Light This Candle!

"For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move."–R.L. Stevenson

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We were more than ready to begin the next chapter of our retirement story after nearly a year of waiting for delivery (with today's production schedules, that would be referred to as "Fast Track"). We drove our rental car the seven hours to Van City, the dealership we had decided on in St. Louis. The rental car, a thorough orientation, and a two-night stay at a local KOA campground were all included in our purchase package. It's an excellent way to start, especially for amateurs like us. With a two-hour walkthrough, we can pick up the new RV lingo, master the fundamental procedures, and iron out any kinks. We would utilize our direct line to our salesman, Joe Parisi, in the months to come and keep him occupied with novice inquiries.

In the dealer bay - ready to roll

After a two-hour in-depth, eye-popping briefing on the new wheels, we departed Van City, St. Louis, for the open road on May 17, 2021. Having arrived in a small rental car, we are now navigating a 25-foot-long, spotless, pricey, commercial-sized vehicle through densely populated city traffic. It's not difficult to picture yourself bouncing off guardrails and dodging the semis overtaking us. Added to the mix I'm trying to get used to only using side mirrors. As we careen through a city of semis, Sue is examining every handhold she can find and keeping an eye on the road and the road signs.

It was a little unsettling trying to blend in with the traffic we now see through the fog of everything we learned this morning: "Do this! Don't do that! This is good to remember. Always..." What did he say? Once on the normal four-lane interstate west of St. Louis, we began to relax and embrace the great ride and exceptional handling of the Ford Transit chassis. Our first stop, however, was a large grocery store near the campsite. Now the challenge switches from the open road to closed areas. How wide must I make my parking lot turns? Can I fit in that space? Is there anybody next to me? I'm ready for camp.

First Campsite in New RV

The St. Louis West KOA is located across from Six Flags in Eureka, Missouri, about 15 miles west of I-270 on I-44 (Historic Route 66). We were directed to site A13, which looked level but presented another challenge for RV first-timers. We shifted about the lot looking for level but eventually employed the Beech Lane teardrop levelers to secure a comfortable balance. It's a steep learning curve to know both the nature of the leveling tools as well as the communication skills needed to guide the driver onto the lifts. (At present, the LTV Wonder Rear Lounge cannot be equipped with an automatic leveler system.)

Our first meal in the RV was a tasty Italian dish warmed over an open fire and followed by a celebratory cake. The couple camping next door was also on their introductory offer from Van City. They were heading home to Colorado the next day.

Learning to negotiate the parking lots in our WonderRL

The learning curve of our first outing soon gave way to an appreciation for the excellent car-like ride of the Ford Transit chassis. We appreciated the ample power, nimble steering, and quiet ride. The unit did great. With each new trip, we're learning little ways to make our travel relaxing while protecting our investment for many more miles ahead Along the Pooka Trail.