End of the year wrap up... So how was 2017?

[Desert_Captain]

Inspired by a similar thread over on the Harley Davidson Forum I thought this might be a good time to throw it out here...

Winter is fast approaching and for much of the country, the time to put the RV's to bed for a long winter's nap is fast approaching if not already on scene. I would like to express my sincere condolences to all who live in areas that require shutting down your RV for a number of months.
Living in southern Arizona we can RV year round.... OK, it's actually fun about 350 days a year. 😉

For us 2017 was the best year ever. We made 14 trips totalling nearly 20,000 miles. We towed my Harley Super Glide on a Kendon single trailer for most of them. This gives us the opportunity to ride some of the finest bike roads in America and return every afternoon to all of the comforts of home found in our Nexus 24' Class C. Frankly, the Harley makes a pretty decent Toad though at 24' we really don't "need" one.

Our three long trips included 2 weeks {April} in Utah {Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon} and two, 2-week trips {July and August} to the southern Rockies {Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Norwood, Telluride, Cortez, Pagosa Springs, Taos, Angel Fire, Red River, Questa etc..}

We also found time to do Quartzsite, Laughlin, Oatman and Vegas all in one trip {January} to start the year off right. Did subsequent trips to Cottonwood {Jerome, Sedona, Camp Verde} and Flagstaff (Snow Bowl, Grand Canyon, Williams and even Meteor Crater}. We did two more trips to the White Mountains {Big Lake at 9,200'} and Mogollon Rim {Canyon point at 7,700'} to break up the summer heat of Tucson.

One bike trip to San Diego to take the Advance Rider Skills Course and three by car to deal with family business and then rounded out the year with a 1,800 mile run last week to San Antonio to visit friends {former neighbors} and play a little golf.

Happy to report zero, none, zip, nada problems on any of our travels. Nothing but nice folks and incredible scenery. I'm thinking this is why we all RV... am I wrong here? {I didn't 't think so}. :W

So how about it, how was your 2017? I hope you all had as much fun as we did and if not there is always next year. Like the man said...

"Get your motor running, head out on the highway, looking for adventure, in whatever comes our way... {you know the rest}

:B

[cross21114]

Good year for our family. Rented a CruiseAmerica 30' in Las Vegas for 3 generations (7 total). Did Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon and Sedona and flew out of Phoenix. This was our test trip. Everyone had a blast so we pulled the trigger on a new Super C. Other than bringing it back from Elkhart (my wife drove some pulling the toad), the shakedown trip was a guy trip to South Dakota.
Wife and I are leaving around Feb 1 heading to SC, FL, LA, TX, NM and then home for our first big trip.

[janstey58]

We had a great year in our new to us DP. We did over 60days of camping, mostly weekends and long VC trips, and learned a lot about our MH. We also camped during every month this year (tough to do in the Midwest) and plan to complete that with one weekend trip in December if the mild weather continues. Two years from full timing, cant wait!!

[Durb]

Desert Captain wrote:
Inspired by a similar thread over on the Harley Davidson Forum I thought this might be a good time to throw it out here...

Winter is fast approaching and for much of the country, the time to put the RV's to bed for a long winter's nap is fast approaching if not already on scene. I would like to express my sincere condolences to all who live in areas that require shutting down your RV for a number of months.
Living in southern Arizona we can RV year round.... OK, it's actually fun about 350 days a year. 😉

For us 2017 was the best year ever. We made 14 trips totalling nearly 20,000 miles. We towed my Harley Super Glide on a Kendon single trailer for most of them. This gives us the opportunity to ride some of the finest bike roads in America and return every afternoon to all of the comforts of home found in our Nexus 24' Class C. Frankly, the Harley makes a pretty decent Toad though at 24' we really don't "need" one.

Our three long trips included 2 weeks {April} in Utah {Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon} and two, 2-week trips {July and August} to the southern Rockies {Durango, Silverton, Ouray, Norwood, Telluride, Cortez, Pagosa Springs, Taos, Angel Fire, Red River, Questa etc..}

We also found time to do Quartzsite, Laughlin, Oatman and Vegas all in one trip {January} to start the year off right. Did subsequent trips to Cottonwood {Jerome, Sedona, Camp Verde} and Flagstaff (Snow Bowl, Grand Canyon, Williams and even Meteor Crater}. We did two more trips to the White Mountains {Big Lake at 9,200'} and Mogollon Rim {Canyon point at 7,700'} to break up the summer heat of Tucson.

One bike trip to San Diego to take the Advance Rider Skills Course and three by car to deal with family business and then rounded out the year with a 1,800 mile run last week to San Antonio to visit friends {former neighbors} and play a little golf.

Happy to report zero, none, zip, nada problems on any of our travels. Nothing but nice folks and incredible scenery. I'm thinking this is why we all RV... am I wrong here? {I didn't 't think so}. :W

So how about it, how was your 2017? I hope you all had as much fun as we did and if not there is always next year. Like the man said...

