Ed and Ruth are friends, and they've made countless trips across America (from Nova Scotia), and they've stayed out of trouble by taking it easy, paying attention to weather forecasts, and thinking out each leg of the trip before they leave (see travel plan below).
When they hauled a 5th Wheel, this planning was more complex, because you need to know where you can stop, and where you can get fuel. You especially need to know how to navigate around big cities, where a wrong turn can get you in serious trouble in a hurry.
The 5th Wheel stays in Arizona these days, and motels have replaced truck stops and RV parks. Life is good in an economical SUV, which is comfortable, roomy, and reliable.
A good day for them is six to seven hours of travel, in daylight, with a finish around 4 pm. If there are storms ahead, they wait until they clear, or they take an alternative route. The trip home in the spring (end of March) is especially challenging, bad weather is everywhere. Ed is a retired Air Force pilot, and avoiding nasty weather is something that comes natural. So does trip planning.
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| Ed's Route Plan - click to enlarge |
Contrast this with what they used to spend hauling the 5th Wheel (about $1,000 in fuel each way), and motel living sounds pretty appealing.
Since Snowbirds are all flocking home during this period, their motel stays are booked well in advance, which means lower prices, and they're sure of a room. Their preference these days is La Quinta, which affords them frequent user discounts and loyalty bonuses. Ed is registered with La Quinta as ex-military, and the staff know this when he registers, and never fail to thank him for his service. A nice touch.