Category: Blog

As I wrapped up last week’s blog, I found myself on the hunt for an NRVIA-certified RV inspector. So off I went to the NRVIA website to begin the search. My first stop was A to Z Mobile Services in Tucson, Arizona. Their Google reviews looked solid, so I reached out to schedule an inspection.

And that’s when the first speed bump appeared.

They told me they were booked solid until the 27th. That wasn’t going to work—not even close. I asked if they could recommend someone else, and they suggested Every Inch RV. I contacted them next. No luck there either. They, in turn, recommended Deb’s RV Services, and once again, I was back on the web.

Here’s where things got a little weird.

When I first looked her up, it appeared she was based in Michigan. That immediately made me wonder why an Arizona inspector would recommend someone from Michigan. As it turns out, the answer was buried a little deeper on her website—she was actually in Quartzsite, Arizona, and would be in Tucson during the second week of February. Mystery solved.

I sent her an email to see if she might be available. While waiting to hear back, I noticed she had a YouTube channel, so I watched a couple of her RV inspection videos. Let me just say… thorough is an understatement. That gave me some confidence, and once again, I crossed my fingers.

Debbie got back to me and said she could do the inspection on February 9th. That cut things close—especially if the report came back like the last one and I decided to back out—but she assured me the report would be completed the same day and that she’d walk me through it. That was good enough for me. I told her to go for it. Fingers crossed… again.

Continue reading “Finding an RV Inspector in Tucson: The Search Begins”

At some point during this RV search, it finally dawned on me: buying an RV online is nothing like ordering something from Amazon. There is no “customers who bought this also bought,” no easy returns, and absolutely no delivery driver showing up with a smile and a dolly. Instead, you’re placing a whole lot of faith in a handful of photos, a description written by someone you’ve never met, and the hope that the phrase “runs great” actually means something. After walking away from Florida, we pointed the compass west. I’ll admit it — I was starting to get a little jaded. Still, jaded or not, we found ourselves back online again, hunting for the right RV. If you’ve been following this blog, you already know we have a pretty specific set of criteria. I know what I want, what I don’t want, and what I’m willing to compromise on.

Continue reading “Buying an RV Online: When the Search Turns West”

Last week, we were proudly following the plan — sticking to it like seasoned RV shoppers who absolutely know what they’re doing. Where we left off, I had put in a bid of $60,000 on a 2018 Jayco Melbourne. The owner came back with, “I really want my asking price of $62,000.” Now, when an ad says “willing to negotiate,” you sort of expect… well… negotiation. In the grand scheme of things, I was only $2,000 shy. That’s barely a couple of accessories, a full fuel tank, and maybe one unexpected RV repair before you’ve even left the driveway. So instead of just giving in, I raised my offer to the halfway point and waited to see what would happen. Would he blink?

Continue reading “The Negotiation, the Deposit, and an RV Reality Check”

This week, we’re stepping away from trip planning for a bit. No maps, no mileage charts, no “what campground comes next.” Instead, we’re shifting gears and focusing on something a little more fundamental to the adventure: getting an RV.

Recently, there’s been a change in some family obligations that will give us more freedom to travel. After talking it through, Mrs. Weeble looked at me and said, “Let’s go find an RV and do some RVing.”

Now… this may not be exactly how that conversation happened—but it’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

If you’ve been following along, you know that in my October 24, 2025, post, “Thinking About What Type of RV I Want,” I laid out—pretty clearly—exactly what I was looking for in an RV. Floorplan, size, drivability, features—I spelled it all out so I’d have a clear checklist in mind. Since then, I’ve been keeping a close eye on RV Trader, waiting for something that didn’t just look good in pictures, but actually checked most of the boxes from that earlier list.

That casual browsing turned a little more serious this past week.

Continue reading “Stepping Away from the Map… and Into an RV”

I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief detour from actual trip planning. I know I have. Unfortunately, even I have to admit that I’ve been screwing around long enough, so it’s time to get back to the serious business of figuring out how we’re actually going to get to Alaska.

