To say it was chilly on the Monday we woke up back in North Carolina would be an understatement – we had ice on the inside of the window!! Camping in such temperatures has it challenges – but the upside is that the campsite was very beautiful veiled in frost and mist.

Our gamble of coming back to Asheville in better weather so that we could enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway seemed to have paid off. We drove back towards Asheville and as the day warmed up it was crisp, clear and sunny. The only snag now being that some of the Parkway was closed due to ice – but we spoke to the ranger and got a list of walks that we could do over the next couple of days to see the best of it.

Indeed, on Monday we really went for it as we decided to stay in town (no campsites very close to Asheville) and got a bargain on Hotels.com of an apartment for $100 a night which was the size of a small mansion. We had stairs, two bedrooms and two bathrooms (of course!) a full kitchen, laundry, upstairs TV room as well as a dining table, sitting room and a lovely gas effect fire. It was way too big, but we soon spread out and got used to it! Sitting in front of the fire after our exertions on the Parkway was rather cosy and lovely – after all Reg does not have a fireplace (even though we have seen some RV’s with them!).

Monday night we went out on the town in Asheville which was surprisingly lively. We found a good Italian which was very authentic – no TV screens whilst we dined, and then went to a bar with live music. We had heard that Asheville was a bit hippy and offbeat and this was confirmed by the crowd at the gig. The performer was a female folksy singer songwriter who had a tattooed chin – something I think to be avoided. I thought she had a beard from a distance, but then I am a bit of an old fuddy duddy! This is clearly a new craze. The men in the bar seemed to be wearing gnome hats and one chap even had two hats on – so when we came to leave, and Matt put his silly ski hat on – at least he fitted in!

The songs were rather challenging to start with, but the beer was good, and she then invited two of the hat men on to the stage and they accompanied her on guitar and drums (wire brushes of course for fear of breaking the laid-back vibe) and they rattled off more ‘tunes’. It was very pleasant and excellent people watching.

Tuesday, we tried to start with a run into the Biltmore Estate which was around the corner from our own mansion. This is the largest residential house in the world (but do check this fact – Norris McWhirter’s amongst you). It belongs to a Vanderbilt. We got stopped immediately by security as there was no mechanism for charging foot entry and turned away. We did not go back to the house as we were rather put off by the $60 fee each to see around it. Basically, it is full of European treasures that we might be able to see at home for free! Shame as the grounds are beautiful apparently but we simply cannot do everything on the list. So instead we had another hike off the Parkway with stunning views into the valleys on either side of the ridge and a delicious dinner closer this time to our mansion apartment.

Wednesday dawned bright and clear again and we decided to start the long trek back to Michigan. It has been great since we came back at the start of November that we made it to both the Carolinas and they were well worth the trip, but we needed to head back over the Great Smoky Mountains and drive back north to see our friendly RV dealer – Krenek, and of course Barbara and Marty.

Driving through the Smokys was as lovely as ever and that night, eve of Thanksgiving we stayed in Kentucky. After a quick pit stop in Walmart where everyone was exceptionally friendly asking us about our plans for the holidays, we went to our last ever KOA campsite and had another meal of things from the larder. Matt was not keen for me make a pizza using up the kidney beans and anchovies – but I thought it might be delicious…!

The cold had not left us and on Thanksgiving Day we woke to find that all the water outside had frozen in the hose and tap supplying Reg. Matt battled with kettles and saucepans until we could get breakfast, shower and get going. It only delayed us by half an hour or so, but by now dear reader we are beginning to feel the end of the trip is looming.

Thursday was a glorious day and as it was the holiday the roads were very empty. We had a superb drive up the freeway through to Indianapolis where we then came off and headed up highway 31 into Michigan. The landscape gradually altered from the hills of Kentucky into the big skies and vast flatness of the mid-West.

It was very emotional when we crossed the state line into Michigan. After 27,000 miles we had made it back and all of the sudden the sheer scale of the trip hit us both. We feel very proud that we did it without too many problems and certainly no serious dramas.

