Idea Transcript
More Next Blog»
Create Blog Sign In
Suanne Online - Shunpiking in my - "Prius RV" Sunset in the Coconino National Forest, looking northeast toward Sedona, AZ, 4/17/15
Welcome
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I travel and camp out of a Toyota Prius. I'm full-time on the road, but was part-time from 09-'16. After some early tests, I fell in love with being in nature, shunpiking (taking back roads), and exploring local histories, cultures & geology.
Reflections From Home
Great White Egret in the swamp among baldcypress and airplants, Big Cypress National Preserve, Loop Road. Click to enlarge picture.
I arrived back home in Fall City about 10 days earlier than planned due to family illness. Gratefully my mother- and father-in-law are doing better now. I enjoyed Easter with the grandkids and have mostly caught up on housework, finances, and some John time :). Now I need to catch up on blogging. So, this initial blog is an overview and some general impressions of my recent trip around the Gulf of Mexico coast, January 8 through March 27.
Currently I spend winters in the Desert SW (attending the RTR), late spring in the Pacific NW, and the rest of the year exploring wherever the weather is pleasant. Before I went full-time, I spent months on the road every year exploring the US, most notably the National Parks in '10, West Coast in '11, Gulf Coast & FL in '12 & '14, and as a snowbird in AZ-UT in '15. I hope you enjoy these posts of my travels in my "Prius RV" (so called because it's self-contained). If you'd like details about how I live out of my car, see the links directly below.
How-To Articles Why a Prius? The Bed -- Updated April 2015 Bathing, Brushing, Bathroom Heating, Cooling, Ventilation Windows and Privacy Nourishment Safety and Security Packing -- Edited May 2015 Soul Restoration on the Road
Most Popular Post A Prius RV My 2010 cross-country trip is a car camping trip. That is, my '04 Prius will be my abode when touring the National Parks. Before I ar...
Large Crocodile among the mangroves at the Everglades National Park, Flamingo District. I saw only a few crocodiles.
As you know from my last couple of blogs, I spent several weeks in Quartzsite, Arizona with friends and a couple more weeks in Big BendNational Park before reaching the Gulf Coast at South Padre Island, Texas. From there I stayed as close to the coast as possible as I traveled toward the Florida Keys. I focused on exploring the National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges, and the coastal back roads. I camped in National Parks and National Forests when available. I overnighted at many Walmart parking lots while on my way to my next destination.
Helpful Links for Shunpikers VanDweller Forum on CheapRVLiving VanDwellers in Yahoo Groups VanDwellers on FaceBook National Park Service Free Campsites -- easy to use site by Jenn & Johnny Cheap RV Living -- a lot of good information
2010 National Park Tour Preparing the Prius RV Packing the Prius The Original Travel Plan Actual Route, April-July Safety and Security Technology for the Tour In Memory of Elise
Aligators warming themselves at Big Cypress National Preserve. I saw many aligators all along the Gulf Coast -- Texas to Florida.
I saw an astonishing amount of wildlife. I followed a migratory flyway so the birding was exceptional. The swamps and mangrove islands were so full of life that it's totally mind boggling … from tiny bugs to huge crocodiles, aninghas to manatees, fish, turtles, reptiles, raptors, shore birds, cats, deer … so much life. To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed the swamps and would love to go back to explore more in a kayak of my own.
Blog Archive 2010 (92) 2011 (11) t 2012 (7) January (1) February (3) t April (1) Reflections From Home September (2) 2013 (3) 2014 (18) 2015 (16) 2016 (5) 2017 (2)
About Me Suanne
I saw hundreds of beach communities of houses-on-stilts, from full-size homes to mobile-homes-on-stilts, raised up to 30' to protect them from storm surges. Many appeared to be new construction, likely rebuilt after hurricane damage.
Retired. Gramma. Traveller. Snowbird. View my complete profile
Having enjoyed the roads along the Pacific Coast of the US, I expected a similar experience on the Gulf. But, for the most part, those roads had scarce views of the water. Instead multistory condos or houses-on-stilts stood between the road and the water. Still I persisted to hug the coast down to the Keys and even up the Atlantic side of Florida. As I traveled those many thousands of miles along mainland and barrier island beaches, I was taken aback by the material wealth of so many in this country as evidenced by their gated-communities and vacation homes. I am deeply saddened that so much natural beauty has been covered and hidden by these developments.
Contact Suanne Name
Email *
Message *
Great Blue Heron, sugar sand, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Okaloosa Area Just off of US-98, Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Click to enlarge picture.
So, the scattering of wildlife refuges and national parks that I visited along the way were especially treasured and will be the focus of my blogs to follow. I'm grateful that they have been set aside, free of development, for wildlife to thrive and for the public to enjoy.
Send
Follow Blog by Email Email address...
Submit
Subscribe to Blog Posts All Comments
5 Travel Blogs I Read On the Road Again
Just checking in! *I'm just checking in to say hi before I turn in for the night. The sore throat is a little better but I am still coughing.* *I'm better when I stay indoo... 37 minutes ago
Cardinal defending his territory from the "intruder" in my side view mirror. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, northwest Florida Gulf Coast
In the days to come, I will begin blogging and posting many pictures from my explorations along the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and a few more inland stops on my way back west to Washington State … be watching!
Rolling in a RV Wheelchair Traveling
Memphis Botanic Garden - [image: IMG_1110] In 1947 the city of Memphis bought 355 acres of old plantation land for a new park on the east side of the city. The first things con... 14 hours ago
Swallowtail Butterfly at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, FL
Posted by Suanne at 8:59 PM
3 comments:
Life on the Open Road
Newer Posts
Home
Older Posts
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) Moving on to El Fuerte - Our next stop was El Fuerte, where we will be getting on the Copper Canyon train tomorrow. Entering town, we went over the El Fuerte River. All this water... 1 day ago
The eBay RV Artsy Life of Sue Soaring Sun
Replacing Brownie's Innards, While Traveling Florida - Deer near my campsite at Clearwater Lake Campground, Ocala National Forest About a week-and-a-half ago, I found myself, with some unscheduled free nights... 1 week ago
Merikay's Dream It is
Easy to move when your house has wheels! - And moving is just what we did on Saturday. When we bought in as new members of the Escapee RV Club park Jojoba Hills, we came in on site 719. Site 719 ha... 2 weeks ago Show All
My Family Blog The Carlson's - a family blog
Spring 2014 - Since my marriage to John 20+ years ago, May & June have been busy months for family celebrations. This May we celebrated my Mother-In-Law's 80th
birthday ... 3 years ago
Once you have heard the lark, known the swish of feet through hill-top grass and smelt the earth made ready for the seed, you are never again going to be fully happy about the cities and towns that man carries like a crippling weight upon his back. Gwyn Thomas Quotes from compiled list at http://cheapRVliving.com
(c) Suanne Carlson 2010 . Watermark theme. Powered by Blogger.