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”

As we roll into Thanksgiving, Mrs. Weeble and I want to send a heartfelt thank you to every one of you who’ve joined us on this winding road of adventures.

Whether you’ve been with us from the first campfire post or just recently pulled your chair up to the fire, we’re grateful you’re part of this journey. In addition, your steady encouragement keeps our little corner of the web warm and welcoming.

Your comments, your curiosity, and your support keep this campsite glowing. Because of you, the stories feel richer and the miles feel lighter.

It means more than you know. However, it also reminds us how fortunate we are to share these experiences with people who enjoy the open road as much as we do.

This season has shown us that community matters. Also, every time you read, like, or share a post, you help keep Captain Weeble’s Travels rolling toward the next adventure.

From quiet forest campsites to noisy ballparks, each stop feels more special because you’re right here with us.

For that, we are truly thankful.

Continue reading “Happy Thanksgiving Everyone”

Target Field Dreams: RV Parking, Toad Talk, and Baseball Plans

As you read in my last blog, Mrs. Weeble and I are planning to stop in Minneapolis to watch the Twins play a baseball game and see Target Field. I’ve been looking at how we’d park the RV—because you just can’t park a 24-foot rig just anywhere. I’ve mentioned before that I’d like to tow a small vehicle, a “toad,” and this stop is another reminder why. It would’ve helped when Bill and I were in Shenandoah National Park on our 50-year reunion tour. A 30-foot RV doesn’t fit too well at the trailheads. That was one of the big reasons for downsizing to a Sprinter-van-type RV with a diesel motor. The idea is to keep things flexible enough for both highways and hiking trails. The problem I keep circling back to is towing a toad all the way to Alaska and back home—thousands of miles of rough, beautiful road. That’s a lot of wear and tear on both the RV and the toad. Continue reading “Target Field Dreams: RV Parking, Toad Talk, and Baseball Plans”

I’ve been thinking a little more about the stretch from Whitefish Point to the Badlands. As I mentioned last week, I was a bit concerned about pushing the Weeble RV Traveling Rules on this leg of the journey. But the more I look at it, the more I’m inclined to bend them—just a little.

The distance from Whitefish Point to Minneapolis is about 690 miles, which raises the question: where are we going to spend our nights along the way?

I’d really like to stay away from the big-name campgrounds—KOA and the like. They’re fine, but I’ve found that national parks, state parks, and local county or city campgrounds are not only friendlier but often easier on the wallet.

Sure, there are plenty of spots that allow overnight stays—Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, even a few Cabela’s parking lots. But one of the unwritten Weeble Rules is:

“Whenever possible, never set up camp in the dark.”

Continue reading “Back on the Map Again (Part 2): From Whitefish Point to the Badlands”

Back to the Map Again: Decisions, Decisions on the Road to the Badlands

By Captain Weeble

I’m sitting here with Mrs. Weeble watching Game 6 of the World Series. She’s watching the game; I’m pretending to — but truthfully, my mind keeps wandering north… to Alaska.

As of tonight, I’ve got the first 45 days of our trip roughed out. There’s a spreadsheet full of stops, rest days, and mileages that only a true map nerd could love. While Mrs. Weeble was tracking the score, I was tracking the miles.

The next leg starts at Whitefish Point in northern Michigan. And when I say northern, I mean the next stop north is the Arctic Circle — or at least that’s what it feels like. You can’t get farther north unless you bring a boat. So from there, I’m looking west.

If I stick with the official Weeble Travel Rules, the next few stops are mostly state parks scattered across Michigan and Minnesota. The only national park along that route is Voyageurs National Park. When I asked ChatGPT to fill in this leg, I gave it carte blanche — which might’ve been a mistake. It promptly suggested Voyageurs, so I checked it out.
Continue reading “Back to the Map Again”