Steeles on Wheels
Reviewed by Stephanie Bernhagen
Steeles
on Wheels: A year on the Road in an RV
by Mark and Donia Steele
Steeles on Wheels wasn’t what I expected when I picked
it up. I had envisioned a simple travelogue of a couple’s first year on
the road as full-timers. By the time I finished the Introduction and
started the first chapter, I knew it would be a whole lot more than just
another travelogue.
The first chapter shares the Steele trio’s first day of elation at
being on the road, avoidance of a traffic jam, the stalling of their truck
in an intersection – house hanging out, and the start of the second day
with their first RVing disaster. (They didn’t expect this lifestyle to
be boring did they?) The chapter closes with Cleo chewing out her human
Mom for claiming she had made friends with a malamute-wolf in the first
campground. In reality, it had been an embarrassing encounter for Cleo. By
now, I was hooked, had smiled throughout the entire first chapter and had
chuckled out loud several times.
Throughout the book Mark, Donia and Cleo take turns sharing their road
adventures, bantering back and forth about each other’s adjustments,
observations and their own misadventures. The format of Steeles on
Wheels alternates between their favorite towns and cities and
answers to the most frequently asked questions about full-timing.
One would think after being a full-time RVer for eight years—having been to 49 states and most of
the Canadian provinces—we would have been to all the sights
the Steeles experience in their first year. Not so however. When the
Steeles wrote of places we had been I had flashbacks of our own visit
there. But I soon found I had my highlighter out, marking the many places
I had not been and they were tempting me to go. And when it came to
sampling regional food, my taste buds drooled, wanting to follow the
Steeles wherever they went.
Mark and Donia remove the mystery surrounding 25 of the most frequently
asked questions about full-timing, from the everyday “What Do You Do All
Day?” to the all-important “How Can You Afford Full-Timing?” These
chapters give an excellent idea of what one must consider as they prepare
to hit the road. The Steeles take an honest look at the challenges of the
full-timing lifestyle, which Mark summarizes this way, “…as in every
lifestyle, there are a few downsides that come with the territory. But the
bottom line is, if we divided everything into good and bad, and all the
good things were put in a bushel basket, the downers would barely fill a
teacup.”
And what does Donia have to say about the lifestyle? “At the moment,
we’re solidly in the More We Do It, More We Love It phase of
full-timing.” It sounds like Mark and Donia have a bad case of hitch
itch, challenge or no challenge.
This is a must read for those considering full-timing, friends and
family trying to figure out what this bug called hitch-itch is all about
and for seasoned full-timers looking for a good chuckle at newbie
adventures. You won’t be able to put it down!
Steeles on Wheels: A year on the Road in an RV is
available at Amazon.com.
Visit Mark and Donia's website.
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