The First Day of Our Trip Across the US

When we started packing the motorhome, our dogs shook from head to toe with excitement; my stomach churned with apprehension. They sensed the future held an adventure; I questioned the wisdom of leaving home for three months. Though our dogs responded differently as we packed the motorhome, the body language of each reflected my emotions. 

Cisco, our 18 month old pup bounced uncontrollably. He hovered near the door as I carried out load after load. Waiting not so patiently while attempting to transport himself to the RV without anyone intervening. I understood because my bucket list logged "travel across US" at the top. We were really going to do this, and all I wanted to do was get in the motorhome and drive away. 

I wished for Francisco's skills as an escape artist because he can slither through the smallest crevice and disappear. Even though I thought the door closed behind me with him on the other side, several times when I walked into the RV, he was sitting in the driver's seat with a smile that said, "What took you so long?" He has an innate ability to transport himself to his happy place. Cisco simply hopes for adventure and goes along for the ride.

My excitement matched his one moment but was tempered by anxiety the next. A huge part of me wanted to climb into the rig and not look in the rear view mirror. However, another part worried about the weather between Idaho and Maine, gas prices, how Randy and I would survive 90 days in a 32-foot motorhome without killing each other, and if the world might come to an end while we were away. Yes, maybe a little extreme.

When Randy drove into town to fill the rig up with gas, Cisco rode along because getting him out of the RV would have been a fight. I went inside to comfort Dagney, our 7 year old fur-baby, who shook from head to toe with excitement coupled with apprehension. I laid on the living room carpet and asked Dagney what toys she wanted to pack in hopes of calming her fears.

Her behaviors are more calculated and her apprehension about the unknown requires reassurance. One by one she gathered her toys and deposited everything she wanted to take into a pile - which included EVERY toy we own. Then she looked at me as if to say, "OK, I'm ready. Let's do this." Dagney, like me, is a planner. She dreams of the adventure but must be prepared. 

When Randy returned, we loaded the dogs and all their "friends" and headed out. That first day of our bucket list adventure, we began driving from Idaho to Maine.

Each dog assumed their position for the four hour ride, the first leg of our journey. Cisco simply plopped down and went to sleep. With full trust in our decisions, nothing bothered him. If possible he sleeps on my lap, if not, he lays as close as possible to his sister.

Dagney remains in total control and on guard at all time. When on my lap, she stand and looks out the window. Sometimes she will perch herself on the seat of the dinning booth. It is just high enough that if she stands and stretches her neck, she can watch out the front window. Whenever the blinker switch is activated she stands taller to observe what is around the next corner.

Cisco sleeps comfortably on the dog bed without a worry in the world, and Dagney watches out the window to monitor the situation. Randy assures me the little window on the passenger's side was made to help see cars as they approach the driver's blind spot, but Dagney and I are pretty sure they made it for her.

The first day of our trip is now a memory as we begin the second week of our trip. But each morning I wake excited for what awaits down the road but cautiously plan for any bumps in the road. 

No matter your age, never neglect to live life to the fullest. It is easy to sit at home and make excuses to not begin an adventure: time, money, apprehension, ability, or just fear of the unknown. Don't let any of these stop you from hitting the road. Sure maybe We Really Shouldn't Be Doing This, but you only live once, and you will not live forever.

We have traveled many miles during our 42 years of married life but have never veered this far east. We are going to Maine and everywhere in between and then head back to Boise via a different route.

We have couple of months to go and a wealth of memories to collect. Continue reading about our adventures and enjoy Dagney and Cisco by reading more stories in the Medium publication RVing in Retirement.