As they headed towards retirement, wannabe grey nomads Keith and Anita Murfet never dreamed they would be caravanning anywhere other than Australia … and then their daughter met an American!
As their only child’s trans-Pacific romance blossomed online, the Brisbane couple slowly realised their future was to involve a lot more driving on the right-hand side of the road than they had anticipated.
Six US visits later (and counting), Keith and Anita may have seen more Grand Canyon than Uluru and more Salt Lake City than Snowy Mountains … but they wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s not to say they haven’t also done their fair share of caravanning around Australia in between overseas jaunts, as well.
The couple’s first American adventure was some 14 years ago when they travelled to the state of Louisiana to see their daughter married before hitting the highway in a 29’ motorhome. In six weeks, they saw six states, travelled six thousand miles … and they were hooked.
“The friendliness of the locals and other travellers, just like in our travels in Australia, really helped to make that trip so enjoyable,” said Keith. “And we learned that grey nomads are snowbirders here as they travel south to avoid the snow.”
Highlights of that first trip included Yosemite National Park, Tioga Pass, skiing on Mount Arapaho, the views from the top of The Arch in St Louis, Salt Lake City, the Grand Ole Opry, Natchez Trace in Tennessee, the Grand Canyon, and Sedona.
While Keith and Anita have fallen in love with America, it is not just the scenery that keeps drawing them back.
“Here we are, back in the good ole U S of A once again visiting five grandchildren,” said Keith. “And once again we’ve experienced exceptional friendliness, overnighted at unique sites, and viewed some incredible sights.”
This time around, the couple have bought a 29’ caravan and Ford Expedition (travel trailer and SUV in American speak) from another Australian couple who had used/stored it for several years. Having already clocked up well over a thousand kilometres, Keith and Anita are now travelling in convoy for a couple of weeks with their ‘American family, who are in their own 25’ motorhome.
While they say they couldn’t recommend the adventure highly enough, they do however have a few tips for anyone thinking of doing something similar.
“Don’t order the entrée if you’re not particularly hungry; speak slowly if you don’t wish to be met with blank stares; be aware of the fact that they make a bigger mess of the Queen’s English than we do; and pay for your gas (petrol) before you attempt to use the pump,” said Keith. “But all that notwithstanding, this really is a great country.”
Congratulations Keith & Anita,
We have just arrived back from the USA & Canada after a 15 moths caravan trip.
Including all of California , some of Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and the Canadian Okanagan desert/wine country.
We also bought a Ford Expedition 2008 90k’s
Its hard t explain to folks back home just how friendly the yanks are and how much fun one can have in there great country.
I won’t go any further in case i offend some folks.
Happy trailers till we arrive back next summer.
JOhn & Louise