We are back home after traveling a little over 3,000 miles on our maiden voyage!

It’s hard to believe that we covered so much ground on the first real trip we have taken, but it has been a very good learning experience and more importantly, we enjoyed every minute of it!

It was en route home that I drove the motor home for the first time without an instructor! We left Marksville, Louisiana on Sunday, May 28, the day before a public holiday for Memorial Day. We were on a two-lane highway and it was lovely and empty. So, taking everyone’s life in my hands, I took my seat behind the wheel and off we went.

In describing what it feels like to drive a 40-foot truck-sized monster towing a jeep behind it, I ask folks to recall their first-ever driving lesson! Remember sitting in the driver’s seat of a car for the first time in your life and there is just so much to remember: checking the mirrors every few seconds, learning how to depress the brake pedal without kangarooing or stopping so suddenly that the instructor almost hits his head on the dashboard or is garrotted by his seatbelt, entering a roundabout, changing gears and dealing with those impatient folks behind you who, of course, were never learner drivers!

On day one, for the first hour, I gripped the steering wheel like my life depended upon it! When my knuckles really started to complain because they had no blood reaching them, I relaxed a little and started to enjoy the experience. I did panic somewhat when it came time to make a right turn as you have to move so far forward, almost into the oncoming traffic to ensure the back wheels (and the jeep) make it around the corner without running over whatever or whomever is on the corner at the time!

One really good thing is that the motor home is equipped with three outside cameras that really are an aid to driving. Situated on the dashboard next to the GPS screen, is a second screen where the outside cameras show what’s going on to the right, to the left and behind. As you will see on the picture below, this is the view showing the jeep being towed behind. When you indicate right or left, the view changes to show you what’s coming up on the side which is really useful as so many motorists want to try to sneak past you before you move into another lane or make a turn! Bless them is all I can say!

White knuckle ride!

Always good to see that the Jeep is still attached!