On April 1, 2025 we celebrated four years on the road! It’s hard to believe and somehow our old life feels like so long ago. In case you are wondering we are still LOVING life on the road. There is adventure around every corner. New places to explore and old favorites to enjoy again and again. To celebrate we did something different but more on that in a moment. But first – where are we these days?
Current Status – Where is Shamy?
We are currently back in Arkansas and just wrapped up a wonderful stay at an old favorite, Lake Ouachita, our fourth visit to this 40,000 acre lake.
Now that we have a motorized boat we have had the pleasure to explore more of this big lake via boat. Just the other day we hit a record of 25 miles out on our Sea Eagle Paddle Ski. The gas motor is finally playing nice and taking us ever further in our explorations via water.
As I write this we are parked at another favorite of ours in the Ozark Mountains. Where motorized boating opportunities are less but the hiking is plentiful and beautiful views abound.
A Trip to the Big Easy
Two years ago we spent a day in the French Quarter. After returning from a full day in the quarter I vowed that the next visit would include an overnight at an AirBnB. True to my word, this time around I planned a trip into the French Quarter that included 2 nights. And we had a blast! The best way to do New Orleans.
I spent countless hours researching and weighing options and researching some more and finally deciding on the perfect fit AirBnB. In the end I spent a bit more but it checked all of the boxes. 1) Location – in the Marigny district. We love the local side of town. 2) Near Frenchmen street – technically outside of the quarter but with lively night life including our favorite music club (more on that in a bit). 3) On-street parking available – we wanted to park it and walk during our entire stay. 4) A New Orleans experience – a hotel would have been cheaper but I wanted the New Orleans character and room to spread out.
Our AirBnB was everything I hoped it would be (worth the more expensive price tag)! It was a classic shotgun style home located in the Marigny district, literally steps away from Frenchmen Street, and a few minutes from The Spotted Cat Music Club. Plus with street parking right outside our door and a super cute house. We loved our stay! It was so convenient to be able to come back at any time to relax, drop things off or simply use our own private bathroom.
For us this was something completely different. In the last four years we have only stayed in our RV. Even when parked at a friend’s home or our family’s we stay in our RV. This was a nice change of pace just to mix things up. All while Ralphie the RV was safely parked at a state park on the north end of Lake Pontchartrain for a very reasonable price ($20 a night with electric and water hook ups).
Having the ability to walk, eat, and drink our way through the French Quarter and return to a cozy home to rest was such a nice bonus.
During our 2.5 day stay we walked over 35,000 steps! The photo below is only one day of our steps.
Although we are not the religious types, we had to step inside the Saint Louis Cathedral, the architecture was stunning.
We packed wine to sip on and walked around the city. Taking in all of the sights and sounds. If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you know we love being in the wild, away from people and away from cities. Yet, for some reason NOLA beckons us. We love the vibe and all of the people you meet.
And the music, it finds its way into your heart and soul. The Spotted Cat Music Club is by far our favorite place for music. This mostly standing room only spot always has wonderful live music on a small stage. Open 7 days a week from 4 pm on, you can duck in anytime, grab a beer, and enjoy the sounds of New Orleans. For all of you with four legged friends, they are dog friendly. Josie hung out with us here last time we passed through NOLA.
Needless to say we had a blast! We were so happy we decided to stay in the Marigny, with its many cute and quaint homes. With a 45 minute drive back across the big lake it was nice to have a couple of days to enjoy the city and a sweet comfy place to unwind and rest up for the next day of exploring.
I am already thinking about another trip to NOLA next year.
Time: Our Most Precious Asset
Time is the most valuable currency of life and yet it is the one we are most likely to squander as if it were unlimited. Sadly it is not unlimited. But how we spend that time is what’s most important.
After being on the road for four years I can honestly say I treasure our time. Every moment we spend either on chores, working or exploring I enjoy them all. The chores and working are a part of living and the exploring is the spice of it all. So whether you are also a full time nomad or living in the city with a full time job take the time to truly enjoy your life. We all have obligations but it’s important that we take time to do the things we enjoy.
I often hear people say “one day we will do x, y, or z, one day”. Often that one day never happens. You have to make a plan to make it happen. Pick the time, the place or activity and just go for it. If you wait for everything to be done or perfect, you will always be waiting. So get out there and do that thing you always say you are going to do. I promise you will not be disappointed.
And if you are thinking of hitting the road in the future, hit us up we love sharing what we have learned.
Highlight Video From Our Travels
This is why I love NOLA! Music on the street in the middle of the day and the middle of the week. What a vibe this place has!
Soon we will be back in Indianapolis, targeting mid-May. Looking forward to seeing the kids, our grandson who is growing so fast, and of course our grand puppies!
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