End of full timing may be soon

[royl]

Had planned to full time until I died but didn't plan on my cancer returning so soon so we may be near the end of our adventures. I plan, as soon as they get my medications stabilized and warm weather arrives, to make my next trip from the Florida panhandle up through Ohio to visit old friends and then on to Niagara Falls, then over to Mt Rushmore. Then I am going down to the Grand Canyon or maybe over to Yellowstone Park and then down to the Grand Canyon. I know this sounds like an ambitious trip at this time and my health problems but these are the places I promised my wife I would get her to while we fulltimed and can not disappoint her. She is my rock, the love of my life and is being a real trooper about my health issues. She tells me that I am going to be ok and be around a long time but I know the truth. The reason I am writing this is to ask for any pointers, sites to see, problem roads or mountains and so on. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. I want her to never forget this trip.

[noplace2]

I type as a retired Hospice RN and a fulltime RV'er for 13 years who plans to die out here, somewhere on the road. (Hopefully not ACTUALLY on the road) Until you are absolutely forced to stop living the way you wish, don't. The most frequent regret that I heard expressed by hundreds of dying patients was that they gave up too soon. Finding a sedentary "place", curling up in a barcolounger and watching mind-numbing TV while eating huge quantities of largely ineffective drugs is an accelerated death sentence if there ever was one.

There are so many mitigating factors at play and everyone's circumstance is different. Bottom line for me is that, when life as I want to experience it becomes too painful, problematical or simply not fun anymore, I'm checking out, by my own hand, with my dearest wife and friend's blessing. Should my final event leave me incapacitated, she knows what (not) to do.

[Bean1]

Sorry to hear about your Cancer returning.
My hometown is 20 miles from Mt. Rushmore and now we currently live 30 miles from Devils tower. We are an hour an a half from my hometown. So I will tell you, as long as you are at Mt. Rushmore, put Devils tower on your list to hit on your way to Yellowstone.
I will give you some ideas while you are in the area of Mt. Rushmore. There is an Air and Space Museum at Ellsworth AFB. Not the biggest Museum but interesting none the less. Make time before Mt Rushmore for some shopping in Keystone. There is an 1880 train that runs between 2 towns. Custer State Park, Badlands, and some Caves. Depending on how much you are wanting to see, I can give you more ideas for both sightseeing, shopping and eating.
Devils Tower area doesn't have alot of things near for tourists like in SD. But it is a sight to see and no pictures will ever give you an idea how big it is.
If you go to Montana, can give you some ideas for there also.
And don't forget the Sturgis Motorcycle rally is the beginning of August. I don't suggest being in the area during that time, unless you want to partake in it 🙂

[past-MIdirector]

After the Falls I would go across Canada to Michigan and head up to the Sleeping Bear Dunes on the Lake Michigan side over the Bridge and take US-2 out west!!

[CJ5_jeeper]

Three years ago we were going to leave for a three month trip to see some of the eastern states, and two weeks before we were leaving I had a stroke, and it was bad. I would try to say something but I could not get it out. My wife got me a set of cards with the picture of an animal one side and the name of it on the other. I worked and worked until I got better. The first trip in the motorhome was to soon, and I do not know who I frightened worst, me or my wife. The year before last we took the trip we had planed, and last year we took a three month trip through the southern states. This year we are going to go up the east coast, we may see you at Niagara falls, then we want to see some of the great lakes and back west through the northern states. Kook out for a brown Rexhall motorhome. If we meet up I will buy you a drink.

[SBL9A]

Sorry about your health concerns.

My advice would be to avoid Mt. Rushmore the first week of August unless you specifically go for the motorcycle rally.

Tom

[M_GO_BLUE1]

Clicky below for doxiemom11...

CLICKY

[royl]

Thanks guys and no I will not give up,just trying to be realistic. I want to do the trip in the order I said because I plan to end my trip in New Mexico and probably stay there. I feel a lot better there in the dry warm weather. I will try and take in all the sites mentioned but have already did the Vegas, Hover dam thing. I have also already been to the Air For e museum in Ohio. Thanks anyway. I will not be in any hurry so I really won't plan too much, just don't want to miss anything good along the way. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement, I can use all that I can get. I try and not let it get me down but it is hard sometimes. I am only 59 and really planned on being around much longer.

[doxiemom11]

http://www.rvcruzer.com/ystonervroutes.php

I don't know how to make a clicky for this site, but there is info on all the roads, directions into Yellowstone and which ones are steep, curvy or which way is the easiest route. Depending on your mountain driving skills, you may find one of these routes to be more to your liking.

[richardwise]

My brother (bone cancer) and his best friend (brain cancer) were insepartable their last year, fulfilling their bucket lists. Sometimes when my wife could, as I was still in a wheelchair from an accident that busted up my leg and hip, she would take me with them. They had the time of their lives, and had t-shirts that read "FIGHTING CANCER AND ENJOYING LIFE" This sounds like what you are doing. Don't let anything stop you. If you have time in Ohio, try the Wright-Patterson Air Force Museum in Dayton. Very worth while trip. The Sr71 blackbird and the B1 bomber will blow you away (no pun intended). Keep up the fight.

[ricklord2001]

First of prayers sent for your healing roadlife is right keep your spirits up they have and still are doing a lot towards fighting cancer. You said waiting for warm weather, so I'm assuming your talking May or later. I would kind of reverse your trip. I'd start out on rt 10 to 20 to 40 going to the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest (if your over 60 stop and get a Sr national park pass for like $10 gets free entry for life in all national parks). Then to Grand Canyon South Rim (they'll give you a handicap pass so you can drive everywhere the buses go) you can either stay near train station and take the train. Stay inside the park or there's a nice RV Park just before the entrance with full hookups. I'd then go to the Hoover Dam and tour it and into Vegas for a stay. Then up to Yellowstone, Ohio, Niagra Falls then home. I went in late Feb one year and it's cold and snow in the Grand Canyon so you really couldn't get to appreciate the Grand Canyon fully. Good luck beating the Cancer and have a great trip

[Dick_B]

Buy Mountain Directory West

[lj2654]

Don't be too tight on your planning...just head out and wing it....enjoy the travels with your wife and love and cherish each other every moment of the trip! Wish I had some pointers for you but still have 5 years before we hit the road!

[crickeydog]

Hang in there. You're not alone. Just get mad at it again and refuse to let it win.

As for the trip? My thoughts would be to not plan a darn thing. Just get in and go. I'm betting that it just might end up being the best trip y'all have ever had. Good luck.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

[RoadLife]

Don't give up. They are working miracles these days with cancer treatments. Your trip sounds fabulous...After Niagara Falls stop by Mackinaw Island in Michigan. It is a fun outing and you can take a horsedrawn carriage around the island to see the sights. Good Luck, we'll be thinking healthy thoughts for you.

[mark5w]

Best of luck on your journey, wherever it takes you.