Melbourne, Florida

I'm so excited.  Finally able to get back on the road.  Heading on Monday next to Melbourne, Florida to explore the sights and sounds of the Atlantic Ocean and all that it has to offer.  I love the ocean, the sun and the surf.

I will of course be posting photographs and video of this trip so stay tuned, bookmark this page and come back in about a week for my updates.

Finally I've been able to post a short video for this trip.  I hope it makes you crazy!  Enjoy...

Elk Rapids, Michigan, Small Village With A Big heart

Yesterday I visited a small village that is located about 10 miles north of Traverse City, Michigan.  The village is Elk Rapids and it is truly a jewel of the North.

Small shops run by friendly shop keepers are the norm rather than the exception here and regardless of which little shop you chose you'll find great deals combined with prices that are affordable.

Just a couple blocks off of the main street there is a marina filled with yachts from all over the nation.  Again here you'll be met by friendly faces and invitations to show off their precious floating mansions.

The people of Elk Rapids are outgoing, friendly and very helpful.  I talked to many of them and found that there is a deep seated pride in their community that is rarely found in most places.  The history of Elk Rapids is rich in exciting historical fact and just a little bit of fiction.  What I learned however was that the facts are more interesting than the fiction.

As a community it is a year-round vacation destination as in the warmer months of the year there are beaches and shops to enjoy.  Winter time with the average snowfall of 78 inches holds outdoor sporting opportunities such as snowmobiling and skiing.  Hotels and motels abound here so there will never be a lack of a great place to stay during your visit.

I would encourage you to visit the village of Elk Rapids and see for yourself what you've been missing all of these years right in your own back yard.

Here's the LINK to the short video I created for this posting. Hope you enjoy viewing it as much as I did creating it for you.
http://youtu.be/tdIhKDnmjAE


Happy Trails,
Steve

Traveling In-State And I Can't Wait!

It is hard to believe that I've already been retired almost two months.  Much has happened during those few days and soon, if the devil don't object and the creek don't rise, I'll be on my way to begin my most excellent adventures.  Yes, I've traveled a little bit already and visited family but now it is time to begin travel in earnest and learn just what this vast country has to offer.
Stay with me and I'll share with you what I find.

This is going to be fun!
Steve

FORD E-250 SUPER DUTY

The previous vehicle in which I traveled has gone away as a trade-in.  What a wonderful experience it was to go to my local Ford Dealer, R.E. Barber Ford in Holland, Michigan.  My sales person, Mark was kind, considerate and very helpful in my selection of a new van in which I could travel the highways and byways of the US.

My eventual choice was a 2011 E250  Super Duty/Flex Fuel vehicle, cargo van.  Just as described in the Vanaboding information you'll find on a previous posting it is exactly what is required to go off the grid and live on less than $20.00 a day while traveling.

Now I can chose my own interior design and make it "my own."  I am so excited to get started.  As I progress I'll be posting pictures and details so you can keep up with what I'm doing.  It will be a fun experience I'm sure and I hope you'll join me often to see what's up in my travel world.

Ludington, Michigan... Pure Michigan, Pure Delight

VanAboding With Steve

It Is All About The Budget, Time And Desire

I've had several people write to me today and ask how in the world I'm able to spend less than $20.00 a day while traveling on the road.  Perhaps I should explain exactly what I mean by that.

When you travel you must always be aware of your budget.  It is never a good thing to be stranded hundreds of miles from your home-base with no cash on hand or available.  If you don't sit down and plan out how much you're willing to spend each day and then actually stick to that amount you will most certainly run into problems.

In reality you can spend less than $20.00 a day while you're traveling the vanabode way because you really don't have a definite destination for each day that you're away from home-base.   You are traveling for a specific purpose and that purpose is to enjoy your travel and not be bound by a schedule that requires you to arrive somewhere at any given time.  By being able to stop whenever and wherever you chose you have control of your budget.  You'll cook on-site, sleep without having to make reservations in a costly motel/hotel and only put the amount of miles on each day (or maybe each week) that you chose.

