- our car, which we pulled behind us
- our bikes
- our cell phones
- our computers
- our Sirius satellite radio
- our Woodall's book of nationwide campsites
- our National Parks Pass
Saddest event during our trip: Hurricane Katrina
Cheapest gas we saw: $1.59 outside New Orleans
Cheapest gas we bought for RV: $1.69 in Louisiana
Most expensive gas we bought for RV: $2.92 in Utah (for a long time, it was $2.39 in California as we left)
Most expensive gas we bought for car: $3.09 in Aspen
Prettiest public campsite: number 8 at Baby Doe campground, San Isabel National Forest, Leadville, CO
Most times changing spots at one campground: 3 (Dakota Ridge CG in Golden, CO)
Best Internet coverage in a campground: tie between two places with perfect cell coverage: Dakota Ridge CG in Golden, CO and Windy City CG outside Chicago
Found Free Wi-Fi at: downtown Gainsville, Florida and Petosky KOA in Petosky, Michigan
Friendliest, most helpful staff: the purple-shirted folks who work for the Rockies at Coors Field. They were always asking if there was anything they could do. One example is they pointed me to where Mark and Katie were standing, as I left the bathroom. And they were everywhere (there was a purple shirt lady in the bathroom too, just to help out).
Best picnic area and pit toilets -- by far: CCC-built Castle and privvy at Guernsey State Park, Wyoming
the picnic area, "the castle"
the pit toilets
Nicest surprise of a children's museum: Santa Fe, NM
Nicest surprise of an adult museum: (tough call. We really loved the American History Museum in Washington (went there three times while in DC), but as a surprise, I loved the Mill City Musuem in Minneapolis:
Highest bridge toll: George Washington Bridge outta New Jersey into the Bronx: $24 for the RV + car
Prettiest private campground: Country Waye in Luray, Virginia (where else could we have gotten to see bunnies hop by and watch green hills turn neon while eating dinner?)
Cheapest laundry: Columbus, MS Dewayne Hayes Recreation Area (50 cents to wash, 50 cents to dry)
Prettiest homes in a small town: Columbus, MS
Prettiest homes overall: Savannah, GA
Prettiest drive: Natchez Trace
Best take-your-breath-away views: Utah vs. Grand Canyon
Coldest night: outside Albuquerque, NM (13 degrees)
Oddest hot weather: 83 degrees on December 23, wearing shorts two days before Christmas
Nicest view from our camped RV: Lake Ouachata (pronounced Wahchataw) outside Hot Springs, AK
Worst RV camp: Florida City ("we saw some guys cruising around checking out your bikes")
Best location for an RV camp (despite the neighborhood): Jersey City, New Jersey, with a view of Lady Liberty and just a six-block walk to the trains into NYC. Downsides: $60/night (but 7th night's free) and it gets loud at 3am on Saturdays when the bars close in NYC and the partiers return to collect their cars and fight each other in the parking lot
Stinkiest campsite: T.O. Fuller SP in Memphis (near a sewage plant)
We also had the most dangerous fire there (high wind and lots and lots of twigs)
Best bead shop: Eureka City, Arkansas
Not only great beads, but the woman working there was sweet and smart and a great jewelry designer
Prettiest historic downtown: Eureka City, Arkansas
Biggest culture shock: the Amish of Lawrenceburg, TN