We were staying in Van Burren State Park, right beside Lake Michigan. The site was completely deserted as everyone was tucked up in the warm eating roast turkey and mashed potatoes by this stage – but we hooked up and went to stretch our legs. Climbing over the sand dunes we reached the lake and were greeted by the most beautiful sunset. It is funny as Marty said that he thought (admittedly he is very biased) that Michigan was the best place in the US, and for a split second looking at the view it did cross our minds that perhaps we should have just spent a year in Michigan as it was so attractive!

Alone that evening we had our last supper in Reg – a stir fry for anyone that needs to know, and we could at last let rip with the music a bit louder than usual. It was fun to look back over the year and think of our highlights. Our farewell party. No more nights around the table or washing up (yeah for that bit at least!).

So, Friday dawned, and we had to literally get everything out of Reg and decide if it is coming with us to New York, going to charity or being shipped home. It would have looked very funny if anyone had filmed us as stuff was moved inside and outside all day long. Imagine moving to a new house in a very tight space – it was a logistical challenge.

Late afternoon we took Reg to a truck wash to make sure he looked his best for the dealer on Saturday and we picked up a hire car so that at least we could deposit our possessions into something to clean him thoroughly.

That night after we had finished we went into South Haven for dinner, but we were both very tired and I think it is true to say a little bit melancholy that it was nearing the end.

Saturday – the big day for Reg was bright but absolutely freezing. Very windy. Barbara and Marty turned up like the cavalry at 8am which was a very big ask on our part to them at the weekend, but they bore no grudge. They took the Thompson Twins in their car and Marty cleaned the windows for us on Reg. We were all set for Krenek at about 10am.

It felt rather exciting to be back. Rob, our contact, captured the mood by taking a picture of us and Reg for the last time and said that they would upload it on to the company Facebook page. The distances covered and the number of states we have been to is relatively unusual for a typical RV so it a bit of a story for them as a business. This upbeat celebratory mood and the excitement of seeing the Craig’s completely helped mask the sadness that this was end for us.

Reg was given a complete work out. They kept him there until lunchtime. In the meantime, we arrived at Harrison Avenue our home for the next four nights) and started to unload all our stuff. Bea and her friend were there and started with the clothes and salvaged a few things that they wanted to keep, whilst we tried to deposit our stuff on to Marty and Barbara without them noticing too much!! It all worked out very well and we are so incredibly grateful for their patience and good humour. Not only have we now offloaded things on to them, but we also used and abused their address over the last year. We could not have done this trip without them.

Matt and I went back to Krenek in the afternoon and had the most amazing chat with the boss – Scott Krenek, as to where we had been and what we had seen. It was very special – as for two hours we lived back through it. It was good fun to also be nerdy and talk about camping in detail as there are not many people who understand how we managed for a year without ever turning the generator on!

Scott reported on things damaged in Reg that we were unaware of – which was also very amusing. Sometimes we would hear the bottom of Reg grinding – if we went over low kerbs or drives, for example. We assumed it was the cycle rack catching, but in fact we have managed to scrape off two brackets underneath Reg designed to protect his water tanks. Somewhere in the US are the brackets that eventually dropped off… Whoops!

Overall Scott felt we had looked after Reg very well and we agreed a price for him to buy Reg back off us. We got the cheque then and there and did all the formalities.

We have the greatest souvenir ever which is his licence plate as it belongs in Michigan to the driver and not the vehicle. It will have pride of place in our new home.

So, we said farewell. Reg has been amazing as you all know dear reader and the guys at Krenek also did a wonderful job as I for one never saw another RV that I liked as much as Reg. He kept us warm, cool, dry and mobile. 27,236 all out.

Saturday night we celebrated/commiserated at Schu’s in St Joe with the Craig’s. It was the perfect tonic to be with them. We have another three weeks of adventure ahead of us – so stay with us if you can!
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