Life on the road is full of surprises, but sometimes, it’s not the kind we plan for! This week was a little different for our traveling family—just when we were excited about our next big adventure, the flu hit us hard. But, if there’s one thing we’ve learned from our time on the road, it’s that every experience, even the challenging ones, is part of the journey.

A New Type of Adventure: Rest & Recovery

We arrived in Tyler, TX, on Saturday afternoon, filled with excitement to explore. Our last visit here was a quick winter stopover, back in late December, when the chill pushed us onward toward warmer destinations. This time, we were ready to dive in and see what we’d missed.

But as we were setting up our site for the week, Chico started sniffling—and soon enough, we were all dropping like dominoes, one by one. The flu moved in fast and forced us to hit pause on our plans. We’ve been mostly huddled up in the RV, moving at a much slower pace than usual. Although it’s hard for us to settle down with so much of the world waiting just outside, it felt like a little downtime was exactly what we needed. We’re all on the mend now and gearing up to hit the road again in just a few days!

Finding Comfort on the Road

Being under the weather in an RV can be challenging, so we decided to make it as cozy as possible. First, we invested in an air purifier to help with congestion and keep things feeling fresh. It’s a total game changer in such a small space!

With that set up, we settled in and made a new tradition: watching the Harry Potter series together. Our kids hadn’t seen all the movies yet, so we’ve had snuggly movie nights, complete with blankets, favorite snacks, and as much comfort as we could bring into our little home on wheels. This unexpected break turned into a cozy family ritual, and it gave us a new kind of magic—one that didn’t require leaving the RV.

Lessons Learned from Slowing Down

Our journey this season has had its share of bumps. Since setting off in October, we’ve dealt with a list of surprises: electrical issues, a refrigerator on the fritz, and now the flu. Yet here we are tonight, hearing laughter echo through the RV as everyone’s spirits lift again. Despite the rough patches, these moments remind us why we’re here. Sometimes, the best memories come not from the places we visit but from the way we handle the unexpected together.

Preparing for Our Next Adventure

Tonight, we’re busy getting everything travel-ready: catching up on laundry, restocking supplies, and packing away the cozy comforts. In just a couple of days, we’ll be on our way south for Thanksgiving, heading to a spot that holds warm memories for us. We spent last Thanksgiving there, met some wonderful travel families, and now we’re excited to see who we’ll cross paths with this time. Here’s to the new memories and friends we’re sure to find along the way!

It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of travel, but weeks like this remind us that sometimes the best thing we can do is take a break and recharge. Even though the flu wasn’t exactly the adventure we planned, it was part of the journey—and now, we’re more ready than ever for the next chapter!