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.