RV life leads to endless adventures, beauty, and joy.
By RonnieSue Ambrosino, F328569
Both avid photographers, the Ambrosinos developed their skills while documenting their adventures.
Icebergs, whales, snowy mountaintops, owls, and northern lights — do these words conjure up any images? RVing makes it possible to experience all of this and more from the comfort and safety of your own “home.” You can sleep in your own bed after a day of adventures; you can eat in your own kitchen or out on the “patio”; you can change your backyard view from mountains to rivers, or from green meadows to sandy beaches.
You can meet people from all walks of life. They may be or have been neurosurgeons, military personnel, law enforcement officers, or blue-collar workers. They might be from large families or small. You may never know. They are your neighbors for a day, a week, or even a month. You could have brief encounters with them, or they might become lifelong friends. We have met some incredible people along the way after some unusual circumstances and have had life-changing experiences as a result.
My husband, Dominic, and I left New York in 2004. We sold our house and moved into our 42-foot Type A motorhome. Never did we dream that 18 years later the passion would still thrive. We have been to every continental state in the U.S., as well as British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alaska. The photo on the cover of this month’s magazine is from our trip to Newfoundland and Labrador (and Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia). We have been as far south as Key West; as east as Down East Maine; as west as the beautiful coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington; and as far north as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The Ambrosinos have traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada.
We developed our photography skills over time and have taken photos to document our travels and to memorialize our adventures. We love wildlife and have more than 800,000 images. Viewing our pictures takes me back in time. We have more than 60 prints hanging in the home we built at an RV resort in Arizona. We created photo books that we carry in the motorhome to share with people we meet on the road, encouraging them to explore new places.
The Ambrosinos have taken thousands of wildlife photos, such as this great horned owlet in Arizona.
One special moment that comes to mind was our eight-hour ferry ride across the ocean from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland and Labrador. Although there was a wonderfully comfortable and warm area to sit in below deck, we decided to bundle up and stay up top — with our cameras ready — to look for whales and passing ships.
Newfoundland was a true highlight of our travels. The warmth and kindness of the people was equally as memorable as the icebergs, puffins, lobsters, and whales we encountered. We even got to see a young polar bear that washed ashore on an iceberg.
We traveled to Alaska early in our RVing life. Because of the remote roads, lack of amenities, and vast land we would traverse to get there, it was a bit scary to plan that extended trip. Plus, we had to learn about crossing the Canadian border, including what we were permitted to bring with us. The trip turned out to be wonderful. We loved every mile on those rough roads, even though the motorhome ended up coated with more dirt than we could have imagined. We went back to Alaska two more times and are planning another trip within the next few years.
This sailboat rested in a sleepy harbor near the Ambrosinos’ campground in Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia.
When visiting a location, we ask other RVers or local residents for ideas regarding “must-see” places. We research the area and add the destinations to our ever-changing itinerary. For instance, we recently went to southern Oklahoma to visit family and heard about wild horses in the northern part of the state — off we went to find the horses, with plenty of treats along the way! We learned that Maria Tallchief, a famous ballet dancer, was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma, and so we decided to visit her hometown. We found many ghost towns and learned about the history that helped them to grow and eventually fade away.
We have been able to visit family and friends in all corners of the United States. We had the opportunity to travel to Massachusetts to spend a month with my niece before her wedding. We traveled to California to celebrate the 80th birthday of Dominic’s sweet aunt; spent a week in New England with my 80-plus-year-old uncle; and then another week in New Hampshire with my 90-plus-year-old uncle.
The Ambrosinos photographed red foxes while camping in Newfoundland.
We’ve been spending quality time with our grandchildren and love their sleepovers. We have two rules when they stay with us. The first rule is that there is NO designated bedtime. They are allowed to stay up as long as they want. In reality, they rarely last beyond 9:00 p.m. The second rule is one that benefits Nana: they can climb into our bed in the morning and wake us up. I love those cuddly times so much!
The motorhome has brought us close to so many people and has expanded our horizons. We do not travel with an agenda or reservations, because we fear we may be in an area we want to explore more deeply and not want to be pulled away.
The couple caught this lion at Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Arizona.
This is not a lifestyle for everyone. It takes a sense of adventure, flexibility, tolerance, patience, and a yearning to “take the road less traveled.” The most important thing for us is the teamwork and camaraderie we share. Dominic’s strengths are my weaknesses, and the opposite occurs for me. Together we have a solid basis for finding the next adventure.
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