The Bob Davis Podcasts

I am on a Mega Road Trip for 2025. Most importantly this podcast covers my trip from the desert, mountains and beaches. Details in Mega-Road-Trip-2025-Bob Davis Podcast 1159.

In the first place I’ve learned doing Roadtrips with hell bent for leather travel isn’t so great.

Most importantly if the traveler has the time low and slow is the way to go.

For example I plan on taking almost two months to get to the California-Oregon border.

Furthermore I plan on taking the same approach to Oregon and Washington if possible.

Generally this podcast covers my trip for the deserts in Eastern California, to the mountains about thirty miles from San Diego and ultimately to the beaches south of Los Angeles.

Certainly there is history involved.

That is to say that the purpose I’ve selected for this trip is to learn more about the Mission System in California dating back to the Spanish.

Even more one of the historical figures I am interested in is Jedediah Smith.

By all means Smith blazed many trails in his life.

But perhaps the most important exploration he accomplished was to find the southern route to California.

With this purpose in mind Smith was both saved and incarcerated by the Spanish at the mission at San Gabriel and at the Presidio in San Diego.

In Mega-Road-Trip-2025-Bob Davis Podcast 1159 I tell that story.

But there’s more.

All in all I got to spend some time at superb mountain campgrounds and on the Beach at Carlsbad, California.

Finally it’s amazing to me that I am only a short way into this Mega Roadtrip for 2025.

So follow my progress as I head north and eventually east to Wisconsin.

Above all subscribe to my YouTube channel and watch as well.

The post Mega-Road-Trip-2025-Bob Davis Podcast 1159 appeared first on The Bob Davis Podcasts.

Do oversharing nomads ruin travel? These days it seems like all the travel highlights have been detailed by oversharing nomads. Details in Oversharing-Nomads-Ruin-Travel-Bob Davis Podcast 1158.

Certainly the world is full of opportunities for Discovery and Exploration.

And I discuss these subjects in relation to nomad life.

However recently I have noticed almost every place and experience has already been documented with a pin in a map…

So everyone else can have the same experience.

By all means we have the freedom to experience and enjoy where we go in our own way.

Nevertheless one of the pitfalls of the so called #nomadlife ‘movement’ is a tendency to overshare ….

And as a matter of fact lecture everyone else about where to go and what to do.

Even more with people who learned nomad life a certain way from certain people…

They are generally apt to pull right up next to a vehicle and force themselves on other campers.

On one hand this behavior is based on the idea we’re all brothers and sisters in this effort.

On the other hand this behavior shows a pronounced lack of manners and boundaries.

Accordingly it is not unusual to find yourself listening to a whirlwind travelogue with ‘pointers’ on where to go and what to do.

With this in mind one wonders when adventure, discovery and exploration happens…

If all we do is tick boxes on a list from someone else.

In fact my sense is social media and modern technology have made the practice of telling everyone else about ‘amazing’ and ‘incredible’ places very common.

In the final analysis we should be leaving something to discover for the new travelers.

In addition these same people stress that Nomad life is extremely complex and difficult.

In summary it’s not that hard.

Sooner or later we all discover the world is a big place and there’s a lot to see.

Maybe some experiences are still pristine.

If you find one…Keep it to yourself.

Sponsored by 36 LYN

The post Oversharing-Nomads-Ruin-Travel-Bob Davis Podcast 1158 appeared first on The Bob Davis Podcasts.

Life at an Off Grid BLM Camp near Yuma is an acquired taste. Details in Off-Grid-Yuma-BLM-Bob Davis Podcast 1157 .

Firstly I have been traveling and camping at some spectacular National Forest campgrounds,

And National Parks.

Even more at some amazing Bureau Of Land Management campgrounds which are well maintained and fantastic.

But the so called Long Term Visitor Areas are a different story.

Certainly my listeners and subscribers have followed my tribulations through the LTVA experience in Quartzsite, Arizona.

Above all Yuma isn’t much better.

By the same token the vibe in at Yuma is a little more chill than a hundred miles to the North in Quartzsite.

Basically I ran into some first time RV people; the other day and they expressed their displeasure with these LTVA’s run by the Department of The Interior.

Overall this is a great place to wait out the final few weeks of what we call cold weather down here.

In fact with temperatures in the 80’s as I write…

It won’t be long until I start spring travel into the higher elevations.

Undoubtedly first time RV people have their concerns.

It’s important to realize that these places have no power or water hook ups.

Nevertheless there is garbage service and fresh water.

In the same fashion bathrooms are provided.

Unfortunately sometimes they don’t work.

Another point overlooked is the BLM isn’t very good at fixing things…

Or cleaning things up.

