Epic Road Trip in a VW Bus

December 6, 2013
Poultney, Vermont
136,811.9 (285.4 miles)

44 Days
32 Cities
21 States
2 Canadian Provinces
1 Sea
2 Straits
6,811 miles
444 gallons of gas
$3.449 average price per gallon
16.01 average Miles per gallon.
16 Hosts (Friends & Strangers that became Friends that let me camp in their driveways)
16 Campgrounds/Parking Lots
1 Completed Lifelong Dream

COST PRICELESS!

How do I even begin to explain the gratitude I feel toward everyone that helped me achieve this goal? Let’s start the last day on the road and see what I can come up with for them.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-v629gNCjGfU/UqPP5YEq2HI/AAAAAAAAFBw/JGiRvQ1pZfk/s144-c-o/1206130856.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay21#5954831716935456882″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1206130856.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” ]We left Richmond, ME easy enough. I had thought I would need to finally put the chains on as the rain that fell all night was freezing on contact with the ground, but Sandy was a champ and got us off the ice and onto the main roads without even a single wheel slip even though I could not walk on the same surface without slipping.

The night before I had decided to attempt the last day on the road without the aid of my GPS and do it Old School like we use to do on the motorcycle prior to GPS. We’d be doing mostly back roads into Vermont so this would be fun. Well I managed good until I hit the city of Lewiston, ME. For some reason, Lewiston did not feel the need to use Highway Numbers that often on their roads and rather preferred road names. Well I had Road/Highway numbers, not names and I ended up lost. Thankfully, I trusted my instincts to say…Yo Dude! You are lost – and I quickly pulled out the map which did not help so I reverted to the GPS to get me out of Lewiston and back on my route.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kTiry2wO9-Y/UqPL_s3czbI/AAAAAAAAFA8/2awVf0wUIpo/s144-c-o/1206131300.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay21#5954827427549859250″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1206131300.jpg” ]Once I was back on track, it was smooth sailing all the way to Mt. Washington. It was a last minute decision, but we were running ahead of schedule and I thought, Why Not! So I turned and headed for the Auto Road to drive to the top of the World…again! 8 miles into the trip and my efforts would be thwarted by the ROAD CLOSED sign. Only way up at this time of the year was to rent a spot in their Track Van. Well I decided that wasn’t good enough for me so we turned around and headed back to our route. I was a bit disappointed because my Brother and Sister in Law got engaged up on that mountain with me by their side after a harrowing hike up the wrong path. I really wanted to go get a picture from that same spot and share it with them. Oh well, perhaps we can return in the summer with their kids and show them where Mommy and Daddy got engaged. 😀

We were getting close to the Vermont border so I turned on my GPS again to see how many hours from home we were as that would tell me if I was going to take the Interstate or remain on back roads. Well my heart sank and my mouth dropped open wide. It was just around 2pm and it was telling me we would not be home before 7:30pm. What did I do wrong. there was no way this last leg was to take this long? It should have been a 5-6 hour day in all and here it was telling me that after driving all day, I still had 5 1/2 hours to go. So I decided I had no choice, but to take the interstate and jumped on. As I was traveling along I got a thought. Could it be? No, I’ve been in Vermont since February 2013 now. Well let me check. I reset the GPS to an address rather than selecting the HOME button and WALA 3 hours were taken off the trip. So I had…forgot to reprogram my HOME button when I moved to Vermont all those months ago. I breathed a sigh of relief and continued on. As I had been on these roads before, both back roads and highway, I decided to just stick to the highway for now and make up some time. LOL (that’s an inside joke with bus owners…our buses only go about 60-65, we don’t ever make up time)

Rounding a bend just outside of St. Johnsbury, VT I spotted a gas station that I had stopped at a few years ago when riding the motorcycle with Lexie. What stood out that day was that a few people pulled into the same gas station to see Lexie on the motorcycle and they have become fans of hers on her Facebook Page Lexie’s Adventures. Since we were just about ready for a gas stop I pulled in and filled up, walked Lexie and bought myself a Vermont window sticker. I figured we had one from just about everywhere else, might as well have a Vermont sticker too. When I was purchasing it, the girl ringing me up joked and said, you don;t have much room left to put this on the bus, do you? I laughed as the ironic part is that I have yet to put all MY stickers on the bus, those on there now are from the previous two owners of which, only a few will stay. I should have taken them off when I was out West and put mine on as I went, but now I will need to wait for Spring 😀 or do it when we hit Key West in a month. 😉