"Get your motor running, head out on the highway, looking for adventure, in whatever comes our way... {you know the rest}

:B

Sounds like you had a great season. Next year when you need to cool down come to the Northwest for a visit and a change of scenery. We also have some great riding roads.

[Gambit80]

Had a great year and was able to do a trip the wife and I had been planning to do for years. For our 20th anniversary we made the trek from Florida to Yellowstone. We averaged camping one weekend a month, as well.

[afidel]

It was a very good first year with our trailer. Took two major trips, Florida for Xmas through New Years and a 3 week 5,000 mile tour of the western national parks. We got to White Sands, Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Tetons, Yellowstone (for a week!), Rushmore, and Badlands. Total mileage was a bit under 10,000 when you throw in 6 weekends in various state parks including an incredible long weekend for Presidents Day where the highs were in the low 70's.

This coming year we're going to Lake George, the Presidential Range, Acadia, Boston, NYC, and Falling Water for one trip and then back to the Keys for Xmas. Not quite as many miles (probably about 7,500) but I'm hoping to make it out for more weekends. I think if we get the trailer sorted out with all the stuff we need for a weekend without hours of packing then the wife might be more willing to hook it up and take it to a park where I can meet her after work on Friday.

[Desert_Captain]

bigorange wrote:
Another year of fast action in our house...lots of kid activities and a few fun outings (not as many as we’d like of course) with the trailer. New puppy added to the mix and new 5er coming soon with shakedown trip planned over Christmas. Not a bad trailering year I guess.

Desert Captain we still need to get together for a beverage when you’re in Tucson.

Sent you a PM.

:B

[rockhillmanor]

d3500ram wrote:
Unfortunately, I did not use the camper at all in '17 and only once the year before. I guess

buying a fixer-upper house will do that to a person

who used to go at least a dozen or more times a year 😞

X10

Me too, did the same thing! Renovation taking longer than expected. didn't get out RV'ing at all.

BUT, when I am done I will have a 'real' nice landing place for a winter home. No more sardine CG's for me anymore when I head south for the winter!! Real nice house on over an acre and my MH allowed! :C

[PghBob]

This year was pretty good for us. Left home in late Jan. and spent all of Feb. and the first part of March in Florida avoiding winter. In April, we flew to Hawaii for a week. May found us in Mt. Airy NC taking in "Mayberry" and Old Time Music in the region. In July we were at the FMCA rally in Indianapolis, August in historic Colonial Williamsburg VA, and some beach time in VA Beach. Cape Cod was the destination in September, then south to Florida again for a few weeks in October. Next trip likely to be early in the new year. Had to replace the coach batteries in July, but easy-peasy at the FMCA rally. We wish everyone had the opportunities to do what we were able to do this year. Happy Thanksgiving all! Safe travels.

[docsouce]

Great year. We put on 12,000 miles, visited 26 states, spent a week driving across ontario, ran the length of US Route 2 from Sault St Marie to Everett Wa. We camped in 56 different campgrounds. We're retired an are really looking forward to our third year of adventure in our RV! Thanks to all here for suggestions on places to go and things to see.

[Toolguy5]

We had a plan for lots of travel this year. It was foiled in a hurry.

Only made 3 trips this year. A 3 day trip we took our grandson locally.
2 weeks to Bar Harbor Maine and 2 weeks to Sevierville Tennesse. Had to put RV away for winter. Have a few more hurdles to get over from now until mid January then hopefully a much better 2018.

Happy RVing

[pasusan]

It was our first year of retirement so we had lots of plans. Some of the plans fell through as we also had some contractor work at home.

We did get to go on a long trip south in the spring with our trailer - down to MS and GA, highlights were the Natchez Trace and Cloudland Canyon SP. Throughout the summer we took many short trips in our B to parks on Lake Erie and also Niagara Falls. In the fall we took another longer trip with the trailer through the northern mountains of PA - highlights were the Grand Canyon of PA and Cook Forest SP (which was voted the best state park in the nation a couple years ago).

All in all a wonderful year - and we've got high hopes for next year!

[NanciL]

Not so good !
Our new 2017 trailer was totaled with the salt water surge from hurricane Irma

Jack L

[Gonzo42]

Our best year yet. Not so fantastic as above, but we went to Solvang, CA, Yellowstone NP (the best) along with the eclipse with 2 full minutes of totality, Paso Robles, CA and the year isn't over.

[Cloud_Dancer]

Not good. But, I'm not really a negative person.

[ktmrfs]

another good year.
highlights- fantastic weather for the total eclipse viewing in John Day oregon. Fantastic first week at Wallowa lake and the snake river gorge, then the smoke from fires came in.

the "routine" our regular campouts at the coast with family and friends, and a few other trips. Not as many as previous years, but still close to 60 days camping.


LOWLIGHT: all the smoke from the fires in Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon that converged on our time in Wallowa Lake Oregon and our detour back to portland since I-84 was closed.