So here’s the plan: Starting Dec. 27/17 we hope to leave snow-covered Manitoba for the trip of a lifetime. Over a 4 year period we want to visit all 10 Canadian provinces and 48 contiguous States + the District of Columbia. We have already visited Alaska and Yukon twice, so they are off our list, and we can’t find big enough pontoons to get our motorhome to Hawaii, so we’ll have to leave that for another adventure!
Our guidelines are fairly simple: If we find ourselves somewhere where we can’t wear flip-flops, we’ll go somewhere we can: That’s our Rule of
Thumb… or foot… or thong between the toes… or whatever! Generally, we are moving up and down, and back and forth across the continent, aiming for temperatures no colder than 10 celsius, and no hotter than 35 celsius, with 21 celsius as our daily target. Changes in direction will be based on weather and whim.
On most travel days, we hope to break camp by 11:00 am, stop for lunch from noon to 1:30 pm, and arrive at that day’s destination by 3:30 – 4:00 pm, in order to put down our levellers, extend our slide outs, and explore our new location. We know, it’s a gruelling schedule, but some of us have to do it!
We will follow the rules to maintain Manitoba Health status; avoid the IRS by not overstaying our welcome in the U.S.; and we’ll plan to be home with our kids and grandkids for Christmas and special events. But other than that, you’ll have to find us On The Road through this blog.
PROVINCES & STATES IN ORDER OF VISIT
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Iowa
- Nebraska
- Kansas
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- New Mexico
- Arizona
- Maine
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Maryland
- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
- Delaware
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Missouri
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Florida
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- West Virginia
- Kentucky
- Ohio
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- Washington
- Oregon
- California
- Nevada
- Utah
- Wyoming
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Montana – District of Columbia = 48 (+ Alaska & Hawaii not included)
PROVINCES
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Quebec
- New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island
- Nova Scotia
- Newfoundland
- Saskatchewan
- Alberta
- British Columbia
The itinerary on the map is colour coded:
Red is our trip to South Padre Island, Texas & Phoenix, Arizona, returning home via the Grand Canyon, Santa Fe & Roswell, New Mexico, and Oklahoma City, among other ports of call.
Green is to the east coast of Canada, visiting friends & relatives in Ontario before heading to Ottawa, Montreal & Quebec City, up the Gaspe Peninsula and down to Graham’s old home of Douglastown (Mirimichi) New Brunswick, PEI, Nova Scotia & Newfoundland. Then we cross to the U.S. New England States in time for the fall colours, down to North Carolina, returning home via Muscle Shoals, Nashville, Memphis & Branson, Missouri, in order to get our music fix.
Blue is to the Florida Keys, and up the coast to Cape Hatteras, across to the Great Smoky Mountains, and up the Blue Ridge Parkway, before heading home.
Orange is to the west coast of Canada, visiting our old friends in Calgary and British Columbia along the way (well some of us are old…) & down the Pacific coast to San Diego, returning via Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Mt. Rushmore.
Black is to the mid-west, following Route 66 to eastern California, up through eastern Oregon & Washington, then across to Yellowstone, & home.
Year 5 is our wildcard, subject to weather, whim, and continued good health. Without accounting for side trips, this itinerary only covers 36,485 miles: Hope the old Boy holds up!