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yzOb7JvDtKw/UqPHwjJWxdI/AAAAAAAAFAI/iJIvcztPYCc/s144-c-o/1206131601.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay21#5954822769196058066″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1206131601.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” ] Back on the road and with the sun setting I had one last photo op. Just before you pull into one of my most favorite towns in Vermont, Woodstock, there is a beautiful covered bridge that survived hurricane Irene. Not much by this river did. I believe they did have to repair this bridge after it, but many other Covered Bridges did not survive and were swept down stream along with many homes and businesses. Hurricane Irene truly devastated Vermont and that is why you see the Vermont Strong plate on the front of Sandy. When you purchase that plate it funds a program to help those that lost so much in that storm here in Vermont. So onto the Taftsville Covered Bridge in I went for my final photo op and first photo inside of Vermont.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-QjvTGOS4v3w/UqPGlOuYkjI/AAAAAAAAE_o/6642QVuqzfc/s144-c-o/1206131631a.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay21#5954821475224031794″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1206131631a.jpg” ]As we made our way toward the Killington Ski Resort and past some of the area that was wiped out by Irene, something caught my eye. I didn’t seem to bother any of the other motorists behind or in front of me, but it bothered me so I had to turn around and go back. There on a steep dirt road off to my right (now left as I was headed back) was an SUV which had run off the road and was hanging precariously close to tipping over off the embankment. But that is not what caught my eye. What I saw was that the drivers door was open. Now this area had gotten the same ice storm we did in Maine and it had rained here most of the day. This open door bothered me – a lot. So I got out with my flashlight and began a search of the vehicle and area. Once I was confident that someone had not fallen out and onto the ground below I felt OK to leave it as it was as I now think they simply jumped out and ran away from it thinking it would roll and they were probably right in that assumption, but I was surprised a tow truck had not secured it yet, but since my only concern was for a life in danger and there was no one there, I moved on.

A short while later and we were rolling into Rutland, VT. We’re still 45 minutes from out destination – HOME, but the excitement was growing as were my nerves. It had grown very dark now and I was a bit concerned over deer. To get this close and have something happen would truly be awful. I drove well below the speed limit and I was on heightened alert. I worked my way onto Rt 4 and then Rt 30. As we rolled into Poultney, VT I decided to pick up some dinner and food for the next few days as they were predicting 4+ inches of snow to begin to fall any moment and I did not want to head back out once we arrived safely home. I stopped at the local Shaws Grocery Store in the center of town, picked up our provisions and headed the final few miles home.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uVAK8lSEnDo/UqPFzc0yx-I/AAAAAAAAE_I/Vh0c6yOeKWs/s144-c-o/1207130835a.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/108131301217387227436/EastboundDay21#5954820620015552482″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”1207130835a.jpg” pe2_img_align=”right” ]Pulling into the driveway was an amazing feeling of both accomplishment and relief. Yes I just did it. I took a bus that I bough, basically sight unseen, except for pictures and took it on a 6,811 mile journey across the continent hitting 32 Cities, 21 States, 2 Canadian Provinces, Crossing 1 Sea, 2 Straits and all this through the Northern Route while managing to avoid numerous winter storms and arrived home Safe and Sound. I was told I was crazy to do it, I was told I was crazy to take this route and I was told many other things, but in the end, I did what I knew I was capable of and met so many wonderful people along the way. I have made life long friends on this journey while seeing my life long friends from the past.

Now I want to share with you some thought from the road:

Thought 1) I was warned when I decided to buy a bus that you had to like people. I do, I really really do. Not just people, strangers specifically. I love to just walk up to some random person and start sharing my life with them and in almost every case, they do the same. Well it was true, driving a Microbus does cause one to have random conversation with total strangers, but there is more.

