Our RV lifestyle began just about 2 years ago. For a few years my wife and I would see RVs pass us on the roads and we'd both say that we ill do that when I retire. Then about two and a half years ago we went to an RV show in Hampton, VA. That put a bug in our ears that we could not shake. Also the more we thought about it we realized waiting till I retired was not a very good plan. My Dad's health deteriorated very quickly after he retired when he was 65. He was a heavy smoker, drinker, and pretty much that is what really got him. But you just don't know what will happen and waiting for a pie in the eventual sky was not a plan the wife and I wanted to follow any longer. So we started looking. We test drove a class C and A. We decide a class A was for us. So I scoured the internet. Came close to a deal a couple times but just did not close the deal. I searched many dealers' websites, EBAY, and Craig's List. We finally saw something down in Florida at Lazy Days. After a week or so of phone calls and emails we hit the road to Florida and to buy a RV.

The RV was a Class A 2005 Damon Day Break 35 footer with a gas engine. The interior was immaculate. They showed us how to work everything, The deal was done and we hit the road. Now that coach was an "As is" coach and my salesman (sold insurance previously) was almost as new to the industry as we were. So we made it back to VA with no problems. Took it into the local RV dealer to get the safety inspection and a complete once over. That is when the other shoe hit the ground. The frame under the coach was severely rusted. The leveling jacks were barely still attached. The generator mounting frame was so rusted that the mechanic warned us to not use the generator cause the vibration would probably cause it to fall off the coach. The coach did not pass the safety inspection. Technically there was no one to blame but myself for not requiring a complete check out by a third party down in Florida before I actually signed on the dotted line. To say the least we were heart broken and very upset. I contacted the dealer in Florida and informed them of the issues. We were greatly surprised when Lazy Days told us to bring it back and they would basically cancel the deal. They would also help us to find another coach in better condition.

So the end result was we ended up with our 2006 Winnebago Tour 40KD diesel pusher. We love it. And that is how we began. We have been down to Kitty Hawk and the NC Outer Banks, Lake Gaston, a couple camp grounds in Florida, and a couple here in VA with our granddaughters. That has been worth all the ups and downs. They are both at the age that they may want to go with us one or two more times but not sure. But we have the last two years of them going with us that they will remember and so will we!