2012 is in the books … and an eventful year it was.

After all the planning and preparations we finally quit our jobs (HOORAY!) and started our Island Girl Walkabout adventure.

We said our goodbyes to friends, coworkers and family in Denver.  Denver was very good to us over the last 11 years.  And leaving this place and our friends has been the hardest thing.

We moved into Island Girl on September 1st and have made our way from Denver to Miami. Along the way we have had many a fun time in amazing places and caught up with amazing friends.

RV living has turned out to be quite pleasant and Island Girl is a comfortable and spacious home.  A few relatively minor mechanical glitches but nothing serious, all systems are go!

Our 2012 travel map

Hear are a few random facts about our 2012 travels …

Miles travelled in Island Girl – 2784

Camp Lopez campsites – 17

Days of full time RV living – 122

Longest RV driving day – 544 miles (ouch!)

Shortest RV driving day – 5 miles

Average distance between camps – 164 miles

Island Girl Average MPG – 7.2

Average length of stay – 7.2 days

We kicked off with a week of sharing RV info with our fellow Escapee club members at the Sedalia Escapade.  We’ve taken to heart the advice we received about slowing down and not rushing from place to place.

Had a long and wonderful visit to our friend Theresa in beautiful Kansas City, Mo.

Stopped by Springfield, Mo to see my childhood homes and elementary schools.

Spent a delightful autumn in quirky northern Arkansas.

Visited several Civil War sites that seem to be everywhere.  A sobering reminder of a turbulent and terrible period.

And took our time on the beautiful west coast of Florida visiting dear friends all along the way.

It usually takes 4 – 5 days or so to drive from Denver to Miami.  It is sooo much more fun if you do it in about 3 months instead!

We are so enjoying spending unhurried and relaxed time with family and friends in Miami.  And have started laying out some rough idea of our 2013 route.

We plan on spending the rest of winter in South Florida and in spring heading up the eastern US up as far north as the Maritimes of Eastern Canada before spending autumn in New England and ultimately heading out west for next winter.

2012 was a fantastic start.  And we are so excited about all the people, places and experiences that lie ahead. Stay tuned!

Brenda, Angel, and I wish you and yours good health and much happiness in 2013.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

~ Hector