Well we have been home 5 months since going on this toad trip and there isnt a day I dont think about it or talk to someone about the USA.
Im still trying to edit and sort all my photos for my website. I am down to 1500 and still editing. Then its time to start on the panoramics.
It wont be long before I start asking questions about Alaska 2015 or East Coast 2014.(Wishful thinking)
Cheers
John.
Hi John,
Thanks for a great trip thread as well as your planning thread. We will be referring to it a guide for our next trip.
I hope you don't mind my asking you a few questions about your road trip.
Unfortunately our 2013 US holiday was marred by the government shutdown. We arrived 1 October and departed 16 October, all of which was inclusive of the government shutdown.
Our planned two week itinerary on the mainland had to be thrown away - we missed out on Red Rock Canyon, driving along Route 66 en-route to the Grand Canyon (South Rim), and numerous other national parks along our planned route.
We then planned a week in Hawaii on our way home but missed out on the Pearl Harbour memorials.
We can count our blessings that our sea cruise to Alaska was the week before the government shutdown, so fortunately we were able to access the glaciers within the Glacier National Park.
So, we're planning on returning in 2015 when I can take my long service leave and do the road trip and much more that we missed out on doing this year.
I can't recall whilst reading through your threads whether you gave an opinion as to why you went with the Dodge Caravan camper rather than a full sized motorhome. Preliminary price comparisons I've made suggest the additional hire cost for a full sized motorhome is around 10% more than the camper. Was it the difference in fuel economy? Was the Dodge Caravan more maneuverable?
Our 2013 hire car was a GMC Yukon XL and we were quite surprised as to how fuel efficient the vehicle was.
Is there a camping app similar to WikiCamps Australia?
Hi Jardy.
Im sorry to hear that you were caught up in the shut down and hope that you have a better run next time.
This was our second trip to the USA and we used Escape Campers on both trips. I did some research on RVs but didnt like the idea of a large vehicle.
We liked the size of the Dodge caravan and could park it just about anywhere and could go to a National park or campground without the need for power or hookups.
Being in the summer it was easier to drive in and get a tent site without booking.
It was easy to drive,good on fuel and had all that we wanted.
I dont know what sort of RV you compared prices wth. We hired this for about $ 85.00 per day for peak season. That included full insurance, Unlimited miles (13946 miles), Roadside assistance,all linen and blankets,chairs,tables etc and a GPS included along with all maps.
No preperation fees on arrival or departure and all services and repairs fully refunded.
We also liked the paint job and drew a lot of attention and comments and met a lot of people who wanted to know about the van.
We also covered a lot of miles some days and the little van was a breeze and not tiring to drive and able to sit on the speed limit for hour after hour and not a lot of fuel.
Saying all that, If we were to go back with friends or family we would definetly look at a bigger RV with a lot more comfort.
Im not sure about any apps but we found a lot of information on the net.
I hope that answered some of you questions.
John
Last edited by john.waters; 12-02-2013 at 02:47 PM.
Still dreaming
Well we have been home ten months from completing this trip and still think about this road trip daily. One reason is that im still editing ans sorting all the photos from the trip.
I dont do anything comercial with photgraphy other than post on my website or print for my own use.
Well I got an email a week or so ago from the campervan hire company.They spotted one of my photos from last trip while we were in a storm in South Dakota. They like it so much that they want to use it for a wall mural at one of their depots in the USA. I gave them the right to use the image and they will promote my website in exchange.
Also they will be looking after s on our next road trip.Hopefully in 2014. Im putting together a few more photos for them but will be very small files and not for free.
So now we have a reason to go back and check out the mural next year. |Until 2014 I will just have to keep reading all the planning and reports and just dream a bit more.
John
Congratulations!
Wow! John, what an honour. So tell me, where will this mural be? I wouldn't mind checking it out if I happen to be in the area. (I leave in a fortnight.)
Are you going back this year? or should that read 2015?Originally Posted by john.waters
Lifey
Going back in 2015
Thanks Lifey. Should read 2015. Boy its getting away. Not sure which depot yet. The sales/promotion guy is in San Fancisco but hasnt told me yet which depot.
Would love to be going back this year. We have been invited to go on the Ford Mustang Road Trip ftom LA to North Carolina for a week or so but just cant jsutify the expence for a week or so. Would be nice photographing all the Mustangs though.
This is the photo I have given them.
John
Last edited by Mark Sedenquist; 03-04-2014 at 10:06 AM. Reason: fixed title
Congratulations.
I can see why they would want it John, great image !
Dave.
Havent heard from them since giving them the file Dave. Still waiting for them to show me the finished product. It all takes time I suppose.
Meanwhile Im still editing photos from last year.
Would love to plan a new trip but have other priorities for a while. Alaska and the East Coast are still high on the bucket list with Canada.
Still dreaming of the next trip and looking back over old photos. Its been a long three years since this trip. Lots of things have got in the way of planning the next adventure.
It will happen so Ill keep on dreaming and reading about other peoples adventures.
John
That photo
John, have you heard anymore from Escape as to the mural? I was hoping to include it in my trip/
Lifey
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