Live Your Road Trip Dream
(Travel for a Year for the Cost of Staying Home)
Author: Phil and Carol White
Number of Pages: 288
Publishing Company: RLI Press
Original Publishing Date: July 2004
ISBN: 0975292803

When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued. I, like most people I know, have always dreamed of hitting the open road and leaving the "rat race" behind.

I've ready plenty of accounts of people who have done it, but Live Your Road Trip Dream does more than just tell about it - it tells you how to do it.

Part One of the book is titled The Plan and starts out with a chapter entitled You Too Can Make This Happen. The entire book is written in a similar style - with a supportive, you can do it tone.

Part One consists of nine chapters that help the reader plan their trip, from finding the money to finance your trip, to planning route, to what clothes to bring.

Other topics include medical issues, keeping up with your mail and email, insurance and banking. An important chapter deals with coming home and making the necessary adjustments to life back at home.

The Appendix has several worksheets, including a Budget Worksheet, Sample To Do List, and checklists for clothing, supplies and motor homes/RV's.

I really enjoyed Phil and Carol's account of their trip, which makes up Part Two. They spent a year and one week driving from Oregon to the East Coast, and back to Oregon, passing through New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. (They were especially impressed with the beautiful fall color in New Hampshire.)

Their own trip wasn't perfect - Carol broke her ankle, they endured bad weather, and had mechanical problems with their van. But their can-do attitude and sense of humor helped them through it.

And with the information that they generously share in the book, the rest of us can do it too.

For more information, tips and news from the White's, visit Road Trip Dream.