In contrast to nearby military bases with five bars of 5G…the US Department of the Interior cannot seem to figure out how to get cell service into these LTVA’s.

On the other hand once you accept all those drawbacks life can be pleasant here.

Secondly one of the things about this environment is it tends to be more social.

All things considered I am changing my requirements when it comes to camping.

In fact these days I prefer more solitude and emptiness.

For that reason I will generally avoid these kinds of places.

For the time being though this is a good place to wait out the final few cold nights and plan for future travel.

On this occasion one takes the good with the bad.

Sponsored by 36 LYN

Off-Grid-Yuma-BLM-Bob Davis Podcast 1157

The post Off-Grid-Yuma-BLM-Bob Davis Podcast 1157 appeared first on The Bob Davis Podcasts.

Firstly time for a Nomad Winter Escape Adventure. Details in Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156.

Secondly right about now just about everyone in North America is looking for a winter break.

Certainly the arrival of the Polar Vortex and Winter Storms are key.

In addition even out west it’s cold in the higher elevations.

Equally important is the need for nomads for warm days and nights.

Accordingly the adventure here is the often challenged nomad migration from the higher altitudes to the lower.

Of course because life on the road requires multiple stops in transit it becomes an adventure.

Thirdly I love the Eastern Sierras.

However this locale is a lot more palatable in the Spring and Fall.

Since I just made the trip from Lone Pine California to Organ Pipe National Monument in Arizona I can tell the story.

All things considered I was warmer in the below sea level reaches of Death Valley.

But I don’t like to back track.

It’s for this reason that I headed toward San Diego.

Owing to the fact that I had video to upload I was in search of a Starbucks and a place to hole up for a night while I uploaded.

In reality apparently San Diego doesn’t like Truck Stops or National Forests.

And, like Florida, this part of the California frowns on stays in Walmart parking lots, Cracker Barrel’s, or Denny’s.

All things considered any nomad out there is nodding their head.

In the final analysis I do not blame the San Diego area.

At the same time the best I could do was a rest area about forty miles east of the city.

At length let the downloading begin!

Finally found a great campground a little farther east.

At length I found the nights still too cold with the Santa Ana winds and headed for Arizona.

With this in mind Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156 is all about the little errands and things we have to do that makes nomad life an adventure sometimes.

In any case any refugee from the current Polar Vortex will find California and Arizona quite pleasant despite slightly cool evenings.

And Organ Pipe National Monument is a dream.

Sponsored by 36 LYN

The post Nomad-Winter-Escape-Adventure-Bob Davis Podcast-1156 appeared first on The Bob Davis Podcasts.

Adventure, Freedom and History in Death Valley and The Eastern Sierras.There’s so much to see and so many thoughts! Details in Adventure-Freedom-History-Bob Davis Podcast 1155.

Firstly my last podcast dealt with the Eastern part of Death Valley. Podcast 1155 deals with the Western Part of Death Valley and the Eastern Sierras.

Secondly I am doing this podcast as I exit the freezing northern reaches of Lone Pine California and head for warmer parts of Southern California.

Most importantly heavy winds and near freezing temperatures make it pretty cold up in the mountains.

That is to say given the elements I don’t know how the pioneers even considered trekking up the Sierras with their belongings and animals.

Certainly the Donner Party experience led to later western emigrants to seek a southern route.

This literally led through Death Valley.

Altogether I love the history in the west.

But the Death Valley Sierra area is jam packed with all kinds of historical stories.

Even more every view is packed with beauty.

With this in mind while I retreat to warmer climes I am doing this podcast in Mobile Podcast Command as I head south.

Above all this is a great time to discuss issues of freedom.

At the present time I am struck by the number of people I know who feel deeply constrained in their jobs,

Even more life seems also to be exerting a tremendous weight on shoulders ‘back in the world’.

All things considered I think this is one of the reasons people are so interested in nomad life.

Sponsored by 36LYN

The post Adventure-Freedom-History-Bob Davis Podcast 1155 appeared first on The Bob Davis Podcasts.

It’s time for a higher vibe to ring in the New Year and Death Valley is the place to do it. Details in 2025-High-Vibe-Death-Valley-Bob Davis Podcast 1154.

I came here to stay one or two nights and ended up extending to the maximum time.

As a matter of fact I could live here if they let me.

What a contrast to the Truck Stops of Las Vegas.

Especially the stars.

Of course this is the largest National Park in the Lower 48.

But at the holiday time of year I was surprised by the number of people camping up here.

Certainly it’s true that our end of year rituals rooted in primitive man.

So it’s fair to suggest Christmas and New Year’s celebrations precede the Christian Era.

