This is one of a multipart “catch-up” series to cover our last two years. The others in the series include:
Venturing Out Again, Criss-Crossing the Country – Eastward, Criss-Crossing the Country – Westward
We were just starting out as full-time RVers, so this was a big period of adjustment and change for us.
- October 8, 2019 – Sold the House!
- Spent the Fall in Texas:
- Dallas, Conroe/Magnolia, Texas Ren Faire, Galveston (stumbled upon Full Time Freedom Week and joined in), LaGrange, and Austin
- Went back to Dallas for Thanksgiving and Christmas with the family (rented a VRBO to host the clan)
- Spent New Years in Fredericksburg, met up with Escapees Hangouts folks while there
- Stayed a few days at Potters Creek Park (COE) near New Braunfels
- Decided we needed a more substantial rig for full-timing. Looked at a few there and then back up to Georgetown.
- Stayed at Jim Hogg (COE) in Georgetown and put a contract on our Beaver Contessa!
- Parked the old rig at Viki’s Dad’s place while we spent an awesome week in Maui (lots of whales!)
- Came back, switched rigs and then parked at Dad’s again; Bounder in the lower drive and Contessa up top.
- Viki and her Dad left for Rwanda and Uganda for almost 3 weeks (Gorilla trek!).
- Went up to Sherman for a few days in early March to get stuff out of storage and see the kids.
- COVID was looking like it was coming and we weren’t sure what would happen!
- We parked at Austin East KOA for a few days which then turned into 3 and half months because of COVID. We made new friends and learned to negotiate the “new normal”
That’s the quick overview. Here are some pictures from that time:
(Pro tip! Clicking on the photo makes it bigger and captions are below it)
We officially start our journey on October 8, 2019 when we sold the house! 
Our TRF campsite before everyone arrived. There was great cell signal until 40,000+ other folks arrived! 
In Galveston, TX on the beach! 
Had a great in town evening with Jessica @exploringthelocallife. 
Spent some time at Rohan meadery in LaGrange, TX. 
Our first Christmas on the road was very different without our own house. 
Stopped at a lovely city park in San Saba, TX to practice with Viki’s new camera and have lunch. 
Joined up with the Fredericksburg New Year’s Hangout and hiked up Enchanted Rock in Llano, TX. 
Flew to Maui, HI with our friend Brad for an amazing week. 
We saw lots of humpback whales on different boat excursions. We could hear them singing when we went snorkeling. 
We hiked through lava rock eroded by the sea to Nakalele Blowhole. 
We drove up to Haleakala NP. It was stunning. 
Turtles were laying all over the beach on the north side of the island as we finished our time in Maui. 
Both rigs are side by side. We gained 6 ft in length , one axle, 3 slides, and about 10,000 lbs! Much better for full-time living. 
Made a side trip to Dancing Bee Winery to get some honey and, of course, mead. 
Africa was filled with so many amazing things. These kissing giraffes in Murchison Falls NP, Uganda, surely knew it was Valentine’s Day! 
This is one of the Rhinos at a Ugandan sanctuary. Each Rhino has its own armed bodyguard. 
Some impalas and zebras at Akagera NP, Rwanda. 
A colorful roller bird in Akegara NP, Rwanda. 
The highlight of the trip…a hike to 9K ft to observe gorillas. This is Muhoza, leader of the family group we saw in Volcanoes NP, Rwanda. 
Exhausted hikers taking a rest on the way down. 
A trip to a banana beer factory in Ruhengeri, Rwanda. 
And so begins the pandemic. No TP at Target! 
Austin KOA East sunset. The campground was fairly empty at the start of this pandemic. 
We learn to live with the new normal.
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