Writing About Travel Adventure. Does It Matter Anymore?

It's been a rough few months but we're still hoping for a great future.

Hello travelers and adventurers! I hope you’re doing well and that you’ve been able to find time to explore the world around you.

Springtime is always invigorating as the weather changes and life emerges from winter slumber. For those who love being outside, it’s one of the best times to hit the road to enjoy nature and have fun. And if you’re like us, having spent hours watching YouTube videos of other road lifers over the winter, you’re probably ready to get back out there to find the next adventure.

That being said.

We’ve hit the road several times since January, having visited Durango and Pagosa Springs in Colorado, Sedona and Navajo Nation in Arizona, and then Fredericksburg, Canyon Lake, and Padre Island in Texas. All have been glorious experiences, though not without some challenges, like our 2023 Silverado’s AC failing or taking hail damage in Georgetown, TX. Damn it!

Those of you who travel frequently understand there’s always a chance for something to go wrong. A life of adventure requires you to adapt and improvise because you don’t always know what’s around the corner, and even with the best planning and preparation, you may have to shift gears or do a complete U-turn on the journey.

But life is no different.

Humanity is always filled with adversities we must face and overcome.

For me personally, I’ve been struggling with excruciating pain in my hips and legs, with some days making it extremely difficult to even walk around a store, but I refuse to give up hiking or doing the physical activities we enjoy. Quitting is not an option.

Then we’ve had to consider how two Gen X people¹ with no retirement will continue to make a living at a time when this country is so fucked up and unstable, especially as AI and cheap labor has changed the business landscape in the creative industry.

And while I don’t mean to get political, the new government administration, with their Scorched-Earth Policies, is bringing our nation to its knees by causing so much damage I don’t know if we’ll be able to recover. Only time will tell.

There’s also a feeling that all the work we’ve been putting into our publications over the years has mostly gone nowhere.

Maybe it’s because our content sucks, or my goals were too ambitious. Perhaps there’s not as much interest anymore, or people just prefer to watch YouTube videos. I honestly don’t know, but it does make us wonder if it’s still worth the effort. I think some of you could relate to this.

With such challenges in front of us, writing has been difficult.

Most of my time lately has been spent trying to figure things out, evaluating every possible scenario, and agonizing over every decision we should make. For a guy who has always had a strong vision and plan, there has been nothing. Nada. Zilch.

Every day is about surviving another day. 🤷‍♂️

I say all this to be transparent with anyone who reads this because people think Donetta and I have it made and that our life is just one continuous vacation. It’s not!

The traveling lifestyle isn’t perfect, and if I’m being honest, between the continual price increases and growing stupidity in humans, there are days when getting a tiny home and putting it on some land in Colorado sounds very appealing. Things have dramatically changed since 2020, with the tourism/travel industry getting worse.

So we’re evaluating and discussing the options.

This summer, we have an epic three-month adventure planned, and our travels will take us west on a route through 19 different states during this time. We’ll be truck camping and staying on BLM land as much as possible while heading to a variety of National Parks and historic sites. I’m excited and scared at the same time, as this will also test our abilities and push us outside our comfort zone.

Hopefully, it all goes as we envision, just in case it’s our last big hurrah.

We’ve also talked about traveling throughout Europe in 2026 and living in cost-effective countries overseas, but as Trump continues to piss off the global economy and shit on the American brand, this might be a far-fetched reality as other countries might not want us to visit by then.

Finally, I want to apologize to you.

In a culture already filled to the brim with negativity, I don’t mean to add more to it, but this is the gravity of our current situation. This is real life and how we feel at the moment. I’m sorry if it bums you out.

There are stories and adventures we’ll continue to share, though it might only be one article per week going forward, along with some minor edited videos. Our passion for adventure travel hasn’t waned, but how we do it might have to change, unfortunately.

Donetta and I appreciate all of you who follow us and read our work, and we’re thankful for all the people we’ve met along the way so far.

Until next time!

1. Here’s a great article that explains just how I feel and what I’ve been thinking: What the New York Times Got Wrong about Gen X