After a year away from the open road, 21 days and nearly 3,200 miles reminded us why we love traveling in our Pleasure-Way.
Our travels had been put on hold for nearly a year after my husband, Jim, suffered a serious shoulder injury. Between his recovery, work and everyday life, the months seemed to slip by.
This fall, we were finally ready to change that and hit the open road once again!
With several weeks ahead of us, a loose itinerary, and a brand new four-legged traveling companion named Georgie June, we pointed our Pleasure-Way Plateau TS west and set off on a nearly 3,200 mile fall adventure.
Familiar Places and New Discoveries
Our first stop felt especially fitting. West Texas has become an October tradition for us, so we began by revisiting the familiar little towns of Alpine, Marfa, and Marathon. There is something about the wide open spaces and rugged beauty of West Texas that keeps drawing us back. It was the perfect place to begin our travels again.
From there, we headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico before continuing to the breathtaking red rocks of Moab, into the mountains of northern Utah, and a quick stop to St. George. Utah was a state neither of us had visited before.
Utah completely surprised us. Between the dramatic landscapes, beautiful fall colors, and charming mountain towns, we were constantly finding reasons to pull over and take another photograph.
But our time there held an even more meaningful purpose. Our son had recently moved to the Ogden area, and we were finally able to spend several wonderful days together. With our children living in different states, those opportunities are especially precious. We enjoyed the simple pleasures of fall, including a visit to a pumpkin patch, family activities, and just being together.
For us the most meaningful part of our road trips is not where we go, but who we get to see and make memories with along the way.
Four Paws and a Little Roadside Magic
This trip also introduced an entirely new chapter of van travel for us. It marked our first big adventure with Georgie June, our English cream golden retriever 6-month-old puppy. Traveling with a dog means a little extra planning, a lot more puppy gear and a few more stops, and occasionally some unexpected surprises.
One of those stops became a moment I will never forget.
We had pulled over somewhere along our route for a quick bathroom break for Georgie. As I walked her beneath the trees, I suddenly felt something light fluttering around me. Delicate little touches brushed against me, and for a moment, I could not quite understand what was happening.
Then I looked up.
I was standing beneath trees filled with roosting monarch butterflies! They were resting on branches and fluttering through the air all around us. It was absolutely magical, one of the most extraordinary things I have ever experienced.
And to think, I would have missed it entirely if Georgie had not needed a bathroom break.
It was a beautiful reminder that some of the best travel memories are the ones you never plan.
From KOA Campgrounds to The Four Seasons
One of the things we love most about our Pleasure-Way is the flexibility to travel exactly how we want.
We enjoy pulling into , campgrounds just as much as checking into a luxury hotel. On this trip, we mixed campground stays with beautiful accommodations, including Four Seasons in Santa Fe, New Mexico and a beautiful mountain vacation rental near Ogden, Utah.
Having our own comfortable space while traveling, combined with the freedom to stop, explore, or occasionally indulge in a little luxury, truly gives us the best of both worlds.
And that freedom also means we can experience places we might otherwise never visit.
An unplanned drive through Las Vegas might not sound like much of an adventure to most, but for me it was. Having never been before, I could not pass up the opportunity to stop for a photograph at the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign with Jim and Georgie by my side.
Standing there in front of a landmark I had seen countless times in photographs, was one of those little moments that made me appreciate how much traveling on the road does not require grand adventure. And how could we drive through Winslow, Arizona, without stopping for a photo of Georgie Standin’ on the Corner!
Between those memorable little stops, the breathtaking red rock formations, and the ever-changing scenery through the passenger window, I found myself appreciating the journey just as much as the destinations.
These are the experiences I love most about traveling in our Pleasure-Way. We have the freedom to pull over, explore, take the photograph, and enjoy the moment without feeling rushed. Sometimes it is simply showing up somewhere new.
When the Road Has Other Plans
Of course, no road trip is complete without a few unexpected challenges, and this one certainly had its share.
Somewhere along the way, all three of us, including Georgie, ended up sick. Suddenly, our ambitious sightseeing plans took a back seat to resting and recovering.
Although we enjoyed the comfort of nice hotels for a couple of nights, I was surprised at how comfortable we remained even when we were back in our Pleasure-Way.
Between Georgie’s nighttime bathroom breaks, an emergency vet visit, Jim and me feeling under the weather, and several planned adventures we had to miss, things certainly did not go as expected.
And yet, we were perfectly content.
We had our own familiar space, everything we needed around us, and the freedom to slow down whenever necessary. Some days we explored, some days we rested, and other days we simply enjoyed the changing scenery through the windshield.
It reminded us that one of the greatest luxuries of traveling in our Pleasure-Way is not necessarily where we go, but how comfortable we feel getting there.
Even when the adventure does not go according to plan, there is something wonderful about having a little piece of home along for the ride.
A Season of Gratitude
As we settle into November and the season of Thanksgiving, I find myself looking back on this trip with an especially grateful heart.
Thankful that Jim has fully recovered and we can travel together again. Grateful for precious family time, new places, familiar favorites, and the incredible landscapes that unfolded outside our windows. From the red rocks of Utah to a corner in Winslow, Arizona, to standing on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon, every mile gave us another reason to appreciate being back on the road.
Feeling fortunate for an unexpected encounter with hundreds of monarch butterflies, a photograph at the Las Vegas sign, and those seemingly ordinary moments that become extraordinary memories.
And I am especially appreciative for our trusty Pleasure-Way, which carried us through nearly 3,200 miles of adventure and brought us safely home without a single problem.
After a year away, getting back on the road reminded us how much we had missed the freedom to go, the flexibility to change plans, and the simple joy of discovering what lies around the next bend.
Our trip was not perfect. We missed a few adventures, made some wonderful memories, and learned a thing or two about traveling with a puppy.
But that is the beauty of having a Pleasure-Way. It is not about checking every destination off a list or following a perfectly planned itinerary. We went looking for beautiful places, but sometimes the most beautiful moments found us.
And after a year away, it sure felt good to be back.
Until our next adventure,
Holly, Jim & Georgie June
@Princess.inthewild