Light This Candle!
Updated: Oct 7
"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
After nearly a year of waiting for delivery, we were more than ready to begin the next chapter of our retirement adventure. Looking back, that wait would probably be considered "fast track" by today's RV production standards!
We made the seven-hour drive to St. Louis to pick up our new Wonder from Van City, the dealership we had chosen months earlier. One thing we really appreciated was the delivery package. It included the rental car, a thorough orientation, and two nights at a nearby KOA campground. For first-time RV owners, it was the perfect way to ease into the lifestyle.
The orientation lasted nearly two hours and covered everything from operating systems and maintenance to RV terminology we had never heard before. It was a lot to absorb, but it gave us enough confidence to get started. Over the following months, our salesman, Joe Parisi, patiently fielded more than a few rookie questions as we learned the ropes.
After an eye-opening morning of instruction, we finally pulled out of Van City's lot on May 17, 2021.
Only a few hours earlier we had arrived in a compact rental car. Now we were guiding a spotless, 25-foot motorhome through busy St. Louis traffic. As any new RV owner can appreciate, that first drive was a little intimidating.
I was getting used to relying almost entirely on side mirrors while semis rushed past us and city traffic surrounded us. Meanwhile, Sue was testing every available handhold, watching traffic, and keeping an eye on road signs. We were both trying to remember everything we had just learned.
"Do this."
"Don't do that."
"Always remember..."
Wait...what was that again?
Fortunately, once we reached the open interstate west of St. Louis, the stress began to melt away. The Ford Transit chassis quickly impressed us with its smooth ride, quiet cabin, and easy handling.
Before settling into our campsite, however, we had one more challenge to face: the grocery store parking lot.
Suddenly our concerns shifted from highway driving to questions like:
Can I fit in that space?
How wide do I need to swing this turn?
Is there someone beside me?
By the time we left the store, we were more than ready to reach camp.
The St. Louis West KOA in Eureka, Missouri, sits just off historic Route 66 and across from Six Flags. It was there, at Site A13, that we encountered our next lesson in RV ownership: leveling.
The site looked fairly level, but as first-time RVers we spent more time than we care to admit moving around and checking our setup. Eventually we used our Beech Lane levelers to get everything sitting comfortably.
What we quickly learned is that leveling isn't just about the equipment. It's also about communication between driver and spotter. Learning how to guide the driver onto the levelers without overcorrecting proved to be an adventure all by itself. Since the Wonder Rear Lounge did not offer automatic leveling, it was a skill we would need to master.
That evening we celebrated with our first meal in the RV, a delicious Italian dish warmed over the campfire and followed by cake. The couple parked next to us was also taking advantage of Van City's new-owner camping package. They were heading home to Colorado the next morning. It was fun sharing stories with fellow newcomers as we all started our RV journeys together.
Sue serves celebratory cake Italian Dinner camping style Sue checks the dinner's progress First Campsite in New RV Italian on the road Final touches for first RV meal First RV campsite for the new unit The Wonder Rear Lounge set up
As that first trip unfolded, the steep learning curve gradually gave way to appreciation.
The Ford Transit chassis delivered a remarkably smooth, car-like ride. We appreciated the ample power, responsive steering, and surprisingly quiet highway manners. Most importantly, the Wonder performed flawlessly.
With each trip, we continue to discover new ways to make travel easier, more comfortable, and more enjoyable while protecting our investment for many miles ahead.
That's all part of the journey . . . Along the Pooka Trail.
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