Roadtrip Adventures – Sleeping 6 Feet from the Railroad Tracks!

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Freedom has been knocking at our door for five years…and on Thursday, November 14,2013 at 3:00 pm, it became our reality when we pulled up stakes, buttoned down the hatches and took off in our pickup camper – to make the open road our home.

But, first…as with any reward or bonus in life, there are a few disclaimers or qualifications to meet, or just one or two more details to complete.  And that is where we are right now – still in Missouri, a few hundred miles from the river home we left – visiting family one more time before we go.

Well, that and we’re also relying on Bruce’s step-dad’s expertise and available tools to make a few final tweaks and adjustments before we really, really, really take off.  He can fix anything!

So, who would have thought that parking our camper behind his loft apartment in the middle of this small town business section would be an adventure?  I mean, you were expecting an update with tales of  rolling hills and back roads and spectacular sunsets from a new location – right?  So, Trisha – THIS is your adventure?

Oh, absolutely! 

Our camper is parked six feet from the train tracks!!  (You can see how close we are in the picture above – the ram hood ornament is on our Dodge Ram truck!)

You’re not gonna believe the fun, thrills and excitement we’ve had sleeping (or not) as the trains go by all day and night – the whistles blasting a warning to motorists, the red lights flashing and dinging at the crossing – right outside our window – so close our whole camper shivers and shakes as we lay there and listen.

I have always loved trains, so this is just an extra helping of fun for me. 

My grandparent’s house was right across the road from the MKT tracks in Pilot Grove, Missouri and we spent countless hours walking those tracks, placing pennies on the rails, counting the cars. 

While we lived at the campground, I was always soothed when I heard the distant sound of the trains way across the Missouri River…it triggered memories of those fun carefree days at my grandparent’s home.

And now, we are sleeping so close to the train tracks, I’m grateful I’m not a sleep-walker! 

This is our journey, this is how it will play out each day…no matter where we are, there WILL be adventure, delight, surprises and thrills! If you seek them…they will be found!

“A good traveler has no fixed plan and is not intent on arriving.” -Lao Tzu

See you on the road,

Bruce and Trisha

Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements. -Napoleon Hill