Sunday, January 24, 2021
Travel Day | Alamogordo, NM to Tucson, AZ
ODOMETER: 83,559 | TODAY’S MILES: 334 | MILES TRAVELED: 5,614
by Jana
Today’s drive was one of our longer ones at about 6.5 hours. The scenery was once again spectacular, but the weather did not behave itself too well. There were gusty side winds of up to 45mph at times punctuated with snow, sleet and rain. If you’ve ever driven a big truck or a bus, you know that such conditions do not make for an easy experience. Luckily, Grant is a skilled driver who drives intelligently and as a result safely.
We stopped at a truck stop to get some gas and while in line, Grant spoke to a FedEx driver who said that he drove the night before in 70+mph winds. His big FedEx tractor trailer was empty, which makes for an extra dangerous situation in such high winds. He said that he called his boss at FedEx to let them know that the driving conditions weren’t safe due to the extremely high winds, but was told to “get the equipment (aka the truck) to its destination or it will be his job.”
Not long after, his friend, another FedEx driver in a truck right behind him, called him to let him know that he was about to lose his trailer. Sure enough, the trailer tipped a few seconds later, causing him to drive off the road and into a field. Luckily, he was unharmed but the same thing happened to his friend soon after. While Grant and I were completely dismayed by this story, sadly we weren’t surprised.
We have great respect for truck drivers and their community. On more than one occasion, a trucker has pulled alongside our rig to alert us to some issue that would otherwise result in a problem. These people really look out for each other and are very friendly when you encounter them at truck stops.
Driving a 40-foot bus that tows a vehicle is not easy, but I can’t even fathom a huge tractor trailer. In general, motorists tend to be unaware of big rigs and busses, not realizing (or not caring) that cutting off a bus or a big truck could have catastrophic consequences. A lot of people tend to be in a rush and don’t take into consideration that large, heavy rigs play under different rules. Some drivers and their seemingly complete lack of awareness and courtesy drive us absolutely crazy.
Driving a 40-foot bus that tows a vehicle is not easy, but I can’t even fathom a huge tractor trailer.
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This is a daily log and photos of what we’re up to.
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 4: Fiji to Brisbane Passage
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 4: Fiji to Brisbane Passage A Long-Awaited Departure After having waited in French Polynesia for two and a half months, we excitedly sailed out of Bora Bora around 7:30 am on Saturday, September 4th. Like the rest of French...
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 3: Bora Bora to Fiji Passage
After having waited in French Polynesia for two and a half months, we excitedly sailed out of Bora Bora around 7:30 am on Saturday, September 4th. Like the rest of French Polynesia, Bora Bora was in COVID lockdown, and we had spent the last week waiting for our departure paperwork to go through all the requisite bureaucratic channels. This required multiple trips to the local gendarmerie (police station), where Grant quickly befriended the two kind and helpful officers, Alex and Bruno.
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 2: Mo’orea to Bora Bora
It took us about 24 hours to get from Mo’orea to Bora Bora on August 28 2021. Like the rest of French Polynesia, Bora Bora was in COVID lockdown, and we spent a week there waiting for our departure paperwork to go through all the requisite bureaucratic channels. This required multiple trips to the local gendarmerie (police station), where Grant quickly befriended the two kind and helpful officers, Alex and Bruno.
We made trips to get water, fuel and provisions, but apart from that we had to stay on the boat. We passed the time snorkeling (saw a giant moray eel!) and inventing new water sports.
Once we received our exit paperwork, we were finally free to leave for Fiji.
Reflections
Reflections
These are our personal thoughts on some of our experiences.
How Big Is Too Big?
Lessons From the Road | How Big Is Too Big?Does Our Built Environment Affect Our Relationships? The “Big Mac” symbolizes the belief that more is better. If one beef patty is good, wouldn’t two beef patties be better? Similarly, the colloquialism of the “McMansion”...
Lessons from the Road | Less is More: Adventure over Stuff
Lessons From the Road | Less is More: Adventure Over StuffWe have been on the road for about four months, and while that’s a relatively short time, I think that some of the big lessons happen in the initial “adjustment period” of an experience like this. One thing is...
My 10 Favorite Books of 2020
My 10 Favorite Books of 2020Welcome to 2021! Most of us couldn't wait to see the back of 2020, looking forward to better times with hope and anticipation. If you are at all astrologically inclined like I am, you know that on December 21st, our world experienced a rare...
Happy Aussie Father’s Day to @grantiangamble ♥️
Pottsville Beach, NSW, Australia.
Pottsville Beach, NSW, Australia.
Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia
Cape Moreton Lighthouse, Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia 🎥 @jack_gamble_shoots
We recently had the incredible opportunity to share our year-long family travel adventure on the @age.rebels Podcast with @sommerlouiseb @theixmethod . (Link in bio)
Manila, Philippines
Join us as we delve into @culture_nomads new book, “Culture Nomads: How Giving Up Everything for a Year of Travel Transformed Our Family and Our Lives.” We share the story of how embracing the unknown turned our lives upside down in the most extraordinary way.
In this podcast episode, we open up about our decision to break free from the mainstream and embark on a year-long family adventure around the globe, exploring diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and discovering the true essence of the human spirit.
We share heartwarming tales of personal growth, unbreakable family bonds, and the invaluable lessons we learned along the way. From traveling the U.S. and Mexico on a bus for 8 months to our intrepid crossing of the South Pacific ocean on a 38-foot catamaran, our experiences will ignite your wanderlust and leave you yearning for your own transformative journey.
Join us on the Age Rebels Podcast as we discuss the joys and challenges of living life as Culture Nomads, and how this incredible odyssey has forever altered our perspectives on the world, our family, and ourselves.
If you’re passionate about travel, adventure, and the power of embracing different cultures, you won’t want to miss this episode. Get ready to be inspired, captivated, and motivated to embark on your own extraordinary journey of self-discovery and family connection.
Don’t forget to check out our book, “Culture Nomads: How Giving Up Everything for a Year of Travel Transformed Our Family and Our Lives,” available now on Amazon. (Link in bio). It’s your ultimate guide to crafting a life filled with adventure, love, and unforgettable memories.
#CultureNomads #AgeRebelsPodcast #FamilyAdventure #TravelTransforms #Wanderlust #travel #familytravel #travelbook #sailing #rv #podcast
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Our Trip
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TRAVEL WITH US!
We are currently sailing the South Pacific to Australia.
Thank you for joining us, have a great day!