New Wheels

But Not That Kind!

Exciting news! Something life changing has happened! A real dream come true and something that’s been decades in the making. But more about that in a minute…

First, I want to extend a huge welcome to all of Freewheeling’s new subscribers! There are almost 50 of you now! There’s nothing wrong with starting small! I want you all to know that I appreciate the time you took to subscribe and support this blog. With your help it will continue to grow. Now, it is my mission to do my best to bring you interesting content that will spark your sense of adventure.

OK, onto the BIG REVEAL! Before we left for our North Carolina trip (read all about it here), Greg and I put down a deposit on a travel trailer. So literally the day after we returned, we became the excited and proud owners of a 26’ beauty we affectionately call “Imogine”. She’s not one of those super-cute retro-looking campers, but rather a modern-looking brand new unit that has many creature comforts. You can tell that many of years of camping experience led to the smart choices in this unit. Things like under-bed storage, LED lighting, reclining armchairs, a sizeable shower, and storage galore! I mean, it’s honestly TOO comfortable!

It’s already been a lot of fun to have Imogine. (The unusual spelling of the name in intentional as it’s borne of the camper’s brand name which is Imagine. She is technically a Grand Design Imagine XLS 22 MLE.) We were able to stock her and get her out that first weekend. We took a two night trip to Red Feather Lakes, which is about 2 hours from home. It was an excellent maiden voyage and shake-down trip where we got to really try everything out. Everything seemed to work flawlessly. Well, except for the pocket door to the bathroom falling off! But Greg easily fixed that.

So once again, what does this have to do with the Freewheeling spirit of this blog? Well, Imogine is going to be our “home away from home” and a comfortable place for Penny while we travel the country in search of the best bike trails. And honestly, she is one happy camper! We can load up our bikes in the tow vehicle (which is graciously being loaned to us my my parents) and go however far our jobs and vacation time will allow. Greg plans to get Starlink satellite internet so he can work on the road. We hope to test this plan soon.

Here are some pictures of Penny enjoying this new lifestyle:

In fact, I’m writing this blog from a campsite right now! Surprise! We are on our second trip with Imogine this weekend doing a quick getaway to Golden Gate Canyon State Park, just 30 miles from home. I didn’t bring my bike on this trip, since we’re still getting used to a lot of new gear with the truck and camper. But we did do an amazing hike today on the Horseshoe Trail. The weather here at 9,000 feet is absolutely perfect and, because we’ve had a very wet spring and early summer, it’s still very green with many wildflowers. I’m hearing hummingbirds overhead at this very moment. I’m able to work here because my phone has 5G and I made a hotspot for my laptop. We’re not THAT far away from civilization, but it sure feels like it.

“Nature is not a place to visit, it is home.” This quote from American poet and environmental activist Gary Snyder feels more true than ever with Imogene providing us shelter and comfort during our travels.