Driving a Microbus makes people happy. Not just the owners. Yes, we have a blast behind the wheel, even when we are broke down. No, not us, but others. As I drove down the highways all across the continent, random people would be passing me and they’d get a smile on their face as they passed looking at the bus, or seeing Lexie in her seat. I’d get so many Thumbs Up’s. Waves, Smiles and of course Peace Signs that I truly could not have a bad day. Think about that for a moment. Get in your car and drive down the road. How many people can you make happy just by that simple action? When driving a Microbus, this is what happens. We change people. Just seeing us they smile and instantly their day is better, even if for just a moment in time. They Smiled! and that makes ME Smile! Yes, you really need to love people in this bus and I really do.

Thought 2) People drive a lot better the further out from a city you are. Way out in the country, far from the crazy world of the city, people are courteous drivers. They seldom exceed the speed limit by much if anything. They always pull to the left for any vehicle on the shoulder, but the closer you get to a city the crazier it gets.  Speed Limits are non existent. People will be doing 75 in a 55, 65 in a 45 and so on. They drive like its NASCAR. I have a theory behind this. They are being asked to do too much in too little time at the expense of their own safety and the safety of others. Sure their are exceptions to everything, but this is my observation having just spent 44 days on the road from Coast to Coast.

Thought 3) Some people think I am nuts to simply meet someone on line in a social group and then meet them in person. I am sure others thin they are crazy for allowing Lexie and I into their homes without knowing us. The truth is that most people are good. All you hear about in the news is the bad, but I believe that the bad is less than 1% of us. I met so many total strangers on the road and we shared stories. I don’t mean the people who’s homes I stayed at either, I mean the hiker, the backpacker, the man on the corner, the homeless couple at the beach, the guy who gave up his job to go live life from one National Park to the next. These are the people I did not get the names of. These are the people that prove to me that people are genuinely good natured. People that many would be scared to even look at eye to eye.

Then of course you have the people whom I met and stayed with. The people who opened their doors to me and Lexie. Invited us into their homes and made us feel as if we were family. These people are more than genuinely good, these people were amazing. Many of them I had just met on line in one social group or another. Others I had met on line via the motorcycle groups when I use to ride. Everything you read and hear will tell you never to do what they did. Never to do what I did and yet here we are, no worse for the wear and in every case a new friendship is formed. A bond that will last through time. So I urge you to put down the papers, stop believing the news and trust in the human experience. You can relearn to trust your instincts and you will meet the most amazing people.

Thought 3) Our country is amazing. Yes our government sucks and I’m not talking about one political party over another. I think they both suck. Either they get into politics dirty or they become dirty, but they are all greedy and have personal agendas. The country itself, however is really amazing. From our Giant Mountains, to our beautiful Beaches to our rolling Plains to our incredible Cities. It really is an amazing thing to experience.

I saw a sign on the road. It said. “The more you travel the less you hate” and I knew instantly what it meant. Listening to the radio in certain parts of the country, you could definitely get a feel for they political climate. Sadly, most of the Talk Radio I would hear was full of hate. There was no room for open discussion, you either accepted their version of the world or you were the devil. But yet, I met these people they were talking to. They were not haters. They never asked me my political agenda. They didn’t care about my background, social status, sexual orientation, or religious upbringing. They were good people, yet this is what was on their radio stations and unlike other areas, we are not talking about choice here. They get a few stations and its all the same stuff.

So when i saw this sign, it spoke volumes to me. The more we get out there and see the world, the less fearful we are of the world and the less we will believe what the haters want us to believe. Now this thought began when I was out in the Mid West, but it was when I was in Kennebunkport, ME that it really hit home. . See, Christmas is around the corner and I had traveled through some town squares that were so beautiful. Just filled with Christmas Spirit. Now I can not say how others – non Catholics would feel about this, but since I am an Atheist, I can tell you tat it did not bother me to see this, I rather enjoyed their celebration, but perhaps that is because this celebration was once mine? I can not say for sure. But there is a movement right now that is underway that they were discussing on the radio in Kennebunkport, ME. A movement to ban people from expression of their faith in a pubic arena. The Town Square specifically. Now I think this is rather sad as I often enjoy seeing and participating in others celebrations. Be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Native American Dance or a Wiccan Celebration of the Solstice. Its a celebration of life and I truly see nothing wrong with it. I would be sad to think that there is a day when these celebrations are forced behind closed doors and shielded from all to see. So when I saw that sign, I truly could understand what it meant. The more I travel, the less I am frightened of different people and the more I can tolerate the difference in people. In fact, i look forward to these people opening their doors and their hearts to me and allowing me to peek inside.

