Letters From the Road Podcast

LFTR Episode 66 - What is Big Life? Do you have one? Do you wish you did? Do we? Who gets to decide and why? We explore this and other Big Questions during a rainstorm. We also catch up about our week in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin, Madeline Island, and how we ended up at an indoor water park in Duluth.

Highlights include:

* Jay Cooke State Park near Duluth, MN is great camping and hiking

* What do you do when there’s high wind and up to 3” hail predicted in your area while camping?

* Go to a hotel/Waterpark for a night? 🤷

* The Waterpark used to have a fake  volcano. It caught fire!! 😂

* Lake Superior North Shore adventures

* A KYD meetup at a great brewery

* Some rain on the airstream in the background of the cast if you listen for it!

* All our favorite things in a Harvest Host (and brats!) at MLP Farms

* Camping on Madeline Island - the good, the bad and the buggy

* Are we still striving, just in another area?

* We don’t feel like our value is wrapped up in it

* We do need money to live…

* “The thing to do”

* Sometimes it’s just that week.

Links:

* Jay Cooke State Park

* The Edgewater Hotel and Waterpark

* Tettegouche State Park

* Split Rock Lighthouse

* Betty’s Pies

* Gooseberry Falls State Park

* Canal Park, Duluth, MN

* Ursa Minor Brewing

* Keep Your Daydream

* MLP Farms

* Madeline Island

* Big Bay Town Park

* Tom’s Burned Down Cafe

Thanks for listening! As always you can find LFTR at

http://lettersfromtheroadpod.com, and you can email us at [email protected].

Find LFTR Diaries on the LFTR YouTube channel.

Find us on socials @lettersfromtheroadpod!

If you feel like kicking us a few bucks because you like what we do you can Become a PenPal and chat with us and others in the PenPals Discord.

LFTR Episode 65 - This week before the show we were in a silly mood and you might be too after you listen! We review our week driving from Indiana to St Paul where we had time with friends and saw Noah Kahan, then talk about the trap that is the before and after framing.

Highlights include:

* Stopping at ALDI with the rig.

* A weird Harvest Host

* Redeemed by another HH at Cedar Ridge

* A windy drive north

* Dinner with an old friend and a new one!

* Noah Kahan in St Paul was amazing!

* The Counting Crows Casino Gig set loves Noah Kahan

* A friend took us up on our standing invitation to join our campfire!

* Camping ass camping in Jay Cooke State Park

* Before we hit the road we were pretty happy too!

* We realized we like to go play in the woods

* It was a different configuration, with upsides and down, but it wasn’t bad. We kept what worked well.

* Weightlifting? 🥱 Climbing? 🤗

* Fitness Journeys are more about journeys than fitness 

* Mom needs alone time. This is good, do this.

Links:

* Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery

* Excelsior Brewing

* Baker Park Reserve

* John Vincent III

* Noah Kahan - “Maine”

* Review - Noah Kahan Who is he? 😂

* Jay Cooke State Park

Thanks for listening! As always you can find LFTR at http://lettersfromtheroadpod.com, and you can email us at [email protected].

Find LFTR Diaries on the LFTR YouTube channel.

Find us on socials @lettersfromtheroadpod!

If you feel like kicking us a few bucks because you like what we do you can Become a PenPal and chat with us and others in the PenPals Discord.

LFTR Episode 64 - We waited for just the right moment to talk about this one, which apparently was from another Cracker Barrel parking lot on the way back north from Lexington! We talk Railbird Music Festival, Kentucky Horse Park Campground and then get into why we’re spending all the money we don’t have this summer on Music.

Highlights include:

* Why is Kentucky Horse Park Campground so popular for Airstreamers?

* Railbird highs and lows

* The Red Clay Strays’ unreal crowd for the small stage

* Icky pastor vibes

* An Uber nightmare

* Allison Russell is a hopeful agnostic who “takes us to church” with her music

* The power of music is hard to describe with words - which I guess is why we have music

* The conversation happening between performers and audiences

* What if humans used to talk like birds? 🐦 

* Once and a brief Broadway tangent

* Just any live music. Go listen.

Links:

* Kentucky Horse Park

* Legacy Trail

* Railbird Music Festival

* Our summer of song playlist

* LFTR podcast theme - Break Away by Young Presidents

Thanks for listening! As always you can find LFTR at http://lettersfromtheroadpod.com, and you can email us at [email protected].

Find LFTR Diaries on the LFTR YouTube channel.

Find us on socials @lettersfromtheroadpod!

If you feel like kicking us a few bucks because you like what we do you can Become a PenPal and chat with us and others in the PenPals Discord.

*** LFTR Diaries is now available on the LFTR YouTube channel. ***

LFTR Episode 63 - Coming at you from a parking lot once again, we teach you our secret to not getting bored with long term travel (or life). As Ross and Jared famously said, we Pivot! 

Highlights include:

* Still love Devils Lake SP even after sheltering in the restroom

* Go up the steep parts when hiking

* Hiking meals are fun. Also full of fiber and sodium!

* Madison is top ten

* Our 5 pivots this week

* Do we pivot more now?

* Was getting the Airstream a pivot?

* We do a life pivot basically every 2 years

* Summer is an RV season for a reason

* The west is just easier to RV in

* What’s the next big pivot?

* Facing your fears

* Feeling better than we did

* GettingOutOfNormal wasn’t like PLEASE

* LFTR is a pivot

* You’re our therapist now

Links:

* Athletic Brewing Co

* Devil’s Lake State Park

* PEAK refuel hiking meals (affiliate)

* Mendota County Park

* Dane County (Madison) Farmer’s Market

* Stella’s of Madison

* Brunkow Cheese

* Hook’s Cheese

* Great Dane Pub and Brewing Co

* Hubbard Ave Diner

* Lakeview Park Middleton, WI

* Sylvee Madison

* LFTR YouTube channel

Thanks for listening! As always you can find LFTR at http://lettersfromtheroadpod.com, and you can email us at [email protected]. Find us on socials @lettersfromtheroadpod! If you feel like kicking us a few bucks because you like what we do you can Become a PenPal and chat with us and others in the PenPals Discord.

*** LFTR Diaries is now available on the LFTR YouTube channel. Ep. 3 is a tour of our Airstream packed for travel! ***

LFTR Episode 62 - We reunited with Jason, Abby and the kids for a birthday weekend full of camping fun in Wisconsin! We talk about that, our last week in Iowa, and then reflect on how lucky we feel that We get to.

Highlights include:

* Beers and cheese and sausage

* The Iowa we know and love!

* Except Cedar Rapids has a lot of cool new stuff since we lived there

* Pickleball aka “lazy tennis”

* Camping with friends in Wisconsin

* We get to! We do make our own choices, whether you actively do or not. Have to can be reframed as get to.

* Vacations are chores, the fun is they’re different chores

* Sad tuna

* I almost miss changing diapers

* Always choosing something

* The best part of LFTR: we get to meet all of you!

Links (Amazon links are affiliate links):

* Amana Meat Shop

* Millstream Brau Haus

* NewBo City Market

* RAYGUN

* Big Grove Brewery

* Pickle Palace

* New Glarus Brewing Co

* New Glarus Woods State Park

* Dirty Dog Taphaus

* Lake Louie Brewing

* Scout

* We didn’t playtest this at all

* Devil’s Lake State Park

* LFTR YouTube channel

Thanks for listening! As always you can find LFTR at http://lettersfromtheroadpod.com, and you can email us at [email protected]. Find us on socials @lettersfromtheroadpod! If you feel like kicking us a few bucks because you like what we do you can Become a PenPal and chat with us and others in the PenPals Discord.

*** LFTR Diaries launched Friday May 10 on the LFTR YouTube channel! Subscribe now! ***

LFTR Episode 61 - We’re continuing our time in Iowa with a great Harvest Host stay at our favorite distillery ever, plus a promising Airstream service appointment and another Planet Fitness shower review.

We then talk about how we never know what to do with our eyes, and the journey it seems we’re joining many others on in the last couple decades - understanding our own brains a little better.

Highlights include:

* The best whiskey.

* Service for the Airstream

* Again with the water heater! (But maybe not forever!)

* A surprise start to Summer of Song ‘24

* Double dipping on our Harvest Host

* Lobster? Go to Maine. Pork? Iowa.

* Planet Fitness Coralville shower review

* The bean burrito of shame and how school lunch was (is?) hard for neurodivergent kids

* Neurospiciness!

* When am I just myself?

* Gendered expectations around neatness and organization for kids

* Eye contact as a weapon in business meetings

Links:

* Airstream of Des Moines (Blue Compass)

* Sandy Beach Campground

* Cedar Ridge Distillery

* Airwaves - Iowa classic rock cover band

* Wingspan

* LFTR YouTube channel

* Library Trolls Instagram

Thanks for listening! As always you can find LFTR at http://lettersfromtheroadpod.com, and you can email us at [email protected]. Find us on socials @lettersfromtheroadpod! If you feel like kicking us a few bucks because you like what we do you can Become a PenPal and chat with us and others in the PenPals Discord.

*** LFTR Diaries launched Friday May 10 on the LFTR YouTube channel! Subscribe now! ***

LFTR Episode 60 - These days we’re not all about rules, having ignored them all and hit the road. However that doesn’t mean there isn’t lots of “Follow the Rules!” out there in the RV/Camping community. Our hot takes on that, plus our travel week from Bozeman, MT to Iowa.

Highlights include:

* “Would you like another ‘beer’, Luke?”

* Our date afternoon in Bozeman

* Bikes on the road

* Winter just keeps calling… and calling…

* Moving fast and staying sane

* Planet Fitness shower signs lie

* FREE camping ass camping in Montana

* An accidental swim for Clay (and Frankie)

* Getting muddy with thousands of friends

* Being kind > being right

* PSA: stabilizers vs jacks and hydraulic vs electric jacks

* If you don’t correct your annoying neighbors they might give you cupcakes!

* Distributing weight on your small trailer for safe and happy towing

* Generators - think about the people around you, but do what you need to within the rules of where you’re staying. Don’t shame others for running theirs.

