Summer-2021 National Parks Wanderlodge Bluebird RV Trip

Welcome to our blog of travel via our Wanderlodge Bluebird 1990 WB 40' Silver Edition, which are no longer made. Our girl - Ellen's Bed & Breakfast is a classic, rare unicorn in the world of Class A RV's. When she rolled out of Fort Valley, GA her purchase price was $435,000, custom built for an owner that chose all the finishes for which we now enjoy in our Bird. She had a second owner that drove her to Alaska, as our owners "Bluebox" outlines all her travels and repairs. Then she took a 13 year rest in covered storage (Barn) as her owner's family health took priority. Then our friend bought her to give her new life by giving her some TLC with new Tires, batteries, safety overhaul before selling to us. She caught my hubby's eye on BuyByeBluebird.com and the rest is history.

Wanderlodge manufacturer closed its door April 30, 2009, estimates put the total Wanderlodge's built over 4000. Because the Wanderlodges' were custom built. The VIN numbers are not consecutive. Meet our Ms Ellen pictured below, from her classic lines, beefy safety features to her timeless beauty. She protects us as we travel, we are her trustee to watch after her to ensure she has a long traveled future.

We purchased our Bird in Fall of 2018, a dream of ours since we met and married in 1975 was to travel the US in an RV. The early years we camped in tents, then took our first cruise in 1999. All the tie we talked about some day we would have a RV, initially we thought a fifth wheel would be our choice, so much we purchased a RAM 3500 with tow package in 2010, our 3rd RAM. Always enjoying our trips, some for work, others for vacations.

Planned for 8 months prior to departure, booked campgrounds, planned routes with RVTrip Wizard, developed checklist, studied area must see's and then it was time to go. Follow our trip in review, we left June 16th, 2021 and were to be back home on August 27, 2021. How far did we go?

Our plans are traced on the map below, starting at the flag over our Birdnest in Southside, Alabama heading north to Upper Peninsula as far north as Whitefish, MI; Heading west as far west as Glacier NP, MN; with Stops in South Dakota, Wyoming; heading south to Hobbs, heading east to Houston, TX before heading home NE to Rainbow City, AL. What was our favorite places and were there hiccups?

North to Whitefish, MI on Lake Superior

1. Mammoth Cave, Park City, KY

2. Shipshewana, ID

3. Benton Harbor, MI

4. Macedonia, MI

5. St Ignace, MI

6. Mackinac Island, MI

7. Bay Mills, MI

8. Tahquamenon Falls State Park, MI a. Whitefish, MI

West to South Dakota

1. Germask, MI

2. Chippewa Falls, WI

3. Magnolia City, MN

4. Wall, SD

5. Badlands National Park

6. Blackhawk, SD a. Mount Rushmore b. Custer State Park c. Mammoth Springs, SD d. Spearfish, SD e. Sturgis, SD f. Deadwood, SD

Southwest to Wyoming

1. Devils Tower National Monument, WY

2. Riverton, WY (Tetons NP)

3. Cody, SG (Yellowstone NP)

North to Glacier National Park, MT

1. Helena , WT

2. Glacier National Park

South to Hobbs, NM

1. Three Forks, MT

2. Sheridan, MT

3. Cheyenne WY

4. Raton, NM

5. Lubbock, TX

6. Hobbs, NM

East to Houston, TX

1. Fredricksville, TX

2. San Antonio, TX

3. Houston, TX

NE to Rainbow City, AL

1. Shreveport, LA

2. Laurel, MS

3. Home . . . Rainbow City, AL