Several months ago we were camped out amongst the sand, rocks, and cacti. This may sound enticing except the temperature was climbing past 100 with no signs of pausing. I asked myself “What would Edison do?” Not only did Thomas Edison camp in style with his fellow Vagabond buddies, but he also had a lot of experience dealing with undesirable outcomes.

When asked where they like to go, RV’ers will often respond by saying they want to “chase 70”. This phrase is shorthand for following the path laid down by the thermometer: moving from place-to-place as the temperature migrates to 70 degrees across the country. This generally means summers in the north or higher elevations and winters down south or in the desert. Or San Diego most anytime.

It’s Not Rocket Science

There is both a pleasurable and practical reason for this goal. First and most obviously, seventy degrees is agreeable to both pants and shorts, long-sleeves, and short-sleeves. Importantly, it’s also a temperature that doesn’t transmit stifling humidity. While a drier 70 is more pleasant than a humid 70, both are quite livable.

The practical side of 70 is that it is a temperature which requires no heating or air conditioning in the RV. And chances are, the nighttime temperature will require little if any climate controlling either. This is important because most RV’ers regularly focus on two basic needs that most homeowners only think about during times of disaster: electricity and water. If you have no place to plug in your RV, like when you are camping in Yellowstone, you are running your electricity off batteries, or with the aid of solar assuming the sun cooperates. And that my friends is why 70 degrees is your RV’s friend.

But keeping the lights on is not what has us contemplating the footsteps of Edison. It’s his observation that his repeated efforts to create the light bulb weren’t failures. Instead, he found 10,000 ways to not build one.

It’s Hot Out There Campers

This year we found more than one way to not achieve the 70 goal. None of the trips were failures as they were all good destinations with enjoyable drives. But they reminded us why 70 is such a magical – and elusive – number. First up was Tucson in June. We overshot 70 by a mere 40 degrees. In fact, by the time we departed Arizona it was 115 in the shade. Arizonans will tell you that’s ok because it’s a dry heat. Just like an oven.

A few days later we were in glorious Glacier National Park, a short distance from the Canadian border. Yet, this was at the same time the infamous heat dome of the summer was overhead, melting everything under it. Most days were in the 90s and on a few, the temperature approached 100. But I will confess, 100 in the northern Rockies is a more desirable location than 100 almost any place else. Crisp air, clear lakes, tall pines, and snow-fed mountain streams all make a sweltering day tolerable. Leaving Glacier, we then headed west to Seattle to experience the heat dome a bit longer.

The next trip that failed the “degree destination” was New York City in early October. Not only was the temperature approaching 90 but so was the humidity at times. That’s not the most pleasant tag-team duo, especially when combined with the mass humanity in a non air-conditioned subway. And finally (hopefully) on the list – Houston in late October. If the 70 goal is for humidity and not temperature, Houston might be the destination of choice year-round. You better like 90-degree temperatures in late October as well.

Hmmm…We Have an Idea

As if a light bulb has gone off above our heads, our next destination is back to Tucson. But this time in November. I think we shall get closer to that slippery 70, at least for a while… assuming we dodge any snowstorms blowing across the high desert along the way.

I won’t say consistently camping in ideal temperatures is harder than building a light bulb, but if it takes us 10,000 tries, perhaps future generations will speak of McCormick in the same breath they mention Edison and his perseverance. We’re sure the Wizard of Menlo Park is cheering us on – and thinking a campervan is an excellent way to vagabond around the country.

Cheers,
Bob and Julia