As motorhomers know, so much of the trip lies in the journey. This month, Family Motor Coaching readers take us along with them by answering the question:
What do you enjoy listening to as you’re traveling down the road in the motorhome?
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My favorite music to listen to is classic country, such as Johnny Cash and C.W. McCall. My family has to put up with me singing along to many of these songs I have on tape (yes, I still use cassettes, since that’s what my stereo plays in our coach). My second choice is 1980s pop and rock, such as Steve Miller and ZZ Top. Every once in a while, I have to put in some 1970s music to make my copilot (wife) happy.
Chris Guenther, F3508S
Westminster, Colorado
For our family, there are two favorites for sounds on the highways “” satellite radio and audio books. In my opinion, no motorhome should hit the highway without a quality sound system that provides satellite radio access. You can quite literally listen to the same channel along your route from Key West to Mount Rainier or dockside at San Diego’s Midway to the lobster pots of Maine. Or you can pick any one of more than 100 channels, most of which are commercial-free. You can even listen to many of the radio dramas from the 1940s and ’50s, sound effects and all. All of our vehicles are equipped with satellite radios.
Second, we thoroughly enjoy audio books. We started listening to them while they were on cassette tapes and have continued now that they’re available on compact discs. Time seems to fly by on the freeways when a good novel is being read to us. CDs are available at local libraries and bookstores; they can be checked out at one truck stop (or a Cracker Barrel restaurant) and checked back in two or three states later (if you’re willing to join the respective clubs). We’ve also found them at swap meets, book sales, and yard sales. If you’re into Western fiction, almost all of Louis L’Amour’s books and short stories are now available on CD, most with personal insights recorded by Louis himself.
Jim Brightly, F358406
Kingman, Arizona
When we’re traveling down the road, listening to RV Navigator podcasts is our favorite! Ken and Martha Wiseman’s monthly RV Navigator podcast is informative about RVing and the RV industry, which comes from their decades of RV experience. We began to listen to their podcasts when we were new RVers. In addition to providing useful information, the RV Navigators have a great sense of humor, as well as infectious laughs that make listening to each podcast great fun. The greatest gift that our full-time RV life has given us is meeting new friends such as Ken and Martha as we have traveled. The podcasts can be found at www.rvnavigator.com and at the iTunes Store (www.apple.com/itunes).
Ellyn Ingalls, F399210
Crestview, Florida
My wife is an avid reader of mystery novels. As we travel in our motorhome, we both like to listen to CDs of mystery novels by such authors as James Patterson, David Baldacci, John Grisham, J.A. Jance, Peri O’Shaughnessy, Phillip Margolin, Stuart Woods, etc. Sometimes when we stop, we have to sit in our motorhome for a while to listen to the novel before we can shut it off. I even had to install a cassette deck in our motorhome so that we could listen to books on cassette as well.
Harlan Miller, F329430
Lawrence, Kansas
We enjoy listening to each other! We’re constantly gabbing about what we’ll do, where we’re headed, what we’re seeing along the way, and the adventures we had where we’ve just been. Though we have Sirius XM and broadcast radio, we rarely listen to them “” we’re having too much fun with each other!
Joe & Lisa Grant, F361139
Marco Island, Florida
During a stop in Nashville and a visit to Opryland several years ago, we picked up tapes of bluegrass, mountain, and folk music. We traveled north, then east, picking up U.S. 52, which follows the Ohio River through southern Ohio. Most of the time, the river is in view. We started playing the “old fashioned” music and suddenly found ourselves almost transported in time back to the days of the pioneers. Something about banjos and dulcimers set the stage. At stops along the way, we found locals willing to share stories about the area. It was a wonderful, fun way to enjoy this country and its rich history. Now each time we find a neat, historic road or are paralleling a river or canal, we grab the tapes, put them on, and transport ourselves to the past, inviting everyone we meet to share a little of their local American experience with us.
Billie Torbeck, F236771
Largo, Florida
I know that a lot of people enjoy listening to the radio, or music CDs, or audio of a favorite TV show while traveling down the road. But we enjoy the quiet, conversation, and each other’s company. It is a delight to be in a motorhome that is quiet enough to talk in a normal voice. To travel along and enjoy this beautiful country and a quiet ride or a ride full of conversation . . . it just doesn’t get any better than that.
Norma Sutton, F252452
Ocala, Florida
During more than two decades of motorhoming in our Holiday Rambler, big band music on the road has always spiced up the trip. But the music bursting forth from the Sony CD player on one particular RV journey stands out. As we were tooling into Utah’s Capitol Reef country, the pulsating rhythm of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” just fit the bill! Vivaldi captured the moment as we drove around red cliffs ribbed with bands of color, massive domes, twisting canyons, and slickrock, with the free-flowing Fremont River under the big desert sky. The captivating sounds of Vivaldi blended ever so well with the beauty, splendor, and solitude of that Utah scenery.
Lee Layton, F78701
Lubbock, Texas
Future questions:
1. If you’ve attended FMCA international conventions, which one has been your favorite, and why? (Please provide convention location and year.)
2. Describe a memorable attraction or scenic view that you accidentally discovered during your motorhome travels.
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