Power Kite Forum - Who lives on the road?

Who lives on the road?

dandre - 8-4-2012 at 06:15 PM

So I'm saving up to live on the road for next snowkite season (fingers crossed)

I don't wanna be professional; just wanna do my thing while I'm working on other opportunities out west.

I was just wondering if anyone has some interesting tidbits or impressions about living the life.

Houston AirHead - 8-4-2012 at 06:24 PM

ive wanted to do this, i wonder if renting a car would be better than using your daily commuter....

dandre - 8-4-2012 at 06:26 PM

ahh see this is what I'm looking for!

Feyd - 9-4-2012 at 03:17 AM

Dandre, are you doing this solo is is there someone going with you?

I can say is a Honda Odyssey with Nordman studded tires will get you through pretty much anything. I can't believe what it will go through. As good if not better than our WRX w/AWD and studs. And if you set it up right there's more than enough room for all ur kites, skis, tuning and repair stuff and sleeping/living space. Especially if it's just you.

Saves a ton on lodging and you never get skunked because you didn't have the right gear with you.

I put on almost 7k this winter. Was away from home almost the whole month of Febuary. In some ways it's great and in others it's hard. The best was being up in Quebec. I don't speak French and where I was most of the adults don't speak English. But when you are immersed in a new language you learn a lot really fast.

I loved going to the store. I love trying new foods and when you don't speak the language sometimes you never know what you're getting into.

:wee:

rocfighter - 9-4-2012 at 04:52 AM

We are planning to retire in the next year or so. (If my health holds up?) And living on the run for a few years in our motor home. We want to hike a lot of trails and try to hit all the kite and buggy fests around the country.
Not going pro though. Yours sounds better funded!:ticking:

dandre - 9-4-2012 at 05:15 AM

It'll be solo.
was most certainly planning on living out of the car though

Thanks for the tidbit, I wondered if a decent 2WD car could make it.
I was thinking about a forester for trunk space but thats very helpful

haha and I don't know about "funded" just scrupulous planning

all my riches have always been inside of my soul.

retiring and enjoying the wisdom of age on the road sounds fun to me too!

bigkahuna - 9-4-2012 at 05:46 AM

We lived on a boat for 5 years and are thinking about doing it again. It has its limitations, but I miss the ability to just cast of the lines and go somewhere anytime I want. I would think living in a camper is pretty much the same.

dandre - 9-4-2012 at 05:53 AM

I was thinking about doing that when I get older (30y+)
I always tell my friends when you have a boat you have arrived lol

I just love the joke; what is a boat?
a hole in the water you pour your money into!

Feyd - 9-4-2012 at 10:02 AM

Forester is a pretty sweet ride. A lot like our Impreza but more room. Good handling, all wheel drive, big enough to sleep in if you have a rocket box on the rack to hold some gear. With a 3 roof trays and a rear strap on rack we can get 5 bikes and 5 riders in the Scooby WRX. If it's just you and your gear the Forester would be a good time I think.

The Oddity does kick A$$ as a 2wd. She's heavy and since it's front wheel drive it gets through stuff that I've seen 4x4 small pickups have trouble. The only thing I don't like is that you have to remember to turn off the stabilty assist when it's greasy out. If you don't she gets stuck immediately. And the aero dam gives it some pretty low clearence but I think I'm going to mod it so I can take that off in the winter.

Scrupulous planning, good way to go. Then you don't answer to anyone or owe anyone, you just go and do whatever the hell you want.

Bladerunner - 9-4-2012 at 10:55 AM

I haven't done this yet but think about it a lot. My plan includes a reliable older camper van. Seems that using it for lodging on occasion should offset the extra gas. Nice to have some space to go directly to , out of the wind + cold right at the kite spot ? Living that long out of a car does not exactly appeal to me ?

Camper vans seem to go at a good price around here these days. Not so much interest with the high gas prices.

B-Roc - 9-4-2012 at 11:48 AM

For the past year I've lived on the road and in hotels and airports but that has been on my company's dime . Guess your version of it is more fun and way more condusive to kite flying.

