I've seen or driven through every state in the USA, except Hawaii. Most of this adventure was accomplished in a '76 Ford Econoline van with a rebuilt straight six. We lovingly called her Mable, and she never failed us. She wasn't pretty: rusty as hell from years spent driving the winter salted roads of Detroit, Michigan. You could even watch the highway whiz by through the floorboards in some places! Her interior was thick, luxurious, blue shag carpet. The driver's side door was held shut with a bungie cord. It was a father's worst nightmare, to see his daughter drive West in such a monstrosity! But he let me go. I went to the mountains of Colorado. I met my travelling partner soon thereafter, whom I will affectionately refer to as "the oaf" in this article.
1) If you choose to have a travelling companion on your adventure, be sure that he/she is USEFUL. (and not just "along-for-the-ride)
The Oaf annoyed the heck out of me most of the time, but on the rare occasion that we happened to break down, he proved to be invaluable. He could fix almost any mechanical problem. In addition, he was a great cook, played guitar like Bonnie Raitte, and could carry on an intelligent conversation with anyone. He also knew when to make himself scarce and give me some space when necessary.
2) Be Organized: Only the Bare Essentials!
When we left Nederland, Colorado to start our journey, we were loaded to the gills. We got to the big city of Denver, and a bunch of our stuff blew off the roofrack on the highway. We walked up and down the busy highway picking up our belongings, then located a thrift store, pared everything down drastically, and made a huge donation. We also mailed a box of things too dear to get rid of to the friend who kindly agreed to forward our mail. She would forward our mail to general delivery in a different state evererytime we asked. We also had a voicemail that we checked daily, which enabled our folks to reach us if necessary. (before the days where everyone had cellphones!) All we really needed was gas, food, water, and a place to park each night. Life was cheap and simple.
3) Money
We left with about $700.00, which got us quite a ways down the road back then. (1990) But eventually, we ran out of money. This was where the "USA for a Song" part comes into play. The Oaf played a mean guitar. He could open his case and play just about anywhere and make a little cash. I attempted to join him on my drum, but, let's just say we didn't make beautiful music together! So I made art instead...handmade journals, little dolls, beadwork, jewlery, etc. Between us, we did alright. We also found many ways to save money in every department.
4) Saving Money on the Basic Four: Gas, Food, Water, Camping
Gas: This was the hardest catagory in which to save money. (and still is today, that's for sure!) We had very few problems, despite the age and appearance of our vehicle. I am convinced it had to do with the fact that each time we stopped for gas: I would pump, and the oaf would check the oil and the tires. It's a small thing, but checking these two things goes a long way when it comes to avoiding potential auto problems in the middle of nowhere. And keeping the oil level up saves gas, as do properly aired tires.
Food: We ate very simply, and rarely ever ate out. When we left, we had 2 five gallon buckets containing pinto beans and rice. (the buckets also doubled as extra seats!) We also had 5 pounds each of oats and peanut butter. Frankly, I have never been in better shape. Upon the rare occassion that one of us got sick, I had made tinctures of echinacea, osha root, and dried herbs for teas. We learned about nature and collected books on finding or own herbs, wild mushrooms and other wild edibles. We also sold the mushrooms to fancy restaurants for big money. We caught our own fresh fish, and often stopped at roadside stands for fresh farm eggs and produce. We also occassionally accepted kindness from strangers, and dumpster dived. Many people are very turned off by the idea of dumpster diving, but so many foods are tossed out (wasted) at the peak of ripeness, and often still in containers. You learn to use your nose, to be discerning, and of course to wash things off very well. Once we even found a crate of strawberries, some limes, and a 5th of tequilla (unopened) in the dumpster! The oaf said an employee of the store probably hid it there for later, but we said "finders keepers" and had margaritas that night!
Water: Finding drinking water wasn't really a big issue, once we had a system. We had several gallon jugs which we filled for free in gas stations, rest stops and truck stops. (Always look for signs that say "this water is not potable." ) When in doubt, ask, or play it safe and get water elsewhere. I made sure we always had plenty of fresh drinking water after an incident where we ran out of water in the middle of the desert. It was a terrible, panicky feeling I vowed never to repeat.
Showers: We had a sun shower, but usually we would find a college and act like we were students and shower in their recreation departments. The trick was to dress up a little, so you didn't look like a tramp, smile, and act like you belonged there. We also sometimes showered in truck stops, and we soaked in just about every natural hotspring in the USA. You haven't lived until you have soaked in a natural hotspring warmed for you by mother earth herself. We had books on finding them in every region, and we usually stuck to the free, undeveloped ones, where you could get naked and no one would bother you. (note: always carry a trashbag for storing your clothing while you soak! once a stray dog peed on ours while we were in the water.)
Camping: We never paid for camping. Most people don't realize that it is legal to camp on National Forest Land for up to two weeks in one spot. We also occassionally parked at rest areas, truck stops, and in the driveways of various friends. There's also the parking lots of places like Walmart, where many of the big RV's can be seen parking these days to save a buck for a night. Today, as a woman travelling alone, I often park at churches which makes me feel safe. And it always helps to say a little prayer for protection before you close your eyes for the night.
5) Extras: Entertainment
Life on the road was constantly entertaining, but sometimes we craved a little something extra. When we pulled into a town, we'd always look for the college newspaper or small local paper. In any town, there is a bevy of free events from poetry readings to free music. We'd also go to coffee houses and ask around. We'd get invited to dinners, parties, and even a Buddist wedding in a redwood forest. Once we found a bar in Key West that served free drinks for an hour every Tuesday, and we arrived on Tuesday afternoon! We also had a small dashboard solar panel, which allowed us to listen to music without the engine on with no worries of deadening the battery. We also read eachother's favorite books and had many heated discussions about literature, art, music, culture, politics, etc. There was never a dull moment.
For a list of my 10 favorite secret places in the USA, email me at: greengoddess64@yahoo.com.
HAPPY TRAILS!