Notes From The Road #21: an unexpected return to the mountains

A month ago, I never would have guessed we’d be where we are now, tucked into a forest high in the mountains in Arizona.

If you read the February edition of Notes From The Road, then you know our re-entry into truck camper living got off to a rocky start. I was seven weeks post-op from major surgery at the time, and my body wasn’t quite ready for the pace of life on the road. However, that all changed in March. We slowed down so that I could get the rest I needed, and over the following few weeks, I not only began to feel fully recovered but started to feel better than I’d felt in a few years. That fact, combined with some truly breathtaking camps, meant March turned out to be a really, really good month of travel, albeit quite unexpected.

Here’s a look back at where we’ve been, why we cut our time in Mexico short, and how we adapted to an extreme heat wave…

Two short but sweet weeks in Baja

When we crossed the border and headed into Baja in February, I never would have guessed that we’d be returning to the U.S. two short weeks later. Baja is a land of adventure for us. We move around on a whim, explore remote and unpopulated locales, and indulge in the local cuisine. Not long after we arrived, I realized my body wasn’t yet up for all that adventure. A stable routine, lots of opportunity for rest, and access to healthy food (which is hard to find in Baja) were more of a priority for me while I continued to recover. Further, unseasonably hot temperatures were also pulling us back north. Luckily, because we knew we’d be back in November, it wasn’t as hard to turn around as we thought it would be.

The two weeks we did get in Baja were filled with all the Baja magic we could hope for. Sea life abounded in the bay we were parked alongside. Our close friends Heather and Adam (who had been in Baja for the previous two months) made the eight-hour push north to come be with us when we decided we wouldn’t be traveling any further south. The weather was ideal. Adam and Mark ventured out on the water almost every day on “El Gato” and, on a good day, brought back fresh fish for dinner. And every day we enjoyed long walks on the exposed sandbar at low tide.

All in all, we couldn’t have asked for more during such a brief stay.

Exploring all-new territory in Arizona

When we returned to Arizona, I figured we would meander around the desert for the rest of the month. However, the weather had something entirely different in store for us. As soon as we saw an incoming heat wave with temps forecasted to surpass 105°F for nearly a week straight, we knew we needed to seek higher ground.

Herein lies the beauty of Arizona. There is so much variation in elevation that you can easily seek out a different climate. We hightailed it to Prescott National Forest and then deep into Coconino National Forest. For the last couple of weeks, we’ve had the opportunity to explore a region that is typically not accessible to us this time of year, due to either snow or uncomfortable temperatures. It was unsettling to experience 85°F weather in the mountains in March, but the peacefulness of the forest was a welcome change of pace.

How we keep this lifestyle of perpetual travel affordable

We’ve spent a lot of time in the wilderness this month, far from services and populated areas. Every time we emerged from the forest in order to resupply, fuel was more expensive. Given our lifestyle, one of our primary living expenses is fuel, and so it felt like we were watching our cost of living skyrocket right before our eyes (as is the case for many people across the country, I’m sure). We’ve always embraced slow travel and already had a goal in 2026 to slow down from how much we moved in 2025. The cost of fuel has only reinforced that goal for us.

In the last 2.5 weeks, we’ve only driven about 100 miles. We’ve put out the effort to find a great campsite and then have sat still for seven days or more. Yesterday, we set a new record—nine days in the wilderness before running out of resources. Sitting still cuts down on our cost of living, as does taking advantage of our public lands and not having to pay a nightly fee for a campsite. It also allows the opportunity to experience the subtle rhythms of a place that you wouldn’t otherwise notice when passing through in a day or two.

Living on the road full-time can be really expensive or really affordable; it all depends on how you go about it. We really enjoy the challenge of extending our resources so that we can not only save money but also savor each camp before heading off to the next place.

A-Z Guide to Full-time RV Living: Expenses

We’re sharing campsite locations, real-time updates, and more exclusive content on our Patreon page

In an effort to back away from the rabbit hole that is social media, we’re putting our energy into growing our Patreon community. The paywall allows us to get more personal and make real connections with like-minded folks rather than feeding the algorithm and chasing “likes.” But we want the barrier to entry to be low, so for a limited time, we’re offering a $2/mo option to join our little digital sanctuary. Your membership will unlock access to our monthly podcast, weekly updates you won’t find anywhere else, and coordinates to some of our favorite campsites. You can also join for free if you’re not ready to commit but would like to get a preview of what we’re sharing. We would love to see you there!

In case you missed it, here are the articles we shared in March

• Mindful sharing: why we’re backing off social media and leveling up our Patreon page
• A day in the life: crossing from Mexico back to the U.S.

Whew, that was a hefty update! March felt like we got our groove back and boy did it feel good. We’re feeling more grateful than ever for the freedom of this lifestyle and the incredible places we get to call home.

Thanks so much for being here. We hope you’re taking these crazy times in stride and are able to prioritize some time spent outdoors. It’s good for the soul.

Cheers,
Michele & Mark