When I ended the last post, we were in Deadwood, South Dakota. From there, I looked west, squinted a little, and decided that charging headlong toward Alaska like an overcaffeinated squirrel probably wasn’t the best idea. Instead, we’ll ease our way across the plains of Montana, keeping the daily mileage reasonable and firmly within the Weeble Rules of Travel. These rules exist primarily to prevent exhaustion, bad decisions, and statements that begin with, “Well, we’re already this far…”

With that in mind, our next stop will be Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It’s about a 200-mile drive from Deadwood, which puts it comfortably below the danger zone and well within the range where we still like each other at the end of the day. On the way in, we’ll do a drive around the park—because nothing says “relaxed travel” like deciding not to rush straight to camp.

Continue reading “Back to the Plan: Deadwood to Theodore Roosevelt National Park”

If you’ve been reading my blog from the beginning, you already know I’ve been friends with Bill for over fifty years. In 2000, my dog Kasey and I took the RV down to Houston, Texas, to visit him. We decided to head out to Big Bend National Park for a camping trip.

How would I describe Big Bend? The first words that come to mind are big, unique, and beautiful. The next word is remote—very remote.

When I say the park is big, that’s an understatement. The only terrestrial radio stations you can pick up aren’t in English, and the only newspaper available is yesterday’s copy of USA Today.

Continue reading “Terlingua Chili Cook-Off: Big Bend, Big Laughs”

As we start the new year, I want to wish all of you a very Happy New Year. I hope your holiday season was safe, joyful, and filled with the people and moments that matter most.

I’ve been thinking again (yes, I know—dangerous territory). This is the time of year when many folks make resolutions aimed at becoming better or happier. I usually skip the whole resolution thing because, let’s be honest, they often lean toward the unrealistic. But this year, I’m giving it a try.

Resolution #1: I want to get Mrs. Weeble out on a short RV trip first—something close, simple, and comfortable—before I ever try to talk her into tackling Alaska. She’s understandably hesitant about the whole RV idea.

Continue reading “New Year Resolutions, RV Dreams, and Camp Run-A-Muck”

Christmas always brings its own rhythm — a little excitement, a little chaos, and a whole lot of family. This year was no different. In fact, Christmas Day looked a bit like a two-person version of Santa’s delivery route. We were out the door early, making our first stops with the kids and grandkids. Between the wrapping paper flying, the sugar-fueled energy, and the noise level that could rival a marching band, it felt like Christmas in all the best ways.

Once we wrapped things up there, we continued on to visit Mrs. Weeble’s mother and the rest of her family. By the time we finished all the rounds, I’m pretty sure we had just as many stops checked off as Santa himself — though he probably moves a little faster than we do.

When the day finally wound down and the house settled into that quiet after the holiday rush, the lights seemed to glow a little softer.

Continue reading “Christmas Around the Campfire: A Holiday Visit & Tradition”

As Christmas draws near, I find myself getting nostalgic—and that always gets me thinking. Now, trust me, when I start thinking, it can be a scary thing. But this time, my thoughts drifted back to something simple: the RV I owned in 1997. It was an old 1987 Coachmen Leprechaun, and at the time it felt like the gateway to a whole new kind of freedom.

Long before that, though, the spark for RVing came from my very first camping trip with my children. I was a single father, and I wanted to create some memories with them—real camping memories. My daughter, Jessica, was about eleven, and my son, Jeffrey, was around eight. So I decided to take them to Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah National Park.

Continue reading “From Leaky Tent to Leprechaun RV: A Shenandoah Memory”

I can’t tell you how interesting I’ve found this trip planning to be. I’ve planned plenty of adventures in the past, but they always had a fixed end date. This time, the road ahead has no deadline, and that’s both liberating and a little unnerving. So yes, I figured I’d let my wandering mind stretch its legs early in this post. Now, where did we leave off last time? We were in Minneapolis after enjoying a game at Target Field. The next big question, of course, is where we head next. I initially considered driving north to see the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
Continue reading “Rolling West: Minneapolis to Mitchell, South Dakota”