The countdown is officially on!
Beginning in August, Big Bertha, Ruby, Jim, and Lauri will be heading out on one of our biggest adventures yet. We’ll be traveling through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and California, exploring spectacular National Parks, historical monuments, charming small towns, beautiful campgrounds, and—if you know us at all—anything near the water!
We’d love to have you come along for the ride! This blog is our way of sharing the journey with our family and friends. We’ll post photos, stories, funny moments, campground reviews, Ruby’s adventures, and maybe even where we found the best barbecue and pie along the way.
Of course, before the fun begins, there’s plenty to do!
Our “Before We Leave” Checklist
- 🏡 Get the house all buttoned up. (We’re blessed to have a missionary living here to help keep an eye on things.)
- 🌿 Get the yard care arranged.
- 🚛 Service the truck and make sure the tires are road-trip ready.
- 🚐 Clean out Big Bertha and repack her for everything from summer heat to mountain snow.
- 👕 Plan clothing for every season. We’ll be flying home for Christmas before returning to Big Bertha in California to continue the adventure.
- 🛒 Figure out what supplies and gear we still need for a trip this long.
- 🛰️ Spend some time with our trusty old Starlink system and decide if, after nearly eight years, it’s finally time for an upgrade.
Can you tell we’re excited?
Now it’s your turn! If you’ve been to any of the places we’re visiting and have a favorite restaurant, scenic drive, hidden gem, campground, hiking trail, lake, hot spring, or can’t-miss attraction, we’d love to hear about it. Some of our favorite memories have come from recommendations shared by family and friends.
Thanks for coming along with us. We can’t wait to share the journey!
🚐 Miles Today: 0 (The driveway still counts, right?)
📍 Tonight’s Camp: Home… but not for much longer!
💦 Water Found? Not yet—but we’re already dreaming of mountain lakes and ocean views.
🥧 Pie Rating: Stay tuned… our official pie hunt begins soon!
🐾 Ruby’s Mood: “I’ve supervised the packing. When do we leave?”
🌅 Favorite Moment of the Day: Looking at the calendar and realizing our adventure is almost here!
Amandus on the Loose! 
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