Last year, 2016, I shared with you that I prefer to stay home. But other folks’ travels fascinate me. While I am venturing to the grocery store, the garden center, or the gas station, my friends are traveling far and wide. One of my favorite travel stories from 2016 was my interview with Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Haul.

They traveled through the Land that I Love, through the prairies, orange barrels, and mountains until they reached the ocean white with foam.

Bring on the Conestoga wagon and pioneers! Turns out, they loved their expedition, which you can read about, below.

To get you in the mood, you may want to croon or hum See the USA in your Chevrolet. Here is one especially creative verse:

On a highway or a road along a levee
Performance is sweeter, nothing can beat her
Life is completer in a Chevy

( a commercial jingle from c. 1949, with lyrics and music by Leo Corday (ASCAP) and Leon Carr (ASCAP)

Where on the map have Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Haul been in 2017, you ask? So far, no big road trips in 2017…yet. But they continue to rack up the frequent driving miles. They travel several times a month. They hit the highways to see their kids and other relatives. They’ve also visited friends in New York City and Washington, D.C . They have flown as far as San Francisco.

Doesn’t it look like they are having a wonderful time?

I have shared with my readers that I love staying home. But it turns out that many retirees love to travel. If you have met my friends The Loopers then you know that they are seeing America by boat. I found another couple that recently (2016) traveled across America by Conestoga wagon. Ok, they actually drove a 20 foot moving truck over 3,00 miles, which is about the same as far as I am concerned. I decided to find out how they “enjoyed” their experience.

Let’s meet our intrepid pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Haul.

Powered By the Tweet This Plugin

Tweet This

Did you really travel across America in a 20 foot moving truck?

Yes, two of our married kids were moving at the same time. So, we rented a big truck, and drove to Ohio and moved the first couple. The next day we continued to Indiana, and picked up couple number two’s boxes and furniture and headed to California. The trip took 9 days, and a total of 3,017 miles. We always made sure to get hotels with good hot tubs for evening soaks!

What were you thinking?! Let me rephrase that question in a calmer voice. Did you have any worries, problems or praises?

We did wonder how the big truck would handle the long drive and the mountains. And of course, we didn’t want to break down. We did not have any mechanical issues. We had some trouble parking the truck, and maneuvering on crowded streets, but that was the only tough part. Our praises would be that we had perfect weather, our truck actually did well at 82mph in the curvy mountains and the views were more spectacular than expected!

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah

Mrs. Haul, you Tweet about fashion. Do you have any packing and wardrobe advice?

Packing was a breeze. As it was warm summer weather the entire trip, packing was simple. For 11 days I believe I packed 6 pairs of shorts, an athletic  skort which took me everywhere, 8 tanks, 4 t-shirts, 2 wrinkle free skirts, 2 wrinkle free dresses, 2 bathing suits, 1 pair of athletic shoes to drive and move furniture in, 1 pair flip flops, and 1 pair dressy black wedges. I packed 1 sweater and jacket for the cool evenings in the mountains  All mixed and matched easily and it worked!

A hint to travelers changing hotels every night: we packed a large suitcase with all of clothing which served as our base and then we took what we needed for that night’s stay in a small suitcase.

Do you have some superlatives to share?

 Favorite site was Lake Tahoe! We stayed at the Hyatt in the northern Incline Village area. Amazing to relax on a pristine, private beach, with brilliant blue waters, and snow capped mountains in the distance! 

Best breakfast with huge pancakes and what must be the world’s largest and tastiest cinnamon roll was at Mom and Pop’s Diner in Carson City.

Best breakfast at Mom & Pop’s Diner

Best dinner was 30Hop in Coralville, Iowa (amazing short ribs and crispy salmon) and most flavorful and unique was the trendy Straits on Santana Row in San Jose with Pan-Asian cuisine.

Funniest experience had to be seeing our Uhaul parked outside the very exclusive Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay! (And no, we did not stay there, just looked around) 

Nine days in a 20 foot rental truck. I want to ask Mr. Haul, how did you get along?

Utah- the view from a big truck

“Yes dear.”

Mrs. Haul, I’ll ask you how you two lived through enjoyed the trip.

We got along like peas and carrots. We were stuck in a noisy, bumpy truck every day but we got along great, because we couldn’t hear a word the other was saying! Truly we had a blast and said it was the best way to celebrate our anniversary.

Would you ever go on a road trip again?

We would love to do another road trip. We are driving to Dahlonega, Georgia soon & Charleston in August for weddings but hope to travel back west to Yosemite and other national parks. Truly an adventure everyone should do at some point in their life.

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Haul for sharing your adventure! Any final tips for us?

We enjoyed finding and dining at local restaurants. We celebrated our anniversary at the Coyote Creek Steakhouse in Rock Springs, WY. We exercised by jumping rope at every rest stop along the way. Remember-just relax and enjoy the ride!

Happy Trails to my friends and readers. Please let me know about your travels! I hope you life is completer!