SHERIDAN, WY – After driving a couple of hours the very first day we were on the road (April 4th) we found ourselves pulling into a rest stop off I-95 just north of Baltimore. We navigated through the special “RV & Trucks” lane and pulled into a slot. Unlike parking spots for regular vehicles that allow two cars to park end-to-end, parking spaces in the “RV & Trucks” area are long and unbroken.
Seeing a couple of RV nearby I bounded out of MARV and headed toward the first and knocked on the door, flyer in hand. I heard some shuffling around inside and the mummerings of an older couple – the demographic of most others fulltiming. Soon the door opened and a woman peered through the narrow opening – “What do you want?” she nervously asked. I could hear her husband behind her, watching TV.
I introduced myself and gave a three-sentence overview of MHD, expecting to see similar levels of excitement due to the shared RV lifestyle and mindset, which breathes independence. Unfortunately I was greeted by a “Oh. Well, we’re fine. Thanks.” Followed by the “click” of the door as it closed.
A bit dejected, I looked up, saw Jason walking my way and tried to decipher his reaction. There was none – he’d been locking up MARV and had missed the exchange. I told him what went down as we continued walking to the rest stop’s entrance. He laughed and reminded me that not everyone is a freedom activist but to remain optimistic. That’s why, to this day, we continue to wave at every passing RVer – hoping to replicate that friendly community both of us as former motorcycle owners were so used to when. Then, when traversing on two wheels, we knew pretty much all other bikers would return the wave or nod. But for some reason that doesn’t exist in the RVing community.
Yet, as I explain in this video shot when we cruised west on I-90 in South Dakota, we’re working to change that.
Oh yeah – and back to the story about our time at the rest stop just north of Baltimore. As Jason and I passed the only other RV in the parking lot en route to the entrance an MHD flyer found its way under the RVs windshield wiper. Gotta keep spreading the word. And we’re optimistic. Especially after meeting such great folks as we randomly did when pulling into a gas station as we made our way across South Dakota. We’ll have more about Kevin and Ryan and their “Shortbus Adventure” soon!