There is no rule that says you must pack your belongings and be out of "your room" by 11AM.  In fact there is no rule that says you can't stay another day, week or even a month.  If you haven't taken in all of the places you want to see simply don't leave.  By not leaving you're saving money which, when you divide your daily cost into the days of the month you'll find that you really are living on less than twenty bucks a day.

Go ahead and write down what you think you might necessarily spend money on each day.  I think you'll discover that it isn't nearly what you believe it is.  Once you are by that roadblock simply pack and go for a couple days to test the waters.  You'll be amazed at just how stress-less your days will become when you have no schedule to follow, no boss to report to and no financial requirements to meet.

Let me know how that works out for you.  Drop me an e-mail at THIS address.

I'm anxious to see and hear what you've discovered in the vanaboding world/lifestyle.

Gatlinburg, TN, Smokey Mountain National Park

For years whenever I got the bug to travel I'd get in my van, point it South or West and end up wherever I ended up.  On one trip I ended up in the great state of Tennessee and loved it.  The people were warm and friendly and the mountain views were awe inspiring, especially the Smokey Mountain National Park.

Yesterday I got information from the Gatlinburg,TN chamber of commerce.  It got me fired up about this destination all over again.



There is so much to see and do there that I'll likely spend most of a month just exploring there.

If you ever want accurate and helpful information about any destination you have in mind always contact their local chamber of commerce.  The information you'll receive for FREE is a good way to begin your planning.

Here's a great link that will take you to GATLINBURG CRAFTS.  I think you'll enjoy it.

Not So "Way Up North"

If I had a choice as to where I'd live in Michigan (oh wait, I do) it would be Ludington.  There you find friendly people, a laid-back atmosphere and scenery like you've not seen in a very long time.

I recently visited Ludington and shot some video on a windy day at the local park beach.  Yes, it's right in town.

I think you'll enjoy this little 9+ minute video so sit back and relax as it lulls you into dreaming of a life that could be yours.
CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO.  This will redirect you to my youtube site.  Or, just scroll up a little bit and the video is ready to play right on this site.

What Is VanAboding You Ask?

If you're at all interested in getting away from the rat race and living on the road, footloose and fancy free then VanAboding could be your ticket to ride.

Over a year ago I discovered the VanAboding method and once I found it I was hooked.  So hooked in fact that I went out and bought a pre-owned high-top van in which I could travel the byways and highways of this beautiful country.

I had to wait for a while as I was not yet ready to make the leap (spelled retirement) but now that I have I'm ready to go.

You could do the same and with the information contained in this VanAboding package you'll learn exactly how to do it, what you'll need and the costs involved.

Yes, it is a Clickbank product.  And yes, if you order it I'll make a little money from it but it doesn't cost you any more for my becoming just a little bit healthier financially.

You really need this vital information if and when you decide that a life of freedom is for you.  Besides, it costs you nothing to take a look so VISIT THIS LINK now and see what you're missing.

Travels In My Own City Of Holland, Michigan

People tell me all the time that I'm just flat out crazy to leave the comforts of home

and head out on the open road.

I tell them that perhaps they are right but regardless of what it might seem like to them I have a dream, a passion for travel, and now that I'm officially retired that is exactly what I'm going to do.  There is just too much to see and do in the United States that calls me out of my comfort zone of cracker-box existence.  I can't resist the urge to simply pack away my meager belongings and follow my dream.


As I travel I would encourage you to follow along and enjoy with me this beautiful country.  Join me here often as I'll be posting some exciting photographs, video and commentary along the way.

HAPPY TRAILS!

Travels In My Own City Of Holland, Michigan

 Just because you can travel the world doesn't mean you have to.  You can explore exciting sights right outside of your own back door.  That's what I've done here in this video I've posted above.

The nature park that I visited is less than two miles from downtown yet many people don't even know that it is there.  How sad is that?