Loved today's entry Howard...the quotes really are inspirational.  I wanted to see the tv show but forgot all about it.  Is it a series or just the one show?  Anybody else watch it?

It's a series (reality Show) on one of the broadcast networks every Tuesday night. It's coming to a close and has been on for several weeks.

It's a cross between Survivor, Amazing Race and Big Brother House except the show is travelling across the US following Route 66.

As Howard explained the 10 families (I think it began with 8 or 10) are quite a mix. Parents and two children travelling in Class A MH provided by El Monte RV. It appears none of the families have travelled much outside of their home state. I don't think any of them have travelled in an RV before. So this combination makes for some very funny and terrifying moments while they travel from one spot to the next in a loose rally type format.

I don't know if anyone else noticed, but it seems the women have pretty much taken over the driving duties.

The look of wonder on the faces of the show participants, when they see something like the Grand Canyon for the first time, really adds confirmation to the quotes Howard used.

I've only seen a few episodes throughout the run of the show. It was fun to watch the travelling portions and the competitions the families competed in at each overnight stop.

-- Edited by thebearII on Wednesday 19th of August 2009 04:30:44 PM

The Great American Road Trip final show is this coming Monday night.  Here's a link: 
http://www.nbc.com/great-american-road-trip/  You can watch previous episodes here and read about the different families.

We watched the first show and weren't sure we would like it, but we got hooked and haven't missed an episode.  I hope it comes back soon as a regular series instead of a summer fill-in series.

We also have watched the show from the first episode.  Initially we were disappointed as we had hoped on more "RV Stuff" and info instead of what the show is, mere entertainment for us and a few good laughs on human nature.

It was fun to laugh at another's expense when Mrs. Coote jambed the RV roof under the overhang of the restaurant/convenience store.

We have gotten the biggest chuckle out of Mr DiSalvatore and his "goldie locks" and his fixed purple hairbrush in his rear pocket.

For those of us stuck here in stix's and mandatory jobs for now it is just nice to be able to have an "escape".

Now I will go back and read Howard's journal entry!
Susan

Yea, we started watching from the first and also became hooked. Would have liked more footage relating to Rving but in reality the show is really about how the people interact. It does make us want to take the Route 66 trip someday.

We've been watching it and laughing our butts off. I really want the Yonker's family to win. They've been fun to watch (sorta like fish outta water) and have really gone outside their comfort zones and grown from the experience. The Coote's, well they are just plain not nice. I'd like to see the underdogs beat the pants off 'em.

We also are rooting for the NY family, DEFINITELY fish out of water.  To see their expressions when they saw the Grand Canyon and to make comments that they have never been out of NY!

When they saw the zip line and the mom stated that they were "city people used to having their feet on the ground" and it was inspiring that they all faced their fears and got thru the zip line.

We also enjoy the family from Alabama, some of their comments on what they have encountered on the road are comical as well and we hated to see them go home last week.

I agree with your comment that the Coote family is just not nice, which is too bad they are missing the point of the journey, but very typical in today's sociate.

The show is an escape from our daily grind for us.

Amazing entry, i really enjoyed it, thanks. G

Howard,

We don't care much for the show on TV, but think your Journal entry was one of your best. Really liked the quotes and agree that everyone should travel as much as they can.

My kids still talk about trips we took 30 to 40 years ago when they were very small, and now they are taking their families on trips.

It's contagious.

Jim

Howard always inspires us can't wait til he writes the book   john

Although we enjoy all of  the journals.....this one was one of the best ever!

We agree...our son & daughter  also still talk about all the good times we had together RVing  way back when they were young kids in our truck camper.

All those times seem to come up in conversation more often than our other trips via air travel  etc.

All travel is special, but somehow we prefer RVing
Such nice memories. 

Loved this one Howard...waiting for the BOOK !
 
Larry & Arlene

A wonderful entry and very timely!  I was having one of my "doubting moments" (wondering if we were really crazy for planning to go full-time), but after reading this I'm back to thinking clearly! :)

My parents started taking me on camping trips when I was 3 months old. We used to camp in an old army tent. My Dad would work two jobs, one to pay for daily expenses and the second to take us on a month long trip every summer to visit other states in the US. It was a great experience because the history, geology and geography we were learning in school was right there in front of us on these trips. We graduated from the tent to a homemade motorhome to a travel trailer during the time from grade school to junior high. Due to these trips I learned several things besides the history, geography and geology: > I learned how to entertain myself.....hours riding in a car can get boring so you do stuff to occupy your mind. Draw, read, listen to music, talk with your parents and siblings, play games...etc. > I actually became a better reader, I started reading comic books when I got bored and then graduated to novels written for pre-teens (anyone remember the "Hot Rod Patrol" series of books). And finally I began reading novels and went to the library to research the areas we were to visit. > I learned to drive on the last summer trip we took across country. > Travelling through the backcountry and seeing how some folks chose to live, I realized we had it pretty good, even though we drove two year old cars and didn't go out to restaurants more than a few times during the year. We weren't rich but we certainly weren't as poor as many of the folks and relatives we ran into on these trips. I have a high school friend and he has never travelled outside of southern California. If he only knew what wonders he has missed. I am so glad our family camped on the weekends and travelled during the summer. My wife and I have always travelled and can't wait to fulltime it.

I have not seen the tv show but sure enjoyed reading Howards' journal entry on travel. We have been to many parks that have seasonal campers that come back to same park year after year and travel no farther, many of them living in a nearby town. We may eventually have to do that but while we are able we plan to travel and see as much of Gods creation as possible. Life is short, make the most of every day.  Many people don't realize what they are missing by living in the box their whole lives.