And our commercial hustle and bustle suggests a return to pagan roots for some.

But I am still surprised at the number of people camping here for Christmas and New Years.

Accordingly this place has a lot of primitive history.

With this in mind the ghosts of Ancients, American Indians and Pioneers have a certain currency.

As well as the miners and entrepreneurs that built some of the best attractions in the Park as well as in the region around it.

Up to the present time this place has a lot of history.

Furthermore as a nomad I am grateful for the ability to enjoy places like this at length.

The first thing to remember is the vibe in the campgrounds is high.

Firstly every night there is a lot of talk around the campfire of where people camped and what they saw that day.

Crush Of Holiday Activities Back Home

Secondly and chiefly a huge relief and respite from the shopping and food and family intensity of Thanksgiving through the New Year.

Meanwhile the Winter Solstice is supposed to be for resting and refitting.

In addition for preparing our seeds to be planted in Spring.

In summary Death Valley is a special place with a lot of life!

Sponsored by 36 LYN

The post 2025-High-Vibe-Death-Valley-Bob Davis Podcast 1154 appeared first on The Bob Davis Podcasts.

It’s a Hella Truck Stop Nation. In this case “Hella” is used in the negative sense. Get the full scoop in Hella-Truck-Stop-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast 1153.

Firstly I am supposed to be enjoying a perfect Southwestern sunset in front of a warm campfire.

Instead I am in Las Vegas waiting for a heater I’ve ordered to arrive at Camping World.

And dealing with a strange noise and potential mechanical problem with Mobile Podcast Command.

Therefore I am rotating around Las Vegas.

From time to time visiting various truck stops both in the city and in surrounding areas along the freeway.

More importantly I have been doing this for a long time.

That is to say traveling around the country visiting towns and cities.

Certainly spending most of my time on the back roads and avoiding the major cities.

All things considered when most people come to Las Vegas they come to the shining hotels.

In essence to gamble, enjoy an expensive and delicious dinner and see a show.

Under those circumstances visitors never see the back streets of this city.

In particular the in town truck stops.

At the present time I don’t think I have seen this many desperate people.

And not just here in Las Vegas.

But all over the Southwest.

To explain we’re talking about people sleeping in cars and converted vans and utility trucks that fool no one.

Or the free campgrounds in the desert.

Therefore I certainly could have recorded a breezy and fun podcasts about how much I love truck stops.

On the other hand I decided to dig a little deeper and push a little harder.

There’s nothing like a trip to Vegas to emphasize the gap between the haves and the have nots,

As well as the unfortunates who have fallen off the last rung of the economic ladder…into the abyss. And sure there’s jobs for those with certain skills.

And of course there are those who I describe as useless.

Thirdly about 90 years ago hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma Sharecroppers headed west.

For the purposes of illustrating our current situation I spend some time discussing “The Grapes of Wrath”.

Finally the difference between today’s desperate and the Okies is a plan.

In conclusion there is no plan.

In fact if you’re a nomad or want to be one you have to be able to identify this situation and the places you don’t want to stay.

Sponsored by 36 LYN

The post Hella-Truck-Stop-Nation-Bob Davis Podcast 1153 appeared first on The Bob Davis Podcasts.

Freezing my ass in Big Bear California. Not really. From Los Angeles to Big Bear in Freezing-My-Ass-Big-Bear-California-Bob Davis Podcast 1152. It’s a little cooler at seven thousand feet than it is down in the desert.

Firstly after trying several mechanics in LA I discovered no one wants to take the big old ambulance on for an oil change..

Secondly I called in an audible.

As a matter of fact my Brother and Sister in Law have a place in Big Bear. We came up last week after Thanksgiving.

And we planned to come back up this weekend anyway.

So I decided to take a chance and find someone to do an oil change up at Big Bear.

By the same token it is not only fun but really good for me to spend some time with family up here.

Furthermore the mooch-docking continues.

Basically what’s not to like.

To begin with Freezing-My-Ass-Big-Bear-California-Bob Davis Podcast 1152 takes a very surface look at the history of this area.

From Native Americans to Miners and later Settlers. And Grizzlies.

In fact I am fascinated these days with the history of the American West.

Even more one of my conclusions is that the history of the settlement of the American West is in many ways the real history of the United States.

That is to say that the real test of the legal institutions of the new country back in the day was the push west starting with the Ohio River Valley.

Significantly I think it’s fair too suggest that the people led the way during the decades before the Continental United States became a reality.

Of course controversy is and has always been a factor in this part of the country.

Therefore I am not taking a position on any of these historical realities.

In addition California continues to amaze me with its natural beauty.