Feyd - 9-4-2012 at 02:50 PM

There is really something to be said about just being able to go where you want when you want. One of the best days of my kiting life was this winter when I just picked a bunch of backroads at random and ended up on one of the only frozen parts of Lake Huron. Totally untracked, creamy fluff for miles and beauty wind. It was awesome.

rocfighter - 9-4-2012 at 04:59 PM

dandre that's not a joke. :wow::puzzled::ticking: :crazy:

rocfighter - 9-4-2012 at 05:02 PM

We have an older (1976) motor home now. But might be upgrading in the next few weeks. When it runs well it is really nice to just put up the awning, put away the scooter and hook on the kite trailer and drive to the next event. Soon it will be a longer trip.

dandre - 9-4-2012 at 06:28 PM

yeah I'm ok with winter camping so I don't really need a big camper.
I don't know any details yet, just putting the ca-ching away is step one.
Still, I've never worked so passionately tward anything before, it's very interesting to feel this way.

It's not just about kites, I like to study philosophy/theology;and when I don't have to work I just get alot more of gods work done. (or whatever you call it, a rose by any other name)

There is much to be done before celebrations or back-patting, long road ahead of saving.
The ultimate test lol

tridude - 9-4-2012 at 07:55 PM

make sure to vote for the right guy this time so you can afford the gas.....................drill baby, drill................ :lol:

Todd - 9-4-2012 at 07:58 PM

Leaving a book mark here for tomorrow... Too tired to post but have input.

dandre - 10-4-2012 at 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tridude
make sure to vote for the right guy this time so you can afford the gas.....................drill baby, drill................ :lol:

Already planning on 7.00 a gallon. lol

bigkahuna - 10-4-2012 at 05:27 AM

> make sure to vote for the right guy this time so you can afford the gas.....................drill baby, drill................

That is such utter and complete nonsense. This kind of politically charged rhetoric has nothing to do with this topic.

furbowski - 10-4-2012 at 05:43 AM

let's keep the politics out, eh? I am guilty of flaunting mine from time to time as well, but I've learned not to on here, let's keep it to a shared passion for windplay.

Dandre, I keep looking for some old roadtripping threads on other forums, when I find them I'll link them to here. Good info on parking, showers, and the like... apparently a $20 month membership at a nationwide fitness chain can get you unlimited showers.

dandre - 10-4-2012 at 05:45 AM

:flaming::flaming::flaming::flaming:
lol whoah boy

Todd - 10-4-2012 at 10:29 AM

OK, well rested now after pulling into Laredo TX Last night. Here’s my take for living on the road and it can be done surprisingly cheap. Truck stops are your friend. They have all of the necessary goods that one needs to go about his or her day. Showers are about the ten dollar range but will give you a break if you purchase gas/fuel. I purchase foods from the grocery store that I can fix in the truck. Simply stuff that are easy and less messy like manifold meal goods. Nothing like a hot meal cooked on what you’re driving.
What am I driving? Meet Juicy Lucy…

I just signed on with LandStar a couple of weeks ago. Benefits? Self dispatched to go where I want to go and when. This year I plan to hit some of the major kite events in the US. Getting paid to play is a definite plus and if you would like info on carrier service I can point you into the right direction. They hire vehicles small as a van, kind of having your cake and eat it too.

As of right now it looks as if my first bash will be JIBE. Things happened a little too late for WBB and this I will sadly miss. Hope to see you out there on the road, it’s a good life but not for everyone.

dandre - 10-4-2012 at 10:44 AM

yeah I'm a pretty big dirtbag once my hair gets past a certain length.
I'm just sick of juggling society/not society

I already know about how faces pass so quickly out there, and the sadness of letting everything go; so I think the hard part is over lol.

go juicy lucy, go!:wee::wee:

stetson05 - 10-4-2012 at 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tridude
make sure to vote for the right guy this time so you can afford the gas.....................drill baby, drill................ :lol: