Twenty Thousand Miles and Counting
After what feels like a lifetime on the road, I finally clicked past 20,000 miles dragging the Airstream around. It’s been an epic odyssey since that last August post: endless highway vistas and every kind of weather you can imagine. In between boondocks and campgrounds I’ve been tinkering non-stop—upgrading, rewiring, and rethinking just about every system in the trailer. This update brings you up to speed on all the new gear (and some of the do-overs) from the past year. Spoiler: perfection in an Airstream takes patience (and sometimes three tries).
Connectivity & Networks
SpaceX’s new Starlink Gen3 dish is now my primary internet, replacing the old Gen2 unit. The upcoming V3 satellites promise mind-boggling throughput (up to 1 terabit per second of capacity, so I’m eager to see how much faster my internet really gets out in the boonies. To keep things reliable, I also joined the Calyx Institute’s hotspot membership – essentially giving me truly unlimited 4G/5G data on T-Mobile – and I configured a Peplink router as the brains of my network. Using Peplink’s SpeedFusion technology, I can bond the Starlink link with a cellular line or other internet source such as wired network or another WiFi. In practice that means if one connection drops, the other kicks in seamlessly, keeping Zoom calls and map apps from exploding.
Smart Home & AI
On the software side, I’ve been diving deeper into Home Assistant. I even leaned on AI (ChatGPT, Claude, and others) to help write custom YAML configs and sketch out dashboard layouts for all my sensors. Home Assistant now supports LLM-based agents as conversation entities, so it’s primed for using AI as an assistant. The Jetson Nano in my rig is running a voice to text and text to voice generator that interfaces with ChatGPT. Essentially, I can talk to ChatGPT and have it control the devices in my Airstream. For context, Home Assistant is fully open-source and can run on local devices (like this Jetson or a Pi), integrating with over a thousand different smart devices. With all that horsepower, it’s been fun iterating: one quick tweak of a script here, one more icon there, until my living-room and dashboard displays look just right.
Workshop & Storage Projects
One of my favorite stops was Flagstaff, AZ, where I set up shop at The Coco-op – Flagstaff’s community makerspace. This place is a woodworker’s paradise with CNC routers, table saws, 3D printers, you name it. I laid out the new overhead cabinets and had the sawdust flying in no time. (That said, it still took another evening or two to get the frames and doors trimmed perfectly!) Next up was the closet: I tried one layout, wasn’t happy, tore it out, then tried a second design. The third version finally clicked – I built in a dresser unit – but I’ll admit, I’m still eyeing it and thinking “maybe one more tweak…” after living with it for a while. In a 200-square-foot home, every inch counts, and sometimes that means multiple drafts before it’s just so.
Other Upgrades & Reflections
Of course, there have been a few oddball mods that sprang from pure necessity (or boredom). Under the kitchen counter I added a small ducted booster fan, bringing air from the bedroom where the HVAC is to the kitchen cabinet by the door – the extra airflow makes a surprisingly big difference in summer. I also upgraded to a sit/stand desk for my laptop nook, which has been great for working on the road. For water, I built in a three-stage filter and a mini water softener, because dealing with hard well water at random RV parks was getting old. Power got a bump too: I added in an extra 48 V, 100 Ah LiFePO₄ battery , doubling my battery storage. I also removed the two bog standard cheapo RV vents and installed real residential skylights to brighten the cabin. They are double paned so they let in a lot more light and a lot less heat. After all these changes (and some new gray hairs), I can honestly say the Airstream and I are learning together. The road has taken me through 20,000 miles of adventures – cities, deserts, forests and everything in between – and every project has taught me a bit more. From perfecting a cabinet cutout to configuring an AI hook-up, the lesson is the same: get it nearly right, live with it a while, then tweak. Here’s to the next 20,000 miles – and maybe one more closet revision or two before I stop.
Travel Updates!
Winter 2024-2025: Southwestern Warmth
Texas Adventures
The vast expanses of West Texas called to me, and I answered. Exploring Alpine and Marfa led to one of my favorite national park experiences at Big Bend National Park. Kayaking on the Rio Grande while taking in the magnificent canyon views was truly unforgettable. The dark skies of Big Bend also provided some of the best stargazing I’ve experienced in my travels.
Arizona Living
As temperatures dropped across the country, I headed to Flagstaff, Arizona, which became my winter base. The combination of mountain scenery, proximity to Route 66, and the welcoming community made it an ideal winter home. I found myself falling in love with the area so much that I’ve considered making it a more permanent base someday.
Spring 2025: West Coast Wonders
California Dreaming
By early spring, I made my way to Los Angeles for a two-week stay. While there, I had the opportunity to visit Skunkworks in nearby Palmdale, a treat for anyone interested in aviation and engineering.
Pacific Northwest Beauty
Continuing north, I spent several weeks exploring the stunning coastline of Northern California before heading to Oregon. The drive through Oregon’s mountains, with their big trees and foggy, atmospheric conditions, was one of the most scenic routes of my journey.
Late Spring 2025: Cross-Country Trek
Washington DC and Beyond
April found me in Hagerstown, Maryland, where I booked a month-long stay to attend conferences in nearby Washington DC. This extended stop allowed me to explore the region thoroughly, including visits to historical sites and museums.
The Great Lakes Region
May brought me to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, a region I’d long wanted to explore. Highlights included hunting for agates at Whitefish Point (despite the chilly 40-degree temperatures and wind), and exploring Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I even made a quick trip across the border to Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, where I enjoyed Tim Hortons coffee and experienced the novelty of speed limits in kilometers.
My Michigan adventures continued with stays at Muskallonge Lake State Park and explorations around Grand Marais. The natural beauty of the Great Lakes region exceeded my expectations.
Early Summer 2025: Southern Comfort
Tennessee and Kentucky
June has brought me to Nashville, Tennessee, where I’ve been enjoying the music scene and preparing for upcoming travels. Currently, I’m exploring Daniel Boone National Forest and Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area in Kentucky, appreciating the serene beauty of these less-visited natural treasures.
By the Numbers
Since beginning this journey in June 2024:
• 24 states traversed
• 14 national parks explored
• 30,000 miles logged on my truck since October (10,000 miles on the F150 I started with)
• Countless memories made
Looking Ahead
The road continues to call, and my upcoming plans include:
• An Airstream rally in York, PA in August
• A caravan along Route 66 to California
• Winter 2025-2026 in the Southwest (Colorado, Utah, and Arizona)
• An ambitious trip to Alaska in the future
My only regret about this full-time Airstreaming lifestyle? Not starting it sooner.
What began as an adventure has become a way of life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s to many more miles, memories, and magnificent views from my home on wheels.
Follow along on my journey as I continue to explore this beautiful country one campsite at a time!