* Protecting your peace: noise canceling headphones (don’t have to be pricey), fans to make noise, hearing protection

* Boss Baby for everyone!

Links:

* Canyon Creek Brewing - Billings, MT

* Spire Climbing - Bozeman, MT

* Bacchus Pub

* Greycliff Mill

* Spin Fresh Laundry

* Red Shale Campground

* Spearfish/Black Hills KOA

* Living History Farms

* Living History Farms Race

* The Machine Shed

* RVers Good Neighbor Policy

* Soundcore Space One headphones

* LFTR YouTube channel

* Library Trolls Instagram

Thanks for listening! As always you can find LFTR at http://lettersfromtheroadpod.com, and you can email us at [email protected]. Find us on socials @lettersfromtheroadpod! If you feel like kicking us a few bucks because you like what we do you can Become a PenPal and chat with us and others in the PenPals Discord.

LFTR Episode 59 - After a brief interlude at the house we are out for the summer! We discuss the end of our long weekend in Oregon, a few errands at home, and our time in Bozeman, MT. Then we get into how it’s Scary to Start things, but oh so worth “doing it scared”. Then we let you in on some of the new things we’re starting!

*** LFTR Diaries launches Friday May 10 on the LFTR YouTube channel! Subscribe now! ***

Highlights include:

* Cannon Beach + Public Coast

* How we did school on the road

* Truck tire adventure

* Night 1? Lotdocking

* Hot Springs Party

* Gym girlie

* Sunset drive to the park

* Addicted to starting things

* Can you put a price on really f-ing living?

* We’ll say it again - stay off I-4!

* “Do it for the plot”

* Are we scotch or tequila?

* LFTR Diaries starts Friday on YouTube - Subscribe! 

* Library Trolls starts Wednesday in your podcatcher - we’re starting with the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas

* Are we too high energy?

* Finally pursuing art

Links:

* Public Coast Brewing

* Michelin Agilis CrossClimate

* RVers Good Neighbor Policy

* Bozeman Hot Springs Campground

* Story Mill Park

* LFTR YouTube channel

* Library Trolls Instagram

Thanks for listening! As always you can find LFTR at http://lettersfromtheroadpod.com, and you can email us at [email protected]. Find us on socials @lettersfromtheroadpod! If you feel like kicking us a few bucks because you like what we do you can Become a PenPal and chat with us and others in the PenPals Discord.

LFTR Episode 58 - We’re back on the road!! We’re hanging out with our PenPals Thomas and Erin on the Oregon coast at Ft. Stevens State Park this week having tons of fun at beaches and breweries and campfires! Then we talk about Oceans for a bit!

Highlights include:

* A mouthful of oyster meat

* A crawl of Astoria on a perfect rainy PNW day

* Views and huge slide at a neighborhood park in Astoria

* Picnic on the beach with a beautiful shipwreck at Ft Stevens

* Remembering our previous Oregon coast adventures

* Site tip for starlink and families at Ft Stevens

* Driving White Pass through Washington

* Sandy or rocky beaches?

* Developed or wild beaches?

* Florida!!!

* Jamie got her car lifted by college bros and other adventures in the Saturn

* A gnarly surf lesson with Oldest on Maui

* Alright, Moana, go!

Links:

* Ft. Stevens State Park

* Astoria Brewing Co

* Buoy Beer Co

* McClure Park, Astoria

* Episode 8 of LFTR - the last time we were in Astoria

* Cape Blanco State Park

* The Crazy Norwegian’s Fish & Chips

* Sun Outdoors in Coos Bay

* Tillamook Creamery

* Blue Heron French Cheese Co

* Astoria KOA

* Oak Creek Wildlife Area

* @_maggiejo_ surfing Lake Michigan

Thanks for listening! As always you can find LFTR at http://lettersfromtheroadpod.com, and you can email us at [email protected]. Find us on socials @lettersfromtheroadpod! If you feel like kicking us a few bucks because you like what we do you can Become a PenPal and chat with us and others in the PenPals Discord.

LFTR Episode 57 - our second week back in Studio Flo and we are getting so pumped to get back on the road and hanging out with the Community for the summer! We discuss today’s camping community, how (while improving) it’s still hard to be a minority or be differently able in it, and welcoming everyone who welcomes everyone.

Highlights include:

* Surprise taxes are fun

* Frantically preparing for our summer travels

* Frankie’s 1st birthday!

* A train tangent

* Getting ready to leave town checklist

* The best customer service call ever

* Airstream Wash tips

* Ski season is over (finally?)

* Influencers or bust

* Summer is camping party time

* Thoughts on flags (Clay’s were shallow)

* Be friendly (not too friendly)

* Welcome first

* What’s the deal with Goldilocks?

Links:

* @she_colorsnature on Instagram 

* Koa Hospitality report stats post

* @fatblackandgettinit

* @themirnavator

* @themomtrotter

* This article also lists 22 more accounts to follow

Thanks for listening! As always you can find LFTR at

http://lettersfromtheroadpod.com

, and you can email us at [email protected]. Find us on socials @lettersfromtheroadpod! If you feel like kicking us a few bucks because you like what we do you can Become a PenPal and chat with us and others in the PenPals Discord.