Stray Compass Travels
I’m an OG (Old Guy) from Kenosha Wisconsin, sharing my photos, videos, and live feeds on Facebook.
We lost the cover to our cell phone signal booster! Here's our solution.
31/10/2024
Journal Entry: October 30, 2024
Since the beginning of our journey in "The Badger", we’ve found ourselves in a medley of spots, boondocking with Harvest Hosts, weaving through the quiet of state parks, settling into campground loops, even pausing at truck stops. This time, we’ve made our temporary home in a mobile home park that’s trading out old dwellings for RV sites. Just a stone’s throw from Highway 20, and bordered on the other side by a multi-track railroad, this spot feels like a strange sanctuary. It’s not exactly serene, but it’s been the perfect base for what we need right now. My mobile repair expert, Shawn from All About RVs, pointed us here for one simple reason: they allow us to carry on with the urgent repairs that "The Badger" has been crying out for.
Yesterday, we found ourselves at a standstill again. Thor Motorcoach had promised our parts would be ready, but as the hours dragged on, we learned that promise was as thin as the floor panels we’ve been replacing. Now, with Shawn’s help, we’re waiting on new, more robust floor panels for the driver’s side slide. We upgraded the materials to something tougher, something that won’t bend to time or travel as easily. These panels are thermally sealed, a quiet insurance against the issues that’ve slowed us down before.
As I write, rain falls softly, drumming the roof in a soothing rhythm that tempers some of the frustration of this waiting game. I intend to reach out to Thor and LaMesa when all is said and done, with a letter to relay the sour taste of our experience. For now, though, I look to the horizon, dreaming of a southern route, of warm adventures awaiting beyond this bump in the road. Things will get better, of that I’m sure.
Today, there’s no new photo to share, just a quick look at where we’ve been since last Friday. Here’s hoping tomorrow brings new steps forward and a little less wear on "The Badger’s" heart.
Happy Halloween Everyone!
Thomas Corrao
Stray Compass Life
24/10/2024
Journal Entry - October 23, 2024
No photographs were taken yesterday, and honestly, I wasn’t in the mindset for capturing moments. It was one of those days where life took center stage, errands and tasks that needed to be done, no matter how uninspiring. Soon, we’ll be heading to Indiana, and these simple, mundane things we handle in person will become much harder to accomplish. Life, as always, remains fluid, moving us along from one chapter to the next. Right now, we’re just doing the best we can to manage the business of life, knowing that each task completed is another step forward on this ever-changing journey.
Yesterday was one of those days where we found ourselves tackling the essential errands that keep life moving forward, banking, groceries, and gathering the little necessities we often take for granted. Life on the road can sometimes complicate even the simplest of tasks, especially when certain things need to be handled in person. This time, it meant backtracking 55 miles through the maze of Chicago traffic.
In the end, though, we checked off everything on our list. We even had time to browse through HomeGoods, where I stumbled upon the perfect-sized organizer basket—something I had been searching for quite some time. It felt like a small victory amidst the day's busyness.
Lunch brought us to Portillo’s, where we split a Hot Beef Combo, a classic indulgence. At $18.95 for one combo, which included a hot beef sandwich on a six-inch bun, large onion rings, and a small diet drink, the price certainly raised an eyebrow. The taste was undeniably good, but the cost was a sharp reminder of the rising tide of inflation. It makes you wonder how long everyday folks will keep shouldering these inflated costs. You could feed a family at home for the price of one hot beef combo.
I couldn’t help but reflect on how cities seem to carry a heftier price tag, with products like fuel varying dramatically between urban centers and their outskirts. The closer you get to the heart of the city, the more greed seems to seep into the economy, like a toll for being part of its fast-paced, bustling life. I don’t want to dwell too heavily on that negativity, though. Yesterday’s events were productive and satisfying, but they did stir in me a quiet wish for balance, a hope that one day, the simple joys won’t come at such a steep cost.
As we continue on this journey, I hold onto the belief that every day presents us with a chance to rise above these challenges, finding contentment not just in what we accomplish but in the way we choose to see the world.
Have a great day everyone, I'll post some more photos tomorrow.
Thomas Corrao
Stray Compass life
21/10/2024
Stray Compass Campground Reviews
Review of Camp Sullivan | The Dyrt A 4-star review of Camp Sullivan, Illinois
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