Thought 4) I was asked a lot upon my arrival home…I bet you are glad to be home. Truth be told, no I am not. I am glad I completed the trip and made it back to where I wanted to safely and with little trouble, but to be glad I am home? Home to me is where I am. While for most, home is a Safe Haven, to me, a house represents a prison of sorts. Now if you know that I just so happen to currently live on a beautiful lake surrounded by beautiful mountains, you will be puzzled by that statement. How can such a beautiful place be a prison?

Its rather simple and ironic because I help people buy and sell homes for a job, but to me, a house is a burden. A place that demands you stay put and tend to it. It restricts my freedom to roam. For me, living on the road, seeing new place and meeting new people everyday is home.The world is my home and I want to look in every room, Sleep in every room and play in every room. Granted, I am me and a dog. If you have children, this type of lifestyle could be very hard on them, but for me and my dog, traveling is simply heaven.

OK, enough thoughts. Time for some much needed THANK YOU’s!

To Thim and Tony.You were my first host and you both set the tone for what was to come. I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to experience San Francisco through your eyes. It seems like just yesterday we were sitting down eating Thai Food 😀

To Luna. Thank you so much for sharing Eugen, OR with me and introducing me to Sushi. It was sad that you could not make it to the Hot Springs with me, but I thank you for telling me about them. Since I first went into a Hot Springs in Big Bend, TX I had wanted to get back in and I met some incredibly nice people there.

To Dale and Colleen. To open your home to a complete stranger from a post you saw on line truly speaks volumes about how nice people truly are. It was such a relief to arrive at your house and be welcomed in like that. I enjoyed your stories and look forward to seeing more of your adventures in your bus. Watching Lexie and the Bunny interact was amazing and one of my highlights of the trip. I truly hope our paths cross again. You will always have a place here in VT or wherever home is for me that that time.

To Stuart, what can I say Dude, you are one of a kind and at such a young age. You have a truly bright future ahead of you. Don’t be discouraged by the all mighty dollar, simply live simply and keep reaching for those dreams. I do believe that you will make a big impact on the VW World as long as you stay focused. Thank you so much for all the help you gave me on Sandy and Thank your family for the wonderful accommodations. I hope the house sells quick and you can all move into that amazing place you showed me. And try to keep the buses out of the mud! LOL Oh, I can;t forget the movie either. I truly enjoyed it. It really spoke to me and i had m family watch it after Thanksgiving to help them see what I am part of today. Keep on Busing Dude!

To Steve, I wish I could have stayed in Friday Harbor longer. Would have loved to go for a sail with you on your boat. Thank you for showing me the lab and giving me a personal glimpse into your past. What an experience that was to see all that in person and yes it was ironic and funny how we really do have a lot in common. Keep selling those Nickles!

To David G. Thank you for the hospitality and dinner. It was nice seeing you again and this time on much better circumstances. It was sad traveling the same roads Donald had before his demise, but to think of how many lives he touched from that roadside grave and look at us now, all still friends all these years later really says a lot. I hope we can get together some time back east here. Would love to have you all up at the lake.

To Mitch and Melissa. What can I say, you two were so gracious to welcome me in and for Mitch to take off of work to help me get Sandy running good again was so heartwarming. They say that “you meet the nicest people when broke down because the idiots don’t stop” -The Bus Movie. Well I was all but broke down and I truly did meet the nicest people. If you ever wish to fly out East, Sandy is waiting for you to take you family on an adventure around New England. I look forward to following your travels too. Thank you for showing me what it means to be a Bus Owner. I am forever grateful for your hospitality.

To Michael, we might have met over motorcycles and Lexie, but you truly are a gracious host and funny one at that. Lexie and I had such a pleasant time relaxing there and thank you for the travel tips. They were perfect. So glad I got out of there before those storms hit though. Hope to see you and your wife in New England some time. You owe her a nice vacation mister 😉 😉

To Joel and Jill. I had a great time meeting you and your family and seeing all yours VW’s. Thank you for dispelling the rumors about Fargo, ND. I really enjoyed it there and really appreciated the spot. I was able to find a new gas cap right in town before we hit the road too 😀 (still can’t believe I did that) I hope you and your family can make it out East to visit Lexie and I some time in the future. We’d love to reciprocate the accommodations.

