This is my little wagon, all set up and ready for fun!
This is the map I use to keep track of my travels. The yellow route is the trip I took in Summer 2014. The blue shows the route I'm currently taking.
And this is why she calls it a Gypsy Wagon. I have a thing for zebra print. I enjoy the wild connotations of the print. It makes me feel untamed!
But, traveling by camper really changes the adventure. Before? If I saw a sign for something interesting, I could consult myself and decide whether or not to turn. I didn't have anything but myself and my little car to consider. But with a camper, those decisions take a lot more consideration and examination.
Now, I have to figure out whether my car and camper can take the detour. I have to think about the roads, the size of the roads and the layout, whether the roads have bridges under 11'7" (because my camper is 11'6" with the roof mounted A/C unit), and whether I have the opportunity to turn around. And, if I do, where? How? I can really turn around in small spaces, but not nearly as small as with a car alone.
I learned all of this the hard way.
The last time I took a detour, in Lousianna, I ended up almost getting creamed by a house! I'm not kidding!
As I was driving jauntily down I-10, I saw a sign. It read "Hold a baby gator!"
I didn't think. I didn't re-think. I just turned. I wanted to hold a baby gator!
Oops.
The baby gator place was closed with a gate across the driveway entrance. So, slightly disappointed but undetered, I kept going. And going. And going.
I saw side roads into homes and farms, but they were very narrow and I didn't know any of these people. I couldn't exactly just pull in, say "hello," and then turn around, right?
So, I kept going.
As I cautiously rounded a very narrow turn, noticing the complete lack of shoulder area and realizing that the road was narrow, a large semi came barreling around the curve hauling an oversized house!
Oh, my!!
I slowed as safely as possible in the few seconds I had left, tried to ease as far right as I possibly could, but this road had no shoulder! The truck driver looked shocked and tried to slow and correct to his right, but again, no shoulder!
As he passed with a look of horror on his face, I'm looking ahead and at my side mirror. I swear, the porch on that house came within mere centimeters of my precious Gypsy Wagon!
Imagining all of the horror at losing my precious camper and a possible survival while lacking a few limbs, I continued down the road breathing heavily and shaking quite a bit, I kept looking for a place to pull over. Berating myself for my overactive imagination, I took an additional five miles to find a gas station.
Needless to say, I gratefully pulled in and sat for quite a while drinking water and wishing I had re-thought my side trip.
I know that everything ended up just fine, but it really made me think about the necessity of considering all of my options before taking side jaunts and adventures.
My care-free Gypsy Wagon adventures may appear to be quite full of shenanigans and adventures, but I learned my lesson.
I consider all of my options now. I think of every problem in advance and I make sure to keep myself and my little wagon safe.
Now, I'm sitting in Fredericksburg, VA, safely parked at the KOA. I'm having a wonderful time and I've got many more adventures to go before I head back home.
But, those are adventures for another day. :)
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