Accordingly the drive up to Big Bear from LA starts with the usual traffic jams.

Giving way to breathtaking mountain views afterward.

All in all there is a lot to talk about in this podcast.

in like manner I take a little time to talk about future plans.

Equally impressive was the experience of getting buzzed by my pilot nephew and the audio I was able to capture.

To sum up being able to travel short distances and have a complete change of point of view is just what the doctor ordered for this nomad.

Details in Freezing-My-Ass-Big-Bear-California-Bob Davis Podcast 1152.

Sponsored by 36LYN Now With Healthy Snacks

The post Freezing-My-Ass-Big-Bear-California-Bob Davis Podcast 1152 appeared first on The Bob Davis Podcasts.

MoochDocking Thanksgiving in LA has been a lot of fun. When we hang out at someone’s house and use their electric we call it ‘Moochdocking‘. Details in MoochDocking-Thanksgiving-LA-Bob Davis Podcast 1151.

Firstly most of the time we nomads don’t go home for the holidays.

Certainly distance is usually an issue.

Secondly for many family is also an issue.

However I was 100 miles away from my brother in law’s house in LA.

So what the hell.

Accordingly the driveway with an electric hookup is a far cry from the dry lake bed at Joshua Tree…

Or Joshua Tree National Park.

Another key point is the fact that we nomads have judgements about life “back in the world”.

Although the longer I do this the less judgmental I become.

After all some people prefer a house and a car…

and some people prefer the road.

Finally I have come to appreciate how difficult it is for people to raise three kids and keep it together in the suburbs or anywhere else.

All in all it has been great to see my nieces and watch TV on a big screen.

By all means the group effort Thanksgiving Dinner was also a hit.

In addition I must say having electricity 24/7 is pure luxury.

All of this is a tremendous contrast to the unquestionably difficult experience nomad life can sometimes be.

To begin with when I hit the road I did not realize the lessons I would learn in the next four years.

But sometimes I think we judge too harshly when it comes to life ‘back in the world’.

While this may be true I certainly am not about to go back to my old life.

Up against one or the other I would choose the road for sure.

For example I don’t think too much about the day of the week.

And am therefore free to spend as much time as I want in a place like Joshua Tree National Park …

To enumerate this is the gift we nomads give ourselves when we take the plunge.

As a result as I begin the fifth year of this adventure I have learned to appreciate my friends and family ‘back in the world’.

While that may be true I also don’t lean as much on friends and family across the country to stay in their driveways.

After all they aren’t running campgrounds,

However when I do it is a great glimpse at another life.

MoochDocking-Thanksgiving-LA-Bob Davis Podcast 1151 is a free wheeling podcast about the differences between nomad life and so called ‘normal’ life.

Sponsored by 36/LYN

The post MoochDocking-Thanksgiving-LA-Bob Davis Podcast 1151 appeared first on The Bob Davis Podcasts.

Joshua Tree National Park is certainly one of the best National Parks in the US. Some rate it the best. I am live from Joshua Tree in Joshua-Tree-National-Park-Bob Davis Podcast 1150.

Of course it is a far dry from the dry lake bed I’ve been staying at for over a month.

Although the dry lake bed has its charms.

Equally important is the fact that I am growing partial to National Parks.

Of course getting stuck for a month in the Grand Canyon is pretty great. Listen to the Grand Canyon Podcast here.

It’s important to realize the difference between the Bureau Of Land Management ‘camp’ sites…

As well as the National Forests, State Parks and of course the National Parks.

Although you have to pay in a national park…and most forests and of course state parks.

And you have a fourteen day limited stay…

Altogether it’s worth it.

Especially if you take the time to investigate various discount passes you can get.

In addition I spend a little time in this podcast talking about recent issues with the Bureau of Land Management’s stewardship of the land.

In the same fashion while I know many nomads consider it a badge of honor of they never pay camp fees.

To be sure free is good.

However balanced against the state of some ‘free’ campgrounds I wonder whether ‘free’ is actually worth it.

Furthermore Joshua Tree National Park has a special vibe.

For one thing two deserts come together in the park.

Therefore one part of a stay in the park might be completely different from another part.

Equally important are the hiking options throughout the park.

Finally I don’t really do travel tips and I talk about this a fair amount in this podcast.

Presently there are plenty of travel tip and advice videos available on YouTube.

But I think the real juice of travel is discovering it on our own.

Now I have certainly gotten myself into more than one mess with this attitude,

On the other hand in the end, it has been worth it.

Grateful for the sponsorship of 36/LYN

The post Joshua-Tree-National-Park-Bob Davis Podcast 1150 appeared first on The Bob Davis Podcasts.