Every big adventure starts with a single step, and for us, that step was walking onto an RV lot.
After spending several years away from full-time RV living, it was exciting to see just how much the industry had changed. Floor plans had evolved, interiors felt more like luxury homes, and there were so many new features we hadn't seen when we were on the road before.
Our first day of shopping took us to two dealerships in the Knoxville area: Campers Inn RV and A&L RV Sales. We arrived full of excitement...and left with even more questions than answers.
At Campers Inn, we toured two Riverstone models. Riverstone had always been our dream coach during our first full-time RV journey. In fact, if we hadn't decided to purchase a traditional home in 2020, there's a good chance we would have upgraded to one back then. Walking through those same floor plans years later brought back a lot of memories and reminded us why we had loved them in the first place.
Later that day, we visited A&L RV Sales to take our first look at Brinkley fifth wheels. We toured the G4150 along with another model that, unfortunately, I can't remember now. At the time, Brinkley was still a relatively new manufacturer, and we were curious to see what all the excitement was about.
By the end of the day, we still didn't know which direction we wanted to go. The Riverstone had everything we had dreamed about for years, while the Brinkley introduced us to fresh ideas and innovative features we hadn't considered.
Thankfully, we weren't under any pressure to make a quick decision. We had plenty of time to compare models, ask questions, and really think about what would work best for this next chapter of our lives.
Looking back now, it's funny to remember how uncertain we felt that day. Little did we know that this was just the beginning of a journey that would eventually lead us to "Big Bertha" and back to the full-time RV lifestyle we love.
Sometimes the best adventures don't begin when you buy the RV—they begin the moment you start dreaming about what's possible.
People often ask if this is our first time living full-time in an RV.
The answer is no.
In many ways, this isn't the beginning of our story—it's the continuation of one that started more than a decade ago.
Our first full-time RV adventure began in March 2015, almost exactly one year after Greg and I were married. A few months earlier we had purchased our very first fifth wheel, a Gateway that we affectionately named Homer.
Like many new RV owners, we learned our first lesson the hard way.
On Homer's maiden voyage, we dropped the fifth wheel onto the bed of our truck. The result was damage to both the truck and the RV, sending them both to the repair shop before our journey had really begun.
Looking back now, we can laugh about it. At the time...not so much.
By November everything had been repaired, and we headed to Florida to spend Thanksgiving with my parents. Our house was under contract and scheduled to close just a few weeks later, so instead of moving back into a house, we simply stayed in the RV while I continued working until it was finally time to begin traveling.
When March arrived, so did the adventure we'd been dreaming about.
We started in Florida, making our way along the coast before spending time near Lake Okeechobee. Eventually we worked our way back to Tennessee, where we stayed until October before relocating to Tallahassee to be closer to family while we decided what came next.
It didn't take long to realize one thing.
I wasn't ready to stop traveling.
By June 2016, we were back on the road.
Over the next three and a half months we traveled through Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Kentucky, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Every stop reminded us why we had chosen this lifestyle in the first place.
While traveling through Ohio, we ordered what would become our next home—a Montana 3791RD. It offered far more storage and fit the way we wanted to travel.
On September 11, 2016, we returned to Ohio to pick it up.
Three days later, everything changed.
Greg suffered a medical emergency that nearly cost him his life.
Suddenly, our excitement over a brand-new RV became secondary. We spent the next two months focused on recovery. I was too shaken to tow our new home, and Greg was unable to drive.
Eventually, we made our way back to Florida, where we remained until April 2017 before relocating to Texas. After nine months there, we returned to Tennessee, where life settled into a different rhythm.
Over the next five years, we lived both in an RV and in a traditional home while navigating careers, family life, and more health challenges than either of us expected.
Those years taught us something that changed our perspective forever.
Tomorrow isn't promised.
When we looked ahead, we realized we could keep saying, "Someday we'll travel again," or we could make someday today.
That's why you're here.
SeasonedRVers isn't just about campgrounds, destinations, or beautiful sunsets. It's about making the most of the time we've been given, embracing the unexpected, and proving that it's never too late to chase a dream that still calls your name.
This isn't our first chapter.
But it may just be our best one yet.
Below is the Montana which we remodeled a year after we purchased. The last pic is "Homer", our first fifth wheel sitting at my parents house.
We're returning to full-time RV life—but first, we're rebuilding the road that leads us there.
We've lived this lifestyle before, stepped away for a season, and now we're beginning again with a little more experience, a little more patience, and a much greater appreciation for what this life truly offers.
Over the coming months, we'll take you behind the scenes as we choose our truck, find the right fifth wheel, downsize our home, and prepare for the next chapter of life on the road.
Being seasoned doesn't mean we have all the answers. It means we've learned that the best journeys aren't measured in miles, but in the memories, lessons, and people we meet along the way.
Whether you're a full-time RVer, dreaming of becoming one, or simply love the adventure of exploring new places, we're glad you found us.
So grab a chair around the campfire and come along for the ride.
The road is calling... and this is where our story begins.
