Happy New Year from the Noffy’s! 2023 was quite the adventure for us, with LOTS of travel, some big changes and fully embracing seeing more of the country and the world.
We started 2023 onboard Anomaly in Jacksonville Beach, Florid, working our way south on the ICW. We had rough plans to keep going south, before turning around and heading north so we could pick up our new Airstream travel trailer – delivery date unknown. We had spent the previous three months journeying south and still had not reached warmer temps.
A few weeks later we were in Mosquito Lagoon, south of New Smyrna Beach and that was it – time to head north. By mid-March we were picking up our new Airstream Pottery Barn edition at Colonial Airstream in New Jersey, and launched 100 nights of land travel while Anomaly had a three-month rest at Atlantic Yacht Basin. We figured three months in the camper, then back to Anomaly for the summer and a trip North along the coast, and then fall/winter in the camper exploring the west and southwest.
We headed south to Florida, back to VA, to the Outer Banks and then west to the NC and VA mountains. The trip, and particularly the mountains rekindled our love of hiking. As the time to return to Anomaly approached, we wanted to spend more time hiking and exploring the mountains and areas farther afield from the coast. Although we discussed possibly selling the boat or putting her in long-term storage, we decided to hold off on any big decisions and get back onboard.
In late June we moved back onboard, put Dusty-Lucille (the camper) in storage mode at Mom and Dad’s driveway and readjusted to life afloat. We spent several weeks in Portsmouth and Norfolk, catching up with family and friends and then headed north up the Bay. We had no particular destination in mind, other than New York City.
We made it about two weeks. Five days of stormy weather and having to adjust our plans only reinforced what we had been feeling. As much as we love boat life – it’s always been our dream – we couldn’t ignore the joy we rediscovered while hiking and camping. We decided to sell Anomaly and head back to Chesapeake to list her with Virginia Yacht Brokers. We can always return to boat life, and we have an incredible opportunity to see the country now.
Two weeks later we pulled into Atlantic Yacht Basin on a Sunday and by Tuesday we had an offer on Anomaly. The survey was that Friday and a few days later she was no longer ours. Good timing, good upgrades and maintenance and a great quality boat made it an easy selling process. Back to land travel!
We ambled around Virginia and West Virginia, decided to check out Michigan – fell in love with it – explored Ohio, a little time in PA and Maryland before back to VA for a 10-day trip to Wales and London. Next it was west to see the middle daughter, with a month in Colorado, then south to escape the November freezing temps. We spent December in New Mexico and Arizona before starting to work our way east through Texas.
We finished the year in Bastrop, TX, where we caught up with a coworker and long-time friend (Kelly) who relocated here, and later this week we’ll keep moving east. We have tentative plans that get us to VA for family and doctor visits in March, and then? Who knows!
Life is a journey, and we’re leaning into the here and now. I hope we see you along the way!
A few numbers as of Dec. 31:
- 222 nights in the Airstream
- 11,975 miles towing Dusty-Lucille
- 20 states slept in
- 18 Harvest Host stays
- 38 days/nights under solar power alone (17% of our stays)
- Average of $41.56 per night spent on campgrounds – counting cancelled stays where we still had to pay a deposit or portion of the reservation.
- A lifetime of memories