To Larry, Another strange that is a new Life Long friend. And I know you WILL make it out to Vermont to see us. Well, when you do, even if you have a group, I have a spot for you all here. Thank you for helping me troubleshoot Sandy in the AM. After we did that, she has been running great ever since. Looking forward to seeing you again my friend.

To Rick and Family, Another stranger turned Life Long Friend! I’m looking forward to seeing you all again in Michigan and getting to ride my first Sand Rail. Hopefully we can set this up with the Bus Trip over Lake Michigan. See you soon my friend.

To Angie and Jason. Oh my god, what a relief it was to meet you all that night. My emotions were all over the place, from a high in the morning when I hit Michigan to when I crossed back into Canada and then that snow storm. I really didn’t think I would make it to your house and then there I was with some strange games in the window. Was it a frat house? Where was I, LOL. Well were I was was in a warm welcoming home. Thank you all so much for inviting us in and treating us so kindly. We really felt welcomed! And Thank You for insisting I sleep inside, though I think Lexie was thanking you even more. I really hope you and your friends can make a trip out to Vermont this summer to see us. It would be great to host you all here, we have plenty of room and I’d love to show you the lake and area. Let’s stay in touch!

To Deb, A welcoming familiar face after all this time on the road. Thank you for putting Sandy in your garage so we were out of the frosty Rochester Snow. We’ll be seeing you guys again in the summer for kayaking right?

To Dawn, Thank You for a spot on such short notice. It was just what we needed. So close to home yet too far to make it that night. That’s twice you saved us! Thank you for the wonderful dinner and I enjoyed spending time talking to Anna. She really is a blast to talk to. You are all  welcomed to come up to Vermont in February for some sledding or skiing and of course you guys have to get here this summer for some kayaking and sailing.

To John and Sue. Wow, I could have never asked for a better spot. So close to the ocean and the tour was lovely John. Sue, Thank you for a wonderful dinner and the leftovers were perfect! I thoroughly appreciated them a couple of days later in Maine. Looking forward to seeing you both again.

To Don, It was great to see you. Another lifelong connection from Donald Masters. Thanks for the history lesson on your town and getting to celebrate Zoe’s birthday. Hope to see you and your wife again up here in Vermont, but we will definitely see you both this summer for some Kayaking out there.

To FJ, my hose I never met. Yes, that’s right. A stranger to me as I am to him, yet he opened his property to us. More proof of great people. Well FJ, the site was perfect. I hope you guys can come visit m eon the lake here some time too. I’d love to meet you and your wife in person one day. Thank you for everything!

To Colin whom without you knowledge, many of us would be stuck somewhere in our buses.

To Tim for without your persistence, I would not have Sandy. You were right, she is a GREAT bus! Can;t wait till we do a trip together.

To Steve who put this bus together over the last couple of years. You did an awesome job and this is proof of just how well you did. I would have never been able to pull this off in most of the other buses I was looking at. Tim was right, this was the right bus for me.

and finally to my Wonderful Family. I am sure I have accounted for more than one gray hair on your heads. You all put up with my roaming so well, but for without you, this trip would have never happened. Dad, you are amazing. You have given us all so much and I can never say Thank You enough for the opportunities you laid before me. Mom, I truly enjoy you. You are always there for me, always helping me fix something or make something and always ready with some words of encouragement. I can never seem to catch you off guard, no matter where I call you from and tell you I am at, you are just always excited to hear the stories from that day. Thanks for instilling in me my sense of adventure and ability to talk to anyone.

and Thank You all who have been following along on this journey. It was a big one, but its not the last one. Soon we will be mounting the Kayak “Lex-T-Sea” to Sandy and heading out on more adventures as times allows so be sure to subscribe so you get updated when we start to post again. And remember, we love to meet people so if we are traveling through your area, be sure to contact us.

Till we roll again all!

Larry and Lexie

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