from online retailers or your favorite bookstore.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005


We traveled the US for an entire year in "The Rolling White House" and have great memories to savour for a lifetime. Posted by Picasa

“Elizabethtown” Brings Road Tripping into the 21st Century

How cool is this? You are driving down the highway listening to custom CD’s with “road-appropriate” music and information about what to see. “This movie really showcases the technology that is available to completely customize your trips” says Carol White, author of Live Your Road Trip Dream – Travel for a year for the cost of staying home (RLI Press, 2004, www.roadtripdream.com). She continues, “Even just a few years ago, taking road trips meant being out of touch and fumbling with maps and travel guides. Now you can surf the web (not recommended while in the driver’s seat, however), listen to custom audios about things along the way, check your email back home and call to check-in, all while living your road trip dream.”

White, who along with her husband Phil, took off and traveled the country for a year as part of making their dreams come true, knows a lot about the technology of road tripping. But before you even consider your technology needs, there are a few things you must do.

"The first thing you must do is set a date. It doesn’t matter how far in the future that date is, setting the date makes it real,” says Carol. “Once you have committed to the time you will leave on your trip, then everything begins to fall into place – a self-fulfilling prophecy” adds Phil.

“We’re not trying to make is sound too simplistic, because there are lots of details to be arranged to make a great road trip happen, but if all you do is dream and wish, the chances of it ever happening are remote. Once you have made the commitment to yourself, your friends and family will begin to realize you are serious, and begin to help you make it a reality,” says Carol.

She goes on to encourage others, “People we met all along the way had some version of a road trip in their heads, but couldn’t figure out how to extricate themselves from their daily lives to go live their dream. Whether it is a road trip, a trek through Asia, a backpacking trip through Europe or a sailboat trip around the world, it seems that everyone has a travel dream. When we returned, I did some research and found that their was no guide to help people through all the issues and details—including planning your technology needs, so we decided to write one to encourage all the retiring baby boomers and mid-life sabbatical-takers to go have this fabulous experience for themselves.”

Even if you don’t have a girlfriend to make a custom CD for you like in the movie, there are all kinds of great ideas for what to take along. Carol laughs and says, “If you are directionally-challenged and can’t read a map, a GPS system is pretty much a must.” Phil agrees and adds, “My favorite piece of technology was our lap top PC. It allowed me to keep up with all the sports scores along the way, and to load our Trailer Life Campground CD as we rolled along, and have a place picked out in no time.”

The Whites go into great detail in their book not only about how to choose your technology for the trip, but also how to manage your life back home while you are gone. They also provide would-be travelers with tips about everything from what to do with your house and cars, to how to budget and pay for such a trip, to how to manage relationships while you are gone, to what to do about mail, bills and investments.

Their final piece of advice? Don’t over plan your trip. It is the serendipitous adventures that happen along the way that are the most precious and if you have planned out every detail, you will either miss the greatest moments of the trip, or find yourself undoing plans along the way. As the trailer for “Elizabethtown” says, “amazing things can happen when you least expect them.” That is what a good road trip is really all about. So grab your gear and go have the experience for yourself.


For more information on planning your trip, to order your copy of the book, or to invite the Whites to speak to your organization about taking your trip of a lifetime, go to their website at http://www.roadtripdream.com/. The book is also available from online retailers or your favorite bookstore.