As you may recall, we are in the process of building a house *around* our motor coach and camper van. To say it has been a long process is a complete and utter understatement.  

On top of that, this house build is cramping my nomadic style. I feel undeserving of our website’s name: The RV Venturer. And really undeserving of my preferred, self-assigned moniker: Queen of the Road. 

The proverbial “they” need us here to make house-decisions at every turn. Decisions on things I have no true opinion on in the first place. (I really just want them to build the house, and I will then live around their decisions. Doesn’t that sound like a better idea?) 

In addition to this house-build-stress, my husband, who is normally away at work for weeks at a time, shattered his arm (while working on the house) back in May. So he has been home for the last few months. As in home, home, home in our tiny, tiny space of less than 600 square feet – the motor coach. 

That’s the house in the background! And that’s The Husband on the roof of the motor coach — with his broken right arm — fixing the air conditioner!

I love my husband very much. He is truly my other half. But I am not used to him being home day after day, month after month. And it’s not like either of us is going to an office for an 8-hour work day. Nope. We’re both here, in the motor coach, all the time. Unfortunately, my nerves have become a bit frayed. 

And while *I* am always a delight to be around, he seems to get irritated with me at times too. ?

So I have been waiting for a lull in construction. Waiting for just a few days when no one needs me to make any urgent decisions. Waiting to take a road trip and reclaim, if possible, my sanity.

That day came this past Tuesday. Painting was completed on the top floor, and would not resume for another week. Tile work wasn’t scheduled to start for another week also. I felt like a free bird, so with minimal preparation, I scooped up some clothes and the Puppy RV Venturer, ZuZu, and hit the road. 

I wasn’t sure where I was going, but I had Nashville in mind. I have been reading several of Ann Patchett’s books of late (Patron Saint of Liars, Bel Canto, This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage, and Truth and Beauty) and really wanted to go to her bookstore, Parnassus Books. But before hitting Nashville, I approached Knoxville and thought: Dollywood! I will go to Dollywood!  

Well, through no fault of Dolly’s, it was a bust because… I never made it out of the RV park! It rained nearly non-stop after my arrival at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. (Full park review: Click Here!) And while I kept thinking: I’ll just walk around Dollywood in the rain, I could not bring myself to do it. It was raining pretty hard. My shoes would be soaked through in no time at all. 

My view for 2 days!!

So instead, I read. And read. And read a bit more. Me and ZuZu snuggled up in the van with the hours, quiet, and solitude stretched before us. 

The Puppy RV Venturer, ZuZu!

And, go figure, I missed The Husband. Though gone just a couple of days, I guess I had gotten kind of used to him being around all the time. ?

I did not however miss the house-under-construction. In my dream world, I would go on an epic road trip, and when I returned, it would all be done. This would of course require Joanna Gaines to supervise the completion of my house build. Do you think if I asked her…?? 

See! Even while trying to get away from home-stuff, I have Fixer Upper on in the background. Ugh! ??

I suppose I will have to stick it out. Joanna is super busy with other things. And this house build won’t last forever…right? Once it’s done, I cannot wait to RV venture it up again and snatch back my Queen of the Road crown.

And yet, the question still remains: Is Dollywood the answer to all my problems? Would a fun-filled day of riding roller coasters, taking in amusement park shows, and eating whatever I wanted (because I would be walking nearly 500 miles in a day) be just what I need to blow off some steam and feel like life is just a little bit lighter than previously thought? Maybe. But I will have to find out another time!

As for now, just being on the road for those couple of days did wonders for my spirit. I love to drive! As in really, truly love to drive. And driving Hers provides me with such a sense of freedom. I have everything I need with me, including a bed, kitchen, and bathroom. And ZuZu is the best little doggy traveler! So, not to sound trite, but it really wasn’t the destination that mattered this time. It was good enough to just get away. And drive. And have some quiet time. And drive.

Safe travels to all of you!! And I would love to hear from you: Is it the journey or the destination?

This was as close as I got to Dollywood!